Patrick @pkok@qoto.org

if a sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, is a sufficiently mundane technology indistinguishable from its context?

ex: nobody thinks of language as a technology but here we are with a decentralized system of overlapping transient protocols that we use to hack each other’s brains because we literally cannot imagine a society without communication

Programming isn't about what you know; it's about what you can figure out.

Every great developer you know got there by solving problems they were unqualified to solve until they actually did it.

@Gargron time for cats? Yes, cats

After a few weeks the caterpillar turns into a #butterfly and then the #dog eats it #DailyFun

a lot of people find web #accessibility a bit opaque and confusing, and as a result I've seen some well-meaning (but not always accurate) advice circulating. so to clear some things up (a thread)

At this point, I’m pretty sure that the tech industry uses “engagement” as a euphemism for “addiction.”

As Mastodon is growing, it becomes clear that many of the problems that we face in social media aren't solved by simply replacing monolithic corporate-owned infrastructure with a decentralized one. That - it seems - was the easy part. The hard problems appear to be sociological. How do you protect an individual from an angry mob? How do you find out if the mob's anger is justified or not? We can't hope to answer these questions with technology.

I'm *religious* about open source (I pray at the altar of St. Ignutius), but this is a practice I can get behind.

https://github.com/lerna/lerna/pull/1616

I'm now getting DMs of support because people are afraid if they agree publicly they'll be harassed next. That's not a good atmosphere folks.

I have been asked to keep things short with a Content Warning. I apologize in advance, I won't be doing that here:

I am exceedingly upset that @wilw has more or less been chased off Mastodon.

He absolutely doesn't deserve to be treated badly, to be maligned, or abused. This admin who's banning Mr. Wheaton because of the actions of OTHER PEOPLE is, quite frankly, a total hashtag. I'm going to use Hashtag here as an insult, because honestly I can't think of anything else without swearing loudly.

I don't know the full story. I don't want to know the full story- because some dude, and it *doesn't matter who said dude is* just got bullied and harassed right off of a social network by toxic, garbage people.

And do not for a moment think that you are not garbage people, those who did this. You are. You are garbage. Rationalize your behavior however you want, but at the end of the day? You are a dumpster fire of a human being and you need to look at yourself good and close and do something about it because I don't want your toxicity poisoning the well any further.

For mastodon.social users:

Dogpiling and harassment are off-limits no matter how justified you think you are. The rules are for everyone.

Strongly considering adding screenshot-dunking to the code of conduct as well. We don't need that culture here.

I can't believe guns are legal in California but nunchucks aren't. something like 4 Americans a year get shot by their *dog*. I have yet to hear of a dog nunchucking a guy to death. that would have to be one badass dog

#ReachAcross is a new hashtag we came up with over at #QOTO where you say something you admire about a group you view as an opponent to a cause you are passionate about. For example if you are a Liberal you would compliment Conservatives, if you are a Conservative you compliment Liberals. Whatever group or groups you feel passionate for whether its politics, activism, religion, whatever it might be.

Use the tag and list something you respect or admire about the opposing side. When you see someone mention a group that refers to you, then return a compliment in a reply.

I will kick it off:

#ReachAcross for this week is for the extreme left and extreme right political spectrum (non-moderates). I admire the passion and energy you put into your activism. There are many people who would love to have that sort of passion for anything.

(Some people who helped flush out the idea in the original thread: @arteteco @Surasanji @hashtaggrammar @commandelicious @comphys @QuentinMann @rnitsch @Nyoei @spinflip @hodot @SecondJon )

@pkok I'm sorry. Your cat is broken. Please send it to me for repair.

I saw a van with a Mastodon sticker, but since they also had Slayer and Black Sabbath stickers, I don't think they were talking about us.

"Human cultures vary a lot," the human ambassador said, "but we all agree there are things that should not go on pizza..."

The alien looked up. "But it fnaggles my splanch so nicely."

"And one of those things is people."

#MicroFiction #TootFic #SmallStories

A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO COMPUTER SECURITY

1. If at all possible, do not use the computer

@freemo I got to experience that adorable Mastodon error gif.

Attached if no one saw it!