I have been genuinely baffled by the cries to put self-promotion behind a CW since I started using Mastodon in earnest this fall.
I know that everyone uses social media differently, but I want to know what people are working on. I want to know about new books or albums or apps or podcasts or whatever. I want to know who is looking for help via crowdfunding.
I care about the whole person, not a persona they're forced into by arbitrary rules.
People persist in saying that CWs are basically like email subject lines like it's a feature, but for me it's just added friction and frustration.
People who know me well can attest that a carrier pigeon is a better way to get in touch with me than email.
And no, turning off all CWs is not the answer.
Ultimately, I think that what frustrates me about this discussion is that people are so dead set that their ideology is correct, but different people need different things. Sometimes those needs aren't compatible, and that's okay.
I'll continue to put CWs on posts that mention food, pics with eye contact, discussion of discrimination outside of my lived experience, and more.
But I'm not a good person to follow if you expect a CW on posts about my podcasts, blog posts, work, etc.
@aleen exceptionally well put. I usually follow people because I’m interested in their thing. Maybe it’s their work, their hobby, their humour, their “content” which may or may not be sensitive for some. Putting content warnings on your core things seems. If I am sensitive to your core “thing” here I probably shouldn’t follow you!
If you bring something sensitive out of left field, then a CW is absolutely merited!
Aleen
𓂧𓅓𓇌
Scott Lougheed
Old account