Renaud ChaputAug 24, 2023

Full text search has been merged in #Mastodon `main` branch, and will be in the next (and final?) 4.2.0 beta 🎉

It is opt-in, so it will take some time to be filled with people content as they enable their profile to be indexed, but this was one of the most wanted Mastodon features for some time.

We plan to deploy it to mastodon.social and mastodon.online in the coming days to have a bit more feedback on it and see how it behaves in the wild.

Show threadProf Prachi SrivastavaAug 24, 2023

@renchap

Is the QT function going to be included?

Show threadRenaud ChaputAug 24, 2023
@prachisrivas We want it, but it is very complex to implement properly (requires ActivityPub protocol changes). It will not be in 4.2.0, but we it is definitely on the roadmap.
Show threadhackbyte Antifa (friendica) 13HB1
@renchap @prachisrivas I don't understand. What do you need to change in the ActivityPub protocol itself when virtually any other fediverse service already has working QTs?
Aug 25, 2023 at 2:23pmWeb
Show threadRenaud ChaputAug 25, 2023
@hackbyte @prachisrivas Because we want to implement them properly, not as link-preview of posts, and (more importantly) want to have a way for users to control who can quote them.
Show threadProf Prachi SrivastavaAug 25, 2023

@renchap @hackbyte

My feeling is that having QTs where users are notified if they are quoted is much better than the option that people are using now which is to screenshot posts. Users have no control and are not notified.

I use QTs to 'cite the source' and to provide context to comments. As an academic, it is a very efficient and much more contextually fair way to comment.

As with most things, how a feature is used is the issue. If someone has malintent they will use any feature that way.

Show threadhackbyte Antifa (friendica) 13HB1Aug 25, 2023

@renchap Hrm.. I see ... and i understand the latter point - to some extent.

Well, i'm happy to just use the friendica provided share option or a full quote.... Good luck with your endeavour. ;)

Show threadFelix SchaumburgAug 25, 2023

@renchap @hackbyte @prachisrivas KISS.

Don’t try to find the holy grail.

Pareto: 80% is enough.

Show threadMr. CompletelyAug 27, 2023
@renchap @hackbyte @prachisrivas as someone who does want the feature I definitely agree with this approach. Allowing user control over quotability is crucial.
Show threadhackbyte Antifa (friendica) 13HB1Aug 27, 2023

@mrcompletely @prachisrivas @renchap I can not agree to be honest.

As long as you not specifically post something in a private context, it is - like a nft - visible for everyone and one does not have any control over the point if somebody quotes it, copies it and pastes it as a quote .. or just takes a screenshot and then publish that. (Which in the latter case is actually killing any and all accessibility for blind ppl for example.).

So ... including a flag in a protocol that ones post should not be quoted, just creates a false sense of security about something we in fact have no technical control _at all_.

It's as if you just include "#NoQuotes" in your post and rely on users to respect that.

Hhhmm............

Show threadMr. CompletelyAug 27, 2023
@hackbyte @prachisrivas @renchap I'm speaking about the cultural realpolitik of the Fediverse and the specific user concerns of the subset of Fedizens who have experienced weaponized quotes as tools of abuse and harassment on other platforms. Launching a quote feature without that control would be divisive, possibly explosive, and could lead to additional forks and drama. Detailed arguments aside I respect their concerns and so support the control. It may well be "necessary but not sufficient"
Show threadhackbyte Antifa (friendica) 13HB1Aug 27, 2023

@mrcompletely @prachisrivas @renchap And in the "cultural realpolitik of the fediverse", mastodon is actually the only platform w/o a quoted post feature...

Additionally, i think, you can't fix civilisatory and social problems with laws and/or technology. There will sadly never be a sufficient solution.

Show threadMr. CompletelyAug 27, 2023
@hackbyte @prachisrivas @renchap yes, it's a constant back and forth and all solutions are partial and imperfect. But I don't agree with your latter position at all, and since the matter is already settled in the roadmap there's no real point in debating the abstraction.
Show threadhackbyte Antifa (friendica) 13HB1Aug 27, 2023

@mrcompletely So you're saying, "the decision is made, regardless of any facts which might come up"?

But yes, i don't wanna debate that down to death either. ;)

Show threadJeri DanskyAug 27, 2023
@renchap Just wanted to say how much I appreciate the cautious, careful approach you've taken to search and are taking to quote posts, too. I'll be opting in to search (and probably QTs), but I know how important it is to others to be able to opt out. And making it opt-in — so that opt out is the default — is so crucial.