Chikara @chikara@qoto.org

@design_RG Your interest in wabi-sabi has been in the back of my mind for the past few days.
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I wonder if a Humpty Dumpty corollary might be more useful in our STEM-focused environment?
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KINSUGI. Do you know anything about Kinsugi? It's a traditional Japanese method of repairing broken ceramics -- see Wikipedia "Kinsugi" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kintsugi; see also "Kintsugi: The Centuries-Old Art of Repairing Broken Pottery with Gold" (Kelly Richman-Abdou). My Modern Met. September 5, 2019.
https://mymodernmet.com/kintsugi-kintsukuroi/; compare Google image search for "kintsugi" https://www.google.com/search?q=kintsugi&newwindow=1&sxsrf=ACYBGNRbOzFEcQhqzPd8Nk7ARQvNxIk1HA:1575252334641&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj4vNme8JXmAhUtqlkKHfLPB9kQ_AUoAnoECBEQBA&biw=1920&bih=920
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PHILOSOPHY/THEORY: A kinsugi repair marries the history of an object with whatever we are able to hold in our hands or see with our eyes.
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The important point isn't so much about the repaired plate or bowl; rather, it's about how the visible repair helps to shift a viewer's POV.
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"The modern-day fascination with kintsugi may have most to do with its associations with the Japanese philosophy of wabi -- a historical term that dates back to the 16th century, which describes the beauty of imperfection." -- see "The Centuries-Old Japanese Tradition of Mending Broken Ceramics with Gold" (Casey Lesser). Artsy. Aug 24, 2018.
https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-centuries-old-japanese-tradition-mending-broken-ceramics-gold
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In our context, I wonder if this flexible POV could be useful as a metaphor. In truth, I've tried and failed in trying to use this metaphor. I just haven't been able to make it work for me. Maybe you can do better?

@khird Thank you for explaining that "copypasta" is a colloquialism for content that gets duplicated.

I worry that the words in the bulleted segments below are copypasta. What I was trying to do is to use the words of the Oxford dictionary to make my meaning clear and easy to grasp.

I wrote, "The Mastodon Covenant functions as an axiom defined by Eugen Rochko for the Mastodon federation and for each Mastodon instance, yes? In other words,

• "the Mastodon Covenant is "a statement or proposition on which an abstractly defined structure [of the federation of Mastodon 'instances'] is based."

• "the Mastodon Covenant is "a statement or proposition on which an abstractly defined structure [of each Mastodon 'instance'] is based."

• "the Mastodon Covenant is "a statement or proposition on which an abstractly defined structure [of QOTO.org] is based."
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Three organizationally distinct entities are functionally the same in the unique context of words I copied from the Oxford dictionary. What I'm trying to do with this copypasta is clear, right?.
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In the diagrams below, the relationships may be more easily described and understood, yes?
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A. A and B are disjoint sets where
U = Mastodon Covenant
A = @QOTO.org
B = Any Mastodon instance other than @QOTO.org
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B. B is a proper subset of A where
U = Mastodon Covenant
A = Mastodon federation of instances
B = @QOTO.org
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QUESTION/AXIOM? The study of Mastodon federation, Mastodon instances and QOTO.org, including questions about QOTO arising from the Mastodon Covenant, is a STEM subject.
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QOTO = Question Others to Teach Ourselves?

@freemo @design_RG
Just wondering? If I may ask, have you had any reason to thumb through Nederlands Patricciaat? -- see https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nederland%27s_Patriciaat

@design_RG Aha, at last. I get it.
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Sometimes I'm very slow. It took me more than an hour to figure out that "copy link to status" also requires one to click "paste" in the toot editor window -- a simple step, of course, but not immediately obvious to me
-- see "link to status" about lucky cats https://qoto.org/@design_RG/103194295398861618
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But I'm not always slow. For example, three days ago, you shared a ukiyo-e image of a man selling lucky cat figurines.
I knew at a glance that this mid-19th century street scene was only part of a larger print. A digitized version of the 1852 Hiroshige print is attached below. Please accept this as a small gesture of thanks. -- see Hiroshige, 5th of 7 views of street vendors in Edo https://www.hiroshige.org.uk/Other_Series/Other_Series.htm#FlourishingBusinessBalladtown

@design_RG I think I understand the "delete & re-draft" option. I've used this method successfully many times without causing confusion.
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But sometimes it just doesn't work.
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In other words, I click, but no visible change ensues. WYSIWYG seems unchanged.

