IanFeb 20, 2023
GlenG🌻 - Support Ukraine

Without algorithms it takes boosting to make the Mastodon machine move - so boost often, boost freely and boost abundantly.

Nobody is trying to sell you anything.

Nobody puts their ugly mug at the top of your feed.

Nobody buries your post and (sorry) nobody promotes it.

Posts may settle more quickly here as they fall thru timelines without artificial support.

Mastodon’s rhythm therefore has a different feel which may feel unusual to birders.

Mostly, have fun. Be kind. Learn and share.

Jan 17, 2023 at 5:03amWeb
Show threadGlenG🌻 - Support UkraineJan 28, 2023

This post has been traveling around the Fediverse for 11 days now from world to world, instance to instance, like on a tiny raft in the ocean - all without a single algorithm.

Every day it miraculously gets picked up by somebody somewhere who finds it interesting enough to respond.

It’s been amazing to watch.

It speaks to the Awesome Power of a People-Powered System, driven purely by and purely for the People.

Show threadStephenCJan 17, 2023
@Gleng2 agreed. It takes a while to get the feel of it.
Show threadSander SootsJan 17, 2023
@Gleng2 How does one boost?
Show threadGrace 🖌️ Democracy AdvocateJan 17, 2023
@sala @Gleng2
Sala, you hit the circular arrows icon to boost a post.
Show threadSander SootsJan 17, 2023
@GraceIsPizt @Gleng2 so reblog is same as boost? Facebook has boost as sepperate button.
Show threadGrace 🖌️ Democracy AdvocateJan 17, 2023
@sala not sure about reblog. The icons and appearance are going to change based upon which application UI you’re using.
Show threadHelena RigbyJan 17, 2023
@sala @GraceIsPizt @Gleng2 yes. A reblog effectively boosts a post as it shares it with more people, and if they boost it then it becomes visible across more instances. It's not like the artificially boosted posts on Facebook.
Show threadSander SootsJan 17, 2023
@Harryshelper @GraceIsPizt @Gleng2 do some servers have boost and reblog and some only reblogs? Or is it the same button?
Show threadGrace 🖌️ Democracy AdvocateJan 17, 2023
@sala same thing. Boost/reblog
Show threadWorld Economic FellaJan 17, 2023
@sala @Gleng2 With the boost ♻️ button.
Show threadSander SootsJan 17, 2023
@worldeconomicfella @Gleng2 I don't have that button at all in my mastodon clients, not one. How to get it?
Show threadWorld Economic FellaJan 17, 2023

@sala @Gleng2 I'm not sure how Mastodon is working at est.social, but this is how the boost button works with me.

I'm using the web version of Mastodon, but the original Mastodon client is also having that button

Show threadSander SootsJan 17, 2023
@worldeconomicfella @Gleng2 but this is reblog button not boost button in screenshot?
Show threadGlenG🌻 - Support UkraineJan 17, 2023

@sala @worldeconomicfella

Evidently, some clients call them "boosts" and some "reblogs". They're identical and both use the same, or similar, image with the arrows moving in a circular, or square fashion. Mastoot actually spells out the word "Boosts" while some like the web client just use the symbol.

Show threadSander SootsJan 17, 2023
@Gleng2 @worldeconomicfella so confusing, considering TikTok, Instagram and Facebook have actual Boosts button, don't think this mixup on boost vs reblog is wise. It would be super cool, to give users limited amount of boosts to use every day, to promote the best content additionally.
Show threadGlenG🌻 - Support UkraineJan 17, 2023

@sala @worldeconomicfella

Perhaps, but again, without algorithms (and "boosts" or "reblogs" to move it) a platform like Mastodon will literally stop moving, and movement is generally what attracts new accounts.

Show threadWm.sonJan 17, 2023

@Gleng2

Well a few people are selling things...but I get your larger meaning!

Show threadGlenG🌻 - Support UkraineJan 17, 2023

@Sfwmson

Very true. Was thinking about adding something along those lines, but then the character limit.

:)

Show threadRussell 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇦🍉Jan 18, 2023
@Sfwmson @Gleng2 Selling is normally against instance rules.
Show threadStephen GreenhamJan 17, 2023
@Gleng2 I have a tendency to mute or unfollow excessive boosters... It's rare that someone is going to boost lots of stuff that's relevant to me. And if that irrelevance goes above a certain threshold, I don't have a tolerance for it. I prefer to find and follow people who are the creators of their own unique content. I'm not saying don't boost, it's up to each user how they interpret and use this platform. Just be mindful that some have differing behaviours.
Show threadthe roamerJan 17, 2023

@solarisfire @Gleng2

I understand completely. Consider using a selective mute, where you only mute a person's boosts but not their own posts.

Show threadTaura HJan 17, 2023
@Gleng2 I think I need a YouTube tutorial 😂😂😂
Show threadAlex CoventryJan 18, 2023
@Gleng2 There are definitely people here for marketing/business purposes. Medium, for instance.
Show threadGlenG🌻 - Support UkraineJan 18, 2023
@alx That’s true. The wording’s not quite right. Should read big advertising or something along those lines.
Show threadJohn GordonJan 18, 2023

@Gleng2

That’s likely good advice for many but I have suppressed boosts for many that I follow. They were uninteresting to me and often redundant.

