Erik MoellerNov 7, 2022

The collapse of Twitter is a system breakdown. Mastodon and the fediverse represent something different: _system change_. From for-profit "Big Tech" to nonprofit, open source, community-owned public spaces.

System change is always harder than you think. It always incurs short-term costs, with hoped for long-term benefits.

The next few weeks will be really tough for the fediverse. Stick around, vibe with it, and you just might help us put a huge part of the web back in community hands. <3

Show threadErik MoellerNov 7, 2022

Expect some of the following to happen in the coming weeks:

- celebrities with huge follower counts pushing tiny community-run servers to their knees

- instance admin burnout; shutting down of servers

- big new servers that don't "vibe" with common rules or culture being widely defederated

- some notable account violating an instance code of conduct and throwing a fit

- lots of people ragequitting Mastodon for one reason or another

- etc.

It'll be a rough ride. Patience and strength, all.

Show threadZ O R A N G R B I CNov 7, 2022
@eloquence Do you think a lot of celebrities are affected by what's going on up to the point they would decide to go to mastodon? And what about their followers? Are those people who care at all about the situation at Twitter?
Show threadErik MoellerNov 7, 2022

@zoran

The US is incredibly politically polarized right now, and Musk has aligned himself very visibly with the authoritarian right-wing (to the extent of posting a homophobic Hillary Clinton conspiracy theory).

That's the sort of thing that pushes people over the edge. He seems to be using every day as another opportunity to piss off millions of users of the platform he bought, positioning it increasingly more as a "Fox News of social media".

Show threadZ O R A N G R B I CNov 7, 2022
@eloquence Oh, ok. Wow. Sorry for mumbling, I'm flabbergasted. I try to follow what's going on, but didn't realize he openly aligned with the authoritarian right. You're at the source and the news takes a bit of time to trickle down to Europe? Well, in hindsight it doesn't surprise me. I presume it's the gradual change that's so dangerous: you don't realize where the captain is heading until the bow points in that direction.
Show threadDaniel SchildtNov 7, 2022
@zoran @eloquence It's much more than a gradual change: instant split second decisions that destroy social connections of millions of people. Biggest cause of stress for many is the loss of connections to those they care about. Also, lack of proper discovery methods makes it even more difficult, as most don't know about 3rd party search tools (and those don't find most people).
Show threadZ O R A N G R B I C
@autiomaa @eloquence I presume it's difficult to realize the extent of the underlying damage that is done by split second decisions. Elon reminds me of a person who jumps first and then tries to grow wings on the way down.
Nov 7, 2022 at 10:50amWeb
Show threadDaniel SchildtNov 7, 2022
@zoran @eloquence That is why companies that evaluate potential CEOs often also have psychological tests for CEO candidates. But it wouldn't have helped in this situation because he's only responsible for himself (and the few countries that bankrolled the hostile takeover).
Show threadkryphosNov 7, 2022

@zoran @autiomaa @eloquence Musk is no idiot. What he does makes no sense when you assume it's about running a business or maintaining a community.

It makes *a lot* of sense when Musk has political ambitions. His erratic and nonsensical actions then is "vice signaling" to advertise him as authoritarian leader. And it works - the right wing is totally in love with him right now.

Show threadDaniel SchildtNov 7, 2022
@kryphos @zoran @eloquence There have been predictions that he might be running for a governor on some smaller state. Wouldn't surprise much.
Show threadShanti's Hellbound HeartNov 8, 2022
@autiomaa @kryphos @zoran @eloquence
Thank goodness he can't run for the presidency there.
Show threadkryphosNov 8, 2022

@shanti @autiomaa @zoran @eloquence

a) Nobody knows. Words on paper have no power, it will depend on what happens when he announces to do so.

b) he doesn't have to, as long as presidency in the US and elsewhere depend on his approval, on what direction he sends his 400 Million to.

Show threadMoon Baron Nov 7, 2022
@autiomaa @zoran @kryphos @eloquence Um… no I’m pretty confident he is an idiot.
Show threadZ O R A N G R B I CNov 7, 2022
@kryphos @autiomaa @eloquence Interesting take on the subject. Time will tell probably. I'm still split between an idiot and somebody with an agenda.
Show threadStarry Starry KnightNov 7, 2022
@zoran @autiomaa @eloquence
It doesn't help and possibly hurts that he's on the autism disorder spectrum... keyword disorder...
https://psychcentral.com/autism/elon-musk-opened-up-about-autism-heres-what-we-learned#who-is-elon-musk
Show threadSupineNov 8, 2022
@Space6host @zoran @autiomaa @eloquence He is not on the spectrum. That's his recent excuse for his awful behavior, don't fall for his con.
Show threadJae ErwinNov 14, 2022
@Space6host @zoran @autiomaa @eloquence
You would probably benefit from doing some wider reading on autism, or actually talking with autistic people. Many of us prefer not to have our neurotype referred to as a disorder.
Show threadJae ErwinNov 14, 2022
@Space6host @zoran @autiomaa @eloquence
OK, I'm only 7 days too late. As you were 😆