Alanna SmithDec 19, 2022

Y'all are chasing working artists away from this place by harping on how "sad" and "pathetic" it is for them to hope for a large follower count here.

It's not about attention. It's about their bottom line. More followers means more commissions, more customers in their online shops, more direct exposure to people with hiring power. It's honestly really cruel to keep acting like they want adulation when really they just want to pay rent.

They have ample reason to mourn what they built.

Show threadAlanna SmithDec 19, 2022
You have to understand that, at least right now, losing their audience probably feels like going from having a well-established, high-traffic store in a luxury mall to having a stall at the flea market. They can climb back up from there, of course, but it's going to take time and work. It's silly and mean to shame them for not wanting to start over when they already worked so hard to get where they are.
Show threadAlanna SmithDec 19, 2022
And I'm not blowing hot air when I say you're chasing away working artists. I follow a ton of artists elsewhere, and that's what I see them saying. They feel demeaned and dismissed by this attitude that wanting a lot of followers is vapid, or selfish, or something they need to unlearn. They know what's best for them and their business. Cut it out.
Show threadAlanna SmithDec 19, 2022
And one last thing--I'm saying all this as someone who actually really likes Mastodon and would love to see more creators from my industry show up here! I've done my fair share of evangelizing, but I can't blame them for staying away when so much of this rhetoric is flying around.
Show threadBrian J. CrowleyDec 19, 2022
@alannawrites Same, however a lot of them seem to be addicted to the follower counts.
Show threadAlanna SmithDec 19, 2022

@hamsterrage As someone who knows many, many high profile artists personally, I strongly disagree.

It's not an addiction to not want to lose your customers.

Show threadBrian J. CrowleyDec 19, 2022

@alannawrites

I think it’s troubling to have that perspective VS supporting the 44B investment of a man who’s
-spreading conspiracy theories (Covid/ Paul Pelosi)
-platforming white supremacists
-banning journalists
-encouraging violence

At the end of the day… we have to vote with our dollars and our voices… If the above aren’t red lines then where do they stand?

Show threadAlanna SmithDec 19, 2022
@hamsterrage where did I support or endorse Twitter in this thread? I hated twitter before Musk, and I do think people should leave. And it's frustrating for me that people in my community don't see the potential of this place because callous comments are keeping them away. That's my whole point.
Show threadBrian J. CrowleyDec 19, 2022
@alannawrites I'm not referring to you, I'm referring to the folks that are staying and not making the effort to move.
Show threadVidar Hokstad / Galaxy Bound

@hamsterrage @alannawrites Consider that most creative sectors have average salaries for people working full time on their own projects near or below minimum wage.

Many can't afford the level of ideological purity you seem to want to demand.

I also don't buy that it's necessarily the right choice - people can just drop Twitter and hope people follow, or stay and try to coax more to leave. I'm not convinced there's one right answer.

Dec 19, 2022 at 11:29pmWeb