Sandy Kendell @SandyKendell@qoto.org

I mentioned this in a private message to someone recently about why a small handful of servers block qoto. I wanted to reiterate it here for the new comers on QOTO who dont know the history:

So there are some servers out there that demand every server int he network block every instance they do, and if a server doesnt block an instance they block then they block you in rettatliation.

Their reason for this is quite flawed but it goes like this.. If we federate with a bad actor instance and we boost one of their posts then their users will see it and defeat the purpose of the block. The problem is, this isnt how it actually works. If they block a server and we boost it, they wont see the boost, thats how blocks work.

The issue becomes even more complicated when you consider the fact that these servers, by virtue of their policy, have huge block lists where they block tons of major servers. So in order to satisfy them we too would have to block a huge number of servers.

This means you have a choice, you either join a server that isnt blocked, but has a huge block list themselves, or, you join a server that doesnt block and be blocked by a small handful of servers. Obviously that means on QOTO you will have bigger view of the world than you would on any of these others servers. In fact QOTO has onne of the largest federation footprints of any server in the network.

I want to also explain why we choose the decision we did. Years ago when this controversy started and servers across the fediverse started blocking there was a divide of people taking sides. WOTO was one of the few servers that didnt take sides and allowed people read content from any server (but with strict hate speech rules). This caused a huge influx of people,s pecifically from the LGBTQ community, onto our server. It turns out many people relied on us not-blocking for their physical safety. There were big name biggots (like milo yanappolus) who were on the network. They used their accounts here to watch his account for doxing so they could warn themselves and their community and protect themselves accordingly. In fact we added a feature just for them called subscriptions which allowed them to monitor accounts without following them so they could do so anonymously.

In tthe end for the safety of the LGBTQ community here we refused to engage in mass server blocking and instead encouraged our users to block servers on an individual basis and provided access to block lists for them to do so. But some really misguided servers blocked us anyway.

Thankfully the servers blocking us are few and far between and are limited to only the most excessive and aggressive block lists. As I said, QOTO has one of the largest federation footprints on the fediverse,

#mastoadmin

So many people are having a bad first experience with Mastodon because they're using the official app which is lacking features, doesn't allow image uploads randomly, has random slowness, and doesn't give you easy access to the two most active feeds where you can find people (Local and Federated).

Please switch to Metatext, Tusky, or Tooot for a better mobile experience (or even use a browser).

Out of the >15k users that joined this week, over 11k are on the official apps.

If you’re wanting to boost your ed tech knowledge but don’t know where to start, take a look at three key sources to explore. #Education #edtech #EduTooter #tcea https://blog.tcea.org/ed-tech-pro/ @edutooters @dougholton #edchat

So I’ve been here a week & it looks like this place is my new favourite way to waste time! Here goes my #introduction I’m a reader who’s blind & often uses a wheelchair. I teach Braille & firmly believe whatever format you read in, do what’s right for you. Always looking for book recs, especially 20th century literature & contemporary reads with good disability rep. When not reading I can be found absorbed in a podcast or making the tea ☕️ Top hashtags… #blind #ChronicPain #Disability #Braille #audiobooks #podcast #a11y #Books #bookstodon #Literature #Libraries #CatsOfMastodon

Which browser do you use?
Thanks for any boosts! I wanna know!

I’m used to existing in the mirror universe, so having an account there and an account here is no biggie. #TwitterRefugees

Any moment now, as Christmas and (American) Thanksgiving get closer, people will start posting suggestions of things to donate to food banks and 'Reverse Advent Calendars'.

I can't stress this enough:
Just. Give. Money.

Food banks can usually get more bang for their buck than you can.
They'll probably be able to give you a tax receipt for money, but not for cans.
And it lets them buy, store, and distribute food in the volumes they need and can handle.

(Please boost to make sure people get the message.)

#FoodBanks #FoodInsecurity #Christmas #Thanksgiving #Charity #JustGiveMoney

It looks like another surge of twitter users might be on the way... One user just mentioned some drama over at twitter with musk locking out employees. I looked at the users bot (see attached quote) and youll notice a distinctive spike starting to form off to the right... here we go

#twitter

So I reached out to admins of the few instances that block us with a polite email explaining some of the misinformation spread about us in the pastt and describing the situation in some detail in the hopes it will be resolved.

Luckily nearly all the instances are very small and its not a big deal since our federation footprint remains one of the largest int he fediverse, but I felt it was an effort worth making.

Anyway, seems the drama is already begining and even more flat out lies are getting thrown around be a few:

https://cloudisland.nz/@aurynn/109361052656757061

https://cloudisland.nz/@aurynn/109361011483467968

Luckily despite a few bad actors most of the people I contacted reached out to me in good faith and several seem to be willing to reverse the ban. Lets hope the people who actually bother to fact-check win out on this one.

I pet Maggie. Today is her 1st birthday! She hopes she gets some scrambled eggs or peanut butter. She loves the snowy weather. Her caregiver told me that Maggie used to be able to sleep alone downstairs, but she lost that privilege when she ate a hole in the wall.

#introduction Hello out there! Obviously new to Mastodon, And looking for fellow #edtech #education #googleedu communities!

👆 Eric Curts shares a poster with 10 Chromebook touchpad tips.

https://www.controlaltachieve.com/2022/11/10-chromebook-touchpad-tips-and-free.html

#edtech #googleedu @edutooters #teaching

🍁 Peggy Reimers shares grab-and-go activity templates for Thanksgiving.

🤔 Would You Rather
🔎 Which Doesn't Below?
🧱 Giving Thanks Wordwall
🔤 Syllacrostic Puzzle

#teaching #thanksgiving #edutooter #canva #googleslides

https://blog.tcea.org/ready-to-use-thanksgiving-activities/

Speak Up Research on Ed Tech From Project Tomorrow https://ift.tt/EQeY3W5 #Education #EduTooter #TCEA #EdTech #Teacher @edutooters

So, trying to figure out where all the epidemiologists are. I see them here and there on this site, but there is nothing like #epitwitter yet. If you see an epidemiologist wandering around Mastodon, send them my way!

earth - a visualization of global weather conditions
forecast by supercomputers
updated every three hours
https://earth.nullschool.net/
#climate #weather #stem #edtech #edutooter #science #data

Honestly, is there ever a bad time to post a pic of a blue-footed booby?

#BirdsOfMastodon