Hadley Beeman

I'm finding myself uncertain and surprisingly emotional about what's going on over at Twitter. While I'm 100% behind federation (and am thrilled to see you all here!), it's hard to watch a set of communities that have been important to me for almost a decade and a half just disappear.

Ah well. We are nothing if not evolution-based, right? Bring on the brave new future.

Nov 18, 2022 at 5:22amWeb
Show threadSharon O'DeaNov 18, 2022
@hadleybeeman I’m feeling so sad about its demise. It was such an important part of my life for so long.
Show threadTerence EdenNov 18, 2022

@sharonodea @hadleybeeman without wishing to be overdramatic, it feels like I've lost one of my senses.

Let's hope the others pick up the slack.

Show threadHadley BeemanNov 18, 2022
@Edent @sharonodea One of your senses... I get that. I'm expecting a big sense of disorientation without it to turn to. How else will I know what's going on? We're going to have to make a big effort to tell each other now.
Show threadAndy PiperNov 18, 2022
@hadleybeeman @sharonodea @Edent we’re going to do a “toot-up” in London on Dec 13th if you’re interested in chatting more about this… details to come shortly.
Show threadHadley BeemanNov 18, 2022
@andypiper @sharonodea @Edent Very much so! That sounds wonderful. Do let me know.
Show threadSharon O'DeaNov 18, 2022
@andypiper @hadleybeeman @Edent sadly I’m not in London then. I’m around for the next week though!
Show threadTerence EdenNov 18, 2022
@sharonodea @andypiper @hadleybeeman I'll be out of the country, but will raise a glass in solidarity.
Show threadAndy PiperNov 18, 2022
@hadleybeeman @Edent @sharonodea oooh happy to meet up before December, also!
Show threadAndy PiperDec 7, 2022
@hadleybeeman @sharonodea @Edent we’ve decided to move the meetup into January, FWIW. Will let you know.
Show threadHadley BeemanNov 18, 2022
@sharonodea Certainly helped to bring us together! xx
Show threadAlan StainerNov 18, 2022
@hadleybeeman I just want Musk to buy Facebook now.
Show threadHadley BeemanNov 18, 2022
@alanstainer I can’t even imagine…. 🤦‍♀️
Show threadLotti NewsteadNov 18, 2022
@hadleybeeman yes that’s very well articulated. It’s really sad but I’m just trying to get on with starting differently somewhere new. Who knows where this one will go? Good luck!
Show threadHadley BeemanNov 18, 2022
@lotti And to you too!
Show threadSimeon NedkovNov 18, 2022
@hadleybeeman Are the different groups making efforts to collectively migrate elsewhere? Can this be organized at all or are the groups too fluid and/or the tools not fit for that purpose?
Show threadHadley BeemanNov 18, 2022
@simeon I’ve seen a few organised efforts, like this one: HTTPS://opencheck.is/scitwitter. But I think everyone is kind of muddling their way through, at this point.
OpenCheck

Show threadSimeon NedkovNov 18, 2022
@hadleybeeman Interesting, thanks for sharing!
Show threadCazDoesPoliticsNov 18, 2022
@hadleybeeman I think a lot of us feel like that. I was a relatively new user on Twitter, but had put some effort into building a bit of a social network with a view to an academic career. That's about to go down the toilet, but the plus side is the lack of algorithms here makes this site more 'honest'. Things gain traction if people boost them, which was always how social media was supposed to work.
Show threadHadley BeemanNov 18, 2022
@cazdoespolitics Sending you good wishes for whatever your career holds next. If you were/are adaptable enough to make Twitter work for you, then I suspect you’ll find ways to make this work for you too. Fingers crossed for you!
Show threadMichelle Laverick MusicNov 18, 2022
@hadleybeeman Yes it is disturbing. Not least the appalling way staff has been treated in such a naked way. Perhaps one definition of hubris is starting business without a clear plan for making it profitable, and then convincing staff & investors to part with their time & money…
Show threadChildishDanbinoNov 18, 2022
@hadleybeeman It has been a very pyrrhic victory. Watching a man spend $44 billion to show the world he’s an idiot doesn’t bring me satisfaction when it came at the cost of the one network I’ve consistently used for 12 years!
Show threadHadley BeemanNov 18, 2022
@ChildishDanbino I hear you on that!
Show threadEllzSummary #FBPENov 18, 2022
@hadleybeeman My sentiments entirely … but nothing ever stays the same, we are adaptable, resilient and we will find a new way to communicate and find new friends here too.
Show threadNigelTuckerNov 18, 2022
@hadleybeeman Don't worry. You are getting new followers, like myself, here. Looking forward to seeing your posts.
Show threadHadley BeemanNov 18, 2022
@PortTalbot That’s kind of you, thanks.
Show threadJonathan WilliamsNov 18, 2022

@hadleybeeman certainly Darwinism - those who survive will adapt best to change - but I wonder whether this is more revolution against “let them eat cake” owners of the bird site.

I’m not sure which revolution, just that employees and community members are revolting (and not in _that_ way for staff and many contributors).

Show threadGeorge JulianNov 18, 2022

@hadleybeeman 100% with you on the mixed emotions, am liking it here so far, reminds me of twitter 14yrs ago.

