ChanceyFleet
As a Blind person i never thought i would be on social media savoring photos. But the communal Mastodon alt text game is so strong that sweet, poetic or silly descriptions abound on my timeline. Thanks to legions of people who take time to write a meaningful description of the ephemera they post, i learn so much about insects, plants, buildings, memes — all dispatches from a dimension of the world that i otherwise wouldn't experience. If you're wondering whether anybody reads these things: YES.
Aug 5, 2024 at 1:05amWeb
Show threadRuss SharekAug 5, 2024

@ChanceyFleet

So glad to be a part of that sharing.

Show threadSir Farts AlotAug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet Thanks for letting us know. I will be more diligent about captioning my photos going forward.
Show threadFoidi 🐮 🏳️‍⚧️ Aug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet sorry for poor phrasing, kinda dont know the inclusive nomenclature yet, but what type of blindness do you have? Do you see at all, or do you have some big vision imparment? If you dont mind me asking obviously, am just curious ^^
Show threadChanceyFleetAug 5, 2024
@Foidi I see light and blurry shapes, but never photos. I identify as Blind because most of how i live avoids the use of the tiny bit of vision i have, since that vision is unreliable and limited. It's pretty much only good for watching fireworks and turning off lights.
Show threadwb x64Aug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet @Foidi thanks for sharing! I'm a web developer so it's important to understand every type of person there is so I can adjust accordingly.
Show threadChanceyFleetAug 5, 2024
@wilbr @Foidi I do use dictation but not for social media posts! I’m composing this by using six fingers to type braille characters on the touchscreen. What i type is echoed back, and is revisable with, the Voiceover screen reader.
Show threadRipleyAug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet @wilbr @Foidi May I ask... why use typing for social media and for other application dictation?
Show threadluke tiddAug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet awesome, well I'll keep doing it
Show threadKaren D 🇨🇦Aug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet I'm thrilled to know you/someone who needs the alt text gets it. Happy to brighten your day! (Smiley face)
Show threadLaloofahAug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet I *have* wondered, and really appreciate your sharing this! (And I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s now going to have you in mind when composing ALT image descriptions! 😊)
Show threadA Republic, while we kept itAug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet In an instance of the road cut effect, I, a sighted person, like captions on Mastodon because they highlight the parts that the poster thought important, and what they want to draw attention to.
Show threadUrban HermitAug 5, 2024

@arensb @ChanceyFleet I write them as captions for everyone but have to remind myself to describe the picture as well, not just what I think is important about it.

Sometimes the descriptions involve colors and objects (a blue and black kite in a partially cloudy sky) but I remInd myself that not all seeing impaired people were born blind.

I do my best.

Show threadNiko  Aug 5, 2024
@arensb @ChanceyFleet i also personally like it despite having perfect vision because my internet is complete trash sometimes and alt text is the only way i can view images at times
Show threadwb x64Aug 5, 2024
@arensb @ChanceyFleet it often helps me understand jokes and cultural references too. Like if a character is saying something funny, but I don't know where they're from, the caption often explains it so I can learn more about the reference :)
Show threadbjb  Aug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet
As a sighted person I also read, enjoy, and benefit from alt text.
Show threadSaltyAug 5, 2024
@bjb @ChanceyFleet I'm doing my best to write alt text for everything. It can be difficult. I hope I get better at it but I feel like I either write too much or not enough.
Show threadmeganisalanisAug 5, 2024

@bjb @ChanceyFleet me too, I also enjoy writing it as I see it as a way to slow down and further reflect on and enjoy the images I choose to share.

It's so lovely to know they are making a difference.

