Matt Blaze

You know what's great about Mastodon? Putting effort into writing a long thread and waking up to the Self-Appointed-Mastodon-Police telling you that long threads are an "inappropriate" way to use Mastodon.

And by "great", I mean, really annoying.

No.

There are plenty of ways to uses Mastodon. Not everyone needs to use it the same way, and no one is required to follow your imagined rules.

Don't like what I post? Unfollow and block are free.

Mar 21, 2023 at 5:51pmWeb
Show threadMatt BlazeMar 21, 2023
The incessant "homeowners association" style policing here is, well, weird.
Show threadFi 🏳️‍⚧️Mar 21, 2023
@mattblaze people do like being cops at each other
Show threadMike Masnick ✅Mar 21, 2023
@mattblaze just tell them that their style policing is an inappropriate way to use Mastodon back...
Show threadHalf Cocked LawMar 21, 2023
@mmasnick @mattblaze Tone policing for a new platform
Show threadJohn MinnihanMar 21, 2023
@mmasnick @mattblaze well actually etc
Show threadRobert DenbyMar 21, 2023
@mmasnick
You win!
Show threadFor I am CJ   Mar 21, 2023

@mmasnick @mattblaze

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Show threadbondoloMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze Your trash bins may only be on the street on garbage day between the hours of 7am and 4pm. The compost bin must be on the left, recycling in the middle and landfill bin on the right. Bins must never be overfilled and the lids must be fully closed. The wheels of each bin must touch the curb and may not be placed in front of your driveway. It is very important that these rules be followed consistently by all community members to preserve the beauty of our neighborhood.
Show threadMattMar 21, 2023
@bondolo @mattblaze as written by a prolific NextDoor user who keeps the neighborhood informed about “suspicious” people and activities
Show threadStuart MarksMar 21, 2023
@bondolo @mattblaze Where "beauty" == "property values".
Show threadVirginicusMar 22, 2023
@stuartmarks @bondolo @mattblaze
"Beauty is cash, cash beauty,—that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."
Show threadMᴀʀᴋ VᴀɴᴅᴇWᴇᴛᴛᴇʀɪɴɢMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze You're not socialing in the right way!
Show threadEyebee 🇬🇧Mar 25, 2023
@mattblaze I like that phrase. Also, I will never make the choice to live in an HOA community ever again!
Show threadMatt BlazeMar 21, 2023

I think part of what I’m seeing is a small but very vocal minority of users who object to any use of Mastodon that mirrors the way people use(d) Twitter. It’s kind of a cargo-cult logic: “some aspects of Twitter are toxic, therefore, anything that reminds me of Twitter will bring toxicity.”

I try not to be toxic. But there are some ways I used Twitter that I found useful, that suit me, and that I now use this for. I think that’s also true for many others here, too.

Show threadMatt BlazeMar 21, 2023
FWIW, when I do longer threads, it’s generally me thinking out loud about something I find interesting and may (or may not) write more about (either as a paper or a blog post) in the future. Perhaps that’s too self-indulgent for some. But I enjoy reading long threads from others, especially when it shows me how other people think about interesting things.
Show threadNorman WilsonMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze Sometimes I find your long threads interesting, and I read them through. Sometimes I don't, and skip over them. I don't get why this is a big deal, except that some Mastodon clients aren't good at gathering all the pieces into one place. But that's the programmer's fault, not the writers. Besides, sometimes you post several independent toots and I'm not interested so I skip them one by one, so that's not hard either.
Show threadNorman WilsonMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze People who complain because you (or I, or anyone) post things they don't want to read are by definition posting things nobody but a fellow complainer wants to read. I wish they'd get together and make a complaints instance and keep it all there.
Show threadTHIS ACCOUNT HAS MOVEDMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze I am here for your threads matt
Show threadlnmnkatzMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze If the technology allows it, then it is doable. I understood that in the Fediverse, each instance could set its own rules. Those that do not like a particular use paradigm can use the block function. To those who complain: Who died and made you Trump?
Show threadCaseyDunhamMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze nah I enjoy this type of content. If one’s Ted the hot take of the day I’d go back to bird thing. Use it as you want to provide value to yourself. Detractors can GTFO.
Show threadDutyBardMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze I love long threads. Bring it on!
Show threadSteven MolnarMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze It's a slippery slope. Long threads today, essays tomorrow ... pretty soon people will start writing and reading books.
Show threadThe Flight AttendantMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze Personally, I'm using mastodon exactly like i used twitter. You are fine. Maybe send the haters this reply: https://mastodon.online/@drfunkybutt/110062827212655362
StefanThinks (@[email protected])

