Jeremy HowardDec 20, 2022
Maria Antoniak
I'm enjoying Mastodon more and more. My votes for what would make it even better:
- an algorithmic feed
- better conversation threading
- always viewing the original profile, not some mysterious percentage of the original profile (same for likes and boosts)
- seeing my overlapping follows when looking at someone else's follower list
- encrypted DMs
- DMs that don't visually operate like posts
- quote posts! I promise they can be used for good!
Dec 19, 2022 at 1:12amWeb
Show threadRDec 19, 2022
@maria_antoniak They need to make a single button for it, but, if you link to the original post then it will embed below your post which is basically like a quote post.
Show threadMaria AntoniakDec 19, 2022
@tealcows Yes but it won't show the text automatically, right? I think that's an important part of quotes. For example, I often use quote tweets to give credit back to the original author, so I wouldn't want them obscured.
Show threadMaria AntoniakDec 19, 2022
@tealcows testing... https://sigmoid.social/@maria_antoniak/109502809911915050
Maria Antoniak (@[email protected])

I'm very excited for #NormConf, a conference "about all the stuff that matters in data and machine learning, but doesn't get the spotlight." Happening virtually this Thursday! The talks look sooo good! 🤩 https://normconf.com/#schedule ✨ Julia Silge: How many folds is too many? Efficient simulation for everyday ML decisions ✨ Luca Belli: Geriatric data science: life after senior ✨ Lynn Cherny: NLP tips and tricks ✨ Sean Taylor: When not to use SQL ✨ Chris Albon: Don't do invisible work

Sigmoid Social
Show threadNaomi SaphraDec 19, 2022
@tealcows @maria_antoniak Some servers have implemented this, but it's not a standard mastodon feature!
Show threadMaria AntoniakDec 19, 2022
@nsaphra @tealcows Ooh good to know! Absent evidence that it's harmful, I'd love this to be added to Sigmoid
Show threadNaomi SaphraDec 19, 2022
@maria_antoniak I'm gonna also say unlisted privacy settings on replies by default!
Show threadShelenn AyresDec 19, 2022
@maria_antoniak friendica has quote posts
Show threadAndrey KurenkovDec 19, 2022
@maria_antoniak I think most of these have been suggested and discusses as Github issues on the Mastodon repo. Sadly so far it seems the dev team is too small to handle the workload and their process is rather ad hoc, but hopefully it improves over time. Meanwhile, can't hurt to express your support for these features on there!
Show threadMaria AntoniakDec 19, 2022
@andrey Yeah I should do that! I think there are also some changes that can be made on a particular instance (sounds like quote posts are one of those) and there are some grassroots projects too: https://sigmoid.social/@MattHodges@mastodon.social/109451111899485755
Matt Hodges (@[email protected])

Attached: 2 images Here it is! My algorithmic #Mastodon Digest is now #OpenSource! It surfaces posts and boosts from your home timeline that you may have missed. You need a bit of comfort running #python #projects but I tried to make it as turnkey as possible. Everything runs locally, and you can currently generate 288 different digests based on your preferred: • Timeline history • Scoring criteria • Threshold criteria Lots more to experiment with — please remember this is still a toy 😄 https://github.com/hodgesmr/mastodon_digest

Mastodon
Show threadAndrey KurenkovDec 19, 2022

@maria_antoniak eg here's the discussion wrt quote boosting https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/issues/20673

That and algorithmic feeds are quite contentious topics. The founder explicitly opposed quote posts in the past (see discussion above as to why). I wouldn't be surprised it forks of Mastodon will be necessary to add those. But in any case, lots of programmers are on Mastodon, hopefully it gets a lot of this stuff in time...

user-controlled, abuse-resistent quote-boosting · Issue #20673 · mastodon/mastodon

Pitch This is extracted from #309. I suggest adding the following to mastodon settings and implementing the respective feature: Users that are in at least one of the following groups may quote-boos...

GitHub
Show threadTed UnderwoodDec 19, 2022
@andrey @maria_antoniak An opt-in version like the one described there is something I'd welcome.
Show threadMaria AntoniakDec 19, 2022

@andrey I think some form of quote posts are possible? See this small sub-thread that mentions quotes on other instances: https://sigmoid.social/@nsaphra/109537740230253017

Also I just realized you're one of the people running the Sigmoid server! Thank you for doing this service for the community 🙏

Naomi Saphra (@[email protected])

@[email protected] @maria_antoniak Some servers have implemented this, but it's not a standard mastodon feature!

Sigmoid Social
Show threadAndrey KurenkovDec 19, 2022

@maria_antoniak my pleasure to run this thing! I've longed dreamed of decentralized social media becoming a thing, so this is literally a dream come true.

As far other servers, I'll look into it!
We are running the latest official Mastodon release, so it may not be easy to incorporate any code changes if these other servers have those. There have been many requests for latex like mathstodon, but in fact it's pretty tricky to add :/

Show threadBen SchmidtDec 19, 2022
@maria_antoniak Co-sign. The other thing I want is--stop lecturing me about alt-text and making me feel like a jerk when I forget. Just throw an error when people post images without decent alt-text! My IDE does this, why can't my microblogging client?
Show threadMaria AntoniakDec 19, 2022
@benmschmidt Yes!! 100% agreed
Show threadNathanael NerodeDec 19, 2022

@maria_antoniak

SOOOO.... you are free to write your own client, or hire a programmer to write a client, which will give you an algorithmic feed. MOST of us want a chronological feed so that's what the mainstream clients do, but you can get a different client to get a different feed

Show threadMaria AntoniakDec 19, 2022

@neroden Yeah there are people trying that: https://github.com/hodgesmr/mastodon_digest

It might not seem intuitive, but a lot of people (which might not include you!) do benefit from an algorithmic feed, as long as it's tuned towards things that are meaningful for them.