Show threadLackfabrikant (EVduckR)Aug 5, 2024
@bjb @ChanceyFleet Me too, especially because I like to use a Palm Pilot to download my timeline and read offline. Without images obviously.
Show threadPeachMcDAug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet
Solidarity from Tacoma
Show thread(((JaneinNJ)))Aug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet Very cool to know this. Thank you for sharing this information!
Show threadDeusAug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet On the same vein, please don't pass vile comments for those of us too lazy to write down alt-texts. It's not because we don't care. I personally try my best but understand that some of us are just not creative with words, or English isn't our first language or we don't want to wrack our brain writing it down. In a nutshell, "Words don't come easy for some of us".
Show threadChanceyFleetAug 5, 2024
@Deus Just try your best. Anything is better than nothing! Odd phrasing and wobbly description skills will still deliver more of the image than the keep-out sign of a post that just says "image" with no description at all.
Show threadDeusAug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet Yeah. But the, "How dare you don't empathize and add alt-texts!" comments don't help either.
Show threadChanceyFleetAug 5, 2024
@Deus Sorry my guy: we live in a society and you should always add it.
Show threadMédardAug 5, 2024

@ChanceyFleet

> Odd phrasing and wobbly description skills will still deliver more of the image than the keep-out sign of a post that just says "image" with no description at all

>> OK!

Do you prefer some verbose description I've seen -- or, a simpler way?

Show threadChanceyFleetAug 5, 2024
@medard@piailleIt really depends! If it's a chart, it might need to be verbose. If it's a meme or photo, less is sometimes more
Show threadnachtetAug 5, 2024
@Deus @ChanceyFleet
I often write Alt Text (and toots) in my native language. That alone doesn't have to be a deterrent.
Show threadAlt Text Hall of FameAug 6, 2024
@nachtet @Deus @ChanceyFleet Right, many servers have a translation enabled, so this still works! https://stefanbohacek.online/@stefan/112032360645638338
Stefan Bohacek (@[email protected])

Attached: 1 image Reminder: If you properly describe your images, it helps translate any text in them. Original post: https://fedifreu.de/@chpietsch/113895634046608325 #ImageDescription #AltText #accessibility #a11y #translation

Stefan's Personal Mastodon Server
Show threadnachtetAug 6, 2024
@alttexthalloffame @Deus @ChanceyFleet
Also, there's German vision impaired people too. 😉
Show threadstibJan 26, 2025
@nachtet
Alt text is great for when people post images of text in a language I don't speak, because I can select it and auto translate it. I hate it when there is an interesting looking diagram or funny cartoon in another language and there's no alt.
@alttexthalloffame @Deus @ChanceyFleet
Show threadAlt Text Hall of FameJan 26, 2025
@stib @nachtet @Deus @ChanceyFleet Absolutely!
Show threadAlt Text Hall of FameAug 6, 2024

@Deus @ChanceyFleet You really don't have to be creative, best to keep it simple anyway!

And if it's still a struggle, there's always the "Alt4Me" hashtag.

Show threadAlt Text Hall of FameAug 6, 2024

@Deus @ChanceyFleet

"or English isn't our first language"

Oh, right: https://mastodon.social/@alttexthalloffame/112912620376691412

Show threadChu 朱Aug 5, 2024

@ChanceyFleet

Thanks for sharing this. If I may ask, can you share how alt text for videos would work best for you?

If they are videos of say a talking head into the camera and the text is already subbed, it feels redundant to have it again. It might not be relevant to the message to describe the person delivering it but would that make a difference to you?

Show threadChanceyFleetAug 5, 2024
@chu I’m still wrapping my head around this. If the text is subd, can the screen reader read it? The presenter’s image is probably relevant — i do want to know if they have pink hair or a good outfit
Show threadChu 朱Aug 5, 2024

@ChanceyFleet

I had assumed the screen readers could read the text, but I honestly don't know how it works.

I'm happy to know that you are interested if the presenter has pink hair or big glasses. I will try to include this kind of information. Thanks!

Show threadChanceyFleetAug 5, 2024
@chu It's a weird ambiguity now. On Youtube or other streaming services we can have subtitles spoken or brailled so what remains as a challenge is image description
Show threadChu 朱Aug 5, 2024

@ChanceyFleet

Thanks for this! I will try and do better going forward.

The videos I am talking about generally have subs and there's already audio (the person is speaking) so what's really missing is what it looks like. I had tried to do a few with "person looking into camera, background is of books" but all of it felt pretty lame. It's also not really relevant. But knowing that someone appreciates knowing what the person is wearing, their hair, maybe their gender makes a world of difference to how I will alt text going forward. Thanks!

