Michael Craig 🌻🇺🇦Dec 14, 2022
Lexie can't communicate 🍣

Dear white people:

Whenever you see someone who is #BIPOC speak up about the lack of #diversity on Mastodon... You don't need to give your opinion, you don't need to correct them about their own experience, you don't need to highlight the wonders of the fediverse. Just don't.

Instead, please listen to what they say, and remember that reach here is mediated by boosts, so instead of telling them to invite more people over—or to become Mastodon leaders of their community...

... Just boost them

Make a conscious effort to follow people who are #BIPOC and boost their posts.

Boost posts by non-white marginalized communities so you can help their voices reach farther.

#TwitterMigration

Dec 13, 2022 at 7:36pmWeb
Show threadChloe Tse Dec 13, 2022
@lexiemaki also don't tell them they need to find a different server. Yes there are some vile servers out there but they are likely already deferderated. It's unfair to tell them to move or ban every server where they experienced abuse because they'd end up with very little options. (1/2)
Show threadChloe Tse Dec 13, 2022
@lexiemaki We need to collectively put in a social effort to make our great experience inclusive to everyone, by calling out and reporting bad actors and LISTEN without being defensive. The rest of us may be having a good time but the call is coming from inside the house! (2/2)
Show threadJusticeMoorDec 13, 2022

@lexiemaki

I met a black homeless street boy in Uganda who thought he could never do well in school because school was made for white people. He said all the black Ugandans walked by him not even knowing he existed. He could never trust a black person. He thought he would never succeed- he had no family and only lived on the streets with his gang of nine other street kids.

The world needs psychologists and social workers.

Show threadlakeladyDec 13, 2022
@lexiemaki What do you suggest people do when you don't know the color of their skin? Unless they're using an avatar that's of themselves and it's well lit there's no way to know.
Show threadLexie can't communicate 🍣Dec 13, 2022

@lakelady in case that's a good faith question:

If someone is complaining about feeling unwelcome as a #BIPOC — even if you can't see their face, they're telling you themselves that they're not white. Even if someone were to lie about that, it's not going to be the majority.

I'm not suggesting to ignore white people (or white passing people for that matter), I'm just suggesting giving a little more positive attention whenever you see someone who you think is #BIPOC

Show threadlakeladyDec 13, 2022
thank you.
Show threadGrandpa DonDec 14, 2022

@lakelady
if you feel you need to know that before offering your advice...
Don't offer it.

Maybe boost them so someone with similar experience can have a meaningful dialogue with them.

Show threadOdradekDec 13, 2022
@lexiemaki don't mansplain, listen, boost - got it. and thanks for the reminder that most just want to make the best of twexodus.
problem/question: it seems, some have argued in bad faith; idk if trolls try to deepen conflicts or they are just people too wounded. and I am a bit sensitive about bully behaviour. is there a best practice to deal with that?
Show threadLexie can't communicate 🍣Dec 13, 2022

@Odradek that's a complicated question.

In online spaces, the main approach can be to report them.

If it happens to someone else, and you're able to, speak up to defend them. Don't expect recognition for it, tho—it's supposed to be a personal decision to try and do better, not a way to try and be the hero of the story. It's also going to be a waste of your time because you're not going to rehabilitate a bully over social media discussions. So be punctual, be loud about your support, and report report report.

If it happens to you, sadly the only good option so far is to report and block to preserve your mental peace as much as possible. It's never the responsibility of the bullied to stop the bullies.

Show threadivanDec 13, 2022
@lexiemaki Now that you mention it, it is a bit whiteski in here, isn't it?! It's weird but I hadn't noticed.
Show threadWoodrow DouglassDec 14, 2022
@ivan @lexiemaki I honestly don't think about what people on here actually look like... They're mostly symbols or cartoon characters or something. I follow accounts that have content I'm interested in, that's all
Show threadHobbits WifeDec 14, 2022
@ivan @lexiemaki yup, very male and very US-centric. Or maybe that’s just cos my home server is a tech server. I’m hunting through hashtags for more women, more racial diversity & people from more different countries to follow - LGBTQ+ and disability too. Managed it on Twitter in the end, just taking time here.
Show threadMNGeek 🏳️‍🌈Dec 14, 2022
@hobbitswife @ivan @lexiemaki I also work in tech, and I joined an LGBTQ instance that is much more international. Lots of avatars, and as a previous poster said, I can’t guess their race, or even gender identity, unless they post something in their profile. But to the OP’s point, listening is the key.
Show threadPatty KimuraDec 13, 2022

@lexiemaki Seems pretty simple, no? Just boost. Requires minimal effort. Just boost. Circulating an idea. A community concern. Just boost. How does it harm you to boost? Just boost.

