@feditips@mstdn.social
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

feditips

@feditips@mstdn.social

This account has moved to https://social.growyourown.services/@FediTips , please follow me there instead!

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

feditips, to random
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

Some apps on here are offering AI/LLM for certain features such as entering an image description automatically.

If you are abled and sighted, please don't use these features.

If you are sighted and able to enter descriptions yourself, it would be better for the planet if you enter descriptions manually. Manual descriptions avoid anyone having to cause environmental damage.

So-called "AI" features damage the planet:

https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/12/05/1084417/ais-carbon-footprint-is-bigger-than-you-think/

https://www.nature.com/articles/s42256-020-0219-9

https://oecd.ai/en/wonk/how-much-water-does-ai-consume

feditips,
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

@runarcn

I don't know if that feature works any more? However, I'd imagine it causes extra energy costs of some kind.

By the way, just to repeat, I'm not saying any of this to people who depend on these features for accessibility. I'm only saying this to people who are able to enter a description manually.

feditips,
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

@spaduf

You've linked to an article from April 2022.

Here's an article from December 2023:

https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/12/05/1084417/ais-carbon-footprint-is-bigger-than-you-think/

It's not just water usage, it's carbon as well. Anything that uses significant amounts of energy causes carbon emissions either directly or by using renewables that could have been powering something else that consumes energy.

"Generating one image takes as much energy as fully charging your smartphone."

feditips,
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

@spaduf

The article I linked to is specifically about the impact of using the models (not training but actual use):

"And while we know training AI models is highly polluting, the emissions attributable to using AI have been a missing piece so far. That is, until now. "

https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/12/05/1084417/ais-carbon-footprint-is-bigger-than-you-think/

feditips,
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

@noondlyt

Exactly. Best to avoid it if you can.

NamelessTemplar, to random

First post on Mastadon, hopefully not the last. I created this account to learn more about decentralized social media and the Fediverse.

feditips,
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

@grant_h @NamelessTemplar

Also see the website at https://fedi.tips for all tips/guides published so far.

ethanjstark, to random
@ethanjstark@hachyderm.io avatar

👋 @pluralistic In your bio, you write, "I post long threads. If you don't like these in your timeline but want to read them, I suggest unfollowing me here and subscribing to my RSS, or my newsletter, or any of my various long-form feeds. Links at https://pluralistic.net "

I just learned that "it’s considered polite to use a public visibility setting for the first post but an unlisted visibility setting for the replies in the thread"

Wonder if you'd consider doing so?

https://mstdn.social/@feditips/111540429454484768

feditips,
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

@ethanjstark

I think @pluralistic and I are talking about different things?

Unlisted doesn't help on the Home timeline, but it does help reduce clutter on the Federated and Local timelines and the search function.

feditips, (edited ) to random
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

Every account on Mastodon and the Fediverse has a unique account address, it will look something like this:

@ (username) @ (server)

You can find anyone's address by looking at their profile page, the address is written underneath their display name in a smaller font.

Account addresses are handy if you want to tell people about your account, people can paste your account address into the search box on their server which will make your profile appear.

Lots more info at https://fedi.tips/whats-my-accounts-address-how-do-i-follow-other-peoples-addresses-how-can-people-follow-my-address/

robert42, to mastodon
@robert42@mastodon.social avatar

TIL deleting your own boosted post also deletes the original post it seems? Is that correct / any way around that? @feditips

feditips,
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

@robert42

If you want to unboost a post, click the boost button again.

Boosting a post doesn't create a second copy, it just shares the original post. If you delete that post, you will be deleting the original.

feditips, to random
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

In case you missed it, the fedi.tips website has a complete list of all the ways to discover people to follow on Mastodon and the Fediverse:

➡️ https://fedi.tips/how-do-i-find-accounts-to-follow-on-mastodon-and-the-fediverse-how-do-i-find-my-friends/

If there's a method missing from the list, let me know!

feditips,
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

@maxwainwright

There's no direct way, but if you go to their profile page it may look blank.

feditips,
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

@ekes

I wouldn't recommend followgraph as it is run by someone from Meta (they have "Trust and Safety @ Meta" on their profile, which is sort of a contradiction in terms considering Meta's horrific track record regarding genocide, election interference etc).

