Jeff JarvisNov 25, 2022
With Twitter's collapse, funders should start helping build up federated discourse: supporting development of better security, of moderation aids, of proposals for affordances welcoming to Black Twitter and other communities. Stop thinking top down. Start thinking emergent.
Stop thinking about how to help newspapers. Start thinking about how to help communities and culture speaking for themselves. This is a place to start.
Show threadJeff YangNov 25, 2022
@jeffjarvis Defintiely have seen some pushback out there against changing Mastodon to reflect the influx of Twitfugees. But demographic growth and change demand evolution of platforms just as they demand evolution of nation-states. There have been people saying “oh, they should just create their own instance with its own rules if they need something different”; that’s a recipe for segregation and online confederacy, not federation 😬
Show threadDDimetrodonNov 26, 2022

@originalspin @jeffjarvis 1/2 Counterpoint: the fediverse was home to everyone who was marginalized in every other mainstream platform before, and they deserve to not have their established norms wiped out by an influx of new users.

As it is I'm struggling with how some of the most basic courtesies outlined in this guide https://github.com/joyeusenoelle/GuideToMastodon are so often either innocently overlooked or disdainfully dismissed are not being adopted by the #NewHere. Part of that is there aren't enough old

GitHub - joyeusenoelle/GuideToMastodon: An increasingly less-brief guide to Mastodon

An increasingly less-brief guide to Mastodon. Contribute to joyeusenoelle/GuideToMastodon development by creating an account on GitHub.

GitHub
Show threadDDimetrodonNov 26, 2022

@originalspin @jeffjarvis 2/2 guard to individually remind all the new folks that there are some established norms that maybe they should be aware of. And people are too used to jumping in first, researching later.

I'm not even referring to CWs - those standards vary wildly over the site and the linked guide includes "Eye contact" which I personally find extreme, YMMV. But basic things like the need and expectation of alt-text descriptions for all images, that #accessibility should be inherent.

Show threadJeff Jarvis
@DDimetrodon @originalspin I am not saying that the existing norms should be abandoned; they should be respected. I was quickly taught to provide alt text and I am. I am saying that many folks coming here also have valuable perspectives and needs that should also be respected. Each bring value and in that discourse norms are renegotiated; that is a constant process. I hope there will be resources to do more for all (e.g., deal with security).
Nov 26, 2022 at 1:52amWeb
Show threadJeff YangNov 26, 2022
@DDimetrodon @jeffjarvis Same. I do alt text all the time now since the platform makes it so easy and provides the reminders for you. But advocating for things like quote toots and better discovery (of people and toots) shouldn’t be seen as a threat—more of a “yes, and…” attitude along with the courtesy orientations would be both welcome and welcoming.
Show threadDDimetrodonNov 26, 2022
@jeffjarvis @originalspin I see your point, but I've also seen so many marginalized spaces go through the same abuse of warm and open welcomes to all (see: the basic reverse UNO of "if all POVs are welcome then my bigotry should be fine!") that I'm just very skittish about blaming said marginalized spaces for being reluctant to embrace newbies yet again with the same fervor.