Show threadRadical Resilience FilmAug 5, 2024

@chu @ChanceyFleet A good term to look up for that would be Audio Description. When a video is audio described, there is usually a second audio track you can choose where visual information is also described.

Its interesting to know that subtitles can be spoken on YouTube, so if there are multiple languages in a video it could still be accessible?

Show threadM Douglas WrayAug 5, 2024

@ChanceyFleet - Here's a dragonfly I spotted and caught a good image of. My description alt text is nowhere near as awesome as the real thing, but I tried.

#Vision #Light #Beauty #Transcendence

Show threadSass, DavidAug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet
I am not crying. You're crying!
Show threadMike MasonAug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet Hello and nice to meet you! #introduction
Show threadBig Head TalesAug 5, 2024

@ChanceyFleet
I hope you don’t mind me asking, but do you prefer dry description or creative description or more of a story that touches on the image?

What kind of text description do you prefer?

Show threadRobDAug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet Thank you for sharing this! I don't share often, but when I do, I try to write useful alt-text for the images I include. I have wondered if it really matters, but I am so glad to hear that it does!
Show threadᴮᵉⁿ ᴿᵒʸᶜᵉVOTE IN THE PRIMARIESAug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet
Show threadBagginsAug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet I glad it helps, I try and do it for my pictures. However, I never see alt-text whenever I click the marker. I may have my settings wrong in that case.
Show threadRodboticAug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet does it tell you it's a photo description first? Or does the alt text just flow into the text to speech?
Show threadCher TailorAug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet Describe the rainbow, taste the rainbow. Smiley face. c:
Show threadZahmbieNDAug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet Even for me, with mostly good eyesight (aside from needing strong glasses/contacts), the alt text is helpful to provide context on what details of the image are relevant to the post.
The strong accessibility and alt text culture is something I haven't seen as much in other platforms, and I don't have to stare at the picture as long to figure out the "point" of it anymore.
It's almost like for me the alt text serves as a big arrow pointing to the "important" parts of the picture.
Show threadAmin Hollon 🏳Aug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet
Hooray, I'm glad it's turned out so well! Comments like this make me glad I've set up my instance to return errors when people forget to add alt text.
Show threadnek0Aug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet I'm really glad it helps.
Show threadAGF : poemproducerAug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet much love to you
Show threadPorreeAug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet Thanks for sharing this!
Show threadJerkAug 5, 2024
@porreeundlauch @ChanceyFleet Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts. As someone, who doesn't need ALT-text for a picture, I was always unsure, whether my describing is useful or not to a person, who is in need of it. I simply can't say. Sadly, until now, I had no feedback at all, to advance my attempts to describe a picture of mine.
Show threadBrar PieningAug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet Thanks for sharing this. There's way too much negativity and hardness around image descriptions. This kind of feedback is very encouraging.
❤
Show threadDebbie BelairAug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet A reminder that I should be doing this too.
Show threadClaire :verifiedbi::verifiedtrans:Aug 5, 2024
@ChanceyFleet does mastodon have a feature that warns you if you don't put alt text? i know that sharkey does

it's actually pretty handy at reminding me to put alt text. initially i stumbled upon it a few times, but ironically i rarely trigger it nowadays because i almost always remember to add a description (except for a single instance, where i was privately sending a video to a sighted user, and i was a bit lazy)
Show threadScarabAug 6, 2024
@BlankEclair @ChanceyFleet I follow @PleaseCaption which reminds me immediately when I post an image without alt text, to edit my post to add alt-text. It reminded me this morning and I fixed it! Works great, at least with my Mastodon instance and Tusky client.
Show threadScarabAug 6, 2024
@BlankEclair @ChanceyFleet @PleaseCaption If you favorite its reminder it sent you, it deletes itself shortly after, which is why I can't show it to you in my timeline for an example. Sorry.
Show thread_Aug 5, 2024

@ChanceyFleet

I'm going to add "Hi Chancey" to all my Alt Texts now, so you know that I read this 🤪