SAM! Mar 3, 2023
Shoq 🌿

As I’ve said, the Fediverse is much larger than duplicating Twitter. These kinds of academic communities rarely evolved on Twitter. Humanity’s brightest are setting up shop to move social networking to the next level.

Academics on Mastodon
https://github.com/nathanlesage/academics-on-mastodon

h/t @davidslifka
https://medium.com/@davidslifka_86286/cb845f30cfe8

GitHub - nathanlesage/academics-on-mastodon: A list of various lists consisting of academics on Mastodon

A list of various lists consisting of academics on Mastodon - nathanlesage/academics-on-mastodon

GitHub
Mar 1, 2023 at 10:55pmWeb
Show threadSean McCabeMar 1, 2023

@shoq @davidslifka
It's also making the internet useful again. Like it was when I was in college and used it for research.

Twitter was never designed to be useful.

Show threadShoq 🌿Mar 2, 2023

@darthstar @davidslifka

Yep, a point I've been trying to make for months. I loved the idea of Twitter, but it was always a terrible product and a worse company that squandered 15 years of being in a pole position to do really do important things for humanity. We have a chance to reboot that now.

My only criticism of @davidslifka's piece is he still conflates "Mastodon" with "Fediverse" in almost every paragraph (as many have). It's in direct conflict with the entire fediverse/ActPub ethos.

Show threadDavid SlifkaMar 2, 2023

@shoq @darthstar Thanks, appreciate it!

Re the Mastodon/fediverse distinction: I agree w you! But/and the essay is *also* my best idea for how to grow the overall fediverse. IOW I think the best way to grow the fediverse is to grow Mastodon (see para of the essay on other platforms, near the end). That's not because Mastodon is better in any Platonic sense, but because the Musk takeover creates a new opportunity. More on that here. What do you think? https://medium.com/@davidslifka_86286/mastodon-the-movie-b2671887606e

Mastodon, the Movie - David Slifka - Medium

Some movies start with totally separate plotlines, whose relationship is eventually revealed. It’s called “hyperlink cinema.” We have a short-lived opportunity to change social media forever. Here’s…

Medium
Show threadShoq 🌿Mar 2, 2023
@davidslifka @darthstar
I think it's counterproductive. 1) it fails to respect and reinforce the fediverse concept and the AP protocol that makes Mastodon possible at all. 2) it stresses importance of a single platform that has scaling and adoption issues as it is, 3) it marginalizes the many other very worthy projects. I already follow thousands of people on other platforms with no problems whatever. As long as press only talks Masto, that's all anyone else will know or talk about.
Show threadSean McCabeMar 2, 2023

@davidslifka @shoq
As Shoq points out, the media is myopic so 'Mastodon is the new Twitter' is how they will report and oversimplify it.

What makes it different is there is no obvious way to monetize it. That keeps the feature vultures away while encouraging developers who want to create something. It's okay if the growth is slow and organic...

Show threadShoq 🌿Mar 2, 2023

@darthstar @davidslifka

Well, I've never been convinced there is no way to monetize it. I am convinced there's a lot of resistance to wanting to monetize it. But that will change, too. But that's a whole other discussion,.

Show threadSean McCabeMar 2, 2023
@shoq @davidslifka
Agreed. There will be someone who does. But the lazy way of buying visibility and having your product pushed into the feeds of thousands of eyeballs is something I don't miss.
Show threadShoq 🌿Mar 2, 2023
@darthstar @davidslifka Agreed. Algo-based advertising was always a great idea for advertisers, tech companies, and shareholders. Not so great for humanity. It's just not the only way this can be supported.