Thanks for the effort. Perhaps it will reach some, and perhaps each some boosting causing some more somes to boost is worth the handful of scolds.

I'm boosting!

Show threadNicole FranklinDec 13, 2022
@lexiemaki Thank you.
Show threadHector 💪Dec 13, 2022
@lexiemaki What is BIPOC?
Show threadDisco SexualDec 14, 2022
@hector @lexiemaki people use it as a short hand for Black, Indigenous, and People Of Colour.
Show threadSteveDec 13, 2022
@lexiemaki Yeah, getting defensive about Mastodon is not helpful to anyone. And when you're doing it as a way to downplay a bad experience someone else had, it can be downright hurtful.
Show threadZack TaylorDec 13, 2022
@lexiemaki mastado's and mastadon'ts
Show threadDee NeelyDec 13, 2022
@lexiemaki If they're not asking for advice then shut up and listen. It's good advice for so many things.
Show threadTrekDec 13, 2022
@lexiemaki anything to make mastodon as great an experience for everyone as possible.
Anytime I see someone posting about not having an easy time connecting I always try to offer a couple follow suggestions for hashtags or people based on their stated interests.
I think there's an impulse to think "oh no, this person won't stay" and many people decide they need to defend mastodon for what they perceive as someone not seeing the good in it that they see.
Show threadJoygasimsDec 13, 2022

@lexiemaki so this is now a normal for what racism is becoming. Cause honestly your whole statement here is racist as hell. And if you dont believe so, you need to take a step back and look at the whole situation. Why is because your calling a whole race out for something a few have done. Not all, so how is this correct, but what your trying to speak out against is so much of a issue to you. But calling a race out isnt.

Why not just state it by saying honestly lets build people up, period.

Show threadRDS (shawphd on Twitter)Dec 14, 2022

@lexiemaki @Joygasims

Wow.

Show threadStory Time with RobDec 14, 2022
@shawrd773 @lexiemaki @Joygasims wow indeed.
Silver lining: I guess it's good to be reminded of internalized racism (I'm feeling generous toward @Joygasims ), so I can continue to work on my own.
Show threadDisco SexualDec 14, 2022

@Joygasims @lexiemaki how is it racist? Not trying to be snippy, but read OP's post again - they don't "call out" any race, let alone single any one out.

This is about how everyone feels the need to weigh in when a person of colour is taking about their negative experiences.

Like we're doing it now: having a little side debate about what OP meant. Why not just ask them instead of assuming ill intent?

Show threadluneellise21 (xe/xer)Dec 14, 2022
@lexiemaki thanks so much for this message. As a BIPOC I don't think it's right for me to boost this post myself, but I do hope more people boost this. Thanks!
Show threadSimmerizedDec 14, 2022
@lexiemaki arent u white?
Show threadKemetKingDec 14, 2022
@lexiemaki let’s use our voices, while we still have those freedoms.
Show threadhopeless wandererDec 14, 2022
@lexiemaki how about i just not do anything, because this is fucking stupid
Show threadDonut the War DogDec 14, 2022
@lexiemaki just as a PSA this is the exact kind of post that makes MAGA types swarm for the kill because instead of focusing on the topic you're framing it as "white people need to be quiet" and all that does is flare up the persecution complex.
'
But hey maybe I need to shut up because I'm white...
Show threadRDS (shawphd on Twitter)Dec 14, 2022

@lexiemaki @donutwardog

But we white folks DO need to learn to be quiet and to let other people take the lead. It’s not an attack.

And if people do? Then we know who to block or educate.

Show threadDonut the War DogDec 14, 2022
@shawrd773 @lexiemaki We're not one group who exists against a unified mass of "non-white". All people need to know that, and also all people need to know to be willing to listen to others regardless of their race. Neither should I discount another's opinion for his demographic nor should they discount me for mine.
Show threadRDS (shawphd on Twitter)Dec 14, 2022

@donutwardog @lexiemaki

That’s all well and good, but we’re not meeting on level ground here. Structural affordances and impedances based on race are at play in even the most generous conversation and need to be acknowledged.