GitHub - hodgesmr/mastodon_digest: A Python script that aggregates recent popular posts from your Mastodon timeline

A Python script that aggregates recent popular posts from your Mastodon timeline - hodgesmr/mastodon_digest

GitHub
Show threadNathanael NerodeDec 19, 2022
@maria_antoniak That's cool. I don't think it'll ever be the default, but it's definitely cool to have it as a client-side option.
Show threadLīgaDec 19, 2022
@maria_antoniak wow sounds like...twitter.
Show threadMaria AntoniakDec 19, 2022
@Liga I like a lot of things about Twitter. I also dislike a lot of things!
Show threadRussell Cameron ThomasDec 19, 2022

@maria_antoniak Question: what specifically do you mean by "algorithmic feed"?

One algorithm for everyone, everywhere?

Or a unique algorithm for each user, customized and controlled by them?

Or a set of algorithm options that users can choose, including one or more, presented side by side (a la TweetDeck)?

Or a different algorithm for each instance, customized for that community?

Show threadMaria AntoniakDec 19, 2022
@MrMeritology A set of algorithm options, perhaps customizable, definitely with an on/off switch.
Show threadRussell Cameron ThomasDec 19, 2022
@maria_antoniak I think if each user had a menu of feed algorithms to choose from -- allowing multiple choices and managed as open-source plugins -- then I think that could be fruitful and positive. I don't think any algorithm should be the default configuration.
Show threadMauricio ForondaDec 19, 2022

@maria_antoniak

This is a great list and many of these features could actually be implemented in clients right now.

For example the one I write this on, fedilab @apps , renders threads well and has an option to fetch profiles and posts from the original instance to show the full picture.

Also, clients already fetch your timeline and there's nothing stopping them from doing something more creative than chronological sorting, like the little digest I run for myself https://mauforonda.github.io/mastodon_digest/

Mastodon Digest

Show threadMaria AntoniakDec 19, 2022
@mauforonda @apps That's great! This (as I understand it) is the best part of Mastodon. We can customize things!
Show threadMauricio ForondaDec 19, 2022

@maria_antoniak

Yes. So many cute things we could make here that would probably be harder in twitter. A tab for people who post infrequently, a tiktok-like interface where you triage papers in your feed and send them to zotero, a little button next to a profile that makes you a list of people they follow to see the world through their eyes. Either by contributing, forking or making your own little thing.

Show threadMaria AntoniakDec 19, 2022
@mauforonda I love these ideas! 🤩
Show threadAnupam BasuDec 19, 2022
@maria_antoniak Better threading, always seeing the original profile, and one click follows from other servers in the browser interface would be top of my wishlist.
Show threadDamiDec 19, 2022
@maria_antoniak Part of it is already done - you DO have an algorithmic feed, which you have designed and built yourself. Don't like it? You can tweak it by deliberately adding new hashtags or a few individuals who post on subjects you want to see.
Show threadMaria AntoniakDec 19, 2022
@damianaswan That is an algorithm, but it's a very brittle and time-intensive one that isn't capable of doing what I want (e.g., show me the posts written by people I follow that are generating most discussion today)
Show threadhackbyte Antifa (friendica) 13HB1Dec 19, 2022
@maria_antoniak Most of these features are actually in virtually every other #fediverse client.. Except for encrypted DMs. There is in principle no (or not much) privacy in the fediverse because there are to many parties involved to get that guaranteed.

And .. 'algorithmic feed' no way .... that's exactly why i'm here and not on those toxic corporate spaces.... ;)
Show threadMaria AntoniakDec 19, 2022

@hackbyte Other clients have better threading, can see the original profile, can see overlapping follows, and have DMs that don't visually operate like posts?

Most people prefer algorithmic feeds. Having multiple, transparent options (including "no algorithm") would be best.

Show threadhackbyte Antifa (friendica) 13HB1Dec 19, 2022
@maria_antoniak Correct, for most parts of the #fediverse, such things are pure basics.. Maybe take a look at #friendica, #misskey or #pleroma. ;)
Show threadDavid ColarussoDec 19, 2022

@maria_antoniak fun fact, I saw this because my personal algorithmic feed boosted it. See @colarusso_algo. A lot of us have been having fun building them. See e.g., @MattHodges's https://github.com/hodgesmr/mastodon_digest

That being said, I'd like to see some of those too. FWIW:

@tootapp does a better job a threading than the web interface. See https://mastodon.social/@Colarusso/109356658123107179

And a number of the clients display something that looks like a QT by using the preview info on the post page.

GitHub - hodgesmr/mastodon_digest: A Python script that aggregates recent popular posts from your Mastodon timeline

A Python script that aggregates recent popular posts from your Mastodon timeline - hodgesmr/mastodon_digest

GitHub
Show threadNickyhantsDec 20, 2022
@maria_antoniak ability to see lists easier in all federverses
Show threadNaomi SaphraDec 20, 2022

@maria_antoniak Okay I've had more time to think about this and

- drafts folder

Show threadAkash JanapatiDec 21, 2022
@maria_antoniak You are asking for twitter.com