Simon WillisonDec 22, 2022

My least favourite sharp edge of Mastodon is the fact that when you view someone else's post you only see replies to it that are known to your server - so there's actually a good chance there will be replies that are completely invisible to you, especially if you run your own instance

I'd love it if tapping a post kicked off a request back to the original server that fetched the current reply count and provided a "view all replies" button if there were replies not yet visible to me

Show threadSimon WillisonDec 22, 2022

My hunch here is that very few people see even aware of this Mastodon feature

So, a poll: prior to reading this thread, did you know that Mastodon by default will only show you public replies to a post if those replies have already been fetched into your server somehow?

(This only affects you when you view a post that originated on a server other than your home server - if the original post author is on the same server as you then you'll see all of the replies)

Yes I knew about that
24%
No, I didn't know about that
70%
I don't understand the question
6%
Poll ended at .
Show threadAria  ​Dec 22, 2022

@simon I had assumed that replies would inherit the "reach" of the original post by default... Hmm...

*edit: typo

Show threadmaegulDec 23, 2022
@AriaGrace yes! I think this is the normal intuition, where many have the intuition of a forum or threaded structure. But it seems the core idea here is it’s all about who you follow.
Show threadchriszanfDec 23, 2022
@maegul @AriaGrace Here's a great flow chart that shows the visibility of a toot on which timeline it will appear dependent on if it's on a local and federated instance & if you follow someone who interacted with it.
Show threadGareth SimpsonDec 23, 2022
@chriszanf @maegul @AriaGrace
Thank you for sharing this.
The diagram is enlightening and makes logical sense.
It also has kind of depressing implications for people following hashtags. Got to hope the people on your server share all your niche interests.
Show threadzecuseDec 23, 2022

@xurble @chriszanf @maegul @AriaGrace They don't have to share your interests. They just have to reply/search/favorite/boost/follow etc. someone that happens to share your interest so that someone's toot will show in your Federated.

It's like a mutual connection that's not shared by the intermediate account between the 2 of you. So long as these other 2 accounts aren't blocked by your instance, it doesn't matter what others on your instance have.

Show threadmaegul
@zecuse @xurble @chriszanf how much are people using their federated timeline? I find it overwhelming a lot of the time. Plus, speaking of the hashtags, is it not reasonable to want tagged posts to appear in one’s feed? Also, I’m not clear on how hashtags would work for some one on their own private instance … would you need to follow the poster to see the post?
Dec 23, 2022 at 11:18pmWeb
Show threadchriszanfDec 23, 2022

@maegul @zecuse @xurble There's a seeing on the web interface to enable "slow mode" so all the feeds do not auto scroll. Makes the federated timeline readable.

Not sure about the hashtags / own instance but I follow one related to modular synths and I see posts by people from other instances.

Good questions though!

Show threadthem#ticDec 24, 2022
@maegul @zecuse @xurble @chriszanf (In an established instance) I last used it some in early November. I was more actively looking for accounts to follow.
Show threadmaegulDec 24, 2022
@thematic that makes sense. Also, to go through it every so often just to allow for new things, people etc.