Michael Downey 🧢

So @Gargron be like:

"Decentralization is a big part of Mastodon’s DNA and is at the forefront of our mission. You may be asking, how a default server option furthers decentralization."

... literally no one is asking that, because it is literally the opposite of decentralization.

This is the price we pay for having an #OpenSource project with a BDFL.

  #FindABetterMobileApp #LiveYourValues #DontSellOut #Mastodon

https://blog.joinmastodon.org/2023/05/a-new-onboarding-experience-on-mastodon/

A new onboarding experience on Mastodon

Today we’re making signing up on Mastodon easier than ever before. We understand that deciding which Mastodon service provider to kick off your experience with can be confusing. We know this is a completely new concept for many people, since traditionally the platform and the service provider are one and the same. This choice is what makes Mastodon different from existing social networks, but it also presents a unique onboarding challenge. To make this step easier, we now have a default sign-up option that works with a server we operate. If you wish to leave or join a different server, you can do so at any time.

Mastodon Blog
May 1, 2023 at 3:05pmWeb
Show threadMichael Downey 🧢May 1, 2023
"Growth at any cost, betraying our core values" is a disgusting capitalist mindset, and it's super offensive that this came out on #LabourDay of all days. It's a slap in the face to all of us who have worked toward advancing a decentralized social network.
Show threadDan NewmanMay 1, 2023

@downey @Gargron That’s true, but I do think this is likely the only way Mastodon scales to mass adoption. “Non-techie” users aren’t going to thoughtfully pick a server when they’re presented with a screen full of choices; they’re just going to bail on the entire endeavor.

I hope other providers come along with similarly opinionated options, though… it would be nice if it was *actually* similar to email, with many well-supported players offering solid experiences.

Show threadMichael Downey 🧢May 1, 2023
@CreativeNewman Stop promoting learned helplessness. People are fully capable of making simple decisions.
Show threadjordanMay 1, 2023
@downey @CreativeNewman 
Show threadocdtrekkieMay 1, 2023
@downey @CreativeNewman History has quite constantly proved that they are, in fact, not capable of making simple decisions.
Show threadDan NewmanMay 1, 2023

@ocdtrekkie @downey Beyond that, picking a server isn’t actually a simple decision. You need a whole bunch of info upfront about how Mastodon works, moderation policies, etc. to make an *informed* decision. I disagree that sensible defaults promote learned helplessness.

Hopefully, newcomers learn how Mastodon works *through use* and the tools change servers get better so it’s truly seamless to move off the default once you find value in a different “place”.

Show threadocdtrekkieMay 1, 2023
@CreativeNewman I think @downey blocked me for this, lol.
Show threadDan NewmanMay 1, 2023
@ocdtrekkie @downey Same! 🙃
Show threadWillowMay 1, 2023

@CreativeNewman @downey @Gargron

I don't really think "mass adoption" is necessarily a good thing. Few instance operators have money or resources to scale up, which only leaves large, well-capitalized commercial operators to dominate the fediverse.

Show threadocdtrekkieMay 1, 2023

@downey @Gargron Using a different mobile app is great: But new users don't know what apps to look for. People are just going to go search "Mastodon", grab the official app, and expect to just sign up. For that path, it should work.

There's probably some good ways to improve migration, and that should be the focus for getting people onboarded to Mastodon, and then offboarded to a fitting community home once they know where they want to go.

Show threadMichael Downey 🧢May 1, 2023
@ocdtrekkie There is no "official" app. They all work.
Show threadJonah Aragon May 1, 2023

@downey what I don't understand about @Gargron's decision most is: He already curates a list of Mastodon servers, including general-purpose ones. He could have just randomized which general instance is displayed if he cared that much about eliminating server choice, while at least promoting a modicum of decentralization.

e.g. give the people a button to shuffle through domains until they find one that sounds neat lol

Show threadMichael Downey 🧢May 1, 2023

@jonah

💯 A "roll the dice" 🎲 or "choose another" 🔄 kind of option like you've shown here (along with a "view more options") would reinforce home the message of decentralization everyone else in the ecosystem cares so much about.

The alternative being "Pick my own server" instead of "Choose a different server" seems to have deliberately been wordsmithed to make it sound more complex and more work than it is. Users don't need "their own" server.

These changes are not the way.

🤦‍♂️