NoeJan 9, 2023
Augie Ray

I gave up 15 years on Twitter and 22,000 followers. I used my anniversary to invite others to follow me to Mastodon, and I pointed out that every tweet is a donation to Musk. We know what he is and what he's doing. He gave Michael Flynn his account back on the anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection.

I started my #Twitter exodus as a boycott against Musk. Now, I'm thrilled to be here. I miss a few things, but Mastodon is just built better. I feel like it makes me (and you) better, too.

Jan 8, 2023 at 10:42amWeb
Show threadnativewitJan 8, 2023
@augieray
Following here just because you deserve it.
Show threadAugie RayJan 8, 2023
@nativewit Thank you. And I hope I also earn it over time.
Show threadnativewitJan 8, 2023
@augieray
Looking forward to it.
Show threadMell's BellsJan 8, 2023
@augieray I left because of him too. Any amount of activity there is support for that terrible human.
Show threadJoyce Resist and Vote BlueJan 8, 2023
@augieray
I couldn't agree more! I had 14 years at the #birdsite and was fed up with #Musk almost immediately. I followed you. I love #Mastodon #Democracy #TwitterMigration #SocialJustice #Diversity #ProgressiveCauses
Show threadLadyLJan 8, 2023
@augieray I gave up 6 yrs on Twitter and 3,200 followers. You are correct. Every Tweet is a donation to Musk. Every tweet is an acknowledgement that you're looking the other way to Musk's antidemocratic behavior.
Show threadKenneth John BardsleyJan 8, 2023
@augieray
I am up to more than 1,300 followers on Mastodon,, but sticking with Twitter also. We will see what happens.
Show threadAugie RayJan 8, 2023
@kennethb I started that way, cross-posting between the two. i decided all that did was continue to provide free content and engagement for Musk to monetize, so I locked my Twitter account. I still miss some things and visit Twitter occasionally, but over time, the painfully obvious algorithm that optimizes for outrage, disagreement, and division becomes painfully obvious, I find.
Show threadMr CheesequakeJan 8, 2023
@augieray glad to have you!
Show threadMinisterofimpedimentsJan 8, 2023
@augieray
Everyone has their; “Okay, I’ve had enough.”-moment. Different for each person. And that has to overcome the fear of change. Some will keep one foot in both places, some will turn and go back…some will realize they don’t miss it at all.
Show threadGo Sports & Music!Jan 8, 2023
@augieray Perfecly said “every tweet is a donation to Musk. We know what he is and what he's doing. He gave Michael Flynn his account back on the anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection.”
Show threadPeteJan 8, 2023
@augieray I'm with you Augie, I left the day he showed up at twitter office and have not looked back!
Show threadGina B FlaJan 8, 2023
@augieray
Bravo! I like it here too. How do we convince our government to post updates on Mastodon, instead of Twitter?
Show threadNick@NorthLondonJan 8, 2023
@augieray
Well said sir!
Show threadAaronJan 8, 2023
@augieray I didn’t give up nearly as much as you on Twitter (202 followers 😆), but I’m glad to be away from that toxic environment!
Show threadYahia LababidiJan 8, 2023

@augieray

I admire your principled position, Augie & courage of your convictions 👏🏼

I’ve been on #twitter for 13 years, with around 3,500 followers. But in just two weeks on #Mastodon I’m already impressed with the intelligence and engagement of people, here.

Looking forward to staying longer & making more friends.

https://www.worldliteraturetoday.org/author/yahia-lababidi

#TwitterMigration #writing #poetry #introduction #literature #books

Yahia Lababidi

World Literature Today
Show threadTrisResistsJan 8, 2023
@augieray Glad you’re here Augie.
I too gave up on Twitter recently. Musk was the proverbial nail in the coffin.
I left over 100,000 followers/amazing people, over there.
I hope more of them come to Mastodon.
Still trying to reconnect with my ‘tweeps’, but so happy to be making new friends as well. I love it here!
Show threadBWheatNYCJan 8, 2023
@augieray I agree with you. Mastodon is a much more positive place. Have connected with some folks from the bird site and lots of new ppl as well. Never going back and don’t miss it at all.
Show threadDavid NiceJan 8, 2023
@augieray My problem is that very few folk I know in the classical music/opera Twittersphere have come here, and most of those who have are hedging their bets by carrying on with both. So Mastodon isn't working for me, but I couldn't stay in Muskville. I enjoy what I read on here, though.
Show threadAugie RayJan 8, 2023
@davidpnice Keep doing your best to draw people here and be the leading edge of building a new community here.
Show threadDavid NiceJan 8, 2023
@augieray Trouble is, I'm no longer posting on Twitter. I still look in occasionally.
Show threadPete Prodoehl 🍕Jan 8, 2023
@augieray Thank you for your service. So happy to have you here!
Show threadAndrés IzarraJan 8, 2023
@augieray same reason brought me here
Show thread13010Jan 8, 2023
@augieray
100% truth.
Show threadCharity FebJan 8, 2023
@augieray Thank you. I just do not understand why so many who have this clear choice to make their voice count by removing it ... still don't.
Show threadiamBullivantJan 8, 2023
@augieray Well done Augie. That deserves a follow. 👏 👏 👏
Show threadJohn RobinsonJan 8, 2023
@augieray yep Same here 19700 followers but enjoying it here more.
Show threadMatthew LasarJan 8, 2023
@augieray Great to be ignored here even more than I was on Twitter.
Show threadAugie RayJan 8, 2023
@matthewlasar Funny, because I am getting easily 10x the engagement here on Mastodon that I got on Twitter with 90% fewer followers. My experience is very different than yours.
Show threadMatthew LasarJan 8, 2023
@augieray congratulations
Show threadSharty McscroteJan 8, 2023
@augieray same here, at least since space karen took it over
Show threadRegisterandVoteJan 8, 2023
@augieray yes. Every time I go back and “check” Twitter I get angry and I post something snarky.
Show threadElizabeth Moore🇨🇦Jan 8, 2023
@2cents @augieray That’s what I probably would do as well. I’m more of a reader than a commentator and I find I’m a lot less angry here on this site. Twitter just made me angry and I’d wind up swearing a lot at some of those tweeters. Especially the last few months before I left, I’d wind up with tweets and tweeters that I’d never follow —did a lot of blocking!
Show threadMax RossellJan 8, 2023
@augieray so true and relatable!
Show threadclimate voter/degrowthistJan 8, 2023
@augieray Thanks for coming over here. I am following you just because.
Show threadDR. NERD Jan 8, 2023
@augieray you're welcome..🙂👍
Show threadRenoir BoulangerJan 8, 2023
@augieray the mere fact that you can self/host, or have an ActivityPub compliant publisher on your own website makes it all how it should have been in the first place.
Show threadG. KnowlesJan 8, 2023
@augieray you get used to not missing twitter, but the withdrawal symptoms last a few days!
Show threadEd SuominenJan 8, 2023

