Peter Bindels23h ago
Ciara
Every time a newcomer posts an introduction and somebody tells them they shouldn’t have joined Mastodon.social and need to move to a different server, an angel loses their wings.
Mar 22 at 8:11amWeb
Show threadCiara1d ago

Ditto:

'Why are you still on Bluesky too?'

'But did you *delete* your Twitter account?'

’You said you switched to Proton mail too, oh that’s bad, once someone at Proton said something’

It’s nice to see new neighbours move into the Fediverse. It feels unwelcoming to see people immediately interview them about the purity of their intentions. Or telling them You’re Doing It Wrong. They've just arrived on a journey away from Big Tech. Maybe they'd prefer to be offered a seat and a cup of tea.

Show threadJim Daly1d ago
@CiaraNi And maybe a nice biscuit or a scone.
Show threadCiara1d ago
@psneeze Someone would immediately tell them they pronounced Scone the wrong way.
Show threadCiara1d ago
@psneeze That someone would be me, if they pronounced it Skon, not scone-rhymes-with-Eoghan
Show threadJim Daly1d ago
@CiaraNi 100% it's Eoghan!
Show threadCiara1d ago
@psneeze Yes it is! I can't believe there are people who walk this earth saying Skon Skon Skon.
Show threadDavid Bridger1d ago
@CiaraNi I say skon. It's the correct way, a northern hill to die on.
Show threadMattChippytea1d ago
@DavidBridger @CiaraNi there were few survivors of the scone/skon wars. #skonskonskon
Show threadCiara1d ago

@Wifiwits @DavidBridger This has happily reminded me of one of the happiest moments of my life, the moment when I learnt that the Scone of Stone in the Discworld is based on an actual real Stone of Scone in Scotland.

#SconeRyhmesWithEoghan
#SconeNotSkon

Show thread🐕1d ago
@CiaraNi @Wifiwits @DavidBridger often wondered if they pronounce it scone or scone in Scone.
Show threadDavid Bridger1d ago
@jbenjamint @CiaraNi @Wifiwits I believe they pronounce it skon.
Show threadTim Crumpton1d ago
@DavidBridger @jbenjamint @CiaraNi @Wifiwits I don't know how they pronounce scone in Scone, but I do know they pronounce Scone skoon
Show threadCiara1d ago

@timpootle That entire sentence makes sense to me, which it probably shouldn't.

@DavidBridger @jbenjamint @Wifiwits

Show threadSchroedinger's Possum1d ago
@CiaraNi @timpootle @DavidBridger @jbenjamint @Wifiwits
:)
Show threadCiara1d ago

@schroedingerspossum
Haha that thought struck me too. It's a very Fediversey thread, in the best way. As is your excellent meme, which made me laugh aloud.

@timpootle @DavidBridger @jbenjamint @Wifiwits

Show threadJohn1d ago
@CiaraNi hmm.. is there a problem with masto social?
Show threadAnnika Backstrom1d ago

@johnlorimer @CiaraNi It's impossible to effectively moderate such a huge server, so you have this catch-22 where the server is a vector for spam and harassment, but can be seen as "too big to block" because such a large percentage of the network lives there.

Overall it's bad for the health of the Fediverse, so some block it regardless and advocate for folks moving off and the server closing registrations.

Show threadCiara1d ago

@annika @johnlorimer I'll never find it welcoming to tell people who've just arrived, literally just joined Mastodon, that they're on the wrong server when it is not a server doing something actually despicable & egregious. I often see people going into the replies of Hello, Mastodon! introductions to give the newcomer unsolicited instructions to move server or questioning the way they are moving from Big Tech.

Edit to add: I know you didn't do this! You just answered an asked question (thanks)

Show threadJohn1d ago
@CiaraNi @annika When the first exodus away from the bird place happened, a lot of the Gen X Australians I hung out with come over to Mastodon and did not last long. They are mostly on Bluesky now.
I have made the decision to only have a presence on Masto now.
Show threadAnnika Backstrom1d ago
@johnlorimer What are the big reasons you decided to stick with Mastodon?
Show threadJohn1d ago
@annika To keep the answer simple - I think it is the only corner of the internet left that is worthwhile. It aligns with my values.
It helps that I am a life long nerd.
Show threadCiara1d ago
@johnlorimer @annika I'm only on Mastodon too. I am not a nerd (that I'm aware of), but I like the fact that it's human-sized and full of humans and people actually talk to one another in here. A nice corner of the internet, as you say.
Show threadJohn1d ago
@CiaraNi @annika Yes, and your perfect point is that is full of humans.
I deleted my Instagram last night because it was completely full of AI created content. It is finished.
I really liked Instagram before it become the mutated thing it is now.
Show threadCiara1d ago
@johnlorimer @annika Such a shame, when something we enjoy gets destroyed like that. So much AI asbestos has been stuffed into the walls of the internet.
Show threadJohn1d ago
@CiaraNi @annika That is a great analogy. Love it.
Show threadCiara1d ago
@johnlorimer @annika It is a great analogy, for which I can take no credit. I read an article that used Asbestos for an AI analogy (I want to say it was Cory Doctorow, but am too lazy to check right now). I've used it ever since, I think it really captures that situation and the mess that AI is making for the future.
Show threadRachel E. S. Lösche1d ago
@CiaraNi @johnlorimer @annika I think I recall Cory Doctorow saying this, yeah
Show threadCiara1d ago

