If you're a white person on the Fediverse and you've never seen someone called a slur, or threats made against them--congratulations!
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Last post I'm going to make in this thread. If you want more visibility into this underside of the Fediverse, follow the #fediblock hashtag (and send some mental thanks and good vibes to MarciaX while you're at it, you're benefiting from the work of a Black woman).
If you want to do something about this, I know of two things anyone can do:
1. Open or comment on issues at https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/issues
2. Share this info. Steal my posts in good health, or write this issue up in your own words.
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@thomasfuchs@hachyderm.io @pierrenick@hachyderm.io @dave@alvarado.social It's certainly a useful feature, but one with its own potential for abuse.
@flesh @pierrenick @dave how would it be abused?
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@flesh @pierrenick @dave how would it be abused?
@thomasfuchs@hachyderm.io @pierrenick@hachyderm.io @dave@alvarado.social Unless I misunderstand the feature described, enabling the original poster in a thread to remove replies would make it pretty easy for someone to censor out any criticism of their claims or fact-checking. Considering that platforms like fedi are used to spread (mis)information and host harassment campaigns, giving just anyone the ability to control the conversation on a post seems like a bad idea.
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@thomasfuchs@hachyderm.io @pierrenick@hachyderm.io @dave@alvarado.social Unless I misunderstand the feature described, enabling the original poster in a thread to remove replies would make it pretty easy for someone to censor out any criticism of their claims or fact-checking. Considering that platforms like fedi are used to spread (mis)information and host harassment campaigns, giving just anyone the ability to control the conversation on a post seems like a bad idea.
@flesh @pierrenick @dave I’ve never seen it used for that; meanwhile the thing on Mastodon is actively used to harass.
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@flesh @pierrenick @dave I’ve never seen it used for that; meanwhile the thing on Mastodon is actively used to harass.
@thomasfuchs@hachyderm.io @pierrenick@hachyderm.io @dave@alvarado.social I don't think a lack of examples is sufficient evidence to dismiss the risk.
And also, like, it is kinda ironic to argue "I've never seen it" on this thread in particular. -
@thomasfuchs@hachyderm.io @pierrenick@hachyderm.io @dave@alvarado.social I don't think a lack of examples is sufficient evidence to dismiss the risk.
And also, like, it is kinda ironic to argue "I've never seen it" on this thread in particular.@flesh @pierrenick @dave you’re coming up with a hypothetical that sinply doesn’t matter in real usage ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
removed replies on Bluesky (unless th OP outright blocked the accounts posting) are still visible but hidden by default, so you can see what got removed (these also include moderated removal of low-quality replies, such as stuff that’s just expletives)
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@flippac That sounds like an excellent suggestion.
I'm not sure where to poke to try and make this happen, but I'll keep my eyes open for opportunities.
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@raphaelmorgan @JessTheUnstill@infosec.exchange @Crissa @dave so, just a dogpile from your followers, then?
@fishidwardrobe my followers are vetted for shit like that. I guess I can't be certain they're not doing harassment I can't see, but it's way less likely than if my post was public. Do you think I should do DMs instead?
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@dalias @MxAlba yes, this. "Public post but only <my followers and/or people I follow> can reply" would be a huge step in the right direction. It would let you say something to the world without letting the world talk back, but you still get feedback from your friends.
"I want to get this off my chest but I don't want to hear your opinion about it" is not possible in Mastodon today.
@dave @dalias @MxAlba in my experience this might also only kinda work, but probs better than nothing.
Had somebody harassing me below my replies, but _I_ haven't seen it, because I've blocked them way before already, but that did mean some of my followers were seeing it and started to engage with that harasser, because some instances will just find ways to also get around that.
And then I saw the replies to the reply and was obviously curious what this was all about...
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I'm confused, what invites aggression in reporting a jackass?
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@Pierrette @dave I have experienced this stuff first hand. It's like, being attacked by a hord of racist zombies.
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@Pierrette @dave I have experienced this stuff first hand. It's like, being attacked by a hord of racist zombies.
@NicksWorld @dave
better be warned in advance then -
@NicksWorld @dave
better be warned in advance then@Pierrette @dave oh no, the type that run at you without warning so you don't even have a chance at defending yourself.
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@Pierrette @dave oh no, the type that run at you without warning so you don't even have a chance at defending yourself.
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In order to keep their abuse secret, these harassing accounts would have to use "Request to follow", because otherwise their abuse could be easily exposed by those following them.
I have avoided following anyone with this setting, not wanting to be in a group where others are not welcome. I know this is a weak reason, but now I have a stronger one.
@Anne_Delong@musician.social @fishidwardrobe@mastodon.me.uk @dave@alvarado.social
I have follow approval switched on because I don't want creeps following me. I do have it set that if I already follow you, you don't need approval to follow me... -
@Rhube @MxAlba @dave I think you misread because the above has no impact on public posts without any reply restrictions. It would be part of the long requested reply control features one could use if you want to limit who can reply to you. And one very useful limitiation would be "you can't change the scope of who the post is visible to".
@dalias@hachyderm.io @Rhube@wandering.shop @dave@alvarado.social
Of course that also would technically block people from privately responding to a public message... -
@dalias@hachyderm.io @Rhube@wandering.shop @dave@alvarado.social
Of course that also would technically block people from privately responding to a public message... -
@flesh @pierrenick @dave you’re coming up with a hypothetical that sinply doesn’t matter in real usage ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
removed replies on Bluesky (unless th OP outright blocked the accounts posting) are still visible but hidden by default, so you can see what got removed (these also include moderated removal of low-quality replies, such as stuff that’s just expletives)
@thomasfuchs@hachyderm.io @pierrenick@hachyderm.io @dave@alvarado.social Well, that's less bad than first expected.
I still don't think such tools are entirely abuse-proof.
And do you have any evidence that such potential abuse positively doesn't matter other than "I haven't noticed it"?
