I don't know who needs to hear this, but if you're yelling at a person on Fedi for not using #AltText, stop.
-
I don't know who needs to hear this, but if you're yelling at a person on Fedi for not using #AltText, stop. Please.
Should you use alt-text? Yes!
Should you boost posts without alt-text? No!
Should you yell at companies and bots who don't use alt-text? Fuck yeah!
Should you try your best to make Fedi a more accessible, and safe place for everyone—including those who have trouble writing alt-text? Of course.
Should you mention @altbot or #Alt4Me *occasionally* so folx know they're both wonderful tools that can help make Fedi a more inclusive place? It would be impolite not to.
But—and let me make this clear—don't be a dick to folx who forget alt-text, or who have trouble writing it for whatever reason; it's not very punk of you.
Even if you're not the target of a scold, seeing someone scolding others is an icky vibe.
I think we've all seen someone adding alt text as a comment in a way that instead of feeling friendly and helpful, feels passive-aggressive. At the same time, some people might take offense unnecessarily, even when none is intended. I think in general adding alt text to someone else's image without being asked it's an okay practice, but has to be done very carefully.
-
thank you
there are voices on the fediverse that speak with rank entitlement
they believe they can approach someone, treat them poorly, and get something out of them
no
you act nicely, you act kind, you say thank you
and you may change their behavior
you also may not
but if you treat someone poorly, you definitely won't change their behavior
some of you out there:
think about where this massive sense of entitlement you have comes from
and fix it
please and thank you
I have only ever done this once, and even then I didn't yell. A Tooter asked for their toot to be boosted, however the image didn't have alt text and my reply was that I would love to boost the toot, however, without alt text I couldn't and then explained about screen readers etc.
The Tooter put alt text on and I boosted!
All the others who just post without alt text? Likes and replies only.
-
I have only ever done this once, and even then I didn't yell. A Tooter asked for their toot to be boosted, however the image didn't have alt text and my reply was that I would love to boost the toot, however, without alt text I couldn't and then explained about screen readers etc.
The Tooter put alt text on and I boosted!
All the others who just post without alt text? Likes and replies only.
that's the way to do it!

-
that's the way to do it!

-
you have nothing to explain to me. i can be a major asshole

-
Even if you're not the target of a scold, seeing someone scolding others is an icky vibe.
I think we've all seen someone adding alt text as a comment in a way that instead of feeling friendly and helpful, feels passive-aggressive. At the same time, some people might take offense unnecessarily, even when none is intended. I think in general adding alt text to someone else's image without being asked it's an okay practice, but has to be done very carefully.
@Mikal yeah, good rule of thumb is to try to be helpful, not haughty.
-
I don't know who needs to hear this, but if you're yelling at a person on Fedi for not using #AltText, stop. Please.
Should you use alt-text? Yes!
Should you boost posts without alt-text? No!
Should you yell at companies and bots who don't use alt-text? Fuck yeah!
Should you try your best to make Fedi a more accessible, and safe place for everyone—including those who have trouble writing alt-text? Of course.
Should you mention @altbot or #Alt4Me *occasionally* so folx know they're both wonderful tools that can help make Fedi a more inclusive place? It would be impolite not to.
But—and let me make this clear—don't be a dick to folx who forget alt-text, or who have trouble writing it for whatever reason; it's not very punk of you.
It's been pointed out a couple of times that I'd forgotten to add alt-text. I fixed it and appreciated that it had been brought to my attention. One person who corrected me was visually impaired and had every right to.
Those people were polite and I feel they were right for letting me know. That being said, I have seen snarky alt-text nazis and they really do suck.
-
you have nothing to explain to me. i can be a major asshole

-
I don't know who needs to hear this, but if you're yelling at a person on Fedi for not using #AltText, stop. Please.
Should you use alt-text? Yes!
Should you boost posts without alt-text? No!
Should you yell at companies and bots who don't use alt-text? Fuck yeah!
Should you try your best to make Fedi a more accessible, and safe place for everyone—including those who have trouble writing alt-text? Of course.
Should you mention @altbot or #Alt4Me *occasionally* so folx know they're both wonderful tools that can help make Fedi a more inclusive place? It would be impolite not to.
But—and let me make this clear—don't be a dick to folx who forget alt-text, or who have trouble writing it for whatever reason; it's not very punk of you.
@alice @altbot May I offer you a feature request in these trying times?
https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/issues/26464 -
I don't know who needs to hear this, but if you're yelling at a person on Fedi for not using #AltText, stop. Please.
Should you use alt-text? Yes!
Should you boost posts without alt-text? No!
Should you yell at companies and bots who don't use alt-text? Fuck yeah!
Should you try your best to make Fedi a more accessible, and safe place for everyone—including those who have trouble writing alt-text? Of course.
Should you mention @altbot or #Alt4Me *occasionally* so folx know they're both wonderful tools that can help make Fedi a more inclusive place? It would be impolite not to.
But—and let me make this clear—don't be a dick to folx who forget alt-text, or who have trouble writing it for whatever reason; it's not very punk of you.
-
you have nothing to explain to me. i can be a major asshole

