Katherine Crocker
Mark Wyner Won’t Comply 
#Mastodon has a LONG way to go to on Black #inclusivity. This is surprising because it’s appropriately focused on #accessibility and #LGBTQ+ inclusivity. We all need to uplift #BlackMastodon in every way we can. This will make Mastodon better and create a sanctuary for the Black community. Call out, fight, and report all micro-aggressions/racism witnessed here. Boost posts/accounts of Black Mastodonians. Use your #privilege to be a voice. This is our #responsibility. We’re #StrongerTogether.
Case in point. Since I posted this ~3 hr ago I’ve had to block 13 people. I’ve been called multiple homophonic and racial slurs. And I’m white. Imagine what these folks say to people who aren’t white, cis, straight males. People who are marginalized don’t have to imagine. They live through this repugnant hatred. Which is precisely why we need to focus on curating a safe and inclusive space. We can’t pretend it isn’t happening or this will never be as inclusive or welcoming as it could be.
ACAB for Cutie 
@markwyner
It sounds like this might be specific to the server instance you're on. I'm on a smaller one and have not run into these issues 😞
It sounds like this might be specific to the server instance you're on. I'm on a smaller one and have not run into these issues 😞
LeaBug@markwyner I haven't seen any of these issues on my server. We have a lot of trans and POC.
the drymifolia collective@LeaBug I don't it's server specific, I assume the people doing the trolling of those hashtags aren't on the OP's server. Though some instances might have more robust block lists to avoid that kind of trolling, I guess, but even then it's hard to stop trolls from using burner accounts on open instances
@drymifolia I see. I wish I could help you with that. Sorry my friend
Līga@markwyner you block them and move on. I would prefer to hear of POC struggles from...POC folks directly. Not someone making a grand announcement on behalf of.
Robin@Liga @markwyner I think you misspelled ally and anti-racist. The more the better
Thaliea🇬🇧@Liga @markwyner then there's much for you to learn where allies & accomplices are concerned. Mark is using his voice & #privilege to amplify the issue & #callout the guilty. This is the work of #allies
@markwyner I see people using the #excuse of 'instance' being the issue. I see people on here throwing this back on #Blackmastadon to identify & fix. Each day I see this is another day they are being complicit and perpetuating the #racism #terrorising and #harrassment of Black People. It's unacceptable. PERIOD
@thaliea agreed. A tool is nothing more than that. We need to be proactive in improving the system and the behaviors of the people behind it.
Nick@markwyner what triggered the hate? Where is the original post?
Hans Gerwitz
Laurie@markwyner there is not hate or division on #Mastodon but even I posted offensively out of habit a few days ago. Hopefully #Mastodon will help you feel INCLUDED, safe and empowered to share, invite more friends 🌈
@Ottolaurie6 no, there is definitely hate and division. No platform is immune to that. While your experience may not reveal this, marginalized people see it every day. Our job is to believe them and work hard to help them create a safe place. Also, this isn’t about me. I feel safe and fine. This is about people who suffer actual abuse. I only mentioned that people came for me so folks could imagine the experience of people without my privilege.
@markwyner obviously the world is not healed but I am hopeful for going forward without tolerating the divisions of the past days/years. Recent history has been the worst in a longgggg time, the recent future CAN BE IMPROVED starting now. Thanks for the kind reminder of my naïveté.
Ruben 🇺🇸 🇻🇪 🎧
Shaun (he / him)@markwyner thank you! 🙏🏾
David A. Dutton@markwyner why would it not be black inclusive? It's my understand that's it's inclusive to everyone.
Rubicon@markwyner
Mastodon can be very good at building communities, but because there is no algorithm people really need to use hashtags and follow hashtags.
1) Search for #BlackMastodon and follow #BlackMastodon.
2) Include #BlackMastodon in all posts.
Don Melton@markwyner This. 💯 And thank you.
Derek 🌈
m1ss4ndry@markwyner it's so weird the way you white liberals talk about Black folk
mothra@markwyner who are you trying to impress with this post... nobody's giving u brownie points for saying progressive shit on an already progressive platform
LeeArnould@markwyner I don't remember being ask about my race, sexuality or anything personal when I created my account. Can you explain how exactly it prevents equality?
Steve Gisselbrecht@Leearnould @markwyner
Try those hashtags. There are a lot of black people on here talking about their experience. You can learn directly from them how the culture of a place affects them.
Try those hashtags. There are a lot of black people on here talking about their experience. You can learn directly from them how the culture of a place affects them.
