Hiya!

I've done a guide here on all the different ways to customise what is on your timeline: https://fedi.tips/does-mastodon-and-the-fediverse-use-algorithms-does-it-start-pushing-stuff-at-me-based-on-my-interactions

Let me know if you have any specific questions

IT IS NOT THE ROLE OF BLIND PEOPLE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT MISSING ALT TEXT

IT IS THE ROLE OF SEEING PEOPLE TO MAKE ALT TEXT NORMAL SO BLIND PEOPLE ARE BETTER WELCOMED.

Just like it's not the role of women to ignore sexist bullshit. It's the role of men to callout and condemn the sexist bullshit of other males.

I can genuinely assure you that when disabled people are "nicer" about an issue than non-disabled allies are, it's very often because they are a) too exhausted to keep fighting you, b) too depressed by the constant ableism they face to believe in themselves any more, c) genuinely afraid you will do them harm if they try to stick up for themselves, or d) embarrassed about being disabled/needing something and don't want to draw attention.

Allies tend to have more energy to stick up for our disabled loved ones, because we aren't also dealing with the daily challenges of, y'know, actually being disabled.

"Bad" alt-text is still better than no alt-text, and you'll never get better at writing it unless you practice. And using limited time and energy to ask someone (who might ignore you, or even respond with hostility) to do what they should have done in the first place? Takes way more time and energy than just re-posting with passive-aggressive captions.

The shame you feel when you are called out for not posting alt-text is nothing compared to the shame of having to constantly ask for help and accommodation, drawing attention to yourself and your disability.

Most times I used alt text was when I was on a really shitty internet and images never loaded at all, or when I could not understand images (for many reasons).

I think the imposition of alt text without proper education is terrible for the fediverse. People feel forced to add alt text and then add shitty alt text, like AI generated text and/or which missing important information.

Also, not everyone has the same skill. If I can't understand an image, I prefer leaving the alt text off (and waiting for someone to help me with it) rather than writing a shitty alt text. I don't know everything.

yeah fuck those guys for trying to make things better how dare they.

the "polite suggestion" of the w3c and the ADA (they were not suggestions) did not move the cultural norm of leaving the blind and visually impaired out of online discussion. the frustration drives the tone. every other place besides fedi, it is a constant never ending battle to get the platform to support alt text entry for users *at* *all*. here the alt text entry is very accessible during post so we can and should use it. that your blind classmate wasn't particularly bothered was an outlier

imo that only we collectively decide what gets attention via human boosts is why this place matters. why it has revolutionary potential. imagine everyone here and that it was integrated into how we consumed all media. not corporate algos influenced by wealthy owners or advertisers. it would upend the power of money in society.

#DemocracyOfReach

(I get wanting to exclude some here but that would mean we never get to the above vision. moderate harassment, not misinfo or bad ideas.)

Schmuckyberg

I used to sit near a visually impaired person at work and I would hear about it all the time.