Technology Connections
Y'know, I'm still not completely sold on the viability of this quasi-platform but having attained over 10% of my Twitter following in just a few weeks sure does point to a shift.
Dec 16, 2022 at 9:49pmWeb
Show threadTodd Vierling Dec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify
The more that shenanigans happen over there (and the last 24 hours have been a ~~rollercoaster~~), the more people will get fed up with that place.
Show threadJykinturahDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify there are definitely some oddities that come with a federated system, but i honestly kinda like this place so far
Show threadStudio 8502 Dec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify Not that my own following is in any sense comparable to yours, but I'm at something like 75% of my bird site following here on Oldbytes.space. Granted, retrocomputing is a small world and there are notable people I miss interacting with, but I hold out hope that they'll come around.
Show threadThatKomputerKat Dec 16, 2022
@mos_8502 @TechConnectify It just occurred to me that my account here has more followers than my account on Twitter got after 12 years. I’m not worthy, but ok. I asked Siri what percentage that was and it was a big number. 
Show threadGen X-WingDec 17, 2022

@mos_8502 @TechConnectify I (right now) have 145 followers, not a single one I know personally. After a few weeks.

And they aren’t bots or anything silly like that.

I can’t tell where this thing will lead, but it’s been interesting. Twitter never really was.

Plus who knows, maybe the next big thing is being built now, on top of activitypub.

Show threaddemizeDec 16, 2022

@TechConnectify from what I've heard from people with large followings from Twitter, the interaction catches up a lot faster than the numbers

especially for relatively techy people, the core following (that generates most of the interaction) seems to be here in full force already

Show threadJason, Human, Average Dec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify I'm more sold on this as a viable solution than I ever was w/ Twitter (or any social media company for that matter). Open platforms and standards have a real sticking power.
Show threadJason, Human, Average Dec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify Case in point: I don't use myspace anymore, but I still use email. Used it before myspace too.
Show threadnoideamanDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify you can count me as new, never bird app'd (apped?) But was bored and stood up my own instance of mastodon
Show threadSlightlyCyberpunkDec 16, 2022

@TechConnectify Personally, considering recent events, I'm more confident in the viability of Mastodon than I am in the viability of Twitter at this point... :)

(To be fair, I was looking at it recently for...reasons...and the Twitter account that I've had since 2008 has about 20 posts to it, so....I never really was sold on that thing to begin with.)

Show threadZookeeperDanDec 17, 2022

@admin @TechConnectify

Yeah, I was testing this out, but then the excrement really hit the fan. I'm glad I had already set something up.

Show threadminecraftchest1Dec 17, 2022
@admin
20 posts on that site? Congratulations. I don't think I have 5 there.
@TechConnectify
Show threadSlightlyCyberpunkDec 17, 2022
@minecraftchest1 @TechConnectify I found it was occasionally useful to yell at people who had no presence elsewhere :)
Show thread𝗔rtilect𝗭edDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify Glad to have you here, whatever the case :)
Show threadEd CrottyDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify people are certainly trying to bail. Post.news is nice. And waiting for Spoutible.
Show threadJerome LeclancheDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify Very glad you're here :)
Show threadKazy.EXE 💾 Dec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify I already have more followers here than I did on birdsite so....
Show threadTech&Tubas Dec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify I just arrived, still figuring it all out, but seeing you here has made me day! Hope it catches on
Show threadGraham Sutherland / PolynomialDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify I'm now at about 25% of what I had at birdsite, but even when I was at 10% the improved SNR more than made up for the reduced numbers. I'm having far more useful and interesting conversations, with a far greater diversity of domain experts. I honestly don't think I could go back.
Show threadGrumpiest of the NifflersDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify I don't know if it's a forever-solution but it's the best we have for now. I'm sure not switching to the next company-run site where just another rich dude decides what's okay to post and what's not.
Show threadJeff McAdamsDec 16, 2022

@TechConnectify I'm curious of your more subjective thoughts of the platform...ie, not based on specific numbers, but...how comfortable, or useful, or quality do you perceive the platform to be? (Choose your own subjective axis).

