Chris Trottier

@[email protected]
14.9K Followers
435 Following
2.3K Posts
Admin of calckey.social

Product, QA & marketing @ #GreatApe & #SpaceHost

Putting the sauce in awesome.

For official calckey.social business, talk to @[email protected].
Chris TrottierJul 20, 2023
Hey there! I wanted to share with you this amazing tool called goblin.tools that I've been using. It's specifically designed for neurodivergent individuals like myself to help us with our tone and communication style, so that we can better connect with neurotypical people. It's been a game-changer for me!

Lately, I've been finding myself relying on goblin.tools more and more. It really helps to reduce any miscommunications, disagreements, and even those angry direct messages that can just ruin your day. Can you believe it?

The moment that made me realize how important goblin.tools is was when I received a very upset DM from someone who actually felt hurt by what I thought was a kind and helpful reply. Obviously, my intent misfired.

It made me realize that I don't really have a choice but to use goblin.tools. And honestly, it's been a lifesaver! My stress levels have gone way down, and I can communicate with over 17,000 people so much more smoothly.

Whenever I sense any disagreements brewing, goblin.tools comes to my rescue. It allows me to use a more polite, friendly, and casual tone to better convey my intentions. It's truly amazing how it helps bridge the gap and foster better understanding.

Now, I must admit that there are a few people who dismiss the use of goblin.tools as "bullshit." They believe that tone should always come naturally and not be assisted by any kind of tool. But here's the thing, for folks like me on the autism spectrum, tone and communication don't always come as naturally, and that's where goblin.tools saves the day!

I want to be clear and say that I make no excuses for using goblin.tools. It has made such a huge positive impact on my life, and I'm grateful for it.

Just to be transparent, here's a screenshot of me using goblin.tools where you can see the input text and the output text side by side. Pretty cool, huh?

Thanks for taking the time to listen, and I hope you have an awesome day!
Chris TrottierJul 20, 2023
Big news today! We've traded in the name #Calckey for a fresh, dynamic identity, #Firefish!

Over the past several months, we've been pouring our energy and focus into this thrilling rebranding journey, operating behind the scenes to orchestrate this metamorphosis for you. Can you believe it? Quite a transformation indeed.

Keeping this all a secret was a bit tough, but it was the right call. As much as I've grown attached to our good old 'Calckey', it was often mistaken for a math app rather than the social media powerhouse it really is. Plus, our project has beautifully evolved into a thriving, community-centric endeavor, so a name change to reflect that felt right.

Now let's talk about the new Firefish logo, which I'm absolutely fond of. Its bold yet approachable style resonates with me. I'm also really digging the vibrant red and orange hues. And have you visited joinfirefish.org? The interactive logo gives you a little wink and glug, as if it's happily swimming in the vast digital sea. It genuinely feels like it's diving into the deep corners of the #Fediverse.

But here's the best part: Firefish isn't just a name. It represents our welcoming and passionate community, underpinned by our robust, feature-filled software that never stops pushing boundaries. Firefish is like this friendly deep-sea explorer taking the plunge into the wild waves of the social media world. Ready to jump in with us? Let's make a splash!

@[email protected]
Chris TrottierJul 17, 2023
💥💫🚀BOOM! #CALCKEY HAS BLASTED THROUGH TO 500 SERVERS! 🚀💥🎈

Yes, you read that right, folks! The electric excitement can't be contained! We've catapulted into a new stratosphere with a staggering 500 #Calckey servers pulsating with activity across the entire Fediverse!

Hold on to your hats because this isn't just an increase, this is a jaw-dropping, gravity-defying DOUBLING of numbers in just a mere three months! We've not just reached the stars, we've become a galaxy of our own! 🎉💖🥳

@[email protected]
Chris TrottierJul 17, 2023
It's really cool to see that the term "Fediverse" is starting to pop up in more mainstream newspapers, like the Toronto Star. It seems like they're still getting a grasp on what exactly this whole Fediverse thing is, but the fact that they're making those connections is definitely a step in the right direction. Personally, I'm pretty happy that they're using the term "Fediverse" now instead of just sticking to "Mastodon."

https://www.thestar.com/business/opinion/2023/07/15/twitter-vs-threads-were-not-taking-sides-but-all-hail-the-fediverse.html

@[email protected]
Opinion | Twitter vs. Threads: We’re not taking sides — but all hail the ‘fediverse’

A bigger story than the bros duking it out in Las Vegas is the seismic change in store for general interest apps, David Olive writes.

thestar.com
Chris TrottierJul 13, 2023
FediDB now reports that the Monthly Average Users (MAUs) for the #Fediverse has crossed over 2 million accounts.

There hasn’t been this much activity on the Fediverse since November 2022.

SOURCE: https://fedidb.org/

@[email protected]
FediDB - Fediverse Network Statistics

Fediverse Network Statistics

Show threadChris TrottierJul 12, 2023
Look, I've got no beef with saying it: #Meta is a bit of a bad apple, and that's putting it mildly. I reckon if you can untangle yourself from any of their platforms, you should skedaddle and don't look back. And yeah, that goes for #Threads too.

Remember that time when Meta handed over a mom and her teen daughter's chat logs to the police? The result? Abortion charges. Check out the whole unfortunate saga on The Verge.

https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/10/23299502/facebook-chat-messenger-history-nebraska-teen-abortion-case

Seriously, it’s like they rifled through their personal letters and handed them over to the law. Not cool, Meta, not cool.

But here's the silver lining: we've got ActivityPub in our corner. And I’m a firm believer that we can use it as a digital life raft to help people escape the choppy waters of Meta's platforms, and find safe harbor in the Fediverse.