Also, a black flag appears in the bottom left corner to alert me to the fact that something has not functioned in the expected way.
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So I copy the seemingly unaffected text, and then I click refresh/reload. The post disappears (as if I've clicked on the delete option).
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Then I copy the saved text into the Toot Editor window; and when I click "toot" it looks to me as if I have only one post, not duplicates.
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My guess is that what I'm doing wrong is probably in this specific situation.

I'll get back to you after I see this that black flag again.
The flag has words which may make all of this clearer.

Thank you.

@design_RG I'm sorry for the confusion this duplication causes. I don't understand yet -- neither (a) how I'm causing this to happen nor (b) why I'm failing to catch the redundant post. I can't explain, but it will become clear enough soon, I suppose.

@design_RG @khird Thank you for showing me this option.

I can do it.

@khird made a list to illustrate a point. -- see https://qoto.org/web/statuses/103196485907129423

Two hyperlinks on that list showed several follow-up toots -- a chain of responses.
5: https://mastodon.social/@LuigiEsq/103195944949371362
6: https://mastodon.social/@LuigiEsq/103195917423951015

I tried to search for these posts and I couldn't find them.

I want to figure out how to search i the way @khird seems to have done.

I would appreciate it if someone would show me how to to do this, too.

I cannot see how to teach this to myself.

@khird made a list to illustrate a point. -- see https://qoto.org/web/statuses/103196485907129423

1: https://qoto.org/@chikara/103194932276826890
2: https://qoto.org/@chikara/103195262932811017
3: https://qoto.org/@chikara/103195116062133823
4: https://qoto.org/@chikara/103195372122680388
5: https://mastodon.social/@LuigiEsq/103195944949371362
6: https://mastodon.social/@LuigiEsq/103195917423951015
7: https://mastodon.social/@Gargron/103195477821454886
8: https://mastodon.social/@Gargron/103195533864216794
9: https://qoto.org/@freemo/103195203045899014

I can't figure out how to do the same.

I would appreciate it if someone show me how to do this, too.

I can create something that combines the instance name + web + statuses.

I do not see how make a hyperlink which combines the instance name + user name + specific post number.

QOTO + SCIENTIFIC METHOD
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Oxford defines the scientific method as a process of
• systematic observation, and
• measurements, and
• experiments
This process also involves the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
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QOTO defines itself as having something to do with science, so even the most clumsy attempt to use the scientific method should have been perceived as familiar-- easily recognized -- in a QOTO post, right?
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Wrong. That's not what happened when I tried to ask three questions about what I mistakenly construed as a simple subject.
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It took time, effort and thought to draft and post specific, non-controversial, and "scientific" questions about three of the four sections of the Mastodon Covenant.
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This experiment engendered nothing good, only lessons learned the hard way -- see for example https://qoto.org/web/statuses/103195910442277853
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Significant fractions of the
posts are word-for-word
identical ... which at best
is unnecessary repetition
and at worst looks like
you are deliberately
spamming the timeline with
copypasta.
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Yes indeed, I was deliberate in trying to make "significant fractions of the posts ... word-for-word identical."
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If the point of feedback was to discourage me from doing anything like this in a QOTO context going forward, then it worked in a way. I am discouraged. This is bad for me, but it's also bad, perhaps worse for QOTO going forward.
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RESTATEMENT: I formulated a hypothesis that the Mastodon Covenant identifies useful, credible factors for evaluating what QOTO is and how it compares with other Mastodon instances. I tested the hypothesis, and the resulting data set caused me to modify my thinking.
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We learn by doing. I did learn something when I questioned @freemo@goto.org. And also, I did learn when @khird@quoto.org volunteered to help me in the process of teaching myself
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QOTO = Question Others to Teach Ourselves?