I'm just curious of the thoughts from someone with a bigger general following than someone like myself

Show threadDevourerDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify yeah, people are coming fast, the instance I'm in had about 4k members when I joined in November (they had been active since 2017) and now there's 10k people in a little over a month
Show threadwardDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify I like it better for reasons I'll cover in a video soon... But I need to find (or build) a new, more niche server. Being on the generic one is just that... A bit of a generic experience.
Show threaddr2okevinDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify time will show
Show threadJoão Tiago RebeloDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify contrary to the musky bird site, I have notifications turned on for you toots, since we are the algorithm. I've seen more toots from you than tweets. Ever. And I have reacted to more of them too. I like the fact you are here.
Show threadBlaiseDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify I think you're going to find that you get more (and better) engagement from that 20% here than you ever did from the 100% there...
Show threadPie PantsDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify I didn't have many followers on the birdsite and don't have many here, but the quality and number of interactions here so far way exceed what I ever saw on the other side.
Show threadRobin CapperDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify Glad you are here as have abandoned Twitter, but left my account, now private, in place. Enough of the community I liked on twitter has moved here and, so far, none of the aspects I didn't
Show threadCamburger Dec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify i think a big improvement for viability would be some app-integrated tutorial for new users (how and why are you picking a server, how does that affect what you can see and post) because a lot of the explanations I've seen online have been weirdly abstracted from the actual app experience. Not to mention even having to use a third party source for this info is gonna be a de facto barrier to entry for a lot of people.
Show threadTechnology ConnectionsDec 16, 2022

@camburger I also see a lot of people overthinking this. Like, I really have no awareness of the instance I'm in because I'm just using the home tab.

It was that decision paralysis that kept me off here for a while, but once I finally just said "eff it" and landed here I was like - "oh, so that only matters if you want it to."

Show threadCamburger Dec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify I am telling people that your server name is essentially glorified bling
Show threadClaytonDec 17, 2022

@camburger @TechConnectify I think it's a bit more complicated than that. This blog post by the admin of the instance I use talks about how the loss of the freedom to moderate content on their instance and loss of the freedom to block other instances impacts their decision to "nope" on out of some "UToI" thing:

https://blog.freeradical.zone/post/we-will-not-join-united-federation-of-instances/

In other words, admins for an instance can (and do) definitely impact what users are exposed to here... which is a very powerful thing.

We will not join the United Federation of Instances

We're not interested in this bad idea.

Show threadCamburger Dec 17, 2022
@craftyguy @TechConnectify yeah I figured that instance admin could be a potential concern. I suppose the blanket answer to that is "you can always migrate to another instance if you have problems with your current one" and I think that's sufficient at the moment for onboarding new users. But I do think this warrants more discussion
Show threadUrban Jersey GuyDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify engagement has been decent and that's really all one can ask for in a platform
Show threadPyroKitsuneDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify any shift on a main tech is an uphill battle. The initial initeria to get started is a little higher here is the main problem. The dumpster fire over there is helping though
Show threadCaleb SpronkDec 16, 2022

@TechConnectify I pretty much only used 3rd party clients over there, and used that site as a way to follow 100 or so of my favorite journalists and content creators in a chronological feed... So with journalists currently fleeing the bird site, the choice was easy for me to switch over and start using Mastodon as my news driver... And boy has this week made it clear how much more I enjoy it over that other site already.

And sooo glad you're over here now so I don't miss your posts 😊

Show threadBryn 🜏☭ Dec 16, 2022

@TechConnectify I've attained over *50%* of my Twitter following!

...I wasn't really that Twitter famous lol

Show threadKim (she/her)Dec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify I'm new here but I have to say that this platform feels way calmer than Twitter ever did.
Show threadElla FoxDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify I feel more at ease following you here than say, Twitter. My engagement with your content feels more authentic and natural. Twitter always gave me the sense that some people were just difficult to engage with due to the sheer volume of traffic it gets. I'd say it's about curating an audience that actually enjoys your presence.
Show threadJames S. AaronDec 16, 2022

@TechConnectify I was lucky enough to join a small Instance and then branch out from there.