Feels like such loss tho, of communities and history, of shared learning and commemoration. Also acutely aware of friends who’ve died and who will never make it to new spaces. Lots of conflicting emotions, altho ultimately grateful for this safe harbour.

Show threadHadley BeemanNov 18, 2022

@GeorgeJulian I’ve had similar feelings, about the early days of Twitter. I miss that open discussion!

I hadn’t considered the fallen-friends angle. I do like seeing their profiles, knowing that we’re keeping a space open for them, in their honour. I guess I have some grieving to do there.

Hugs to you ❤️

Show threadGeorge JulianNov 18, 2022

@hadleybeeman it’s been a life changing 14yrs for me, all my grandparents, both my parents, a couple friends and a couple pets have all died and been memorialised in a Twitter thread, never thought that would have the significance it feels as it burns/sinks.

Was thinking of your birthday messages for your friend, is it Erika/Erica and how poignant they are. Maybe fbk will go the same way in time, but for now those feel safer 🤷‍♀️

Show threadPoscasNov 18, 2022
@hadleybeeman agreed. It’s hard to explain the joy and value of twitter to people who weren’t on it. If it is about to implode I will genuinely miss the community I have/had there.
Show threadNitaNov 18, 2022
@hadleybeeman twitter saved my life, more than once.
Is this a brave new world? #frightened
Show threadHadley BeemanNov 18, 2022

@socky Obviously I don’t know your specific circumstances, but if twitter was able to help you, then I hope some of the skills and support mechanisms you’ve learned about will be replicable here. Or in other parts of your life.

Sending good wishes, whatever is going on for you. We’ll all get through these transitions together.

Show threadZubairNov 18, 2022

@hadleybeeman I don't think it's finished at all, I just think that there will be two separate worlds, one with anger and one with calm, a sort of Ying and a Yang.

I know I prefer it here, but I have to pop over there to catch the latest on a specific topic that is not really on here yet.

I know the Birdcage has temporarily closed the office till Monday, but I will wait for the dust to settle. Everything will work out for the best in the end. Adaption is what makes life interesting.

Show threadHadley BeemanNov 18, 2022
@zubair Your “separate worlds” description resonates with me. There is still lots going on over at Twitter, but it feels very different to here.
Show threadZubairNov 18, 2022

@hadleybeeman The Birdcage does have its use, for the moment. It's calmer here, because there are no algorithms trying to stealthily make you angry. It's a Jekyll & Hyde situation.

Recently I did not like my attitude on Twitter, especially during the midterms, even though I'm British and was rage tweeting. I realised/felt I was being manipulated to increase tweets. I stopped and tried to turn it around.

It's a lot more civil here and you go out of your way to be polite. I like it.

Show threadJason MesiarikNov 18, 2022
@hadleybeeman Yes, and it creates new possibilities too. 😊
Show threadHadley BeemanNov 18, 2022
@jmesiarik Yes, that’s a good point.
Show threadKevNov 18, 2022
@hadleybeeman they will rebuild here in a fraction of the time.
Show threadHadley BeemanNov 18, 2022
@alisca I hope so. Or perhaps mutate into something similar but new… It will be interesting to see.
Show threadweatherpixieNov 18, 2022
@hadleybeeman tbh if found I was using Twitter less and less because it was showing me less and less content from the people I followed
Show threadHadley BeemanNov 18, 2022
@weatherpixie Yeah, I felt something similar. I also felt like it was harder to have conversations, more becoming a broadcast-or-lurk medium. I miss normal chats!
Show threadweatherpixieNov 18, 2022
@hadleybeeman it’s not the first decampment I’ve seen - first newsgroups to Livejournal then LJ to Facebook. Communities tend to find new homes.
Show threadHadley BeemanNov 18, 2022
@weatherpixie That’s true, and important. I might add IRC to that list too :)
Show threadweatherpixieNov 18, 2022
@hadleybeeman I think the defection on IRC was slower Altho the freenode nonsense last year probably killed it.
Show threadDJP (Darren John Pope)Nov 18, 2022
@hadleybeeman ... communities find each other and build no matter the platform
Show threadBALGalleryNov 18, 2022
@hadleybeeman you are not alone. There is a core group from Twitter who are all feeling the same way. Sad.
Show threadHadley BeemanNov 18, 2022
@balgallery Sad indeed. Glad we are all going through this together.
Show threadHelen RossNov 18, 2022
@hadleybeeman
By riotgirlerin on the birdsite.
Show threadHadley BeemanNov 19, 2022
@Tighnacoille Merci — cette photo m’a fait rire !
Show threadMarkRNov 20, 2022
@hadleybeeman change is the only constant.
Show threadHadley BeemanNov 20, 2022
@mbrmark Wise words!
Show threadjanT@[email protected]Nov 20, 2022
@hadleybeeman I feel the same way. Mastodon is fine but it won't be the same opportunity as twitter to easily reach a large audience of people you have selected over years.
Show threadHadley BeemanNov 20, 2022
@JanT Yes, well said. It’s just a different thing, and I suppose we’ll have to take it on its own merits.