The more time I'm on Mastodon, the more I'm confused about social media.

This is really the first social media forum I've tried to be into. Most of my online internet socialization is with nerdy people into comics, video games, and role playing. MU* (Mush/Mux) based servers is where I do most of my online socializing.

Mastodon, Twitter, all of it is a very different beast than I'm used to and I'm very, very confused.

Does no one really want to have discussions about things? Is Debate dead?

Are things like this just soap boxes to shout things into the void in the hope of getting an answer?

For instance, we here at #qoto are on block lists for what seems like odd and silly reasons to me.

'Lower Moderation/Free Speech Space'. seems to be the answer there.

And I mean, okay, block whomever you want.

But isn't a blocklist like letting someone else tell you who or what to follow? That's what it seems like to me.

It's the shaping of information and it's very confusing to me because it's the same sort of thing big companies like Twitter do, just for a different reason.

Apparently 'Free Speech' is a buzzword for extremists?

Personally, I'd rather have those people saying what they want to say. Better to let douchebags identify themselves by giving them a forum than trying to 'protect' people from the unpleasant truth that human beings are generally garbage to human beings who aren't in their 'tribe'.

@Surasanji Its mostly just the constantly triggered extrimist population that inhabits the darker regions of mastodon. I've been a free speech advocate on here a few times and even had eugene himself unleash his wrath on me for it. It really is pathetic :(

@freemo I mean, if it comes down to it and #Qoto becomes my little sandbox, I'm fine with that.

I like the people I've met here, and despite disagreements in ideology or belief, I'd rather have a forum where I can talk to folks and try and get an idea of their thought processes and opinions.

I don't mind being exposed to opinions that upset me. It's not ideal, sure, I'd rather not be upset- but it doesn't cause any lasting issues.

People are weird and crazy and beautiful and silly and so very confusing while being evil bastard covered bastards with bastard filling at the same time.

A mind blowing paradox.

@Surasanji opinions never upset me, only the actions that often result from it do.. so i am never upset by a persons opinions. I just think their a moron and move on.

@freemo Eh, I think it be safe to say I mean beyond opinions. Like world views, ideas, concepts even. There are a lot of things that I don't like, and make me uncomfortable.

I was just always taught that you can't shy away from those things that make you uncomfortable. You've got to figure out why it makes you uncomfortable, be aware of it.

Eh, I guess I'm just a little disappointed in general at the nature of Social Media now that I've been in it a few months.

But, the forum here is still very young, as far as forums go. Maybe it'll change for the better. Can't abandon it just because it isn't what I thought it might be, right?

@Surasanji Yea i cant argue with any of that. Though to be fair the issue extends beyond social media. Its most of the english speaking world, and even more so america. Just outside of social media we tend to have the advantage (or disadvantage) of only being exposed to our small little part of the world.

@freemo @Surasanji I just saw the thread where the response to Freemo's thoughts on open borders of you're not a welfare state were met with name calling of bigotry and racism. That certainly makes it feel like reason and debate are dead. And if we've moved on from reason, have we left civilization behind?

I think online media makes a lot of people worse, less reasonable, and more likely to forget that they're dealing with real humans, not just pixelated avatars.