Taylor LorenzFeatures Mastodon desperately needs imo:
- MUCH better search functionality
- Easier way to find and add people across servers
- Quote posting!
- Link previews
Jeff Jarvis@taylorlorenz As I'm learning, Taylor, there are specific objections to some of these. Some believe that search enables bad guys to find their targets for harassment too easily.
Some--including Eugen--argue that QTs are performative rather than conversational and lead to bad behavior. On the other hand, there is strong argument that QTs are central to call-and-response in Black Twitter and a necessary affordance. I can send you thread links.
As for me, I'm of various minds...
Some--including Eugen--argue that QTs are performative rather than conversational and lead to bad behavior. On the other hand, there is strong argument that QTs are central to call-and-response in Black Twitter and a necessary affordance. I can send you thread links.
As for me, I'm of various minds...
TheJenAlso, most of these features demand server space which costs MONEY.
Want more features? Sponsor your instance. :)
@JenWojcik @taylorlorenz I've joined the patreon for mine.
@jeffjarvis Same. :)
Courtney Rosenthal@jeffjarvis @JenWojcik @taylorlorenz The usual rule of thumb is to click the "about" link in the footer on your instance. That's where the host typically will post how to support.
@taylorlorenz @shengokai has been forceful and brilliant on the need for QTs particularly. I've heard similar views from other experts in Black Twitter.
Here is a github proposal for a QT structure: @shengokai
Here is a github proposal for a QT structure: @shengokai
Emelia 👸🏻@shengokai @taylorlorenz @jeffjarvis even if Mastodon doesn't add quote posts, they will still happen.. only you as the OP won't know you've been quoted.
@taylorlorenz I am also eager to hear your own views from your experience as a target of trolls' behavior. Do you think search and QTs have been a factor in that?
As for link (and profile) previews, I'd imagine that's a data/storage/speed cost but I agree.
As for link (and profile) previews, I'd imagine that's a data/storage/speed cost but I agree.
peter_donnellyGotta admit, I'm gonna miss search
That's how you find people talking about stuff your interested in
Only some people, usually at the more zealous end of the spectrum, bother to use hashtags
@taylorlorenz FYI, if you're reporting on this, here's a thread in which Mastodonians debated the merits and demerits of QTs in 2020 https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/issues/12753
Mayee, MD (INACTIVE)@jeffjarvis @taylorlorenz I hope prior to using this thread to report, consent must be asked first to those who posted
@eeyam @taylorlorenz No one said anything about using this thread to report. I am providing a link to an external discussion.
Jeroen@jeffjarvis @taylorlorenz Full text search can be enabled on an instance. Cross instances search is frowned upon AFAIK. You can use Google site: to search the public TL of an instance, and in the prefs yoiu can opt out of indexing.
@yuroon @taylorlorenz Better technical minds than mine can address the challenges of cross-instance search.
@jeffjarvis @taylorlorenz Not a technical issue, but a cultural issue https://www.hughrundle.net/home-invasion/
drdind@jeffjarvis @taylorlorenz I have not tried it, but DM rooms are terrifically useful for political organizing on Twitter. Can that be done here?
@Drdind @taylorlorenz Organizing is only one function and, yes, DM groups can be useful. But that's not what I was referring to re call-and-response; that is by its nature public.
@jeffjarvis @taylorlorenz Apologies, I was asking a separate question of course.
@jeffjarvis I consider myself an expert on online harassment and I don't think quote tweets lead to bad behavior! QTs were born from organic user behavior on twitter and are essential in discussing and sharing information imho
Alexander Hamizdat 
@taylorlorenz @jeffjarvis but you can still do them here
Clipper Chip 
@taylorlorenz @jeffjarvis The vast majority of QTs that I have seen on my timeline were calling out someone over their tweet - to make sure all their followers will see it instead of just those who follow both.
