Ganga
I am feeling like being narky to US people who don't consider that there are other countries in the world, other timeframes, other political scenarios.
But I have almost restrained myself. Please put a location in your post, when relevant. Appreciated.
Sean Bala
@LifeTimeCooking Being an American, I try to be careful and respectful of the vast majority of the world not here. My rule of thumb is if it is something local or in my direct circle in Chicago, I post freely. But anything to do with national or international politics, I use content warnings. People often confuse having an opinion about something with actions. People can be a bit loud here with their politics. I have no issue blocking terms, muting, stopping boosts, or even blocking.
Sean Bala
@sister_ratched @LifeTimeCooking I think there may be a bit of a misunderstanding. I completely agree with both of you on identifying the location of something. For local things, I always put a hashtag for my city. Mainly because I want to find more people here! I think I was thinking about the related angst that often comes from Content Warnings, especially around politics. I know that most people outside the US get tired of the merry-go-round of politics. 1/
Jude🇵🇸
@LifeTimeCooking @seanbala I second this. How are we to know (when it is boosted into our timeline) that your 'local' toot relates to Chicago... unless you specify that? Even to others around America? And if there's no location in your profile either (for example), what hope does anyone have of knowing the context?
Ganga
@seanbala The issue is about being thoughtful of people in other countries, even when you are posting about local things - would someone outside of your area/country know that it was local/your country? Or just be confused, and wondering whether it would be local to them.
I saw a post the other day from a US-based person, who said that their friend firmly believed that everyone outside of America knew the American states and took interest in US politics. Really? Perhaps they should travel more.
Most of the people I follow and interact with - I know where they are and so it is not an issue. But there are posts that are boosted, and I have to say continual posts without context is very annoying.
Sean Bala
@sister_ratched @LifeTimeCooking The same is true for much international politics. So, I try to put something under content warnings like that. My rule of thumb I mentioned above is that I double check if it is something not in my immediate circle - because me commenting on the latest stuff from Washington DC does nothing except make me feel like I'm "doing something." But I think you both were making a different point than me - I apologize for the confusion and not reading more closely! 2/
Sean Bala
@sister_ratched @LifeTimeCooking My experience here has been infinitely better since I discovered muting terms. I don't see anything about my previous president and it is glorious. I also have muted the name of the overlord of the Birdsite and that has been great (especially here where the Birdsite is the great pillory board). I also mute people who boost too much but I still want to follow. Or I block their boosts to just get their own posts. I love that we have so many customizations here. 3/
Sean Bala
@sister_ratched @LifeTimeCooking But I really do take both of your points about the need to remember that Mastodon and the Fediverse is a global village - it has been so good to meet people outside of North America (like you guys!) and I've learned a lot about the world in my time here. 4/4
Sean Bala
@Gorfram @LifeTimeCooking YEAH. Even I have always found that tradition here strange. Completely get where you are coming from. In the thread above where I responded to @LifeTimeCooking, I said that I completely agree with the need to provide info about where you are located and to give context for a post, especially if it is related to something local. I read the original post a bit too quickly and was thinking more about the conversations on Mastodon around content warnings with politics.
Evelyn, who Just. Can't. Even.
@seanbala @LifeTimeCooking *Chicago has a huge Irish-American population, who celebrate that fact every year on St.Patrick’s Day by -among many other festivities- dyeing the Chicago River vivid green.
Every other Irish-American population in the US also pulls out all the stops & paints them green for the day; & everyone who wants to be is an honorary Irish-American. My father, although non-Irish the other 364 days of the year, always dyed the white streaks of his beard green.
Evelyn, who Just. Can't. Even.
@seanbala @LifeTimeCooking I think it’s something like this:
You post something about a local river having turned an alarming shade of green. I see that you’re in Chicago & it’s March 17; &, because I’m a fellow American with a pulse, know exactly what you’re talking about. But then your post gets boosted into the TLs of a few non-Americans, who might very reasonably conclude that there’s been some terrible environmental disaster, especially your post included an image.
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