@benroyce @alexadeswift ah Fedi, bringing unintentional assholes together since 2016 🥰
-
I have only ever done this once, and even then I didn't yell. A Tooter asked for their toot to be boosted, however the image didn't have alt text and my reply was that I would love to boost the toot, however, without alt text I couldn't and then explained about screen readers etc.
The Tooter put alt text on and I boosted!
All the others who just post without alt text? Likes and replies only.
@alexadeswift
I occasionally come across posts without any text that I would love to boost, and so I take this approach. Because it's true that I would love to boost it but I won't if there's no alt text.I'm often not the only one. And sometimes there will be a commenter that maybe even made an attempt to supply the original poster with alt text. It's generally been quite effective (except in maybe two cases I'm aware of)
I'm only mean or degrading to people when they've explicitly asked for it (usually in a kink context).
@benroyce @alice @altbot -
@benroyce @alexadeswift ah Fedi, bringing unintentional assholes together since 2016 🥰
-
I don't know who needs to hear this, but if you're yelling at a person on Fedi for not using #AltText, stop. Please.
Should you use alt-text? Yes!
Should you boost posts without alt-text? No!
Should you yell at companies and bots who don't use alt-text? Fuck yeah!
Should you try your best to make Fedi a more accessible, and safe place for everyone—including those who have trouble writing alt-text? Of course.
Should you mention @altbot or #Alt4Me *occasionally* so folx know they're both wonderful tools that can help make Fedi a more inclusive place? It would be impolite not to.
But—and let me make this clear—don't be a dick to folx who forget alt-text, or who have trouble writing it for whatever reason; it's not very punk of you.
-
@benroyce @alexadeswift ah Fedi, bringing unintentional assholes together since 2016 🥰
@alice @benroyce @alexadeswift hm? I heard my name?
-
the trick is knowing when to apply which
i've been guilty of delivering the vinegar when a little honey would be more effective, and vice versa
we learn to know which is better, but it's an art not a science
-
@alexadeswift
I occasionally come across posts without any text that I would love to boost, and so I take this approach. Because it's true that I would love to boost it but I won't if there's no alt text.I'm often not the only one. And sometimes there will be a commenter that maybe even made an attempt to supply the original poster with alt text. It's generally been quite effective (except in maybe two cases I'm aware of)
I'm only mean or degrading to people when they've explicitly asked for it (usually in a kink context).
@benroyce @alice @altbot@h3mmy @alexadeswift @alice @altbot
i did not see the alt text scenario derived consensual roleplay coming, but i'm howling that it did
"and what is that? a picture of a snail? you know what the snail is doing, the dirty thing, dirty like you. beg to write it out. be specific! do you want to please me? show me your submission... no not like that i mean hit submit on the comment with the alt text"
-
I don't know who needs to hear this, but if you're yelling at a person on Fedi for not using #AltText, stop. Please.
Should you use alt-text? Yes!
Should you boost posts without alt-text? No!
Should you yell at companies and bots who don't use alt-text? Fuck yeah!
Should you try your best to make Fedi a more accessible, and safe place for everyone—including those who have trouble writing alt-text? Of course.
Should you mention @altbot or #Alt4Me *occasionally* so folx know they're both wonderful tools that can help make Fedi a more inclusive place? It would be impolite not to.
But—and let me make this clear—don't be a dick to folx who forget alt-text, or who have trouble writing it for whatever reason; it's not very punk of you.
@alice At least once have I just not posted something because describing the image in any meaningful way would've been quite a task.
Though nowadays I'll post it anyway, perhaps I should call in helpers in those cases in the future.Getting yelled at for not being able to do something definitely pushes people away.
-
@alice @altbot May I offer you a feature request in these trying times?
https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/issues/26464@OddDev I like the feature suggestion, but I'd suggest a few restrictions on alt-text submissions so trolls don't use it as an invisible way to spam users with horrible messages.
1. Image must be missing alt-text to get proposal
2. Only one proposal per account
3. No proposals from accounts/servers you have blocked or limited. -

