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.

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.
@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.
@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.
@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?
@eyrea @helenlockhart
Reply in haste without reading properly, definitely.
@Kazinator @helenlockhart Because it's worked so well in the past, of course.

@eyrea @helenlockhart

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