@resl Ah, it was. Thank you. I found it.

'AI is the asbestos in the walls of our technological society, stuffed there with wild abandon by a finance sector and tech monopolists run amok. We will be excavating it for a generation or more."

@johnlorimer @annika

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/jan/18/tech-ai-bubble-burst-reverse-centaur

AI companies will fail. We can salvage something from the wreckage

AI is asbestos in the walls of our tech society, stuffed there by monopolists run amok. A serious fight against it must strike at its roots

The Guardian
Show threadJohn19h ago
@CiaraNi @resl @annika Thank you, will give that a read.
Show threadJohn1d ago
@CiaraNi @annika I might add as well. I have been following your removal of big tech with a lot of interest. I think you can safely call yourself a nerd!
Show threadCiara1d ago
@johnlorimer @annika Haha - thank you 🙂
Show threadJuho Mäntysalo20h ago

@CiaraNi @johnlorimer @annika

(There are other sort of nerds than computer nerds.)

(I don't know if you are or are not, only you can be the judge. Just be aware that being a nerd correlates poorly with ability/willingness to install Linux.)

Show threadBeth McKinley39m ago
@CiaraNi @johnlorimer @annika I am really enjoying a beta test site made by Canadians for Canadians (Gander). Buggy as all get out, because duh beta; but also currently by invitation only so a manageable amount of well intentioned folk. A pleasant change from most other sites. Mastodon is closest to the feeling of it, so the two sites I spend most of my time on. Do still have others, but need them to keep in touch with relatives and friends.
Show threadkcp1d ago
@johnlorimer @annika same for me. And I too deleted.my twit account when.Musk took it over
Never tried blusky as found masto instead
Show threadJohn1d ago
@kcpoole took me a while to finally delete twitter. Most of the people I talked to online moved to Bluesky, but I just never liked it.
With the news in the last day that they hid the fact they received more crypto money - I was done.
I've never given Masto a proper go, but I am going to try.
Show threadWill 1d ago
@johnlorimer @annika 💯 
Show threadMycotropic1d ago

@johnlorimer @annika

After Something Awful died I undocked from social, I was already kicked off of FB for pointing out so much toxicity (but also using it to track those Malhaur assholes which was awesome). That banning also took Insta of course and then pre musk Twitter banned me for trolling conservatives during trump1. I'm even banned from Reddit because, before they sold all of their users content to train LLMs, I used a cool little script to replace everything I'd posted over like five years with identical, pointless text! They didn't appreciate the gesture apparently  

At some point after that I tried masto and stayed here. It has none of the toxicity (well kind of none, looking at you Babka) and at least some of the old SA community feel.

I'd invite pretty much any of you out for coffee, beer or to shoot arrows at targets, that's not true for those other sites.

Show threadJohn19h ago
@mycotropic @annika I do respect that level of digital naughtiness (The reddit posts).
I find every time I come back to Masto I feel instantly *relaxed*.
Show threadIan Malcolm1d ago

@johnlorimer

Gen X Australian here, this thread and your post in particular resonated with me.

Arrived in Jan 2023 and encountered the "You're On The Big Bad Server" anti-welcome committee.

I get the arguments but it seemed to me there are better ways of mitigating than *checks notes* insulting new arrivals for choosing the default server.

It was enough to drive most fellow refugees to Bsky, but I dug my heels in instead. 🤷‍♂️

PS Am on Bsky too, but mostly here.

@CiaraNi @annika

Show threadCiara1d ago

@imalcolm The 'anti-welcome committee' - that is what it feels like. They could just ignore and scroll by, but apparently feel the need to stand on the new neighbour's doorstep telling them to move. Am sorry you had that experience. Am glad you stayed.

