Sheril KirshenbaumDec 24, 2022

I see some folks asking for a quote style button on #Mastodon. Let’s not do that.

Quote tweeting on #Twitter incentivized snark, promoted outrage & rewarded cruelty. It brought out our worst by further gamifying interactions in a kind of race for 🔁 & ❤️ - which are delightfully less obvious here.

I love that Mastodon has a community feel & hope it stays that way.

Show threadSean MacツDec 24, 2022
@Sheril
I think there are valid reasons to share with context. And, without an algorithm, I dont see how *share with context* will be any different than *share without context*.
Ultimately, without the ability to share with context, I dont think many will stay here. I dont want to blast random posts to my followers without explaining why I find those posts meaningful to me. It's about connecting as humans, and creating meaning, not replicating data as if we are human algorithms.
Show threadSteve
@seanm4c @Sheril I do understand that. But lets also think of what experience the lack of quote tooting creates: it means that a user #toots something more personal, potentially. Anyway, as the userbase grows, there'll be more pressure to import big #socialmedia norms.
Dec 24, 2022 at 5:16amWeb
Show threadSean MacツDec 24, 2022
@lime_juice_cube @Sheril
yes, I agree 100% Steve! I do think those 'social media norms' are just the things that humans tend to want to do, you know? When you try to curtail human behavior with 'features', you get interesting results. So time will show what kind of community Mastodon builds with its unique experience!
Show threadSteveDec 24, 2022
@seanm4c @Sheril It is interesting. Culture (a collection of ideas and behaviours) is flexible and malleable, and humans create all kinds of different cultures. Big #socialmedia tends to value growth, data capture, profiteering, and algorithmic sorting to optimise growth and engagement. #mastodon culture was largely developed by the queer community, who wanted to de-amplify toxicity. So, #mastodon has a different #culture - not right or wrong.
Show threadSean MacツDec 24, 2022
@lime_juice_cube @Sheril
yes, I have been told this. I will say that I am also 'queer' (although I am older, so I prefer the label of 'gay') and I dont feel like I fit in here, and have already been made to feel unwelcome repeatedly. So again, this is an interesting experiment.... ...
Show threadSteveDec 24, 2022
@seanm4c @Sheril That's definitely an interesting POV actually. As the userbase grows, I have no doubt any founding culture, queer or otherwise, will become diluted. Still, the #fediverse is diverse, and easy enough to find an instance that has a different set of values.
Show threadSean MacツDec 24, 2022
@lime_juice_cube @Sheril
yes, and that brings me back to my original point (that you probably can't see because this has been a multi-threaded conversation tonight, lol) -- that the diverse, decentralized, and non-algorithmic nature of Mastodon is what makes it so amazing... and I dont think re-posting with context would ruin that dynamic.
Show threadSteveDec 24, 2022
@seanm4c @Sheril It would certainly be interesting to see. Whatever happens, #mastodon culture has already changed. Change cannot be resisted.