SunitaApr 16, 2017

Checked my Birdsite feed earlier. It's full of Easter (religion more than giant rabbits or chocolate eggs), US politics, and more US politics. Even the non-US people I follow talk about US politics all the time. No wonder I fled.

I'm a political scientist! I care about politics. But the Birdsite's dominant mode is US-centric. Not sure if it's agenda-setting or first-mover advantage, but either way, it's frustrating.

Show threadworldsexplorerApr 18, 2017
@sunita Why do you think political discussion and large social media websites become US-centric? Has the US become such a large global power that it is inherently involved in most global issues or is there some other factor?
Show threadSunitaApr 18, 2017
@tomstance I think people justify their US focus (non-US ppl I mean) by the US's global influence, and they have a point. But it's also because it's the focus of so much social media chatter. If you want to be noticed, talk about US stuff. Not just politics but culture.
Show threadworldsexplorerApr 18, 2017
@sunita thanks for the reply! The current global political climate makes me feel like social media can never escape politics but I hope Mastodons global reach can outpace that
Show threadSunitaApr 18, 2017
@tomstance I don't think we should try to escape politics in general public spaces (b/c we are social and political beings embedded in politics-influenced spaces), but I like Masto's below-the-cut approach. There are great discussions going on, but people aren't involuntarily bombarded by them.
Show threadworldsexplorer
@sunita great point. I feel like I see a lot of posts saying "why do you have to bring politics into this" which I think is ironic because pretty much everything can become political!
Apr 18, 2017 at 6:08pmWeb