Dave Alvarado4d ago

How (racist/sexist/whatever) harassment on Mastodon works:

1. Harasser replies to their target's post, with the reply set to "followers only", saying the most vile stuff you can imagine.

2. All the harasser's followers join in on the harassment, posting more vile stuff.

3. Nobody but the target and the harassment crew can see the vile stuff that was said.

4. Target is traumatized. Nobody else can see why.

5. Everybody says "I don't see it so it's not happening."

https://community.hachyderm.io/blog/2024/08/12/hachyderms-introduction-to-mastodon-moderation-part-1/

Hachyderm's Introduction to Mastodon Moderation: Part 1

The first post in a series about Mastodon moderation tooling. This post focuses on context for the upcoming posts.

Hachyderm Community
Show threadDave Alvarado4d ago
If you're a white person on the Fediverse and you've never seen someone called a slur, or threats made against them--congratulations! You don't follow any dirtbags. But, it's happening every day and it's being hidden from you.
Show threadDave Alvarado4d ago

"But Dave, why don't they moderate?"

They do. The harassers spin up new instances to get around block lists.

"But Dave, why don't they show the receipts (screenshots to prove it's happening)?"

The brave ones do, when they have the energy. It invites a huge amount more harassment, so showing receipts *always* causes psychological damage.

Some folks are willing to tank that damage to get the word out. Most people understandably just want it to stop.

Show threadNuwagaba Gift
@dave
Are those folks willing to do something to make it happen?
Mar 23 at 7:29pmWeb
Show threadDave Alvarado23h ago
@nuwagaba2 I'm not sure I understand what you mean. What is the "it" in "make it happen"?
Show threadNuwagaba Gift23h ago
@dave
I mean the people who want to make the damage stop. In this world nothing usually happens by itself but instead it's made to happen. by someone or something. There are people who make things happen, those who see things happen and those who wonder how things happen . So am referring to those who are willing to make that change happen. Do you get my concept now?