@johnlorimer @annika

Show threadDusk to Don 1d ago

@CiaraNi @imalcolm @johnlorimer @annika

Fully agree that we should celebrate folk for trying out Mastodon, and avoid shaming or complicating things re: "oh no you picked bad instance"

I also agree with the many issues and problems with mastodon . social

I try to do a little "actually-welcoming committee" by having # introduction + # newhere as part of my 'advanced interface / deck / homepage', that does not include instance judgement.

https://todon.eu/@dusk/114699673477597973

Show threadCiara23h ago
@dusk @imalcolm @johnlorimer @annika That's a nice idea. Tips & tricks in a general toot. Not personal and unsolicited, like people going into a newcomer's replies and instructing them what they're doing 'wrong'.
Show threadIan Malcolm15h ago

@CiaraNi

They could, but zealotry makes some possibly well-meaning people behave like jerks, I guess!

And thanks so much for that - I'm glad I stayed as well, it feels like I have found more of "my people" here over time, and the conversations and connections I have here tend to be more genuine, for want of a better word. 😊

@johnlorimer @annika

Show threadCiara12h ago

@imalcolm 'the conversations and connections I have here tend to be more genuine, for want of a better word' - that reflects my experience here too

@johnlorimer @annika

Show threadDec [{()}]1d ago
@johnlorimer @CiaraNi @annika
I saw the same thing happening with many of my former Twitter mutuals: exodus to Mastodon in late 2022 (when bsky did not even exist), then moving to bsky as soon as it opened up.
Show threadJohn20h ago
@dec23k @CiaraNi @annika Yes, exactly what happened for me. I was one of the first let onto Bsky and was giving out invites to friends. All the crypto money hiding in the background was the final straw for me.
Show threadAnnika Backstrom1d ago

@CiaraNi @johnlorimer yeah it's kind of a dick move and not very welcoming, as you said. Unfortunate that the server's so big, they often get lost in the noise.

(I disagree about the "despicable and egregious" bit but we don't need to get into it.)

Show threadJohn1d ago
@annika @CiaraNi Thank you for the explanation. The main reason why I have my account there is due to it being the only one that supported IFTTT.
I have since stopped using IFTTT, so have been thinking about going back to .green (or even running my own micro instance).
Show threadDr. Unabart  1d ago
@annika @johnlorimer @CiaraNi End user should be moderating what they see. They shouldn’t have anyone telli g them what they can or can’t look at. Defats the entire purpose. Looks like spam? Block it. Racist motherfucker? Block it. It’s not hard… the tools are right there. Fuck the nanny shit. Let people do what they want, ignore those you don’t like. To enforce your will is tyranny, to accept is slavery.
Show threadgoedelchen1d ago
@Unabart @annika @johnlorimer @CiaraNi I don't think this works for trans people receiving insults and death threats from fully automated bot-accounts
Show threadDr. Unabart  1d ago
@goedelchen @annika @johnlorimer @CiaraNi Block em. Not hard. Assume some responsibility for yourself. The tools are easy to use. If you can’t figure it out, it might not be for you.
Show threadgoedelchen1d ago
@Unabart @annika @johnlorimer @CiaraNi That's an amazingly stupid answer.
Show threadAnnika Backstrom1d ago
@Unabart this position was stupid 5 years ago and now it's just indefensible. Please consider shutting up.
Show threadDr. Unabart  1d ago
@annika lol. 5 years ago. It’s got a calendar! I don’t have to defend shit. Don’t like it? You know what to do! (I think)
Show threadAnnika Backstrom1d ago
@Unabart Don't worry, I will. Just wanted you to see it first.
Show threadDr. Unabart  1d ago
@annika Still don’t give a fuck. Go away.
Show threadcontrasocial1d ago

@johnlorimer @CiaraNi

Alternative supplementary explanation; certain instance owners don't like that there's such a large instance that doesn't enforce their particular sensibilities and preferences when it comes to what people can talk about.

It's problematic for those admins/mods because mastodon.social has so many users that blocking it is more like punishing yourself, rather than punishing all the people on mastodon.social. It's a power thing as much as it is about spam (which does exist)

Show threadJohn19h ago
@contrasocial @CiaraNi Thank you. I am feeling a little brave, so am thinking of running a very small instance.
I've had the domain "adayinthe.com" for many years, and it almost seems perfect for an instance domain.
Show threadBen S.1d ago

@johnlorimer @CiaraNi for me the big issue is that it creates confusion - lots of people don't understand that the instance and the platform are even two different things.

Having somewhere between 25 and 50 percent of the entire platform's active users on only one instance really runs counter to the idea of federation, and gives a lot of people a highly skewed impression of what the platform as a whole is like.

Show threadJohn19h ago
@HunterZ @CiaraNi Yeah, I can see that.
I know when a lot of Australian twitter refugees I know landed onto the local instances there was heavy gatekeeping going on.
Most of them left very quickly.