ericFeb 21, 2023
Jon Dubovsky

Please consider writing your hashtags in upper camelcase so screen readers have a chance at figuring them out.

#whyistayonmastodon sounds like an giant undecipherable mess of sounds.

#WhyIStayOnMastodon reads out "Why I Stay On Mastodon" ๐Ÿ˜„

(Reason #44 I stay here: my previous requests like this have been generally well-received, proving that most people are awesome.)

Aug 4, 2018 at 10:06pmWeb
Show threadMike StoneAug 4, 2018
@jond I had no idea what that hash tag was supposed to say until you posted this. Thanks for that!
Show threadJon DubovskyAug 4, 2018
@mike Nice! As in many cases, it turns out that doing better accessibility work makes the thing more accessible to everyone, not just the original target audience. ๐Ÿ˜ƒ
Show threadโ‚ Fish Id WardrobeDec 20, 2022
@jond @mike "susanalbumparty"
Show threadTompsDec 20, 2022
@mike @fishidwardrobe @jond ๐Ÿ˜†
Show threadDavid Jeffers Dec 20, 2022
@fishidwardrobe @jond @mike SusAnalBumParty
Or
SusanAlbumParty
Show threadโ‚ Fish Id WardrobeDec 21, 2022
@forte @jond @mike It was meant to be the latter. But of course the internet did its thing. Poor Susan.
Show threadRandy Noseworthy ๐Ÿ˜ผ Feb 20, 2023

@fishidwardrobe

#WhyIsEveryonePickingOnSusan ?
I find part of the problem is that when I use a hashtag he gets over written by default one. And the default one is in not caMel case.

@forte @jond @mike

Show threadwriteblankspace ๐ŸŒ’Dec 21, 2022
@fishidwardrobe @jond @mike I read this sooo wrong. Which just proves the point.
Show threadDave P. โ˜‘๏ธDec 20, 2022
@jond @mike Something as simple as this makes a huge difference #ThankYou
Show threadFredrik BjรถremanJul 2, 2020
@mike @jond Exact same for me! I was even on my way to making a whole different interpretation before I read the rest of the tweet ๐Ÿ˜„
Show threadPoebelkaiserAug 4, 2018
@jond That's nice if you as Mastodon user have the ability to write them in the case you want but Pleroma users have no choice,all hashtags are automatically converted to lowercase here ๐Ÿ˜•
Show threadVinceAug 4, 2018
@jond ah, this makes sense! I'll keep it in mind for next time, thank you
Show threadMathieu [bochecha]Aug 4, 2018
@jond in addition, it's also much easier to read for everybody: https://icosahedron.website/@bvtsang/100493797028995022
Show threadJason_DoddAug 4, 2018
@jond
I'll never write in camel case of my own volition. GAWD camel is horrid.
Show threadVee SatayamasAug 4, 2018
@jond It seems like my instance turn my hash tags into down case automatically. ๐Ÿ˜“
Show thread[email protected] is my main [psc]Aug 5, 2018
@jond Sadly # PleromaLowerCasesAllHashtags.

#pleromalowercasesallhashtags
Show threadJon DubovskyAug 5, 2018
@notclacke So I've heard. *sigh* Seems like such a bad design decision. :/
Show threadMarcin Cieล›lakAug 5, 2018

@jond @notclacke
Looks like it is actively being worked on:

https://git.pleroma.social/pleroma/pleroma/issues/165

Show threadGrrsly Adams Family VacationFeb 15, 2023

@saper @jond @notclacke The devs are pretty good at fixing things for accessibility when brought to their attention.

You can still write your own tags in camel case so when they are read on your posts they are readable.
#SusanAlbumParty displays correctly. As long as you donโ€™t tab through it will display properly. I donโ€™t know if it reads as displayed. Further, if I create a tag, #RandoTag .

