Cameron MacLeodSep 7, 2023

This is an important thing to understand on Mastodon: you don't see all the replies to a post.

It's possible for evil people to propagate terrible hatred that only shows up for the person being attacked, but isn't visible to you.

See explanation from @mekkaokereke here: https://hachyderm.io/@mekkaokereke/111012743709881062

When Black users tell you there's racism, it doesn't matter that you didn't see it happen.

#Mastodon #MastoTips #Fediverse #Racism #Sexism #Misogyny #Homophobia #Transphobia #Hatred #Safety #Allyship

mekka okereke :verified: (@mekkaokereke@hachyderm.io)

@zachnfine@mastodon.social @JamesWidman@mastodon.social @Sablebadger@dice.camp @staidwinnow@mastodon.social @Jorsh@beige.party From your screenshot above, and the scenario I listed below, imagine if: 1) the racist user is on "Nazis dot social." They have 5000 followers. 2) the Black user is on "Good people dot social" 3) the nazi replies "Followers only." The scenario: https://hachyderm.io/@mekkaokereke/111010421955145872 None of the good people would see the gore images, or the subsequent pile-on.

Hachyderm.io
Show threadPaul van Gulick

@c_9 @mekkaokereke

(lightbulb) Thanks!

This explains a number of posts I've seen from people that I follow, where they're obviously distressed about reactions they've gotten and where I have no idea what they're talking about.

Sep 7, 2023 at 5:01pmWeb
Show threadwaldiSep 8, 2023

@paulvg But there should be a key giveaway: a tagged user you don't know and who have not been previously involved in the conversation. Plus that post suddenly is follower-only.

In the end you are always limited to "trust by default" or "not trust by default". Mastodon defaults to "trust by default", so you block stuff away.