DgarNov 28

AltText

I have mentioned it in song, in fictional stories, and in guides.

It’s not negotiable.

Posting images without AltText will get you blocked.

Not by me - to this day I have yet to block anyone - but there is a significant portion of the Fediverse that will block you forever if you publicly post a single image without AltText.

I don’t necessarily agree that one single transgression should result in excommunication from the Fediverse. I, myself, learned about the existence AltText here on the Fediverse. I’ve since had conversations about the importance of AltText with people that need it. Adding AltText to every single image you post is a learned skill. It’s also an exercise in mindfulness and awareness of accessibility for all.

It’s a defining aspect of the community here, that people feel so strongly about #AltText on the grounds of inclusivity, to the point where not including it is considered a sin against the entire community - and an insult to John Mastodon himself.

So make the effort, because people generally don’t let you know that they’re blocking you. Otherwise, your Fediverse might start to just sort of shrink around you and squeeze all the social out of your network.

Show threadEvan 
@dgar I understand it's important, I include alt text on my images, but sometimes I wonder how inclusive it really is to demand it of everyone, and blocking/never interacting if they don't. I dont wish to start a fight or anything. I just wonder if we are excluding people by asking for additional steps that are not required or even known about on other platforms
Nov 28 at 8:07amWeb
Show threadDgarNov 28
@mllsc I can see a hypocrisy in excluding people in the name of inclusivity.
Show threadJWcph, Radicalized By DecencyNov 28
@dgar @mllsc Oops, you made a stupid: https://medium.com/extra-extra/tolerance-is-not-a-moral-precept-1af7007d6376
Tolerance is not a moral precept

The title of this essay should disturb you. We have been brought up to believe that tolerating other people is one of the things you do if…

Medium
Show threaddid I mention I eat assNov 28

@jwcph @dgar @mllsc this article is literally just "tolerance should be conditional" which, if you're older than 15 you should have figured out already.

I'm unsure why you even posted it lmao

Show thread*sparkling anxiety* EvelynNov 28

@mllsc @dgar
There's an #Alt4Me hashtag that can be used to request someone else create #AltText for you*, in case you have a genuine disability precluding your composing alt text, or a fake one, or a lack of time, or you just don't feel like it.
I'm not sure all the Alt4Me requests get useful responses, but you're at least acknowledging the need for alt text even if you can't provide it yourself.

*to edit alt text into an existing post: delete the image, then add it back in & this time add the alt text.

Show threadQueen of the DarnedNov 28
@Gorfram @mllsc @dgar I’ve never had to delete a photo to add alt text when editing. Might just be that IceCubes makes it easier, but I think you can do it via the site as well. One less step to worry about. :)
Show threadIanMoore3000Nov 28
@mllsc @dgar blocking someone because they forget to include alt text on a picture is maybe a bit extreme but I suppose it is a free world. I suspect that someone with that kind of hair trigger approach to blocking probably has a very long list of things that lead to instant blocks and end up only following three accounts, all of which agree with them on everything. But that's their prerogative.