Ryan SchultzDec 30, 2022

I’m not sure if my follow requests are *ANY* kind of barometer of how Mastodon is changing with the recent influx of new users, but within the past 24 hours, I got the following two requests:

1) from a guy whose most recent post was essentially a complaint that not enough people were following him, accompanied with a picture of a naked woman (I blocked him); and

2) from a member of the clergy, whose entire timeline (100%) was proselytizing for his particular brand of religion (I declined).

?!

Show threadRyan Schultz

I have a somewhat sinking feeling that we’re seeing more, shall we say, problematic people making the migration over here.

It’s gonna be interesting to see how the complainers, proselytizers, and (God help us) “influencers” will adjust to a completely different environment from the birdsite and the facesite… I mean, how well will Mastodon stand up to undesirable or unsociable behaviours? Open to hear your war stories and your opinions!

Dec 30, 2022 at 11:10pmToot!
Show threadTrismegistusMxDec 30, 2022
@ryanschultz The most egregious migration of twitter culture has to be the wannabe cops trying to lock down the fediverse behind block lists and server level moderation.
Show threadChristian Pietsch (old acct.)Dec 30, 2022
@ryanschultz I have little hope regarding the largely unmoderated big (erroneously called "flagship") instances. The well moderated smaller instances will deal with it in their own particular ways.
Show threadRyan SchultzDec 30, 2022
@chpietsch Yes, and I might consider a move from one server to another in future, but for now I will stay put.
Show threadChristian Pietsch (old acct.)Dec 30, 2022
@ryanschultz You are allowed to use several Fediverse accounts. No need to move immediately.
Show threadJamie DyerDec 30, 2022

@ryanschultz

Something I like about Mastadon is that outrage and toxic expression aren't amplified. For those who've been hooked on the dopamine rush on the bird site, Mastodon will be a frustrating disappointment for them and I expect that a lot of them will bail.

Show threadRyan SchultzDec 30, 2022
@savaka Let’s hope so! Fingers crossed 😁
Show threadLīgaDec 31, 2022
@ryanschultz @savaka LoL that was my thought.
Show threadVanettda LassardJan 14, 2023
@savaka @ryanschultz Mastodon has a veryorganic way to engage in multiple topical and esoteric discussions. I do love the occasional dopamine hit from a like or boost. I apologize for those who follow me expecting a cohesive “brand focused” stream of content. Some, however, come here from the bird site expecting to validate their existence in the number of followers, likes, or troll-fueled engagement. In time (I hope) most will leave frustrated, blaming mastodon for their failure.
Show threadMrinappropriateDec 30, 2022
@ryanschultz It si, I think, inevitable, but I truly believe the ethos may mitigate the excesses.
Show threadjbarrosDec 30, 2022

@ryanschultz Oddly enough (and as problematic as my beloved craft is with similar concerns) #freemasonry may make a great example of how to run servers. In each jurisdiction (server?) the Craft can make masons. One of the most important things in Masonry is "recognition" While each Grand Lodge (Jurisdiction) is independent and sovereign, what makes them truly valid is this mutual recognition, which allows brothers to travel from one Grand Lodge jurisdiction to another.

The "ancient landmarks" are recognized by all "regular" lodges, and it is their mutual agreement to these tenants which allow them to recognize each other as regular.

Here's how this works in practice:

A few years back, the Grand Lodge of Georgia decided to kick some brothers out for being gay. Some leaders from other grand loges asked about this, and on being told it was simply biblically correct, they pointed out that the ancient landmarks do not allow for sectarian politics or religion in lodge, and you can not kick gays out for your religion. After talks were unsuccessful, my Grand Lodge, along with many others, pulled recognition from the Grand Lodge of Georgia. When the GL of Tennessee sided with Georgia, they lost their privilege of traveling as well.

Georgia masons who might not have really cared about gays getting kicked out of the lodge now care a lot more as they can not sit in lodge with their out of state brethren and there is now a significant campaign to change the rule in Georgia.

We will never keep malicious ignorance and hate off the internet, but moderators can:

1.) decide who they have on their own servers.
2.) decide which other servers they choose to allow and which they choose to block.
(I know at least 1 server which has a list of servers they blacklist for allowing racism and bigotry)

In this way, while we can't stop them from existing, we can certainly ensure that anyone who wants to play with us behaves as an adult.

Show threadRyan SchultzDec 30, 2022
@jbarros Well said! Boosting your answer so more people can read it. Thanks! 😃
Show threadTim GDec 30, 2022
@jbarros @ryanschultz Interesting analogy. Did the Georgia and Tennessee lodges reconsider or dig in?
Show threadCatherine McKenzie CampbellDec 31, 2022
@jbarros @ryanschultz Fascinating! Thanks for
the info.
Show threadOrion's EndDec 30, 2022
@ryanschultz reading the rules on a variety of servers and there is a massive range of what allowable or what's not. Picking the right server is part of it but it will be interesting to see how it plays out in the long-run.
Show threadShield MaidenDec 30, 2022
@ryanschultz I've noticed that too already. Made worse imo by mass importations of followers by certain people, though I'm not sure how that works with said followers...do they get automatic entry to an instance like that? The only controlling factor over such people is the lack of algorithms and lots of filtering, muting and blocking of course!
Show threadceolnDec 30, 2022

@ryanschultz
There are many servers with *extremely* problematic people on them. Some are tiny (one bigot running pleroma) and some are brand new, but some are also non-tiny and non-new. Those are to a large extent defederated, though.

It's not like Mastodon or the larger Fediverse hasn't seen or isn't prepared for undesirable or antisocial behaviors, by any means! It already stands up to them quite well, at least for some people, to the extent that you may if you're lucky hardly notice that they exist.

What remains, and the negative impacts that some people experience more than others, are what we still need to work on.

Show threadRyan SchultzDec 30, 2022
@ceoln Well said, thanks! The overwhelming majority of my interactions here have been wonderful, which really made these two stand out!
Show threadceolnDec 30, 2022
@ryanschultz
That's excellent!
I'd love to have someone proselytize at me, at least if it was in good faith and somewhat rational. At least in theory. 😁
I automatically accept follows, and look at most of them but I'm sure I've overlooked some. None upsetting so far! 🤞
Show threadCatherine McKenzie CampbellDec 31, 2022
@ryanschultz I am hopeful that without the algorithm promoting controversy, the problematic people will find there just isn’t enough of an adrenaline/outrage high to make it worth their time.
Fingers crossed.
Show threadRyan SchultzDec 31, 2022
@CampCat953 Agreed! Fingers crossed.