Notices by Brendan Jones (brendanjones@fosstodon.org)

I don’t want to get y’all too worked up but quote posting just got ‘closed as completed’ on GitHub. So, coming soon I guess!

Very satisfying to see a feature completed that was first requested in 2016 😄

#mastodev

Called it. All those articles predicting peak emissions were utter bollocks, there was no way emissions were going to go down this year.

https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-global-co2-emissions-will-reach-new-high-in-2024-despite-slower-growth/

#climateChange

To be fair, if you go to their website it does say that you can also use SMS, but there’s no mention of that on the message that was displayed on the train.

https://www.ns.nl/reisinformatie/voorzieningen/veiligheid-in-de-trein-en-op-het-station.html

The rise of Mastodon has made me so much more aware of government services requiring us to use private companies’ systems to communicate with them and access services.

Sitting on a Dutch train just now I was shown on a screen “feeling unsafe in the train? Contact us via WhatsApp”.

What if I don’t use WhatsApp? (I do, but I wish I didn’t have to) I’m forced to share my data with Meta to use it.

Public systems should not require use of private services.

#NS #Netherlands #FOSS #privacy

@forteller @protonprivacy I’d also like to know this. And if they can collaborate (edit) and/or add comments for free (whether or not they have to make an account).

@quillmatiq @tchambers @evan @tomcoates Will the new protocol work build on the work Dan has been doing with Sup? Or will they be complementary, or … ?

First a quick guide:

Ask yourself: does my QP add value? Is it kind?

If not, consider a) commenting on or boosting the post instead, or b) not doing anything.

Let's explore specific examples:

Now that quote posts are coming (confirmed by Renaud https://oisaur.com/@renchap/112299860209222424 ), I think it important that we have agreed upon acceptable usage.

Quote posts can be an amazing tool – there's a good reason they're so requested – but they also have the potential to add massive amounts of toxicity.

Gargron recognised this years ago: https://mastodon.social/@Gargron/99662106175542726

So here's my proposal for the Do's and Dont's of quote posting on Mastodon. Please boost!

🧵 Thread time:

How to use Quote Posts (cont.)

DO:
3. Add info or context to a post when the poster is not a person.

For example, quote-posting news articles posted by news outlets or bots.

How to use Quote Posts.

DO:
1. Share with a hashtag.

If the original post missed one and you think that hashtag’s followers would like to see the post. (Alternatively, suggest to the author that they edit their post to include the hashtag)

2. Use a post as a jumping off point for a new conversation.

Especially if you think it might be spammy or off-topic if you comment it on the original post.

How to use Quote Posts (cont.)

DO NOT use a quote post to:
1. Reply to the author of the quoted post.

This is rude. You’re bringing their conversation into your house. You’re probably doing it because you disagree.

2. Add information to a post.

You don't need to make yourself the centre of a conversation. Instead, boost the post and add your reply. If your addition is really that brilliant then see "DO: 2. Use a post as a jumping off point for a new conversation."

I hope this thread is useful and something people can link to when they see someone abusing quote posts.

I welcome additions to and discussion of this list - please fire away!

How to use Quote Posts (cont.)

ABSOLUTELY DO NOT

This behaviour should earn you a block & report anyway, but absolutely do not use quote posts to:

1. Dunk on the author.
2. Prompt your followers to dunk on the author.
3. Prompt followers of a hashtag you add to dunk on the author.

How to use Quote Posts (cont.)

DO NOT:
3. Add a low-value comment.

Just boost the post instead. Of course, if you are so bursting with enthusiasm for a post that you want to announce your love for it to your followers then do so, but this should be the exception not the rule.

4. Spread negativity unnecessarily.

Are you sharing something people need to know about or are you just venting outrage? Negative events do happen and need talking about, but not all negative things need sharing.

@eco_amandine @NatureMC reply restrictions are on their roadmap as 'exploring': https://joinmastodon.org/roadmap

It's the third-most upvoted feature on Github so you'd think it'd have fairly high priority: https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/issues/8565

@evan Quite the elaborate prank, then haha.

And who is being pranked, pray tell?

@evan Ah, but for what purpose was it constructed? (He asks one of the founders of the Fediverse, hoping for a profound and insightful answer 😉)

@evan neither agree nor disagree. The Fediverse is for whatever one makes of it. I hope that its net effect makes people more happy, but would we say that's what it's *for*?

@cheeaun @Gargron DUDE THIS IS AMAZING AND SO ARE YOU.

I haven’t been this excited about new Mastodon features since I found apps that group notifications.

How do we get this in native Mastodon, like, yesterday?

@dansup @pixelfed I think all software creators should be required to take a class with you on how to write clear release notes / share tips / keep people up to date on the roadmap and the status of upcoming features.

I’m not even on Pixelfed but I follow you just because I enjoy watching the progress.