All these years the Fediverse community has been extremely ableist toward the people with hearing loss. And other types of disabled people, such as Plan9 users who do not have a functioning audio output.

It's time to finally change it and we are instating a new set of rules for alt-text for audio files:
— for light music up to 4 minutes long: describe it in at least 2 paragraphs. If the song has lyrics, attach those. If the song has two vocalists or one vocalist, but posing as different characters using different manners of singing, please caption those in the lyrics. For hip-hop songs pay special attention if the rhythm is strong enough and if the bass is funky, if vocalist/MC has a lisp — please note that.
— for longer music pieces still in the sonata form — 3-4 paragraphs. For electronic music pay closer attention to the synth programming — are those any good or do they sound like a schoolkid with fruity loops did them, if even you could do better — note that. For rock music pay attention to guitars, do they sound clear or distorted, what kind of pedals and amps might have been used — how much all these equipment might cost in your opinion. Can the guitarist hit the right notes at all? Does the song have enough reverb or could it do better if there was more? If the song has cowbell, is there enough of it? If the longer song has lyrics and those are lame, present your thoughts on why the fuck did they make it this long and they can't even write good lyrics.
— for symphonic pieces — no need to overdo it, keep it in the 5-7 paragraph ballpark. Is the buildup all right or is it just generic Chopin shit? Is the finale/coda any good or is it anticlimactic? For opera pieces present a short-form libretto ­ if you can't do this stuff yourself, look it up online — don't be a lazy ass! If you are a big fan of Pierre Boulez and his music and this shit still doesn't make any sense — note that. For longer electronic music and stoner-rock/psychedelic pieces, describe the images this music evokes in your mind: when you're sober and when you are on mushrooms — please try to keep it under 3 paragraphs.

New rules are in effect immediately starting now!

Signed, The Fediverse Council.

#fedi #a11y (whoever she is)