Andrew Joyce@taylorlorenz @jeffjarvis
Also... any bad behavior QTing can still be accomplished on this site with screenshots
Also... any bad behavior QTing can still be accomplished on this site with screenshots
Aron FischerThis is purely an observation:
In my (mostly political) twitter feed QTs were mostly used to highlight how ridiculous the "other side" is.
Sharing and commenting on the latest FoxNews insanity for example. Similarly an extreme or out of context comment from a BLM protester lived a high life in right wing QT Twitter.
This contributed to polarisation.
So QTs are complex. As is their interaction with the other ranking and highlighting features of the app they are in.
@taylorlorenz
@jeffjarvis
However with a slightly tweaked quoting function, coupled with the absence of the AI ranking that feeds off anger, I'd assume we can make it work. .. and we should try.
@jeffjarvis
However with a slightly tweaked quoting function, coupled with the absence of the AI ranking that feeds off anger, I'd assume we can make it work. .. and we should try.
Shawn Smith Peirce@cobordism @taylorlorenz @jeffjarvis Bingo. Without algos to prioritize conflict, there should be less of it, QTs or not.
@taylorlorenz thanks. Important perspective
@taylorlorenz @jeffjarvis QTs are like any tool & can be abused. Without them, there will be a similar problem as Twitter had before built-in QTs existed, as I believe Taylor noted earlier today. People will just manually build QTs, misquote, & then all the issues that happened on Twitter before built-in QTs will happen here.
AJ Kohn@taylorlorenz @jeffjarvis I'm not sure I agree.
Sometimes quote tweets can contextualize. But too often it seemed like a way to broadcast an argument.
It encouraged a virtual circle of people shouting 'fight, fight, fight'.
You can still reply to a post to provide context or debate without encouraging that behavior.
Feel strongly enough about providing context, write something and post it.
Phillip de Wet@ajkohn @taylorlorenz @jeffjarvis So many things went so horribly wrong on Twitter that it is hard to argue any feature should be imported.
Not that it was definitely RTs. Not that the fear is not generally overblown. But that fear is all but a defining feature of Mastodon.
@ajkohn @taylorlorenz @jeffjarvis Interesting thread, especially this: https://social.lot23.com/@jon/109372301129404830
Jon Bell (@[email protected])
5/ I remember when we added quote tweet, and we have the receipts. It does *not* increase abuse. (Source: I was the lead designer on the abuse team) You know what increases abuse? Reverse-chron replies without any sorting or algorithm, because someone can say "Kill yourself" as the first response. It becomes a game. It silences people.
@phillipdewet @taylorlorenz @jeffjarvis There's a very large difference between direct abuse and encouraging tribal argument for sport.
There are ways to deal with the former without encouraging the latter.
Zach Weigand@taylorlorenz @jeffjarvis I certainly don’t think they are abused any more than replies. I also find them very useful.
Stephen@zwei @taylorlorenz @jeffjarvis Yeah, I like them because whenever I use them I want to reply to an idea but I'm not seeking the replies or commentaries from the strangers sharing the thread. Instead I want my own community's reaction and a QT made the most sense.
Sure people can use for amplifying negative stuff but it can and is used for the opposite. I see no argument against them really. Not for me.
Aris Teon@taylorlorenz @jeffjarvis I disagree. QTs were constantly used to harass people. Especially accounts with lots of followers (btw, some propagandists gained followers through promotions) would routinely quote tweet to their followers so they could gang up to harass and ridicule. It was common practice.
A.J.@taylorlorenz @jeffjarvis QT's are a tool like any other. Some people will use them for good, some will not. I don't think that they are inherently bad, or that they naturally lead to bad behavior.
Michiel van Leening 
@ajbobo @taylorlorenz @jeffjarvis I replaced “QT’s” with “guns” in my head and it made me realize why societies without ubiquitous access are so much more safe and have a higher quality of life overall 😉
Chloë Lum@jeffjarvis @taylorlorenz I’ve found QT essential for sharing info about events (anything from a live performance to a protest), for boosting stuff I find interesting with added context, to aim things to pals in certain geographic areas.