Mastodawn

: Indigenous Terror

Here's some masto history

There was a period of severe #racism here on masto. And not just from the shitty nazi side.

Just a lot of white liberal "left" people who felt that they were God's Gift to Mankind.

Who knew how to walk the walk. But the moment you pushed even slightly at them. Pointed out how a statement could be read as inflammatory. Pointed out an outdated term.

They exploded. Shit the fucking bed. And then left in a huff.

It took a group of #BIPOC users getting together and agreeing to work together for a while in dealing with these "subtle" racists for anything to get done. Because, of course, these shitlords made themselves popular amongst the white population.

But, it has happened. there was a solid year of stress and daily racism at some pretty extreme levels.

but there has been a sharp decrease of racism. Not an ending, I ain't ignorant. But a step, and a big enough step that I know of several instances on here that I can reach out to whenever I feel racially targeted to help me out.

I worry about how many of those shitheads are going to sneak in with the current iteration of new users.

But it isn't hopeless. We just have to remain vigilant and reach out to our fellow BIPOC for backup.

: Indigenous Terror Nov 9, 2022

Also

The instance created as a hub for BIPOC and Latine folks was called myasstodon. And after we started to drift apart, some stayed there, some went to monads, some went to redroom/nightcrew and some went here to elekk. all of our instances stay close, we just ventured out. I became admin of the instance I started out on, for example. Others started their own instances. myasstodon was just getting so much intense heat that we made it less of the focus.

if you see an instance banning myasstodon or monads or elekk or redroom or nightcrew and ESPECIALLY any combination of the above.... there's a chance they were racist and felt that the pushback they got was "mean"

Jay C Wells Nov 9, 2022

@magicalmilly Thanks for those insights into Mastodon history. I admire your enthusiasm and engagement.

This morning, I saw a list of banned servers while looking for a good introductory guide to Mastodon. It's crazy how long that list was; those instances were probably not exhaustive.

I'm on Mastodon for four or five days, but I already love how calm it appears compared to Twitter.

A. P. Howell Nov 10, 2022

@magicalmilly Thank you for the history and the Mastodon-specific dogwhistles.

Gabriel Caetano Nov 11, 2022

@magicalmilly hey, I am exploring which server might be best suited for me to settle in as a Latine from Brazil, so do you mind if I ask a question or two about those mentions? Also, I can't seem to find redroom and nightcrew through search.

Jai Half-Elven 🏹🍜🐉Nov 17, 2022

@magicalmilly thank you!

lucybernholz Nov 9, 2022

@magicalmilly appreciate this history. I, too, have been worrying about what else comes in with the influx of users.

Internet Rando Nov 9, 2022

@magicalmilly With enough eyes, every bug is shallow.

Now Mastodon is growing, there will be more eyes on more hassling.

: Indigenous Terror Nov 9, 2022

@johnmatthews72 not to be rude. I know you mean well

But LMAO.

If you've read the above, you would see that I mentioned that the people became popular and knew how to fit in. It was only at breaking point that they showed their true colors. And that was after slurs would be thrown around.

And, despite the slurs, every single fucking time, it would be the BIPOC pointing it out and being lambasted for being mean.

Until like 5 forms of proof was shown.

White people never fucking caught this shit first. Because white people aren't taught to read those racist lines because they don't get that double talked used against them.

Don't fucking tell me that you, white dude, are going to make shit better. I do not believe you.

And I feel strongly confident you are white due to how you felt you could just wipe away my fears with your mere internet presence.

Internet Rando Nov 9, 2022

@magicalmilly you are correct. I am white. I am also trying to be a better ally.

Am I going to get it right all the time? No.

Am I going to try, yes.

I will not wipe away your struggles with a glib statement. But I do wish to give you hope for better things to come.

If I offend you, I am sorry. This is not my intention.

: Indigenous Terror Nov 9, 2022

@johnmatthews72 all that matters is that you listen and learn.

I get it. You wanna help. That's great.

The tone just came off as "have no fear, for white man is here!"

And I'm just like.... Hmmm nah.

Internet Rando Nov 9, 2022

@magicalmilly It will be people who recognize racism because they put up with it every day who will be the eyeballs in my analogy.

Boring White Guy is not the superhero for this job. But I'll help where I can.

GlenG🌻 - Support Ukraine Nov 9, 2022

@magicalmilly @johnmatthews72 I'm a white guy from Texas. Fortunately, though from Austin in the '70s. Even so, I've been swimming in the racist current for years - even today with my parents and siblings.

I'm also a recent Twitter transplant.

I feel there's hope for me though, because I have 3 daughters who never hesitate to correct me when it shows up.

So yes, I completely agree that listening and sincerely wanting to learn and do better is the way. If I err though, please be gentle.

WriterByter Nov 9, 2022

@magicalmilly Sorry it was like that. I just block the racists…and the misogynists, the Beckys & Karens.

Shrikant Joshi Nov 9, 2022

@magicalmilly
Fascinating bit of history, thanks for sharing! Is there a more detailed (name-and-shame kind of) record of this somewhere? Just to satisfy morbid curiosities... TIA!

Fish Id Wardrobe Nov 9, 2022

@magicalmilly I'm going to take a wild guess that these were GNU Social folks. I caught a bad vibe there when I tried it.

Lauren Hug Nov 9, 2022

@magicalmilly Thank you for sharing this history. As I learn Mastodon, I want to be mindful of the work that has made this possible and respectful of those who have been here long before me.

Nando's Brain Nov 9, 2022

@magicalmilly sorry for the ignorance, what's a bipoc?

: Indigenous Terror Nov 9, 2022

@BroCrow black and indigenous people of color

@magicalmilly , education might be one answer.
Ie in the Netherlands they teach non-violent conflict resolution from early on in schools.
Also we want people to change to become better, not create or cement an us and them.
That also starts with language, if you're really keen to help, be an example.

everyone sang Nov 11, 2022

good reminder

annaraven Nov 11, 2022

@magicalmilly Is it okay to boost this? (I'm never quite sure whether that's okay or not, so I'd rather ask first.)