diff --git a/src/buffers/room.rs b/src/buffers/room.rs
index d3be695..bc1ef4e 100644
--- a/src/buffers/room.rs
+++ b/src/buffers/room.rs
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ use matrix_sdk::ruma::OwnedRoomId;
 use matrix_sdk::Client;
 use matrix_sdk::Room;
 use matrix_sdk_ui::timeline::{
-  BackPaginationStatus, PaginationOptions, RoomExt, Timeline, TimelineItem,
+  BackPaginationStatus, PaginationOptions, RoomExt, Timeline, TimelineItem, TimelineItemKind,
+  VirtualTimelineItem,
 };
 use ratatui::text::Text;
 use smallvec::SmallVec;
@@ -52,11 +53,153 @@ impl SingleClientRoomBuffer {
     }
     if let Some(changes) = self.stream.next().await {
       for change in changes {
-        change.map(|timeline_item| format!("{:#?}", timeline_item)).apply(&mut self.items);
+        change
+          .map(|item| self.format_timeline_item(item))
+          .apply(&mut self.items);
       }
     }
   }
 
+  fn format_timeline_item(&self, tl_item: impl AsRef<TimelineItem>) -> String {
+    match tl_item.as_ref().kind() {
+      TimelineItemKind::Event(event) => {
+        use matrix_sdk_ui::timeline::TimelineItemContent::*;
+        let sender = event
+          .sender()
+          .as_str()
+          .strip_prefix("@")
+          .expect("missing @ prefix");
+        match event.content() {
+          Message(message) => format!("   <{}> {}", sender, message.body().replace("\n", "\n    ")),
+          RedactedMessage => format!("xx <{}> [redacted]", sender),
+          Sticker(sticker) => format!("st <{}> {}", sender, sticker.content().body),
+          UnableToDecrypt(_) => format!("xx <{}> [unable to decrypt]", sender),
+          MembershipChange(change) => {
+            use matrix_sdk_ui::timeline::MembershipChange::*;
+            if change.user_id() == event.sender() {
+              let Some(change_kind) = change.change() else {
+                return format!("--- {} made incomprehensible changes to themselves", sender);
+              };
+              match change_kind {
+                None => format!("--- {} made no discernable changes to themselves", sender),
+                Error => format!(
+                  "xxx {} made a change to themselves that made matrix-sdk-ui error",
+                  sender
+                ),
+                Joined => format!("--> {} joined", sender),
+                Left => format!("<-- {} left", sender),
+                Banned => format!("-x- {} banned themselves", sender),
+                Unbanned => format!("-x- {} unbanned themselves", sender),
+                Kicked => format!("<!- {} kicked themselves", sender),
+                Invited => format!("-o- {} invited themselves", sender),
+                KickedAndBanned => format!("<!x {} kicked and banned themselves", sender),
+                InvitationAccepted => format!("-o> {} accepted an invite", sender),
+                InvitationRejected => format!("-ox {} rejected an invite", sender),
+                InvitationRevoked => format!("--x {} revoked an invite", sender),
+                Knocked => format!("-?> {} knocked", sender),
+                KnockAccepted => format!("-?o {} accepted a knock", sender),
+                KnockRetracted => format!("-?x {} retracted a knock", sender),
+                KnockDenied => format!("-?x {} denied a knock", sender),
+                NotImplemented => format!(
+                  "xxx {} made a change matrix-sdk-ui does not support yet",
+                  sender
+                ),
+              }
+            } else if change.user_id() == "" {
+              let Some(change_kind) = change.change() else {
+                return format!("--- {} made incomprehensible changes", sender);
+              };
+              match change_kind {
+                None => format!("--- {} made no discernable changes", sender),
+                Error => format!("xxx {} made a change that made matrix-sdk-ui error", sender),
+                Joined | Left | Banned | Unbanned | Kicked | Invited | KickedAndBanned
+                | InvitationAccepted | InvitationRejected | InvitationRevoked | Knocked
+                | KnockAccepted | KnockRetracted | KnockDenied => {
+                  format!("--> {} made a non-sensical change: {:?}", sender, change)
+                },
+                NotImplemented => format!(
+                  "xxx {} made a change matrix-sdk-ui does not support yet",
+                  sender
+                ),
+              }
+            } else {
+              let target = change
+                .user_id()
+                .as_str()
+                .strip_prefix("@")
+                .expect("missing @ prefix");
+              let Some(change_kind) = change.change() else {
+                return format!("--- {} made incomprehensible changes to {}", sender, target);
+              };
+              match change_kind {
+                None => format!("--- {} made no discernable changes to {}", sender, target),
+                Error => format!(
+                  "xxx {} made a change to {} that made matrix-sdk-ui error",
+                  sender, target
+                ),
+                Joined | Left => format!(
+                  "--> {} made a non-sensical change to {}: {:?}",
+                  sender, target, change
+                ),
+                Banned => format!("-x- {} banned {}", sender, target),
+                Unbanned => format!("-x- {} unbanned {}", sender, target),
+                Kicked => format!("<!- {} kicked {}", sender, target),
+                Invited => format!("-o- {} invited {}", sender, target),
+                KickedAndBanned => format!("<!x {} kicked and banned {}", sender, target),
+                InvitationAccepted => format!("-o> {} accepted an invite to {}", sender, target),
+                InvitationRejected => format!("-ox {} rejected an invite to {}", sender, target),
+                InvitationRevoked => format!("--x {} revoked an invite to {}", sender, target),
+                Knocked => format!("-?> {} made {} knock", sender, target),
+                KnockAccepted => format!("-?o {} accepted {}'s knock", sender, target),
+                KnockRetracted => format!("-?x {} retracted {}'s knock", sender, target),
+                KnockDenied => format!("-?x {} denied {}'s knock", sender, target),
+                NotImplemented => format!(
+                  "xxx {} made a change to {} that matrix-sdk-ui does not support yet",
+                  sender, target
+                ),
+              }
+            }
+          },
+
+          ProfileChange(_) => format!("--- {} updated their profile", sender),
+          OtherState(state) => {
+            if state.state_key() == "" {
+              format!("--- {} changed the room: {:?}", sender, state.content())
+            } else {
+              format!(
+                "--- {} changed {}: {:?}",
+                sender,
+                state.state_key(),
+                state.content()
+              )
+            }
+          },
+          FailedToParseMessageLike { event_type, error } => format!(
+            "xxx {} sent a {} message that made matrix-sdk-ui error: {:?}",
+            sender, event_type, error
+          ),
+          FailedToParseState {
+            event_type,
+            state_key,
+            error,
+          } => {
+            format!(
+              "xxx {} made a {} change to {} that made matrix-sdk-ui error: {:?}",
+              sender, event_type, state_key, error
+            )
+          },
+          Poll(_) => format!("-?- {} acted on a poll", sender),
+        }
+      },
+      TimelineItemKind::Virtual(VirtualTimelineItem::ReadMarker) => {
+        format!("---- read marker ----")
+      },
+      TimelineItemKind::Virtual(VirtualTimelineItem::DayDivider(day_divider)) => {
+        format!("---- day divider: {:?} ----", day_divider)
+      },
+    }
+  }
+
   async fn spawn_back_pagination(&self, num: u16) {
     let room_id = self.room_id.clone();
     let timeline = self.timeline.clone();