Helen LockhartNov 11, 2022

When I first started on Mastodon and tried the hashtag #knitting, it barely registered having any instances. Now when I use the hashtag it flashes up that it averages 862 mentions a week. There are a LOT of folk here interested in knitting.

But please, let us all respect the culture of Mastodon, and not make it into another bird site. We left that site for a reason. Use the CW feature if your post is political. It is there for good reason. And it is so simple to use.

Show threadHelen Lockhart
And if you forget to use the CW feature, simply re-edit your toot. That was a feature so many yearned for elsewhere, and it is available here, so use it.
Nov 11, 2022 at 7:38amWeb
Show threadMazzyNov 11, 2022
@helenlockhart Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing this sort of info about tips and customs. It's much appreciated. Most knitters aren't used to the concept that their knitting content needs a warning, so it's going to take a bit of getting used to.
Show threadHelen LockhartNov 11, 2022
@mazzy Sorry I didn't mean to imply all knitting content needed a CW, but rather political stuff that so many knitters talk about does. But basically, if in doubt, use the CW feature.
Show threadHelen LockhartNov 11, 2022
@mazzy I've edited my original toot to try and make it clearer that I didn't mean all knitting content. Sorry about that!
Show threadMazzyNov 11, 2022
@helenlockhart Ha! I quite happily believed you!
Show threadHelen LockhartNov 11, 2022
@mazzy Sorry! Feel really guilty now!
Show threadMazzyNov 11, 2022
@helenlockhart Please don't! I'm learning things through this conversation.
Show threadeyrea 🇨🇦Nov 11, 2022
@helenlockhart It's been fascinating seeing how CWs are actually used on Mastodon versus how people on Twitter are perceiving them. I like the idea of giving the reader a chance to get into the right headspace.
Show threadHelen LockhartNov 11, 2022
@eyrea Absolutely this! I was puzzled by them at first, but now I find myself irritated when they're not used. I think some see it as a means of censorship but it really isn't.
Show threadeyrea 🇨🇦Nov 11, 2022
@helenlockhart Exactly. I can read your toot when I click on the CW, or I can reply in haste without reading properly because of outrage (probably even agree with you, but I missed a "not" or something), or I can just mute you entirely. Which is the best for political engagement?
Show threadKazinatorNov 11, 2022
@eyrea @helenlockhart
Reply in haste without reading properly, definitely.
Show threadeyrea 🇨🇦Nov 11, 2022
@Kazinator @helenlockhart Because it's worked so well in the past, of course.
Show threadKazinatorNov 11, 2022

@eyrea @helenlockhart

Oops, I replied in haste without reading properly. That was "political engagement", not "political enragement".