The debate about QTs is interesting because as far as I tell, all sides are correct.

• QTs let you introduce a topic to your followers w/ tailored commentary (Black Twitter is the best at this)

• They bring fame & attention to the worst people in the world

• They cause dogpiles

• They’re a great format for humor, which 🦣 needs more of

• They are often performative dunking “look at this loser”

• They let you address a side issue or add a different perspective w/o derailing the primary convo

Among all the other bits of advice people are sharing about using #mastodon, let me give you the most important piece of advice from 30 years of being on online platforms.

**Turn off notifications.**

Turn them off for email, for your phone, for your toolbar.

Nothing is that important. It doesn't matter if your post went viral. You'll find out when you choose to look.

I promise you, it will vastly improve your day to not have "ping" from your phone all the time.

Evolution doesn’t look how it’s depicted in pop culture. We often picture the famous “March of Progress” illustration where a series of apes stand in line leading to a modern human.

But evolution is not linear. It branches and branches. Divides in some places and recombines in others. #science
Image: @keesey #SharedPlanet

From a 4th century desert hermit, via Thomas Merton:

“One of the elders used to say: In the beginning when we got together we used to talk about something that was good for our souls, and we went up and up, and ascended even to heaven. But now we get together and spend our time in criticizing everything, and we drag one another down into the abyss.”

There is nothing new under the sun.