JenMerciecaNov 7, 2022
Friends, I've finally figured out how the CW thing works & now I feel like a total idiot. To save you my embarrassment: click the CW in the text box as you compose & it opens up a headline text box & when your post comes out that's what folks see & they can click through for more.
Show threadRob GarverNov 7, 2022

@jenmercieca Is it your sense that the "headline" can be informative? For example, is "I'm linking to a story about politician X saying controversial thing Y" okay?

I mean, where the details of "Y" are the reason for the CW in the first place?

I'm not sure how much insulation from news is expected here.

Show threadJenMerciecaNov 7, 2022
@rrgarver I'd maybe do: US POLS and then the actual headline? I'm not sure if every news article requires a CW though ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Show threadNow -> [email protected]Nov 7, 2022

@jenmercieca @rrgarver

Just "Person X on Topic Y" - or even less & more generic if you can manage it.

** NOT ** the whole headline - for people who don't want to know, it's already too much.

"CW: US Election" is enough for people who are interested - or not.

Think of it as asking for consent. Many of us are here specifically to *not* know certain things.

It can flow past us on the timeline, but CWs mean it's not forced upon us.

(Or gives us time to ready ourselves before opening.)

Show threadRob GarverNov 8, 2022

@Her_Doing @jenmercieca Thank you very much for replying to this. (Apologies in advance for glitches. My interface with this site has been a complete cluster.)

I'm trying to understand who sees what I post. My experience on the birdsite has been that nobody really sees anything I post unless they have made an affirmative decision to do that. Either by following me or tracking a hashtag, etc. etc.

Is it different here? Are my posts landing in front of people who haven't sked to see them?

Show threadNow -> [email protected]

@rrgarver @jenmercieca

Hi Rob - by default, your posts are open and will *at least* be seen by anyone on your local instance who happens to be on at that moment, or scrolls back to check.

Hashtags will potentially boost eyes if anyone is interested in your hashtag.

If someone boosts (RTs) your post, it will be seen by all of their followers and everyone on *their* local instance. 1/

Nov 8, 2022 at 1:04amWeb
Show threadNow -> [email protected]Nov 8, 2022

@rrgarver @jenmercieca

If you had wished your convo private, you'll see a globe (probably, or possibly an open padlock) at the bottom of the post field

(Paperclip, poll graph, globe or lock, CW, etc.)

That's where you can change the privacy levels fr open to unlisted (useful for all but the 1st post of a thread), just followers, or private

Does this make sense?

I'm not sure what your settings were; I think someone boosted Jen's post to me / my local, & seeing your post went from there 2/

Show threadRob GarverNov 8, 2022
@Her_Doing @jenmercieca Thank you very much. I appreciate the help in understanding this place.
Show threadNow -> [email protected]Nov 8, 2022

@rrgarver @jenmercieca

My pleasure - any time!

I'm sorry if I sound terse -

a) I am *VERY* tired, and

b) 500-character limit and still not enough 😄

I was trying to be helpful without the thread being too long. 😬

But I'm happy to answer questions if I can! 😇