@augieray I agree completely. Walked away from 6,700 followers.

Thanks for being one of the most valuable sources of non-delusional #Covid information here.

Show threadImmaFolchJan 8, 2023
@augieray i agree with you that being on Twitter is supporting Trump supporters, and this is why I am leaving Twitter… i wish there would be a way to import followers and followees to Mastodon - is there ? #leavetwitter
Show threadAugie RayJan 8, 2023

@immafolch Since Twitter accounts are not linked to Mastodon accounts, there is no perfect way to import. I did find this tool worked pretty well: https://www.movetodon.org/

(When it asks for your Mastodon domain, it's really asking for your Mastodon username AND domain, btw.)

Movetodon: Finds your Twitter Friends on Mastodon

Show threadImmaFolchJan 8, 2023
@augieray Thabks! I’ll try it.
Show threadOne Dude. Opinions. All Mine.Jan 8, 2023
@augieray welcome!
Show threadFreebirdFrolicJan 8, 2023

@augieray

Hashtags are the currency here. No algorithms! You can disseminate your sparkling prose by using hashtags such as

#introduction
#twittermigration

You might consider sending this out again with hashtags for greater coverage.
Welcome! I am a newbie, too. This is a good place to share.

My suggestions may be subject to editing by others.

Show threadGil Friend, sustainability OGJan 8, 2023
@augieray My own Twitter experience hasn’t been very toxic, perhaps because I’ve always maintained a tightly curated feed. But I sure don’t like what Musk is up to. I’m just reluctant to lose connection with my ~19K followers. How did you manage to bring 10% of yours over here?
Show threadAugie RayJan 8, 2023
@gfriend I didn't bring people here. I urged people to follow me, and few did. All I've done is started rebuilding here by posting content, using hashtags, engaging with people who reply, and using tools like https://www.movetodon.org/ to locate some of my Twitter connections here on Mastodon.
Movetodon: Finds your Twitter Friends on Mastodon

Show threadGil Friend, sustainability OGJan 8, 2023
@augieray Thanks, Augie. That’s helpful. And encouraging.
Show threadAlex CoxJan 8, 2023
@augieray This is the conclusion I came to as well. When a single person owns the platform, every discussion, even dissent and protest on that platform serves to their benefit.
When he adds back in controversial figures, that's news, and the first thing that happens is people go to the site to see what is being said and put in their own thoughts. So he has incentive to keep being an edgelord.
Conflict drives conversation there, not consensus.
Show threadbob Jan 8, 2023
@augieray well done and welcome. I’m giving up on 16 years.
Show thread72menaJan 8, 2023
@augieray good move! Btw, reinstantiating that account on Jan 6 is obviously sending a message. But I just don’t understand how Musk pushes for dividing the bird site’s user base. It’s illogical, especially after spending 44b on it. “Every tweet is a donation to Musk” is very powerful, I’ll use it too.
Show threadRicardoJan 8, 2023
@augieray new to mastodon. Any reference to the basics of how mastodon functions for the average user? Thank you in advance.
Show threadAugie RayJan 8, 2023
@jcarhua1 I thought this article was a long but good intro to Mastodon: https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-get-started-use-mastodon/
Show threadRicardoJan 8, 2023
@augieray thank you!
Show threadKenJan 8, 2023

@augieray The decision to leave the #BirdApp was difficult for me as well. My 10 year anniversary would have been next month, I met a lot of great #Resisters and those who #Resist in my 7.5K followers and I miss that interaction.😐

However, since #Integrity and #Honesty are principles that I refuse to sacrifice and twitter under #ElonMusk no longer exhibits anything close to that, my choice to head over to #Mastodon #MastodonNation was just the right thing to do.👍✊💯

Show threadAlyce MillerJan 8, 2023
@Turntwo363 @augieray Likewise
Show threadAlyce MillerJan 8, 2023
@augieray I also left Twitter and thousands of followers and “friends.” It was always problematic but when Musk took over it plummeted into absurdity. I am still uncertain about Mastodon.