My camera shoots fascistsOct 13
On the fediverse, posts rarely go viral. But at times, they will go "fungal", like mycelium quietly working its way through the substrate, popping up again like mushrooms every few months to make another quick round before going dormant again.
Show threadMy camera shoots fascists

I think there's a lot more to this phenomenon than a quick quip. The fact that a good post can have an extended shelf life in a context that rarely produces flashy virality is a function of both the technological infrastructure and the much more human and real social norms here.

This is one of those things that I meant a couple days ago when I said to newcomers that a lot of the good parts of Mastodon/fediverse take some time to notice and appreciate.

Oct 13 at 2:35pmWeb
Show threadAlaric Snell-PymOct 13
@Mikal I've observed that, too. I think of my blogging that way - I'm not usually writing a throwaway post about some passing thing, but an article l will dig out and send people the link to when they ask my opinion on something for years to come...
Show thread🫧 socialcoding..Oct 14

@kitten_tech @Mikal

Delightful observations! 😃

Mycelium and mushrooms are among the fitting analogies to use for Social coding commons, a movement which may (or may not) grow by emergence from a chaotic grassroots environment.

Mycelium are like the furtile tendrils of an affiliation network weaving through the compost of the commons, seeking nourishment. And once it is found, mushroom beds of collaboration and cocreation sprout among the moss.

Something like that. 😁

https://coding.social/introduction/#chaordic-organization

Social networking reimagined

We find novel ways to collaborate and create value together.

Social experience design
Show threadAnnieOct 13

@Mikal So true. ❤️

Quick quips are abundant, but the architecture and culture here support longer-form writing equally well.

I have exactly one story-post that has ever gone mycelial. I wasn't trying for it and never expected it, but as a storyteller it's been such a delight to see a longer-form post/story be shared and enjoyed, in waves, over time. I mean, I'm just over here doing my own thing, you know?

Show threadMy camera shoots fascistsOct 13

@anne

But that's what makes this place kind of special. We may be doing our own thing, but it is very much "our authentic thing". What you're describing is more like being at a cool gathering and having someone come up to you and say "hey, I was reading back issues of your zine and I saw that story you wrote last year on the cultural significance of belly button lint and thought it was really cool."

Show threadGunChleocOct 13
@Mikal sporespondence is not just pretty mushroom pictures
Show threadeverton137Oct 13
@Mikal https://social.vivaldi.net/@everton137/115369129886109137
everton137 (@[email protected])

Using the Fediverse is like using cannabis. It's not addictive, and you'll often meet kind, creative people who use it. You can relax and enjoy good conversations while scrolling through #Fedicats or #Fedidogs, or even try out new recipes (perhaps during your munchies). Mainstream social media, on the other hand, is more like sugar, alcohol, or tobacco: it’s designed to create dependence. The dopamine hits keep users hooked, and the outrage fuels engagement. These platforms profit from anxiety and aggression just as other industries profit from addiction. Think about the overdose of bad news and hate speech that keeps us glued to our phones. Meanwhile, healthier, slower, community-based ways of connecting, both online and offline, are still considered odd or niche, like cannabis once was. How do we break these taboos and help more people find a better high? #Fediverse #Cannabis #BigTech #Drugs #SocialMedia

Vivaldi Social
Show threadMercurius GoldsteinOct 13

@Mikal

Yes I have exactly one (1) post from 2023 that got 2K+ boosts for some reason and a few times each year someone gives it a nudge or a comment.

Show threadMarkus Redeker 🐘Nov 2
@Mikal In the Fediverse, I also sometimes see several postings with the same message, and each of them gets boosted. So it could be that a message (not a post!) gets viral and nobody notices. I am sure something like this has already occurred.