Show threadclacke: exhausted pixie dream boy ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’›Apr 5, 2023
@grryboy These days you can. Four years ago when this thread originated, Pleroma would normalize your tag to lowercase and I think Mastodon would normalize to whatever casing it had seen before, not merely suggest it like it does today.
Show threadGrrsly Adams Family VacationApr 5, 2023
@clacke OMG, sorry. Talk about necroโ€™ing. ๐Ÿ˜…
Show threadclacke: exhausted pixie dream boy ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’›Apr 5, 2023
@grryboy Post necromancy is a Good Thing Actually and connects our present to where we came from. ๐Ÿ˜Š
Show threadJauntyWunderKindAug 5, 2018
@jond cool sugestion. i also think the screen readers could figure 95% of these out. if you've got some proper names or places or what not it gets dicey but honestly it'd be a problem i wouldn't be afraid to put in front of fresh-out-of-college potential new-hires during an interview. still down, and it is easier for humans to parse too, but demand more from your software too.
Show thread๐Ÿ›„ chitter.xyzAug 5, 2018
@jond what's a screen reader?
Show thread[email protected] is my main [psc]Aug 5, 2018
@Efi @jond A piece of software that can read out loud the text on the screen, what element you have selected, etc, to aid visually impaired users in interacting with the computer.
Show thread[email protected] is my main [psc]Aug 5, 2018
@Efi @jond I haven't listened to http://www.hackerpublicradio.org/eps.php?id=0959 yet, but it probably explains everything you need to know about screen readers.
Hacker Public Radio ~ The Technology Community Podcast Network

Hacker Public Radio is an podcast that releases shows every weekday Monday through Friday. Our shows are produced by the community (you) and can be on any topic that are of interest to hackers and hobbyists.

Show threadnilsAug 29, 2018
@Efi software that reads what's on the screen for e.g. blind people.
Show threadmaloki ๐ŸตAug 5, 2018

@jond Yes! I saw a request of this some months ago, and have adapted it since! It' sjust one of those things one may not think of if you don't use screen readers.

So thank you for sharing :>

Show threadMaverynthia๐ŸŒฑAug 5, 2018
@jond Also it's easier to read and will save you from #thispenisatool and #ThisPenIsATool
Show threadSEALIRLAug 5, 2018
@jond i call it PascalCase
Show threaddxzdbFeb 21, 2023
@animeirl @jond oh look thereโ€™s upper and lower camelCase.
Show threadMarcin Cieล›lakAug 5, 2018
@jond @notclacke testing from #Pleroma patched with

https://git.pleroma.social/pleroma/pleroma/merge_requests/262

#WhyIStayOnMastodon - because I can patch things your self :)

#PlermaSoonMayStopLowercasingHashtags
Show thread[email protected] is my main [psc]Aug 5, 2018
@saper @jond

<3
Show threadMarcin Cieล›lakAug 5, 2018
@notclacke @jond all <3 should go to the one and only @kaniini
Show thread[email protected] is my main [psc]Aug 5, 2018
@saper @jond @kaniini It goes to the whole Pleroma dev family.
Show threadMarcin Cieล›lakAug 8, 2018
@jond @notclacke

Update:

https://git.pleroma.social/pleroma/pleroma/merge_requests/262

has been merged into #Pleroma "develop" branch of development yesterday, I'd expect many instances to start upgrading.
Show thread[email protected] is my main [psc]Aug 8, 2018
@saper @jond

Wee!

