chrisrNov 11, 2022
Maximus Clarke

1/4 A key thing I've learned about Mastodon: When you find your friends on here, don't just follow them — add them to a list!

If you follow a lot of accounts, your close friends' posts may not show up in your feed at a time you're logged on. Unlike FB or Twitter, Mastodon has no algorithm to resurface your friends' posts from hours or days ago.

Solution: Create a list called "Friends" and check it when you're on. This will ensure that you see what they posted while you were away. (cont'd)

Nov 10, 2022 at 7:19pmWeb
Show threadHeurismNov 10, 2022
@bookofsand sage advice
Show threadJosh HansonNov 10, 2022
@bookofsand I noticed that right away. This place is built to make you to miss stuff you care about.
Show threadPurple DragonNov 10, 2022
@bookofsand I would assume you could also create topic based lists for people you follow who primarily post certain types of things
Show threadMaximus ClarkeNov 10, 2022
@purpledragon Exactly. Haven't gotten around to doing that yet, but I probably will soon.
Show threadPurple DragonNov 10, 2022
@bookofsand I'm not seeing an easy way of adding people to a list (i.e. click on their name and have an "add to list" function, or something in the Follows table). Looks like it's a matter of copy/pasting their name/id into the Edit List thing. Accurate?
Show threadMaximus ClarkeNov 10, 2022
@purpledragon What works for me is this: If I am already following someone, I can view their profile, then click the 3 dots button to the right of the Unfollow and Notify buttons, and I see an "Add or Remove From Lists" option. But this only works if I am viewing their profile from within my own feed, if that makes sense.
Show threadPurple DragonNov 10, 2022

@bookofsand When I go to someone I'm following who's on a different server, I'm not logged in, and I get the "Follow" button, even though I'm following already.

Still trying to figure out some of the ins and outs here 🤔

Show threadPurple DragonNov 10, 2022
@bookofsand Oh, I was just able to do what you described, clicking on their name from my feed, rather than going from the "Follows" table. Thanks
Show threadJohn McChesney-YoungNov 11, 2022
@bookofsand @purpledragon I used lists almost exclusively at The Other Place because I followed way too many people to see everything from everyone. I created both topical lists and priority lists with different numbers of members and levels of activity so I could choose among them based on how much time I had.
Show threadCharles J. van DoornewaardNov 12, 2022
@bookofsand @purpledragon
I was about to ask something similar but perhaps it's the same thing: What if I don't want to follow everything that a certin person posts but just specific message threads (subjects or topics) ?
Show threadLinkmeisterNov 12, 2022
@purpledragon @bookofsand I made one for my geographic neighbors.
Show threadBeatrice MurchNov 10, 2022
@bookofsand Brilliant - thanks!
Show threadMatt  Nov 10, 2022
@bookofsand How do you create a list? I've never figured that out
Show threadMatt  Nov 10, 2022
@bookofsand nvm, found it right after I tooted
Show threadRay BowersNov 10, 2022
@thelinuxcast I need to ask how to make a list as well! Hopefully I will also find it as soon as this is posted…
Show threadGoappstateNov 11, 2022
@RayB @thelinuxcast Ugh. Not sure I see how to create.
Show threadRay BowersNov 11, 2022
@Goappstate Loved your profile. You remember 14.4? Oh man, my first modem was 300 baud… 9600 and 14.4 were supersonic in comparison! BTW, I am trying other apps for Mastadon since I heard not all have the same level of functionality yet. Hoping to find what I am looking for in one of them.
Show threadMatt  Nov 11, 2022
@Goappstate @RayB If you used the advanced view, click on Lists there and then the plus sign at the top. Not sure where that is in the regular view.
Show threadCathybugNov 11, 2022
@thelinuxcast what even is an advanced view? I really need dummy instructions 😃
Show threadRay BowersNov 11, 2022

@Goappstate I could not find the Lists using the Mastadon app on an iPad, but I heard the app was rushed and MetaText was recommended instead. I just installed that was well, connecting to the same account, and I quickly found Lists when I tapped on my profile icon in the upper left corner.

So short answer… it may be in different places in some apps and you may need to try a new app if you cannot find it.

Show threadJoNov 10, 2022
@bookofsand would they know they're on the list?
Asking for a friend
Show threadMaximus ClarkeNov 10, 2022
@Kindred That I honestly do not know. I'm curious to know if users can see each others' lists.
Show threadJoNov 10, 2022
@bookofsand 🤔 I don't see any lists on your profile, but I'm using the app and I don't currently follow you
Show threadMaximus ClarkeNov 11, 2022
@Kindred OK, that's a useful data point. Thanks!
Show threadDR. SURFERCHICNov 11, 2022
@bookofsand @Kindred
@feditips
Great tip..
Fedi-True or false?? I vaguely recall that lists are private, but I'm still figuring things on the fly.
By the way @feditips has a fantastic tips for navigating the fediverse. Don't forget, like your instance admins, these awesome people are volunteers. Please donate or consider being a Patreon supporter. There are various options to support.
Thanks and welcome to the fediverse!
Show threadLinkmeisterNov 12, 2022
@Kindred @bookofsand The folks I added did NOT get notified that they were on it. I told them after the fact.
Show threadJoNov 12, 2022
@Linkmeister @bookofsand great, that's really good to know thank you!
Show threadBerlinFokusNov 10, 2022

@bookofsand

Does anyone know how to create lists in the #MastodonAndroidApp ?