I think it's much better than getting hit by the firehose of a big server... or really what twitter had become because I never managed to curate my feed much.

A small instance feels like being invited to a house party with cool people.

Show threadLoLa Dec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify if you want more you should add the word mastodon to your twitter bio: i ctrl+f'd the word mastodon in my following pages to find people to follow and almost missed you because it didn't show up
Show threadTechnology ConnectionsDec 16, 2022
@Lo_La Good call.
Show threadシュガ人Dec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify You're a shift
Show threadColossalhoboDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify I am so far appreciative of the differences this far. I am hopeful
Show threadGearliciousDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify it's also about people being in control again of how social media operates and (hopefully) not on whim of yet another megalomaniac CEO at the top
Show threadJesse GallagherDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify Mastodon has powerful “…unless?” energy.
Show threadSlips [READ MY BIO BEFORE FOLLOWING ME]Dec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify how he-who-shall-not-be-named has been handling the birdsite has certainly been helping people switch lol. I get the feeling that once more and more big-ish names switch off twitter and to fedi a lot more people will start joining. Whether that's for the best is up for debate, but nonetheless.
Show threadMike J👹🐀 🤘🏻Dec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify The smartest, best looking 10%.
Show threadFlight DeckDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify I don't think it's gonna replace Twitter for a lot of people but the variety of people using it is definitely making it more fun than the last time I tried Mastodon. I'm having a good time idk
Show threadDopeGhotiDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify
I imagine the fact that it seems here the feeling is more of interacting with people rather than interacting at them is a plus. Whether that will remain the case if the population of Mastodon increases five- or tenfold may remain to be seen though.
Show threadTicktokDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify The more interactions you have over here and the more time you spend over here, the more the flaws and just daily aggressions on twitter really stand out. Every time I go back the hate-bait posts/reposts and intrusive ads just become more and more pronounced.
I come here for interaction. I go there to watch the shit show.
Show threadTicktokDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify that said, there are somethings I don't have an alternative input for. Some friends and minor celebrities I like haven't moved. and on occasion the trending topics is interesting(but mostly not)
Show threadJEB™Dec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify I wager over the next few weeks people will keep coming, especially with the vitriol that keeps happening *over there*. I know George Takei was very excited about the shift as well when he decided to dive into the Fediverse, as have some other creators, nerd icons, and sane people.
Show threadEd 👾🎮💻Dec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify Maybe cover Mastodon on Connextras and explain what it is there? It’s a fascinating tech topic, especially in regards to how the federation works.
Show threadlgtmDec 16, 2022

@TechConnectify this place reminds me of Nemik’s line from the show Andor, where he shows a custom made navigational tool and explains why relying on imperial tech establishes dependence and enables control, so the rebels need to rely on open tools which might be more cumbersome but gives them freedom.

https://www.slashfilm.com/1040426/andor-episode-5-explains-why-rebel-tech-is-so-unique-and-so-janky-looking/

Andor Episode 5 Explains Why Rebel Tech Is So Unique (And So Janky-Looking) - SlashFilm

The Rebel Alliance's technology might look like junk, but Andor explains why it's preferable to the Empire's latest gadgets.

SlashFilm
Show threadGrortDec 16, 2022

@TechConnectify It'll probably depend on if the whole thing can avoid making lots of insulated pockets/echo chambers and if people keep using the site because they like using it, not just as a reaction against Twitter.

Really, depends on if the platform gets used past it's competitor fucking up, and major accounts people might want to follow like major game devs, news sites, politicians, and commentators joining to give a familiar core for people who like that to keep them coming back.

Show threadWillDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify the last day put me over the edge. I no longer was able to justify riding along with twitter while it dies and hurts people
Show threadSimonoidDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify at very least, the interactions here are so wonderfully wholesome 😁
Show threadEeveevolveDec 16, 2022
@TechConnectify Yep. Ya got me over here. Bit of a learning curve. But im sure ill figure it out as long as I dont get distract..oh Shiny!