Patricia AasNov 10, 2022
I wrote a thread about Mastodon on Twitter, it needs to be read.
https://twitter.com/pati_gallardo/status/1590485665535643649?s=46&t=hpE2Unzsn-9qKirLfo3tYA
Patricia Aas 🐢🏳️‍🌈 on Twitter

“Ok fine. I have tried to hold my tongue, but there is a line, and when Mastodon folks threaten BIPOC people with getting blocked for not Content Warning when they talk about racism… I need to get real with y’all. 🧵”

Twitter
Show threadvijay🍿☕️🍼Nov 10, 2022

@patricia thanks for writing this.

Folks here on #Mastodon should read this, and take this seriously.
Clearly, there's a culture around how things are done here at Mastodon, but maybe there is a better way to teach folks about that culture instead of blocking/banning folks outright.

If #Mastadon is to be a place for well-meaning folks on the internet, threatening people may not be the best way forward.

And it is hard to know who means well, but @[email protected]'s call out is pretty clear cut #IMHO

Show threadvijay🍿☕️🍼Nov 10, 2022

an instance where "well-meaning" is not clear-cut:

I have refrained from posting anything about last night's elections here in the US, because I know I would be dinged about CWs. That makes me not want to post about elections/politics.

That does not feel very free-speech-y.

But I can also easily imagine discourse around US politics and elections getting out of hand (as intentioned by the OP), so a CW may not be a bad idea for all things politics (?). I dunno!

Show threadDr Diego GaraialdeNov 10, 2022
@krishnavp Hi, I'm a little confused by your post. If you're worried about getting dinged for CWs for posting on US politics. Why not just add "US politics" as the CW? Why refrain from posting instead?
Show threadvijay🍿☕️🍼Nov 10, 2022
@diego it’s about friction (one more thing to do when posting) and my want to be in people’s good graces (and generally not wanting to upset/bother folks)🙂
a CW (for me) implies something that may upset folks … I guess. Eg, I get that folks find US politics unappealing or triggering.
So why would I want to post about something, which even I admit may bother someone … even if it comes with a CW?
So I refrain. Unless I feel really strong about it. So in some ways, it’s a good thing? Not sure.
Show threadDr Diego GaraialdeNov 10, 2022

@krishnavp while CW does imply upset. I think the use on Mastodon has evolved past that. And in some instances/interfaces, it's actually called a "subject line".

This thread may provide greater insight:

https://someone.elses.computer/@TheCybermatron/109320168604846395

Cybermatron (@[email protected])

Content warning: Thoughts on CWs

Someone Else's Computer
Show threadDr Diego Garaialde

@krishnavp but as a summary. I think of it likes this. I don't live in America. So I don't care as much about US politics. Therefore I may skip over a few posts that have a CW of US politics. Otherwise I'd have to skim all of them and it gets annoying.

On a more mundane note. I'm no longer a PhD students. If people are looking advertise to PhD students a position, a CW for that also keeps me from getting spammed irrelevant stuff.

Don't see the downside.

Nov 10, 2022 at 5:35pmWeb
Show threadvijay🍿☕️🍼Nov 10, 2022

@diego to clarify: I would have no trouble if someone used a CW for their posts.. no matter the subject (eg, PhD Positions posting). But I am not going to go ask them to add CW if I think they are missing one.

I would certainly not do this as a mod, unless I have explicitly called it out in the community guidelines of the instance I run. And even then I would be mindful of how I communicate it. 🙂

Show threadDr Diego GaraialdeNov 10, 2022
@krishnavp completely agree