QOTO + SCIENTIFIC METHOD
.
Oxford defines the scientific method as a process of
• systematic observation, and
• measurements, and
• experiments
This process also involves the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
.
QOTO defines itself as having something to do with science, so even the most clumsy attempt to use the scientific method should have been perceived as familiar-- easily recognized -- in a QOTO post, right?
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Wrong. That's not what happened when I tried to ask three questions about what I mistakenly construed as a simple subject.
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It took time, effort and thought to draft and post specific, non-controversial, and "scientific" questions about three of the four sections of the Mastodon Covenant.
.
This experiment engendered nothing good, only lessons learned the hard way -- see for example https://qoto.org/web/statuses/103195910442277853
.
Significant fractions of the
posts are word-for-word
identical ... which at best
is unnecessary repetition
and at worst looks like
you are deliberately
spamming the timeline with
copypasta.
.
Yes indeed, I was deliberate in trying to make "significant fractions of the posts ... word-for-word identical."
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If the point of feedback was to discourage me from doing anything like this in a QOTO context going forward, then it worked in a way. I am discouraged. This is bad for me, but it's also bad, perhaps worse for QOTO going forward.
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RESTATEMENT: I formulated a hypothesis that the Mastodon Covenant identifies useful, credible factors for evaluating what QOTO is and how it compares with other Mastodon instances. I tested the hypothesis, and the resulting data set caused me to modify my thinking.
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We learn by doing. I did learn something when I questioned @freemo@goto.org. And also, I did learn when @khird@quoto.org volunteered to help me in the process of teaching myself
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QOTO = Question Others to Teach Ourselves?

@khird Aha, I figured out how to do what you did -- sorta.
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Until I saw your list, I didn't imagine wanting to do what you did.
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What I've done here is inelegant, not quite as narrow as what you did -- see
https://mastodon.social/web/statuses/103167154407899548

So, I still need to ask for your help so that I can create the same kind of list you have made.

If you choose not to help me, fine. I will try to find someone else to teach me how to do this.
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QOTO = Question Others to Teach Ourselves?
Copy @ freemo

@shakha I'm very interested in this.
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For me, your post is a timely discovery, a welcome opportunity. Thank you.
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The formatted SE process seems clear enough, reasonable; but is it workable in the context of a Mastodon instance?

SE = STREET EPISTEMOLOGY -- see https://streetepistemology.com/publications/street_epistemology_the_basics

1: Build rapport with your interlocutor

2: Identify the claim

3: Confirm the claim

4: Clarify definitions

5: Identify a confidence level

6: Identify the method used to arrive at confidence level

7: Ask questions that reveal the reliability of the method

8: Listen, summarize, question, watch, repeat
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QOTO = Question Others to Teach Ourselves?

@freemo Thank you so much for finding and sharing this cartoon

This image hits the bulls eye. It summarizes the urgent dilemma which caused me to ask questions which appear to have made you uncomfortable

@freemo Your profile volunteers information about your birth -- that you were born in Philadelphia in the United States. This data makes it reasonable to infer that you have high level of fluency in English.
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I draw your attention to this because it suggests I would not be wrong to seek -- and find -- a high level of precision in your use of English.
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As you know, I asked three very specific questions and I explained a little bit about the context which caused me to seek more data about QOTO. Your response isn't exactly what I'd asked, but it's your answer. Thank you.
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You state: "QOTO is in compliance with the covenant." -- see "Mastodon Covenant" https://joinmastodon.org/covenant
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Your choice of words begs three questions:
(a) What is the Mastodon Covenant? and
(b) What does "compliance with the covenant" mean? and
(c) What are the consequences of our pointed question and answer exchange?
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Again, thank you. Your evasive response forced me to parse the issues more fully that I had done before.
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You wrote, "I can tell you that ..." and this phrase implies that there is something else you're not telling me and others. In other words, your choice of words is revealing. You're bluntly announcing that you've made a decision to be not clear, not straightforward, not helpful.

This disappointing choice of words begs two question:
(a) Why?
(b) What else?
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Again, thank you. This isn't what I'd expected, not what I wanted; but our exchange does demonstrate the usefulness of questioning others to teach ourselves.
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QOTO = Question Others to Teach Ourselves?

@freemo I've only asked you about this Mastodon instance.
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I was shocked when a spokesman refused to confirm that there is a Mastodon.social commitment to give users at least 3 months of advance warning in case of shutting down.
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With all due respect, this means that a core element of the Mastodon Covenant is not credible. This means that everyone who read and relied on the specifics of the Covenant were wrong to do so.
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That's a big problem.
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Although @LuigiEsq@mastodon.social spoke on behalf of another instance, he was claiming to speak on behalf of the core organizers of the Mastodon network.
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This astonishing admission opens the door to corollary issues which I have now raised with with you.
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With regret, I see that you haven't responded to my explicit inquiries about §2 and §3 of the Mastodon Covenant. Please set my mind at ease with your reply.
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Reasonable questions about QOTO need clear responses.
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QOTO = Question Others to Teach Ourselves?