Linda Cantwell @lakesunrise@qoto.org

Happy New Year to #silentsunday ... if you are not sure what the hashtag is about, you are invited to share an image with no other written descriptions or context but the hashtag -- however, please DO add some alt-text to the image for screen readers and for accessibility. If you don't want to share an image, it's perfectly OK just to wander through the tag and view the photographs of others, too. It's a weekly art show of wonder from all over the world. Thank you, all.

If you haven't boosted one of my toots yet, you're missing out on the fun.

#justkidding

Boost someone today. I know that single click won't kill you. If it does, we can write in your obit, Death By Mastodon.

My kid’s teacher made toys for her class based on their drawings.
Pay teachers more

My little #Robin friend thinks he's a #Christmas card today. Once he had some food and a drink of water, he was cheerily chatting and singing in his favourite perches. In #Bath #Somerset #UK.
#Birds #BirdsOfMastodon #Nature #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #NaturePhotography #BritishWildlife #UKBirds #UKBirding

I have given one man immense power over my social media life:

@ruud

Nope, not the wealthiest man in the world! But Ruud Schilders is doing a wealth of good running mastodon.world with good equipment and policies.

I hope my WSJ Mastodon guide helps people understand this community and the role trust + information plays in picking a server.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/dont-have-44-billion-for-your-own-social-media-network-try-mastodon-11668002451?st=rf6shbsb89ki10i&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

My work here is done.
#WhenYouHaveOneJob #WreakHavoc

I'm noticing a lot of "I'm bored of Mastodon, I'm going back to #Twitter" posts.

In case they are genuine, here's what I've found works:

⚫ try to post content, not complaints. People want to engage with you, not your gripes

⚫ try to learn. If you're putting in an effort to be part of the community, the community will welcome you

⚫ Try to avoid posting links to tweets, definitely don't cross-post. People want Mastodon content

⚫ Reply! Reply! Reply! Everyone wants to know someone's reading and considering their content, even you

⚫ Don't lurk. Many of us check for a filled out profile, avatars, and posts, before we follow someone back

⚫ Chill. It's a big new world that doesn't serve everything up to you

⚫ Avoid the trap of rebuilding Twitter here

Feel free to link this post to people struggling with Mastodon. It's what I've found works, and may not work for everyone

People keep saying only tech people are moving to Mastodon, as if that isn’t the same with anything new. Tech people will always be the first to adopt new technology. Our job is to prove the utility and lower the barrier to entry. Maybe Mastodon is currently too confusing for the average user. But so was Twitter, and smartphones, and the internet.