How many computer scientists does it take to install a replacement doorknob? Answer: Only one, assuming it's easier to install than a #Mastodon upgrade. Don't ask how I know.
A lot has happened since I first published Should the Fediverse welcome its new surveillance-capitalism overlords? Opinions differ! a couple of weeks ago – including #Meta launching its #Threads product, and announcing plans to federate with #Mastodon and (presumably) the other platforms in the interconnected web of decentralized social networks known as the #fediverse. And while Rochko and others see it as a huge victory, opinions continue to differ . In fact, especially Threads couldn't launch in the EU, because of privacy issues, and well-known anti-trans and racist accounts like Libs of TikTok and PragerU as enthusiastic early adopters of Threads, more and more instances are pre-emptively blocking Meta, including hundreds who have signed the Anti-Meta FediPact – and including blahaj.zone, which is where I'm hanging out a lot more these days.
So I've done a massive update to Should the Fediverse welcome its new surveillance-capitalism overlords? Opinions differ!, incorporating new developments as well as adding additional perspectives. One of the new sections is a compilation of of the various polls people have done, which I've included in this post as well. Many thanks to @pearlbear and @nuz for permission to include screenshots of their polls!
And I've also added a lot of quotes since the original version. This post has perspectives on @wynch, @siege, and @joenepraat on reasons not to federate with Meta, as well as some pro-federation perspectives to balance it. The full article has lots more. I've got an opinion, of course, but even people who disagree with me said the previous version did a good job of presenting arguments both sides.
That said, I do have an opinion! And that's one of the reasons I'm spending a lot more of my fediverse time on blahaj.zone, which announced last night that they'll be blocking Meta. I'll still keep my @jdp23 account even though they're planning on federating (I have accounts on Facebook and Instagram too, in case you were wondering), and my @jdp23 account as long as the stray fifth glyphs don't get too out of hand, and my zillions of other accounts ... but I've had great experiences on blahaj.zone so far, and am looking forward to more!
It is annoying & bothersome how often users want to state how much better #Mastodon is than the alternatives. Speaking about quality engagements. I have experienced firsthand, seen and heard of very unbecoming behaviour. Instances being chased off, people being bullied and harassed into shutting down their projects, the gatekeeping, misinformation, racism and much more. #fediverse
Dang.... changed #mastodon instance, and left from home for some hours. I didn't realize to mute notificaations from the new account, now there are hundreds of emails in my inbox 🫣
What's the approximate amount of time between the github email telling me about a new #Mastodon release and when the docker containers appear in the registry?
So #Mastodon isn't that complicated at all, the only thing that doesn't work is that the official phone app on #LineageOS from #fdroid probably would need installed google-apps... Which ain't gonna happen.
Well, can't have everything.
#Tusky seems to be functional enough for light use on the phone.
W związku z wydaną 40 minut temu aktualizacją bezpieczeństwa #Mastodon 4.1.4 informuję o krótkiej przerwie w funkcjonowaniu serwera. Instalacja w trybie ASAP, przepraszam że nie mogę podać dokładnej godziny ani czasu trwania. Postaramy się wykonać aktualizację błyskawicznie.
Während ich von der jüngsten Welle von Neuanmeldungen bei #Mastodon in den Zahlen von @heiseonline ja nichts sehen konnte, sieht es seit gestern so aus, als würde der #Traffic von #Twitter nun merklich zurückgehen.
Muss man natürlich noch beobachten. Aber es ist wohl nicht nur ein Eindruck, dass es auf Twitter merklich ruhiger geworden ist, seit #Threads (nicht in der EU) verfügbar ist.
This constant policing of, OR exploiting Black women’s bodies has been going on FOREVER. An additional truth is, some of us enable it, and make money off doing so, as do record companies and white TV/film executives. There are also questions, such as: who has ULTIMATE agency?
Quick note on #threads: I am really hoping it will be easy for users to set up an account, and then port it straight out to an existing #mastodon acount.
For organisations or government bodies, this would allow them to run their own instances, and federate with systems like Threads without being their prisoner, or even without losing their initial Instagram social graph.
But the real win is still the point where Twitter might be forced to do the same.
"Don't waste time in the Fediverse", they say.
"It's complicated and people don't interact", they say.
"It's scattered and you'll never get good engagement on your posts", they say.
"Pay Twitter #blue, you'll have more visibility", they say.
"Without an algorithm, nobody will notice your posts", they say.
Well, I say they're wrong! 😄
(check the images - and I've more followers on Twitter than on Mastodon)
So I guess the deal is that #Twitter becomes the right wing haven and #Threads becomes the sanitized brand and influencer haven, and #Mastodon ends up somewhere between them. #StuckInTheMiddleWithYou
I don’t want to like Threads — I’m not a fan of Meta and their anti-privacy practices — but they’re doing a lot of things right. They nailed onboarding and the first time user experience, you can quote-post (which I’ve really missed), they’ve nailed conversation threading, and many of the folks I want to follow are there (and unfortunately not here).
I’m really curious to see how they integrate with ActivityPub.
More and more I'm reading about Mastodon being "mean" and "condescending". These topics dont actually explain toward whom Mastodon is mean.
Now I want to make sure we're on the same page - you do know there's no algorithm here? You choose your hashtags, people, instances.
If you're surrounded by negativity, try to procees why and adapt your own behavior. I haven't witnessed a tiniest fragment of negativity compared to other social media.
The only one negative thing I saw is someone... / 1 🧵
... trying to go maliciously into some trans people defence against me because I commented on a sticker saying Disarm Cops, Arm Trans women or kids, can't really tell.
I blocked that person. Boom.
Seriously, if you're looking for a conflict, you'll find it. If not, you probably won't. Mastodon is very well designed.
Am enjoying how my #Mastodon timeline has really come alive these past 36 hours. Especially the #FamilyHistory and #genealogy community.
Maths too. And old friends. And new friends.
With good humour and kindness.
BREAKING: White terrorist and mass murderer Patrick Crusius sentenced today to 90 life sentences for killing at least 23 people (all Latinos) at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas in 2019. #ElPaso#Mastodon#Texas#BlackMastodon#BlackFriday
When you join any centrally-managed #socialmedia platform, you are bound by their terms and conditions, whatever they are and as they change over time.
There is only one real social media based solution to billionaire-controlled platforms: the #fediverse
And I’m so glad you’re here. Please: feel free to share this with your non Fedi friends.
After months without stories in English, we can finally take part at #Newstodon again, with a text about the #fediverse of all. It's by non-other than @mho:
Everything Mastodon lacks: #Calckey in #Fediverse with tens of additional functions
Hey guys, I am sitting on the #PeerTube (#Federated#YouTube) domain peertube.science - I want to gauge how much of an interest in this for me to set up. Is there anyone interested in a non commercial video service like this for the sciences? Humanities are welcome too. :)