Christoph MergersonBlack people have built communities on Twitter that are unlike any other in the technological world. Those communities are not easily replicated elsewhere. An analogy is when people criticized New Orleanians who rebuilt in the city after the devastation of Katrina, even though it was palpably risky to do so. But none of the critics sufficiently explained how those people should transfer their social capital and communities to unfamiliar places that may not even want them. 1/2
BonnieTwitter, for many people, is not an addiction per se, any more than your desire to wake up, go out into your community, and see friendly faces who support you in a difficult world is an addiction. I understand why some people stay, move slowly, or keep a presence in both worlds. It’s not a character defect. 2/2
“I question people who exist in suboptimal tech spaces for complicated reasons they don’t even fully control” feels a little too punk rock for me this morning. Let’s put on some albums that increase the peace.
Chanders@mergerson this is the problem with the chronological timeline Christoph, it’s already after 3pm here and I’m ready to unfairly judge the shit out of everyone 😉
@Chanders Insert friendly but firm 9 a.m. Eastern slander here.
@mergerson I can fairly say that everyone on the I-95 corridor feels this way about everything.
Mike Miller, PhD@Chanders @mergerson I mean, minus the friendly part.
@mlmillerphd @Chanders Do you not feel loved in the City of Brotherly Love?
@mergerson @Chanders I had in mind the NYC to Boston section of the Northeast Corridor. I do actually feel that Philly people are quite friendly...unless you put them in a sporting venue.
Nisa (she/her) 
@mlmillerphd @mergerson @Chanders As a Mets fan who’s gone to game against the Phillies. Can confirm 😆
anlomedad@Chanders @mergerson @mlmillerphd @nisadani
people in general are kind or at least, telling themselves they're trying to be kind.
It's the competitiveness that kills kindness.
And which software platforms and algorithms foster competitveness?
Maybe c. can't be removed from the species. But one should be wary of any process or venue that feeds on this destructive character trait.
Lizzie Speaks Too Soon@mergerson What does that person's comment even mean? I question people who come in your feed saying things that a) don't make sense, and b) have an air of hostility.
✨Timelord Iroh(she/her)🏳️⚧️✨@mergerson I appreciate this a lot. Thank you for sharing.
chaos 🏳️🌈@mergerson I wish I could boost this every hour. sooo many people could benefit from reading this
Thank you for posting 🙏
Lizbon@mergerson Thank you for this very well-put thread!
Wiredfire 
@mergerson Twitter has been an incredible digital space for many groups, culture, campaigners and activists. I’ve seen similar messages from many groups and peoples.
What worries me though is these groups, communities, and cultures are far FAR too important to have all their eggs in one social basket.
All centralised services exist at the whim of their owners & “the market” & can vanish any time. Our connections are too important for that. Being platform agnostic makes our communities robust
John O’Connell@mergerson I remain with a foot in both camps for now. I remain on Twitter to fight disinformation, and the beauty is that on here, I don’t have to :-)
@mergerson
Thank you! I'm not sure why some feel compelled to pathologize or criticize things like this. It's just people talking in a less conventional way. We can instantly connect to people all over the world. It's a good thing imo.
@KotMinou
Thank you! I'm not sure why some feel compelled to pathologize or criticize things like this. It's just people talking in a less conventional way. We can instantly connect to people all over the world. It's a good thing imo.
@KotMinou
Alexandre Oliva (moved to @being addicted to something made with the purpose of being addictive is not a character defect, it's not a flaw, it's being human with all the vulnerabilities that this implies, and it's being a victim.
IMHO whatever great features this (or any other) community built on twitter would be even greater and shinier on platforms that weren't made to exploit their attention as products, and to extract value from them.
when prey ally with their predators, it doesn't usually end well for the prey.
I know stockholm's syndrome has been discredited, but when it comes to addictive products and services, especially tech-induced addictions, it appears to be very real.
IMHO whatever great features this (or any other) community built on twitter would be even greater and shinier on platforms that weren't made to exploit their attention as products, and to extract value from them.
when prey ally with their predators, it doesn't usually end well for the prey.
I know stockholm's syndrome has been discredited, but when it comes to addictive products and services, especially tech-induced addictions, it appears to be very real.
Ta'veren@mergerson I agree. While Twitter can be like entering an international Rave in the twitterverse...it has afforded ppl the opportunity to encounter others from all around the world. Twitter answered a universal human need for connection about so many things including politics. Sadly, we all know these community spaces have been weaponized. And now there is Musk. Dare I say many of us are seeking honest information, interesting conversation and creative expression. Could be speaking for myself.
CJ Booker 
@mergerson @staceyjmiller I really needed to hear this. Thank you.
Bringing compassion to the motivations of others is something I need to learn how to do a lot more. It seems the surest way to a realistic perspective, rather than swimming in my own cynical morass.
Stacey J. Miller