Sarah Boon

So I signed up to Mastodon a few months ago and I have only started to use it more recently, but I still don’t understand how it works. Or the server system on here.

Apparently I must have joined a server when I set up my account? I don’t remember joining a specific one (or even know how you join one 🤣)

If somebody could explain this to me in everyday English that would be great.

Nov 19, 2022 at 8:33pmMastodon for iOS
Show threadBrian KungNov 19, 2022
@Saraheboon yeah so it’s kind of like how you can have an email address at a particular provider but you can email everyone regardless of who they sign up with. You do need to register at one server, but then you can subscribe to anyone on almost any other mastodon server.
Show threadBrian KungNov 19, 2022
@Saraheboon reasons to switch servers might be that they don’t moderate the way you like or performance is slow, or they have blocked other mastodon servers that you want to interact with.
Show threadCassian [main]Nov 19, 2022
@Saraheboon Is that an invitation to explain it? Because the server/instance you're on is mastodon.social and I have a diagram that might help a bit, plus I could explain more, without jargon, if you like. :)
Show threadSarah BoonNov 19, 2022
@cassolotl a diagram would be super helpful!
Show threadCassian [main]Nov 19, 2022

@Saraheboon Okay cool! So this is the diagram I had in mind.

It assumes that you know that the Fediverse is lots and lots of smaller websites ("instances") that can interact with each other. (As if you could follow someone's Instagram account on Twitter, for example. Or as if you could email someone on gmail from your Hotmail account, which you totally can. :D)

So they all connect up like Lego - each "instance" being one Lego brick? And they all build up together into one Fediverse. Each brick might be a different colour or size or shape, but they all have this specific design quality that they're made to all slot together even though they might look different. Does that make sense?

Show threadCassian [main]Nov 19, 2022
@Saraheboon So your username is like @ Saraheboon @ mastodon.social, because your username is Saraheboon and your instance (Lego brick!) is mastodon.social. And I'm @ cassolotl @ eldritch.cafe, so my Lego brick/instance is eldritch.cafe.
Show threadpeaopoeNov 19, 2022
@cassolotl @Saraheboon this diagram is really helpful!
Show threadCassian [main]Nov 19, 2022
@robotkitty @Saraheboon Awesome! :) Glad to be able to help!
Show threadpeaopoeNov 19, 2022

@cassolotl @Saraheboon can I ask you a question? In my home feed I’ll see people I follow, and under the search icon I have some options: posts, news, community, for you.

Are posts from my instance and community federated? Or what? Thanks!

Show threadCassian [main]Nov 19, 2022

@robotkitty @Saraheboon Okay so my instance doesn't have that tab, but I *think* those posts come from all the posts your instance knows about, so some of them will be "local" (from your instance) and some will be from instances your instance is connected to (federates with) - does that make sense?

And similarly, posts on your instance will end up on other instances' Explore tabs too sometimes.

Is that what you meant?

Show threadpeaopoeNov 19, 2022

@cassolotl @Saraheboon yes, I think that’s what I meant! When I click the search icon, I have some different tabs up top.

Thanks for replying. I’m sure I’ll figure it all out eventually!

Show threadCassian [main]Nov 19, 2022
@robotkitty @Saraheboon Yeah it takes a minute to get used to it all! :) I'm happy to answer more questions if you have them, just gimme a shout whenever.
Show threadpeaopoeNov 19, 2022
@cassolotl Thank you!
Show threadAndy  Nov 19, 2022
@Saraheboon you joined mastodon.social which is run by the same people who make write the code. It's a really busy server (or instance) and there are a lot of people in it. You can, if you want a quieter little part of the community, move your account to another server. People from different servers can see each other's posts in the federated feed. That's how I saw your post. You'll see more from people on your own server, typically, though.
Show threadHerstory1Nov 23, 2022
@Saraheboon You join a server which is a club of people that is run by the server host. You can choose which server (club) you want to join. You can get to know people on your own server. Your server will communicate with other servers but may sometimes block other servers if they break your servers rules for example by posting racist content
Show threadHerstory1Nov 23, 2022
@Saraheboon the server managers play an important role in keeping their server up and running, moderating and also blocking unsuitable content. Some of the server managers are quite friendly and will get to know people on their platform. You will always see content from your own server first as default so worth choosing a good one.
Show threadHerstory1Nov 23, 2022
@Saraheboon personally I recommend the Mastadon art server, which is a friendly place. I’m not on Mastodon Art yet but plan to move there as it seems one of the friendliest servers, plus there is great art there, an added bonus.