Bill FerriterNov 27, 2022

One of the things on my mind this morning is what role sharing of resources should play in my Mastodon experience.

That's something I did a lot in Twitter. I'd share presentations I was giving or tools that I made for teachers or for teams - and I think that had value for folks.

But sharing doesn't always lead to deeper thinking and connection.

What do all y'all think? Is sharing resources something that should be a part of our networked learning spaces?

#EduTooter

Show threadMiguel Guhlin 🦉 🇵🇦 🇺🇲Nov 27, 2022
@plugusin @brasst Please share resources. Blah blah blah is nice, but resources are fun to explore. I am not saying dont chat, but please share resources. To be selfish, I am here for resources from people not widely known. The gem no one knows about. Why? I blog and it’s fun to share my exploration of a resource few know about. So please, let us converse and trot out our curios and such. 🤣🤣
Show threadMark Samberg
@mguhlin @plugusin @brasst that is my biggest hope for this site. I want to hear some new and different voices.
Nov 27, 2022 at 1:31pmWeb
Show threadMiguel Guhlin 🦉 🇵🇦 🇺🇲Nov 27, 2022
@mjsamberg @plugusin @brasst Well, that is mine, too! Escape the echo chamber, mix in new voices, learn something new and find people who talk, not just brand build.
Show threadTami BrassNov 27, 2022
@mguhlin @mjsamberg @plugusin I’ve also found the topic discussions - both informal and prescheduled topic discussions - helpful as well as resource sharing. I don’t know if this platform works for that. The prescheduled ones helped me connect with others I might not have otherwise with a formal focus at first but eventually informal discussions, sometimes on platform but others over email, video chat, etc.
Show threadMark SambergNov 27, 2022
@brasst @mguhlin @plugusin Curious what about the platform isn't working. I'm hearing that a lot, but I can't put my finger on why? I think the ingredients are there, but something feels off. The speed of the platform? Lack of critical mass in the community? Missing features?
Show threadMiguel Guhlin 🦉 🇵🇦 🇺🇲Nov 27, 2022
@mjsamberg @brasst @plugusin Scheduling toots in advance? There is a website to do that.
Show threadBill FerriterNov 27, 2022

@mguhlin @mjsamberg @brasst :

Oh --- you got it, MG.

I once came across an influential early voice on Twitter in person at a conference. Asked him what he was up to.

His answer: "Just building the brand."

I don't know how that will change here, though, as more of those "building the brand" folks migrate over here.

It's going to be interesting to watch.

Show threadMiguel Guhlin 🦉 🇵🇦 🇺🇲Nov 27, 2022
@plugusin @mjsamberg @brasst We invite them to transcend their brand, to express their humanity, and then wait until the yucky stuff pours out, like rusty water in an old pipe, waiting until clear H2O flows. If not, mute/block. 🤣
Show threadTami BrassNov 27, 2022
@plugusin @mguhlin @mjsamberg New perspectives, resources, idea-sharing - all good. While I won’t miss the ads and branded content, I will miss easy access to commercial entities. I had many a rapid (and helpful) response via bird chirps in times of needs/issues.
Show threadMiguel Guhlin 🦉 🇵🇦 🇺🇲Nov 27, 2022
@brasst @plugusin @mjsamberg Great point, Tami. But those accounts will go where the people are. Or lose business.
Show threadTami BrassNov 27, 2022
@mguhlin @plugusin @mjsamberg I haven’t seen commercial presences on this platform. Am I missing them, or are they just not here (yet)?
Show threadMiguel Guhlin 🦉 🇵🇦 🇺🇲Nov 27, 2022
@brasst @plugusin @mjsamberg who r u looking for?
Show threadTami BrassNov 27, 2022
@mguhlin @plugusin @mjsamberg Not “looking” but not noticing, either. Thinking of the various #edtech companies & orgs I’ve used over the years and have received good support from via chirps - Google, Glowforge, Kami, Canva, PBS, Smithsonian, Nat Geo, etc.
Show threadTami BrassNov 27, 2022
@mguhlin @plugusin @mjsamberg And that’s why I’ve not broken away completely (yet). Definitely pared back. Feeling conflicted, though. Feeling like as long as I continue on that platform, I’m supporting its owner.
Show threadMiguel Guhlin 🦉 🇵🇦 🇺🇲Nov 27, 2022
@brasst @plugusin @mjsamberg agree Tami. Starve that beast, to use their language a bit
Show threadBill FerriterNov 27, 2022

@brasst @mguhlin @mjsamberg : It's an interesting thought, Tami, mostly because I'm hoping those people don't end up here at all.

They add value to the education community for sure.

I'm just not sure they promote dialogue in spaces like this.

They also created "influencer culture" with their Ambassador programs.

I don't think any of that was done with bad intentions --- but it changed the nature of the spaces we learn in for sure.

And I didn't always love the change.

Show threadMiguel Guhlin 🦉 🇵🇦 🇺🇲Nov 27, 2022
@plugusin @brasst @mjsamberg the Wakelet folks are already here, just not active.
Show threadTami BrassNov 27, 2022
@mguhlin @plugusin @mjsamberg I suppose they’re all going to be testing the waters.
Show threadTami BrassNov 27, 2022
@plugusin @mguhlin @mjsamberg BF - good point. I wonder if it would be useful to have different servers for commercial and non commercial interactions/presences. The ambassadorships serve purposes on both sides - both for the formal entity and for the educators. Of course maybe prices would be lower if less had to be spent on marketing? So many of the subscriptions are priced out of reach for most schools.
Show threadBill FerriterNov 27, 2022

@brasst @mguhlin @mjsamberg : Yep. For the educator, it usually led to a free premium subscription and some recognition.

But in exchange, it was "Promote your affiliation with our brand and your work with our tool."

Not an unfair ask, but it established promotion as an expected pattern of behavior.

Which is certainly one way to use these spaces, but it had an impact on the nature of the interactions that happen in them, too.

Show threadBill FerriterNov 27, 2022

@brasst @mguhlin @mjsamberg Some part of me wonders if some kind of filter can be created to funnel out those kinds of users from my "stream."

I know that Mastodon has lots more filtering tools, I just haven't gotten to understanding how to use them yet.

I'd love a "block all commercial users" filter and hope it's there when I go looking!

Show threadMiguel Guhlin 🦉 🇵🇦 🇺🇲Nov 27, 2022
@plugusin @brasst @mjsamberg look in your preferences for Filters. Also, you can block their domains when they do show up, like @[email protected] 🤣 where block @vendorname.suke and no one can get to you from there. More readding: https://www.mguhlin.org/2022/11/blocking-mastodon-domains-list-you-can.html
Blocking #Mastodon Domains: A List You Can Import #Spammer #SpamBlock #ProtectYourself

Show threadBill FerriterNov 27, 2022

@mguhlin @brasst @mjsamberg : Thanks MG. I'm going to become a Jedi at this.

#LifeGoals

Show threadMiguel Guhlin 🦉 🇵🇦 🇺🇲Nov 27, 2022
@plugusin @brasst @mjsamberg Yes, Master Qui-Gon.
Show threadMiguel Guhlin 🦉 🇵🇦 🇺🇲Nov 27, 2022
@plugusin @brasst @mjsamberg