Shane Liesegang, SJ
So, can I follow someone on a different Mastodon instance? Or do I have to make accounts everywhere people I think are cool go?
Apr 4, 2017 at 5:12pmWeb
Show threadShane Liesegang, SJApr 4, 2017
People seem to say you *can* follow peeps on other instances, and I see others doing it, but can't figure out how to add from the UI. (FF and Chrome seem to choke on addresses with more than one @ in them. :expressionless:)
Show threadShane Liesegang, SJApr 4, 2017
I could see some utility in a browser plugin that lets you follow someone from a chosen instance if you're looking at a user page on any other instance.
Show threadShane Liesegang, SJApr 4, 2017
But we're already into some pretty complicated user mental models here... Need to think of how to simplify rather than enable via tools.
Show threadShane Liesegang, SJApr 4, 2017
OK never mind it looks like they already thought of all that because I am not a genius.
Show threadShane Liesegang, SJApr 4, 2017
To sum all of this up: from a user's page on another instance, remote follow appears to be broken (d'oh!), but searching their full address in the bar DOES work.
Show threadmoved to @[email protected]Apr 4, 2017
@sjml you don't need different accounts to follow people. from here if you type a username into the search bar on the right you can follow people from any instance. try typing in @taeateh in the search bar.
Show threadEugen RochkoApr 4, 2017
@sjml enter username@domain into the search
Show threadShane Liesegang, SJApr 4, 2017
@Gargron Yeah, I eventually nailed it down. Thanks! :D
Show threadShane Liesegang, SJApr 4, 2017
@Gargron PS you're doing a great thing here; hope you're doing all right keeping up with it all and staying mentally healthy
Show threadAleksa Sarai 暗号君Apr 4, 2017
@sjml It's federated. You can follow anyone in the OStatus network, which includes other Mastodon instances, GNU Social instances and so on (assuming that federation is set up between the instances).
Show threadTom LongfieldApr 4, 2017
@sjml you can follow on different instance eg @[email protected]
Show threadShane Liesegang, SJApr 4, 2017
@tlo But how do I add them to my follower list? Can't seem to load their user page because both FF and Chrome choke on addresses with double-@
Show threadTom LongfieldApr 4, 2017

@sjml can you get to their user page on the instance, there should be 'remote follow' button note that you have to put your own username and instance in the form there without the first @ ie.

[email protected]

Show threadShane Liesegang, SJApr 4, 2017
@tlo Ah ha! OK this is good! But it looks like security verification fails for me when it tries to check with mastodon.social. :persevere: )
Show threadJenn FrankApr 4, 2017
@sjml You'll probably be wanting to make multiple accounts, but you can export your account from this instance and import it into another—it's a feature hidden in settings
Show threadShane Liesegang, SJApr 4, 2017
@jennatar HMMMM!
Show threadLol, TimoApr 4, 2017
@jennatar @sjml what would multiple accounts be for? except maybe having a second account on any other instance you'd call home, so that mastodon.social could have a bit less strain on its server?
Show threadJenn FrankApr 4, 2017

@timotimo @sjml oh, I don't know. That is, I, uh, made a separate account for awoo.space, and also, if one instance "goes down" it's great to have a backup account I guess?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Show threadJenn FrankApr 4, 2017
@sjml @timotimo I guess that's kind of what you already said though
Show threadLol, TimoApr 4, 2017
@jennatar @sjml OK, sure. awoo.space also has the pretty different moderation policy you might be interested in, and it only federates with mastodon.social or something? i'd have to read its docs again
Show threadBlick~1.ierApr 4, 2017
@timotimo @sjml @jennatar Backup, if one of them is out of service, you can use the other one.
Show threadsmol Florian 🍑Apr 4, 2017
@sjml you can follow people on other instances
Show threadᏒ๐ϲoᴄo Ⅿoԁｅm ᏴaｓіliｓkApr 4, 2017
@sjml You can cross-follow; you just need to type in your fully qualified name (i.e., your_username@mastodon_node_name) when it asks.
Show threadNetkittehApr 4, 2017

@sjml https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1lYU5CA40o

Just like GnuSocial, Mastodon is a federated network, in fact gnusocial and mastodon nodes can even federate with each other. If you visit someon on another site running gnusocial or mastodon and you click the remote follow button, you can input your handle ([email protected]) to the other site and it will link with your server allowing you to follow your freinds across websites.

Show threadAndrew G 💾Apr 4, 2017

@sjml you can put eg.

@[email protected]

in the search bar to find users on other instances. I'm pretty sure you need to know the exact name you're looking for, though.

Show threadDr. Kotta 🧶Apr 4, 2017
@sjml You can follow people from other instances with this account :)
The instances are speaking to each other !