Notices by Sean Munger (seanmunger@mastodon.at), page 26

One of the things Eugen seems to be particularly fond of is the 500 character limit of toots. While there are quite a few thoughts about this floating around in my head, this is not supposed to be a masto meta discussion, so... just in case: please don't make it one. Thanks~

The limit is quite a bit higher than that of birdsite which allows better communication, sharing of poetry or short fiction directly and not only through links, etc. However, as soon as complex topics call for differentiation and explanations, we have to build threads to get our point across (not me, obviously, but you know what I mean ^^ ) and might get interrupted with answers to something that only partly conveys our thoughts which often makes threads look like a wild mess. Perhaps I feel this way because I'm more... a child of the tame, organised world of discussion boards, but... hear me out.

Whenever I'm linked to twitter, the threads I see are about controversial topics (or those seen as such). This, combined with birdsite toxicity will usually make the discussion look somewhat like this:

OP: *posts a take/valid point/fact about their own life*

Bigot: *makes rather uninformed counterpoint*

Second bigot: *supports first bigot*

OP: *tries to enlighten bigots*

One of the bigots: *counters with ignorance*

Random jerk: *ridicules OP*

OP: *struggles yet more to explain or plainly gives up*

So... my thoughts are that the limit enables bigots by giving them the chance to play "power moves" simply by making their ignorant points and giving those who are trying to spread actual information a hard time. Ignorance thrives on brevity. Attacks don't need differentiation, just powerful vocabulary and an assertive tone.

This and birdsite's sheer number of ignorants is giving soft-spoken, wordy and/or diplomatic people a really hard time.
Not here, at least not so much. At least not now, while people are rather understanding, attentive and considerate...

I personally am rather wordy. Much of that is due to language barrier, often using german syntax (which I feel is comparatively bulky), but also natural disposition. I also fall under the category of diplomatic folks, and gentle too, I guess (...most of the time 😸 ).
So yeah... I am a bit worried at a switch in tone, here. Not only for my sake. There are lots of easily overwhelmed folks who would struggle with this sort of thing, I think.

Also from personal experience I know that the 500 characters limit isn't actually limiting regarding most toots. For many posts I don't even need to use them all to convey what I wish to. Most of the time I posted with Tusky (an Android app) which only allows 500 characters and didn't usually have to shorten toots to fit. But simply being able to use more if I feel I need to, goes a long way.

Well, that was a lot of rambling.
Thank you for reading. 💜🌟

goodnight from these doggos

"Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge." - Isaac Asimov
This gives me the feels. Ask any scientist working on things-that-matter, odds are they've seen this since forever. Anti GMO, Anti Nuclear Power, Anti Vax... all use the same language and rhetoric of "corrupt" scientists secretly owned by baddies.
(h/t KHayHoe on Twitter)

good morning from doggos who refused to look at the camera at the same time