Show threadDonut the War DogDec 14, 2022
@shawrd773 @lexiemaki That's conflating systemic racism with on-the-ground discussions. A random jackass on Mastodon (aka me) isn't a part of any structural anything when it comes to just having discussions about topics as we stumble across them here. Insisting that anyone needs to sit down and shut up because of race is just giving ammunition to alt-righters who like to point and scream that white people are oppressed.
Show threadRDS (shawphd on Twitter)Dec 14, 2022
@donutwardog @lexiemaki They will do that anyway. Why are you prioritizing worrying about what they might do over what BIPOC are saying they need us to do?
Show threadRDS (shawphd on Twitter)Dec 14, 2022

@donutwardog @lexiemaki

Anyway, we’ve taken up enough of @lexiemaki ‘s thread, so I’m bowing out.

Show threadIwasbeingniceDec 14, 2022
@lexiemaki Remember, we don't, nor do we have to, wear our genitals on our sleeves. Maybe we want to be known for the people we are and not a label.
Show threadIntentionally BlankDec 14, 2022
@lexiemaki
this! this! this!
Show threadSheilahDec 14, 2022
@lexiemaki I’m extremely new to Mastodon. I don’t know how to boost someone…
Show threadLexie can't communicate 🍣Dec 14, 2022

@Mamamoose05 it's the little button that looks like two arrows circling around (the appearance may vary depending on your app or server).

Boost are the only thing that lets posts get exposure since there's no algorithm unlike other social media.

Show threadSheilahDec 14, 2022
@lexiemaki thank you.
Show threadSheilahDec 14, 2022
@lexiemaki
Show threadLDD MotherDec 14, 2022
@lexiemaki I’m new and haven’t heard that term before, I’m more than happy to boost posts….can I ask though, are people being marginalised here? I was hoping I’d left that behind 😕
Show threadLexie can't communicate 🍣Dec 14, 2022

@badwolftyler it's very common to see white people posts dominate in the timelines, one of the many reasons for that is that BIPOC persons are not receiving enough exposure.

So I've seen a lot of black people comment that they're feeling excluded as well as having a hard time finding each other on here... and then plenty of white people responding to them minimizing their complains and giving the same tips over and over again.

So, yes, they're being marginalized. But I'd recommend following hashtags like #blackmastodon to read their experiences yourself, it's not really my place to talk about the issue from their perspective.

Show threadWinter TrabexDec 14, 2022
@lexiemaki This is pretty much my strategy when a person of color says anything. I would hope it's easy to discover the kind of community you're looking for here.
Show threadTrolljegerenDec 14, 2022
@lexiemaki I'm brown and I don't feel marginalised. This is a non issue.
Show threadDon MeltonDec 14, 2022
@lexiemaki This. 💯
Show threadProjectFearlessnessDec 14, 2022
@lexiemaki Follow, Listen, Boost, Boost, Boost, and Boost again. This is so clear. Lexie, you CAN communicate. 👌
Show threaderichhugoDec 14, 2022
@lexiemaki I think promoting people on merit rather than genetic disposition is the way to go
Show threadNathan deGargoyle 🇮🇲🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳Dec 14, 2022
@lexiemaki and add #BAME to your toots which is the UK equivalent of #BIPOC
Show threadNeal RomanekDec 14, 2022
@lexiemaki Roger that.
Show threadJJ KrawczykDec 14, 2022
@lexiemaki @BlackAzizAnansi
THIS THIS THIS!
Thank you for writing down what I’ve been trying to compose in my head the last few days.
Show threadHector 💪Dec 14, 2022

@lexiemaki

Why do you single out white people for boosting BIPOC posts. Isn't that discriminatory?

Or do you think they need that incentive because they are discriminatory?

Do you assume white people to not boost BIPOC content? Isn't that a prejudice based on race?

There are a lot of generalizations in your post leaving me with a lot of questions, not about the intent to support anyone, but the assumption specific people wont.

Show threadRDS (shawphd on Twitter)Dec 14, 2022

@hector @lexiemaki

Feeling called out, are we?

Show threadSweet T Dec 14, 2022
@lexiemaki This is super helpful and much better worded than anything I can say, and something our demographic needs to hear again and again until it sticks!
Show threadFrank CoteDec 14, 2022
@lexiemaki boosting, following. Encouraging. Friending. 😄👍