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 Garaialde
@krishnavp also in terms of friction. If adding a subject line to an email adds enough friction to stop you from emailing, maybe that amount of friction is actually a good thing. Sometimes we shouldn't be posting just because we can, but because we've thought about it.
Nov 10, 2022 at 5:43pmWeb
Show threadvijay🍿☕️🍼Nov 11, 2022

@diego that is something I have been thinking about a lot. And I certainly value the "subject" line in emails, as it forces me to think about what it is I am talking about 😂

So yes, I agree that it is a good thing.

CWs are certainly a powerful and versatile feature. And I consider them to be a net positive, not just in Mastodon, but in social media in general. I hope other sites (FB et. al.) steal this feature.

Our attitudes on how we expect our fellow people to use it, is another matter 🙂