LiteralGrillSep 4, 2023

I see people on my timeline now and then grumpy that people are trying to encourage others to use alt-text, sometimes saying people are "too pushy" or they "deserve to be able to post in peace."

So folks actively work together for once to advocate for accessibility for disabled people and your primary complaint is that it's annoying so stop? I hope folks wake up and realize how fucked up that is.

ESPECIALLY when tons of people refuse to wear masks leaving us stuck in our homes where social media is a godsend for having community.

I'd have loved to see these folks' reactions when people in wheelchairs were using sledge hammers to put in curb cuts back in the day. Maybe we gotta bring that kind of energy back. #Disablity #DisabilityJustice

Show threadLiteralGrillSep 4, 2023

I'm so glad this has taken off! So I want to ask anyone here a question: Why doesn't Mastodon simply require #alttext on every post?

It is implied the "convenience" of abled people is more important because the product needs to grow than it is for disabled people to be able to have their accessibility needs met.

Hell, even TikTok has the option to not see any uncaptioned videos! We can expect Mastodon to do better. Perhaps we can all get @Gargron to consider implementing required alt-text for the entire platform to fix this issue. #Disability #DisabilityJustice

Edit: Yep, gotta not post so early in the morning because you forget obvious things! We would need to figure out a way for folks who are unable to create alt-text on photos themselves to be included in this process.

I've seen folks also suggesting the idea of allowing folks to generate alt-text for others, which would be cool. I'd love to see any suggestions people have because otherwise, people will keep being "annoyed" by folks who simply want to enjoy Mastodon to add alt-text!

Show threadHat. AuDHD cat 😷🌺🍉🌻🔻Sep 4, 2023
@literalgrill @Gargron because alt text isn't a virtue signal
MANY DISABLED PEOPLE CANNOT CREATE IT.
So if ALT TEXT is required, you are excluding people who have disabilities that prevent them from being able to post images AT ALL.
Show threadLiteralGrill

@CatHat @Gargron Hmm... Okay that's legitimately fair then!

There's gotta be a better solution then where we are at now though, with folks complaining because they got asked to use it at all.

If this means allowing folks to opt in to let folks write it for them, it'd at least be something.

Sep 4, 2023 at 3:17pmWeb
Show threadHat. AuDHD cat 😷🌺🍉🌻🔻Sep 4, 2023
@literalgrill @Gargron i think everyone who CAN should do so. But its NOT FAIR to attack people who CANNOT describe things because of not being able to do it.
Show threadLiteralGrillSep 4, 2023

@CatHat @Gargron I'm certainly not attacking folks who cannot.

This all started with complaints from folks who absolutely can being tired of being asked to when they don't. Those are the folks I want to get on the right track.

Show threadHat. AuDHD cat 😷🌺🍉🌻🔻Sep 4, 2023

@literalgrill @Gargron i don't because i CAN'T. Idk but far too many people seem to want to score points in the "kindness to the poor unfortunates" game of showing off how charitable they are.

Meanwhile it does sweet fuckall to persuade people to create text thwt HELPS when im looking at complex images.
There needs to be SOME social context rules spelled out for people who dont do tacit hints

Show threadHat. AuDHD cat 😷🌺🍉🌻🔻Sep 7, 2023

@literalgrill @Gargron things like
Private conversation
In my general best guess thats probably vaguely analogous to speaking in a foreign language the people around you dont speak.

i am not sure who needs alt text for random ass crap only 2 sighted people are interested in anyway.

Show threadHat. AuDHD cat 😷🌺🍉🌻🔻Sep 7, 2023

@literalgrill @Gargron obviously important public info requires leaving nothing out at all.

But in between HOW MUCH to say and what counts as important.
What is an appropriate use for alt 4 you.

Nobody has spelled this out for me =/