Please check your bank statement to see if the refund for the toot you didn’t like has cleared. I apologize for the unsatisfactory toot, and hope you reconsider me again for your tooting needs in the future.

Mastodon
Show threadbarryzeeMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze Hey Matt. No worries Whatever works for you is the way to use it. If people don't like it, they have tools to limit their pain. 🙂 For me, the best thing about being here is the lack of toxicity that you refer to. If I start with respect and acceptance of divergence of thought, I've found that there is the possibility of dialogue and difference of opinion that is perfectly fine without getting flamed for anything you say. If people aren't interested, there just isn't response. It's ok.
Show threadDavid Penfold Mar 21, 2023
@mattblaze To be fair, I'm actually missing some of your Twitter put-downs 😅​
Show threadBruno ConstanzoMar 21, 2023

@mattblaze luckily I've found that the server I joined and the people I follow here are friendlier and I get more of a sense of community here than Twitter had.

Yes, it's different, and it's great that it is. And I think it's also down to us years to keep it a nice place.

Show threadudo m. rader has movedMar 21, 2023

@mattblaze just don't let others dictate how to use Mastodon "the right way", because there is no single "right" way.

At least in my opinion Mastodon is there to give us more freedom to express what we think, and not less. This definitely also includes good things that we're used from Twitter.

Show threadChris TurnerMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze you do you. I find longer threads a delightful way to consume content.
Show threadBlippy the Wonder Slug (MOVED)Mar 21, 2023

@mattblaze
I started doing #Audrey and #RandomShoes many years ago at the birdhouse, and was cross posting those, along with everything else, up until the time I shit-canned my bird account.

If 🚀boy hadn't stuck his dick in the mashed potatoes, cross posting would still be normal for me.

No one appeared to give a shit that I was doing so.

#TheArtOfShitposting

Show threadpyrex (they/them)Mar 21, 2023
@mattblaze write what you like! you are lovely.
Show threadJona 🐳Mar 21, 2023
@mattblaze And/or encourage Mastodon client authors to find new & better ways of handling long threads. Thread-handling in the clients I use could certainly be improved.
Show threadMatt BlazeMar 21, 2023
@jlundell Don't like what I post? You are free to fuck off.
Show threadJona 🐳Mar 21, 2023
@mattblaze Perhaps you mistake me. I like your posts fine, and I wish my client would do a better job of showing them to me. I expect it will, by and by.
Show threadCoo-opsMar 22, 2023
@jlundell @mattblaze I agree with you, but ActivityPub exists and still posts on the Fediverse. This isn’t uniquely a Mastodon issue, it’s actually a client and UI issue.
Show threadCassandraZeroCovidMar 22, 2023

@jlundell @mattblaze

My Mastodon experience is severely impaired by the lack of sub threading in threads.

All my comments end up piled at the bottom of the thread - there's no way to match each response to the individual post to which it was directed. It's very confusing to the reader + really reduces the impact of the give + take with regard to the subject matter.

I think this is behind the animosity to threads - they know the Mastodon algos are inferior to Twitter in this critical way.

Show threadClaude GohierMar 22, 2023

@CassandraZeroCovid
On Android, the Fedilab client is threading the replies.