Show threadGlenG🌻 - Support UkraineJan 18, 2023
@jgordon That’s always an option. I use a lot of lists, typically scroll past the occasional boost-rant, and have played around some with the mute timer as well. The other side of the coin here is that we have many options to choose who and how we listen.
Show threadCakesnifferJan 18, 2023
@Gleng2 It does feel different, I feel more relaxed. On that other site I always let myself be provoked into responding to posts by my awful Republican representatives so then the algorithm kept putting them front and center on my feed. A vicious cycle.
Show threadGlenG🌻 - Support UkraineJan 19, 2023

@Cakesniffer

Glad to be part of this one.🙂

Show threadEeeee WooooJan 18, 2023
@Gleng2 and hashtags #HowToMakeItMove
Show threadMarvin Sequera 👨🏼‍💻Jan 19, 2023
@Gleng2 sometimes it feels like a boost it’s so expensive for some people 😜
Show threadGlenG🌻 - Support UkraineJan 19, 2023
@marvinsequera True, either they kind of hoard them and give them out sparingly like gold coins or there’s fear and anxiety that they’re going to annoy someone and get muted or blocked. Maybe I’ll write a book on boost psychology next - composed if 500 character pages. 🙂
Show threadSunnyJan 19, 2023

@Gleng2 Good advice, thanks. The upside to lack of algorithm is, all other factors held constant, all accounts’ posts have the same chance of being seen. I have more interactions per post here than I ever had on the bird site. Many people here are generally more relaxed or less “hung up” about counts & such.

But I also think the lack of algorithm helps. They can favourite, boost, reply without concern that one post’s topic will then squeeze out other topics in their feed due to misguided ML.

Show threadGlenG🌻 - Support UkraineJan 19, 2023

@Sunny05

Thanks for your feedback, Sunny! ☀️

Show threadSunnyJan 19, 2023
@Gleng2 You’re welcome. I was just adding to or expanding on yours. Thank you for yours and thank you for boosting others’ posts. You’re great about that, and it is much appreciated.
Show threadGlenG🌻 - Support UkraineJan 19, 2023
@Sunny05 It’s kind of interesting. This post keeps bouncing around here and I keep trying to figure out why. At first I thought it was the “Nobody” bullet points, but your comment suggests that it may be more about the actual notion presented which is “We are the machine.” Or “It depends on us.” Or maybe there’s just something for everyone? This post has reached into a wide variety of places and has gotten attention from our European friends as well. :)
Show threadSunnyJan 20, 2023
@Gleng2 Great! You have a good way of putting it. My understanding: boosting, hashtags, & lists accomplish a lot. Boosting, as we talked about, helps others & all of us connect. Adding hashtags makes it easier for topic/interest seekers to find us - or us to find info. Searching & following hashtags & using lists gets what we want in reg or list feed. We’ll still get our followees’ (term? 😂) posts & boosts of others. I like the variety in last category so am not ff-ing more hashtags for now.
Show threadSunnyJan 20, 2023

@Gleng2 And so cool on connecting with European friends, too. :)

You did a good job with your post, and it is of interest to many, many people. 😊 You’re good at including people as well, and helping them connect. That’s so cool, and people appreciate it.

Show threadMike 🍁✔Jan 20, 2023
@Gleng2 Yes, but - sometimes I go in and people have been each boosting a dozen posts in a row. More than I want, when it can bury those single posts I am looking for from others. I can use block boosts on them, though.
Show threadSparkle TeaJan 20, 2023
@Gleng2
I love how being kind is the new being cool.
Show threadMathijs BoodenJan 22, 2023
@Gleng2 Sure, but I'm also quite happy with the Ignore Boosts toggle...
Show threadTobias SchmidlJan 29, 2023
@Gleng2 Likes don't hurt, either. Showing a little kindness.
Show threadGlenG🌻 - Support UkraineJan 29, 2023
@tobias Excellent point. Likes express favor and are an act of kindness in and of themselves. They bring kindness to the equation, and help increase connections. It’s not just about making the #Mastodon machine move, which is important in its own way. It’s also about creating the kind of place where kindness is pervasive throughout this movement.
Show threadRev. GothAliceJan 29, 2023

@Gleng2 I don't blindly boost everything; I do take into consideration the general audience I seem to be gathering. 😜 It's broad enough across enough subjects that it does seem to be getting harder to find content of broad interest to share.

Mostly, this encourages me to actually think before re-sharing something: which is a *good* thing. Makes sure I've read the article first, and actually agree with it prior to cross-promotion.

Show threadelementalauroraFeb 26, 2023
@Gleng2 I would say this is the exact oppisit of twitter in some ways, where I got complained at all the time if I retweeted too much.
Show threadGlenG🌻 - Support UkraineFeb 26, 2023
@elementalaurora I use a lot of different lists for different moods / topics. My favorite list is what I call “small community.” And try to get a feel for the types of things that different people boost. Mostly I use the controlled scroll thru multiple open columns w different lists and also keep my main Home page open in case anything catches my eye.