You don't need to have all your follows on the same timeline. You can use Lists to move follows onto separate themed timelines:

https://fedi.tips/how-to-use-the-lists-feature-on-mastodon/

The latest version of Mastodon lets you hide List posts from the main timeline.

feditips,
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

@ekes

"It's a tool. Working for Meta doesn't mean, everything you do can be smeared."

It's a tool created by someone who works for a company that does disgusting things. I don't trust such tools.

"it's already hard not to not miss a lot of posts."

It depends on what you want from social media?

If you want to read absolutely every post then yes you have to restrict how many people you follow. But a lot of people dip in and out of social media and aren't too worried if some posts scroll by.

feditips,
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

@maxwainwright

I think this is deliberate, because some trolls/abusers try to take "revenge" on anyone who dares to block them.

By making it harder to notice blocks, such acts are less likely to happen.

boblaw0, to feditips

@feditips @feditips
How do i view my posts that are not boosts? I boost a lot of stuff so it is difficult to find posts from me.

feditips,
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

@boblaw0

There's no direct option on your profile, but you could try searching for "from:me" in the search box?

Other people can search for from: and then your account address ( AT Boblaw0 AT mastodon DOT social but with @ and . instead of words and spaces).

KenExline, to random
@KenExline@masto.ai avatar
feditips, (edited )
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

@SusanHR @KenExline

You're wanting to add alt text?

If you're using the website, after you've attached the image click the "edit" button on the picture itself, then add the text for the alt text, then click "apply", then publish the post.

If you're using the official app, click on the picture itself and type the alt text, then publish the post.

Third party apps will have various interfaces, but it normally involves writing on the image.

feditips, (edited ) to random
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

You can see trending posts, hashtags and links on your server by browsing its "Explore" section.

-On website or web app click "Explore" or # on the right of screen

-On official apps click 🔍 magnifying glass at bottom, and leave search box empty

-On third party apps interface will vary, but usually it's called "Trending" and often in settings menu

Lots more info about this including why things trend, how server admins can prevent dubious things trending etc at:

➡️ https://fedi.tips/where-are-the-trending-posts-and-hashtags-on-mastodon/

feditips, to random
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

Have you ever noticed an account on here labelled "Automated" or "Bot"?

It means the account is a bot, operating automatically without a human doing the posting.

This might sound odd, but there are many useful and entertaining , for example posting sports results or weather bulletins or public domain art. Other bots run interactive games of chess or D&D campaigns or text adventures.

Find out more at:

➡️ https://fedi.tips/why-are-some-accounts-marked-bot-on-mastodon/

...and some good bots to follow:

➡️ https://fedi.directory/tag/bots/

feditips,
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

@anopka

Yeah, some nice bots on botsin.space!

feditips,
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

@VirginiaMurr

Ahaa, thank you!

Is it correct to say bad bots probably wouldn't label themselves "automated"?

feditips,
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

@VirginiaMurr

Glad to hear from voice of experience! 👍

feditips,
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

p.s. If you want a specific example, this is a fun bot for fans of pop culture: @vs_everyone

feditips,
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

@Sylkeweb

I think the "news account" label on Friendica is intended for automated RSS streams?

Is there some reason a non-automated account would use it? (Genuine question!)

feditips,
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

@Sylkeweb

I'm pretty sure it's meant to label accounts with linked RSS, as they are often called "news feeds"? That's why RSS readers are often called "news readers".

One of Friendica's best features is its ability to easily link any RSS feed to an account 👍

feditips,
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

@Sylkeweb

It is pretty unclear though, yeah :blobsad:

Maybe Friendica should change the label to "RSS account" or something? But then they would have problems because some use Atom feeds etc.

feditips, to random
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

You can create threads on Mastodon using the traditional method:

  1. Post first part of thread
  2. Reply to first part with second part
  3. Reply to second part with third etc

Some third-party apps and services also have thread creation tools.

It's a good idea to number threads so that people who notice one part will explore the rest.

Also, set first post to "public" visibility but replies to "unlisted", to avoid filling public timelines.

Lots more info on threads at https://fedi.tips/how-do-i-post-a-thread-on-mastodon/

feditips, (edited )
@feditips@mstdn.social avatar

@pluralistic

I think we are meaning different things?

I don't mean the Home timeline, I mean the Local and Federated timelines and the search function.

If you use unlisted, the post will not appear in local, federated or search, either on your instance or other people's.

Replies (unlisted or public) will appear on Home if they are replies to someone you follow, or if they are part of a thread by someone you follow. Otherwise all replies are hidden on Home.

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