@jlundell @mattblaze

Show threadDodo & the BrawnMar 22, 2023
@jlundell @mattblaze I really liked @trunksapp threading when I tried it out.
Show threadDarrel PlantMar 21, 2023

@mattblaze

I bet they don't dare telling @pluralistic that…

Show threadCautionWIP 🎃+🇨🇦+🏳️‍🌈= Mar 21, 2023

@darrelplant @mattblaze @pluralistic Nope, they do it at least once weekly and he has to point at the huge warning in his bio about that very thing. Also, ffs there’s a “hide long posts” setting. Just turn it on and ignore anything that doesn’t fit your definition of microblogging and carry on.

FWIW Cory marks his long threads with the phrase “Long thread/“ so folks can filter, but he’s got an audience to please (to a greater or lesser extent).

Show threadDarrel PlantMar 21, 2023

@cautionwip @mattblaze @pluralistic

Yeah, I thought of that as soon as I wrote that. There are just that many jerks out there…

Show threadAmadi LovelaceMar 22, 2023
@darrelplant oh yes, they do. They hate his threads, hate that he posts identically in multiple places, hate his links to his site to avoid the threads, it’s a crapshow.
Show threadGreg WhiteheadMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze loved your long thread! Brought back a lot of great memories from the 80s… that I still don’t feel completely comfortable talking about publicly ;-)
Show threadJulia AngwinMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze Yes, thank you for calling this out. I've been avoiding threads here for just this reason, but I've realized that threads are often how I best communicate.
Show threadJesseMar 21, 2023
@Julia @mattblaze I like threads as well, but I think there are issues with how Mastodon deals with them, that make them less readable than they were on Twitter. I do have a hunch that if you are actually engaging in "threaded thinking" like it sounds like you're talking about, that works better than pre-drafted essays chopped into toot-sized segments.
Show threadJohn NephewMar 21, 2023
@Julia @mattblaze I really enjoy reading meaty threads!
Show threadrobotreaderMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze i followed you on twitter and on here and I appreciate your posts
Show threadBradMar 21, 2023

@mattblaze hope you can ignore them enough to continue on, I value your posts!

I also think ActivityPub is an emerging standard and they should pull their heads out of their ass far enough to see that experimentation can be good! & also if we're trying to build a standard to publish & federate any kind of content, I'd think longer-form should also count

Show threadx0Mar 21, 2023
@ke7zum @mattblaze Perhaps there should be a setting similar to unlisted for threads that means even your followers only see the initial public post? That'd be kind of useful. Having clients automatically collapse threads might also mitigate that but it would create false positives with reply conversations that you would actually want to see amongst your followers.
Show threadx0Mar 21, 2023
@ke7zum @mattblaze If the goal is to reduce flooding, at any rate. I personally would like such a feature, although no clue what you'd name it that wouldn't confuse users.
Show threadDr. Kevin P. TaylorMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze This earns a follow. Give me the long threads.
Show threadFlorian MarquardtMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze I guess it must depend on the sub-community within Mastodon. I at least like to read the longer write-ups (even though I cannot write them myself due to the server I am on); and I guess depending on the client there will be something like 'Read more', so no one is perturbed by a long text. 😄
Show threadJocelynephiliac Mar 21, 2023
@mattblaze wtf?! What festering boil has that kind of take?!
Show threadZZ BottomMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze 
Show threadSoyMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze Trying to scare away Doctorow seems to be a bad move. (his long threads also made it pretty clear that Mastodon is bad at long threads, which sucks at the mastodon end.)
Show threadSusanMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze your long threads are, frankly, awesome
Show threadMr. CompletelyMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze ACAB includes style cops. Fuck the police
Show threadDarwin WoodkaMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze I've taken to just muting people for a day when they post long threads. Just link to an article already.
Show threadMatt BlazeMar 21, 2023
@darwinwoodka you want an article? Write it yourself. You have no right to demand that others do work to accommodate your particular preferences.
Show threadHughsterMar 21, 2023
@darwinwoodka @mattblaze And that's entirely your call. But here's the thing: no one else needs to know.
Show threadCookiefiendMar 21, 2023
@mattblaze I appreciate the long threads. I come to Mastodon for longer (or what I think of as more in-depth) analysis and discussion.