Show threadMaximus ClarkeNov 10, 2022
@berlinfokus I have only used the desktop browser interface and Android browser interface. So I don't know about apps.
Show threadSpace HoboNov 10, 2022
@bookofsand Alternate option: start a server for your friends and get them all on your Local timeline!
Show threadConnieNoCultNov 10, 2022
@bookofsand Thanks for the follow and the tip. New here and feeling lost.
Show threadThom ZaneNov 10, 2022
@bookofsand There is also the bell icon next to follow which puts all of their posts into your notifications. (This would only work for low-volume accounts for me personally.)
Show threadLeo Ji Nov 10, 2022
@bookofsand ooooohhh this is incredibly useful to know, thank you!!
Show threadOT ExpertNov 10, 2022
@bookofsand Great tip - thank you :)
Show threadRosie Tennant DoranNov 10, 2022
@bookofsand How do you make a list? 😊💖💙 Xxxx
Show threadMaximus ClarkeNov 10, 2022
@RLeBonTennant What works for me is this: If I am already following someone, I can view their profile, then click the 3 dots button to the right of the Unfollow and Notify buttons, and I see an "Add or Remove From Lists" option. But this only works if I am viewing their profile from within my own feed, if that makes sense.
Show threadRosie Tennant DoranNov 10, 2022
@bookofsand Thanks! I had to go into Mastodon on my web browser to be able to do this, but I figured it out in the end. This sounds like it may be a helpful thing if you talk to someone a lot, yet their replies don't show up in their notifications. That's happened to me quite a bit on here recently. 🙃💙💖 Xxxx
Show threadsarah (she/her)Nov 11, 2022
@RLeBonTennant @bookofsand I had to do this too and see the add option but it won’t actually let me add. 😩
Show threadRosie Tennant DoranNov 20, 2022
@Sestephenson @bookofsand Did you manage to get this list sorted in the end? 😊💙💖 Xxxx
Show threadsarah (she/her)Nov 21, 2022
@RLeBonTennant @bookofsand I did not. I feel pretty out of my depth because I’m not great with new tech to begin with and Mastodon feels like new tech and new tech in a way that’s different than anything I’ve experienced.
Show threadMichele J MartinNov 10, 2022
@bookofsand Great idea, thanks.
Show threadSchuylerNov 10, 2022
@bookofsand Why does having them on a list make a difference?
Show threadMaximus ClarkeNov 10, 2022
@schuyler Because when you go to look at that list, you'll see all your friends' recent posts grouped together on your timeline. Otherwise you might never see them, if they were posted while you were away.
Show threadSchuylerNov 10, 2022
@bookofsand That's the part that confuses me. Do user lists tell the Mastodon instance to do something magical?
Show threadMaximus ClarkeNov 10, 2022

@schuyler They just tell it to show you the posts from whichever accounts are on the list.

It's useful for seeing a subset of the accounts you follow. Could be your personal friends, could be everyone who posts about a particular subject, or whatever else you want to use it for.

Show threadCalicosineNov 10, 2022
@bookofsand But then shouldn't they just be downloaded from the various servers when refreshing the main feed? Genuine question, I'm a bit confused with this.
Show threadMaximus ClarkeNov 10, 2022

@DrewNaylor The problem is that your main feed is purely chronological. It will show you whatever the most recent stuff is from EVERY account you follow.

What I'm talking about is making a special list that's just for your personal friends, as opposed to all the non-personal-friend accounts you might be following on here.

If you don't do that, your friends' posts might get lost in the flow of other stuff.

Show threadCalicosineNov 10, 2022
@bookofsand Oh, ok, that makes sense. Generally I only follow a small number of accounts anyway.
Show threadlukeslensNov 10, 2022
@bookofsand Ok, this is actually extremely helpful. I was wondering why I wasn’t seeing my friends posts as much! Thank you!
Show threadKwanza Osajyefo Nov 10, 2022
@bookofsand Excellent tip. Thank you.
Show threadAlexandra de WitNov 11, 2022
@bookofsand I assume this is a web version only thing not available on the mobile client?
Show threadMaximus ClarkeNov 11, 2022
@storakatten I don't know... I haven't used the app!
Show threadMaximus ClarkeNov 11, 2022
@storakatten But someone says it can be done in the "Tusky" Android app
Show threadAlexandra de WitNov 11, 2022
@bookofsand oooh I like this. Thanks!
Show threadClipper Chip Nov 11, 2022
That posts are actually shown in chronological order is a big plus! That's how Twitter used to be and to this day I only use TweetDeck which also does only show current posts.
Show threadMaximus ClarkeNov 11, 2022
@clipperchip Yeah, in general, I agree -- a chronological timeline is better. But if there are some accounts you especially want to keep track of, lists (and notifications) are good ways to do that.
Show threadClipper Chip Nov 11, 2022
@bookofsand Indeed. I used lists extensively on twitter, especially because I followed too many people - a group "primary" were the most important ones.
Show threadWilliam Brooks is not extinctNov 11, 2022
@bookofsand
Mastodon has a perfectly good algorithm for resurfacing posts from when you were offline: "Scrolling"
Show threadMaximus ClarkeNov 11, 2022
@wcbdata Sure, if you've got enough time...
Show threadWilliam Brooks is not extinctNov 11, 2022
@bookofsand
Or if you curate your feed well 😉