Sriram "sri" Ramkrishna - 😼@stevegis_ssg @Leearnould @markwyner do not question their experience.. I see a lot of white folks asking for proof. It's out there - educate yourself. Listen.
@sri @stevegis_ssg @markwyner
I don't disagree people are arseholes and bigots. My point was the blaming of the app not the users.
I don't disagree people are arseholes and bigots. My point was the blaming of the app not the users.
@Leearnould @sri @markwyner
Thank you! I think I understand what you're saying better now.
I don't think OP was blaming the software (though I don't speak for him). I suspect he was talking about the community that uses it. Every social media app is both a software package and a community, no?
@Leearnould I said nothing about preventing equality. I said we all need to work hard to create a safe and welcoming space. You and I are white, so we don’t see the horrors in our mentions (except when we unintentionally provoke trolls with posts like mine). Nothing is preventing equality except the silence of people with privilege. We must do our job to fight the good fight.
@markwyner but to blame the application not the users seems weird. There is little the app can do
@Leearnould @markwyner try re-reading the post? He was talking about the community doing better, not the app
@Leearnould when did I blame the application?
@Leearnould “mastodon” is a community AND an app. I’m done splitting hairs with you on this. So far your only point has been on the dualistic meaning of a single word.
Paul Yager 
@markwyner Totally agree! There should be #BlackMastodon! This platform by its federated nature is perfect to engage everyone! With #twittermigration how do we get folks to come here?
jrm4I really hate to say it, but the thing you think is surprising is not in the least bit surprising.
@jrm4 I never said it was surprising. Not once. I only mentioned it so the deniers might understand.
Not trying to start any ill-will here -- but I was responding to what I saw in the very first post of the thread? Your second sentence literally does say this.
@jrm4 no ill will taken, friend. I’m always open to being called out by Black folk and allies for what I’m saying. Being humble with my ego and learning is the least I can do. And it’s a gift. We’re all good, friend.
myrmepropagandist" hyper focused on #accessibility and #LGBTQ+ inclusivity."
Is it, though?
I think it fails at all three and in different ways.
There is a lot of talk about wanting it to be better for all three of these communities-- but less action.
I just feel saying it's "hyper focused" is giving too much credit.
Sapphic LawyerThe obsessive insistence on civility becomes really scary when you're queer here.
The culture is better than Twitter is now, I guess, but that's a low bar
I'm not thrilled with the whole "quote tweets make people toxic, isn't it wonderful we don't have them?"
I know it's not what people who say this *mean* but it *feels* like "isn't it great it isn't easy to hold people to account for being sh*tty?"
I'm deeply suspicious of people who talk about things like "call out posts" in a strictly negative way.
And, yeah, I don't find niceness comforting it puts me on edge. Like being at work. #mastodonSuggestions #ui
Bynkii@futurebird @SapphicLawyer @markwyner most of the QT “logic” is silly. They can’t work the exact same way they did on Twitter, the protocols don’t function like that.
As well, they ignore that there’s utility in having a way to comment on or extend a post without re-posting then commenting or replying and hoping the people who follow you also see it, or doing both which is tedious.
Honestly, the “two legs good, four legs bad” thing with twitter needs to stop.
SupposeNot@futurebird @SapphicLawyer @markwyner I think the thing I liked about them on Twitter was it made it easy to boost something and say to my followers why I thought they might like a thing, too.
I work at a "very exclusive" little school-- and the culture of niceness can be exhausting.
But at least I have all the materials I need to teach and my students are nice.
@futurebird i could very well be wrong. I have an experience of seeing a lot of work in this area, but I may be in a position of privilege that puts me there. That my perspective because that’s my experience.
jprestonian@markwyner I would like to do what I can to reverse this. Anyone need some sticking-up, some mentoring? I'm open to ideas. But I am an old man, too.
Indie 🏳️🌈🤱💜🕊📚@markwyner yes, we need to do much better for black folks & other racial minorities on this app because it isn't good enough yet.
But it is not hyperfoccued on #LGBTQ & #Accessibility. It is appropriatly focused and yet it still allows too much anti-lgbtq & unaccesible stuff to slip through.
We don't need to reframe appropriate focus as obssessive focus to justify the need for better focus on racism on Mastodon.
@motherindie well said. I believe “appropriately focused” is far better phrasing. Also, you’re right about reframing. My intention was to suggest that there’s a culture of support for some communities, making it seems like it’s primed to support others. And the idea of intersectionality is often ignored. Though, that certainly isn’t necessary. I appreciate your weighing in.
schneider_EF@motherindie @markwyner But isn't that a thing on the instance level as they are the ones setting their rules and moderating (hopefully according to them)?
bysteveguthrie