*champagne*

*party poppers*
Show threadRob Fairhead ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บAug 5, 2018
@jond This! The classic example of the genre being #susanalbumparty where what was meant was #SusanAlbumParty but it got misread as #Su'sAnalBumParty ;)
*Note to non-UK readers: Susan Boyle is a minor celebrity singer following her appearance on a TV talent show. Also. bum is slang for bottom here.
Show threadWifi-cableAug 6, 2018
@jond
Using camelCase also helps many Dyslexics compared to "alphabet soup". Does it help you to have a capital letter as first letter?
Show threadJon DubovskyAug 6, 2018
@Wifi_cable lowerCamelCase works identically to UpperCamelCase in NVDA (my reader of choice), so either is fine for me. I'm not sure from whom I picked up the rule to prefer one over the other... or if the conditions that spawned that are even still a concern.
Show threadWifi-cableAug 6, 2018
@jond Everyone has preferences in choosing and spelling variable names, method names or hashtag names. (I was not sure if lower vs upper camel case had an impact on screen readers)
Show threadArtlavAug 8, 2018
@jond #why_use_camel_case_instead_of_something_readable
Show threadnikkithayerAug 8, 2018
@jond It's also helpful to humans! I read that hashtag as Why Is Tay On Mastodon, which is an interesting but different question.
Show threadBryan Steele Aug 9, 2018
@jond I always try to do this, however the UI is a bit frustrating in that it autocompletes an existing lowercase hashtag and insists on replacing it, I have to hit escape to get out of it. :smile:
Show threadgwsAug 9, 2018
@jond @jonkulp Honestly I don't mind a bit if Tay is on Mastodon; as far. As I'm concerned everyone is welcome. #ButWhoIsTay
Show threadHelix Aug 24, 2018

@jond why not #whyMastodon instead of #WhyiStayOnMastodon?

Often people don't think about how to write their texts readable and concise.

Show threadFrankie SaxxAug 24, 2018
@jond
It's more readable for normal humans too
Show threadblubAug 24, 2018
@jond Thanks for that advice! I never thought, that screenreaders work with that part of a message! ๐Ÿ‘ ๐Ÿ˜ฎ
Show threadDaniel Barlow ๐ŸšดAug 24, 2018
@jond Why Is Tay On Mastodon anyway?
Show threadpeterAug 24, 2018
@jond
Show threadSteffen VoรŸAug 29, 2018
@jond
I wondered who "tay" is and why it's a hashtag to discuss why tay is on Mastodon. ๐Ÿ˜
Show threadRobertOct 17, 2018
@jond literally read it as trying to ascertain why either the chocolate rain guy or the Microsoft racism bot was here
Show threadLucy, The IncorruptibleOct 17, 2018
@robotcarsley @jond to be fair to Microsoft, they didn't make a racism bot, they were just naive enough to think that people wouldn't target the AI to say bad shit. it's not impossible that they might look at mastodon as a place that's not going to make the bot into a nazi again
Show threadRobertOct 17, 2018
@CornishRepublicanArmy @jond coward. I will never be fair to microsoft
Show threadIncense~n~Herbs EcoSocialist๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿ’งOct 17, 2018
@jond Exactly the point... I thought you were asking why someone named "Tay" is on Masto ๐Ÿ˜ฌ
Show threadDaniel LoweOct 17, 2018

@jond I first read that as "Why is Tay on Mastodon" and I was like, woah, they put Tay on Mastodon?

I think this proves your point even more.

Also, Tay on Mastodon would be hilarious.

Show threadChris PurcellOct 18, 2018
@jond I think I would prefer #why-i-stay-here or ... ok I typed it with underscores and I guess mathstodon supports subscripts! vโ‚ vโ‚‚ vโ‚ƒ oooooooh.
Show threadJenn FrankOct 18, 2018
@jond This toot is two months old, but I'm so grateful to you for pointing this out! I will never lowercase my hashtags ever again!! โค๏ธ
Show threadAceNovo  Oct 18, 2018

@jond

#WhyIsTayOnMastodon? #FutureFriendsOfTay want to know ๐Ÿ˜Ž

We're looking forward to @tay's #WhyIStayOnMastodon posts

In other news, it would be cool if clients offered CamelCase auto complete on tags

Show thread๐ŸŽ“ Doc Freemo  ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑOct 19, 2018
@jond good advise. I'm an admin over at #QOTO and I will pass that advice along to my users.