I'm really hoping that one beautiful side effect of ActivityPub is giving folks in vulnerable situations a smooth escape route from Threads, while keeping their network of pals intact. Let's face it, every second Meta rules the roost in the social media world is another tick-tock of risk for those who are already in precarious positions.

In a way, this is why the timing couldn't be better. With every misstep Meta makes, ActivityPub's promise of a decentralized, open, and user-controlled social media universe becomes even more appealing. So to anyone stuck in MetaVille: the Fediverse is ready and waiting, and it's got a place just for you! It's time to make the move, for the sake of safer, friendlier digital horizons.
Facebook turns over mother and daughter’s chat history to police resulting in abortion charges

Police in Nebraska have charged a teenager and her mother with a series of felonies and misdemeanors after Facebook gave up the pair’s private chat history in response to a search warrant. The case is a reminder of how users’ digital data can and will be used to prosecute illegal abortions in a post-Roe America.

The Verge
Chris TrottierJul 12, 2023
Current and former #Twitter employees are migrating to #Threads. Many of them are using Threads to trash Elon Musk.

This includes Esther Crawford, who used to be hardcore pro-Elon—who famously slept in Twitter’s office to prove how hardcore she was. Esther was one of Elon Musk’s chief lieutenants from the point he acquired Twitter in October until he laid her off in February.

She’s used Threads to pretty much trash her old boss, accusing him of being a being a “powerful person [who] lives in an echo chamber of their own creation.”

Usually when Twitter employees start using a competing product, and have good things to say about it, that’s when you know it’s having troubles.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/elon-musks-twitter-employees-are-using-mark-zuckerbergs-threads

@[email protected]
Elon Musk’s Twitter Employees Are Using Mark Zuckerberg’s Threads

A random sampling of Twitter workers showed nearly a quarter were on the new app—and some were publicly praising it.

The Daily Beast
Chris TrottierJul 11, 2023
Wow! #Calckey now has 15,372 accounts!

It just overtook #Hometown and #Akkoma to become the 16th most used server software on the #Fediverse!

Three months ago, Calckey didn't even have 5,000 accounts -- so it's grown over 300% over the past 3 months!
Chris TrottierJul 7, 2023
I just had a look at #Meta's recent press release about #Threads, and something caught my attention right away.

For the very first time, they're acknowledging another #Fediverse platform alongside #Mastodon. Specifically, they're highlighting that #WordPress can now connect through #ActivityPub.

Now, you know Meta's PR department doesn't say things by accident. So here's why this is a big deal. Last time I checked, WordPress powers a whopping 43% of the Internet. Yeah, you heard that right! If you visit a website, there's a good chance it's using WordPress as its CMS.

Now, if even a fraction of those WordPress sites start federating, it could have a huge impact on the network effect of the Fediverse. Of course, Meta isn't oblivious to this. I've been talking about the potential of WordPress and ActivityPub for quite some time now.

But if you're particularly observant, you might also notice that they mention #Tumblr. We've known for a while that Tumblr is likely to integrate ActivityPub into their platform.

But here's an interesting tidbit: Did you know that one company, Automattic, not only owns Tumblr but is also the driving force behind WordPress?

I don't want to jump to conclusions, but once again, PR departments don't just drop hints randomly. I have a strong feeling that Meta has been having some high-level discussions with Automattic about the future of ActivityPub. It wouldn't surprise me if Meta has some insights into Automattic's upcoming plans for the Fediverse.

https://about.fb.com/news/2023/07/introducing-threads-new-app-text-sharing/

@[email protected]
Introducing Threads: A New Way to Share With Text | Meta

Threads is a new app, built by the Instagram team, for sharing text updates and joining public conversations.

Meta
Chris TrottierJul 7, 2023
Have you seen the latest update from the #Instagram Help Center? It offers insight into how #Meta views the #Fediverse. Let's take a closer look at the highlighted text together:

"#Threads is planning to use a protocol called #ActivityPub to connect with other servers that support this protocol. Our aim is to enable communication between Threads and users on different fediverse platforms that we don't own or control."

Now, considering everything we know about Meta and their business practices, you might wonder why they're doing this. Well, here are a few reasons that could shed some light:

1. Regulatory pressure: While Meta is doing its best to compete with #Twitter, they also want to avoid appearing like a monopolistic force. By joining the Fediverse, they can show regulators that they are simply becoming part of an existing social network.

2. Zuckerberg's strategy: Mark Zuckerberg has been observing what's been happening with Twitter ever since Elon Musk acquired it, and he's learned some lessons. Twitter has faced criticism for various missteps like alienating journalists, restricting API access, and even requiring logins to view tweets. Zuckerberg wants to assure people that Threads is different from Twitter and avoid those same pitfalls.

3. Embracing social media decentralization: It's widely acknowledged in the social media industry that the future lies in decentralization. The era of closed-off platforms is gradually coming to an end. Just as Compuserve couldn't survive the open Internet, walled garden social media platforms won't be able to thrive in the open Fediverse. Meta doesn't want to become the next Compuserve.

4. Early entry into an emerging ecosystem: Meta is eager to establish itself in the emerging Fediverse ecosystem, much like they tried to do with the Metaverse. Being an early player allows them to take a leadership position before other major players like #Google, #Apple, and #Automattic jump on board.

However, it's worth noting that there might be a personal rivalry at play here. There have been rumors of a rivalry between Zuckerberg and Musk, and it seems they don't particularly like each other. So, one could speculate that Zuckerberg might want to undermine Musk by taking down Twitter, the platform Musk acquired for a hefty sum of $44 billion.

Hope that provides some context and clarity on why Meta is making these moves.

What do you think about Meta’s Fediverse explainer?

https://help.instagram.com/169559812696339

@[email protected]
Help Center

Threads is part of the fediverse, a social network of interconnected servers operated by third parties that can communicate with each other.