I spent quite a bit of time on BlueSky for several months and found that if you’re a nobody there is close to no engagement.
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@urlyman That was my experience too. I think the invite only thing was a contributor.
@dnkboston for sure
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I spent quite a bit of time on BlueSky for several months and found that if you’re a nobody there is close to no engagement. If you’re a somebody, the platform laps it up.
But on Mastodon the conversation flows irrespective of who you are.
I know where I’d rather be https://fediscience.org/@kathhayhoe/116065653289142235
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…It’s not just the interactions. It’s also the ambience and the pace. Just healthier
…There was a while in 2024 where I was frustrated that Mastodon didn’t have the breadth of politics that Twitter in its prime had, and thought that that was a bit unhealthy. I did enjoy the jostling with very different views.
So when BlueSky opened up I thought I’d have a look. But just as there are ideas we should embrace (e.g. degrowth) but our current culture *cannot* select, people who like to be among the ‘somebodies’ don’t want to be here. It’s just not for them.
Note that…
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…There was a while in 2024 where I was frustrated that Mastodon didn’t have the breadth of politics that Twitter in its prime had, and thought that that was a bit unhealthy. I did enjoy the jostling with very different views.
So when BlueSky opened up I thought I’d have a look. But just as there are ideas we should embrace (e.g. degrowth) but our current culture *cannot* select, people who like to be among the ‘somebodies’ don’t want to be here. It’s just not for them.
Note that…
…I’m *not* saying that everyone on BlueSky is egotistical. I’m just saying that when someone is, it’s the kind of place that suits them, and, for the most part, Mastodon just doesn’t
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I spent quite a bit of time on BlueSky for several months and found that if you’re a nobody there is close to no engagement. If you’re a somebody, the platform laps it up.
But on Mastodon the conversation flows irrespective of who you are.
I know where I’d rather be https://fediscience.org/@kathhayhoe/116065653289142235
@urlyman I notice that too.
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…I’m *not* saying that everyone on BlueSky is egotistical. I’m just saying that when someone is, it’s the kind of place that suits them, and, for the most part, Mastodon just doesn’t
@urlyman it provided a seamless transition for the number-go-up, ego-driven, "don't your realise who i am?", thought-leader, cuntrepreneur people on twitter ... and still mired in the same cult of personality / appeal to authority stuff we saw from twitter. it just feels...grubby to me these days
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…I’m *not* saying that everyone on BlueSky is egotistical. I’m just saying that when someone is, it’s the kind of place that suits them, and, for the most part, Mastodon just doesn’t
Looking back over the last 10 years of social media, I do have to say that 'authoritative voices' have not really helped all that much. I have found a lot more authority and knowledge and just plain wisdom from the 'nobodies', personally.
I guess when people were used to a professional clique on twitter and have to find a new one, it has to be frustrating. But isn't that what something like discord is for?
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@patrick_h_lauke that’s a neat encapsulation of how it seemed to me
@urlyman @patrick_h_lauke This nicely describes my perception of it too. I always found it to be kind of a "weird vibe" over there. People trying to impress as opposed to people mostly just hanging out.
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…I’m *not* saying that everyone on BlueSky is egotistical. I’m just saying that when someone is, it’s the kind of place that suits them, and, for the most part, Mastodon just doesn’t
Hypothesis:
One purpose of algorithm-driven social media is to create and reward clout, thus giving those sorts of people what they need so that they stick around.
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@urlyman it provided a seamless transition for the number-go-up, ego-driven, "don't your realise who i am?", thought-leader, cuntrepreneur people on twitter ... and still mired in the same cult of personality / appeal to authority stuff we saw from twitter. it just feels...grubby to me these days
@patrick_h_lauke exactly this
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@urlyman it provided a seamless transition for the number-go-up, ego-driven, "don't your realise who i am?", thought-leader, cuntrepreneur people on twitter ... and still mired in the same cult of personality / appeal to authority stuff we saw from twitter. it just feels...grubby to me these days
@urlyman i still remember one of the "a-list" web design starlets at the time opining on how "the vibes are off" on masto and they decided to go all in on bluesky ... and it just felt more like "people aren't giving me enough deference/respect on masto! i was a STAR on twitter! respect my authority!"
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I spent quite a bit of time on BlueSky for several months and found that if you’re a nobody there is close to no engagement. If you’re a somebody, the platform laps it up.
But on Mastodon the conversation flows irrespective of who you are.
I know where I’d rather be https://fediscience.org/@kathhayhoe/116065653289142235
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Hypothesis:
One purpose of algorithm-driven social media is to create and reward clout, thus giving those sorts of people what they need so that they stick around.
@passenger it definitely is
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@urlyman i still remember one of the "a-list" web design starlets at the time opining on how "the vibes are off" on masto and they decided to go all in on bluesky ... and it just felt more like "people aren't giving me enough deference/respect on masto! i was a STAR on twitter! respect my authority!"
@patrick_h_lauke ugh. Fuck that shit
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@Gillinger very few, for sure
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Looking back over the last 10 years of social media, I do have to say that 'authoritative voices' have not really helped all that much. I have found a lot more authority and knowledge and just plain wisdom from the 'nobodies', personally.
I guess when people were used to a professional clique on twitter and have to find a new one, it has to be frustrating. But isn't that what something like discord is for?
@Remittancegirl agreed.
I know it’s probably an over-simplification but I think quite often about how indigenous cultures developed techniques for suppressing egotistical bullshit and lasted tens of thousands of years and how algorithmic media is the opposite
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…Also, if memory serves me right, I have never encountered a conventionally climate sceptic person on here.
There are lots of green growthers but I’ve never had an exchange with someone who doubts basic climate science.
I mention this because I’m surprised that Katharine got the degree of push back on Mastodon that she graphed just over a year ago, but then I’m a man so I don’t have to put up with the many reply guys there are here
@urlyman Why should I reply to this one? Oh, I just did that? Shee...
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@Remittancegirl agreed.
I know it’s probably an over-simplification but I think quite often about how indigenous cultures developed techniques for suppressing egotistical bullshit and lasted tens of thousands of years and how algorithmic media is the opposite
@urlyman I don't think that is an oversimplification at all, actually. It addresses the structural aspect of the discourse.
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I spent quite a bit of time on BlueSky for several months and found that if you’re a nobody there is close to no engagement. If you’re a somebody, the platform laps it up.
But on Mastodon the conversation flows irrespective of who you are.
I know where I’d rather be https://fediscience.org/@kathhayhoe/116065653289142235
@urlyman yeah I got that vibe too. BlueSky was more diverse, though, but god it sucked. Such a toxic platform. Basically 2019 Twitter.
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…I’m *not* saying that everyone on BlueSky is egotistical. I’m just saying that when someone is, it’s the kind of place that suits them, and, for the most part, Mastodon just doesn’t
@urlyman It seems like another "Talk At" platform vs. a "Talk To" platform.
I am here to talk to people.
