Alex Vranas @Alex@vran.as

Having deep conversations with #ChatGPT.

I love Bob's Burgers, but I will never understand the writers' decision to turn a gang of self-proclaimed "white power movement" bikers into minor recurring characters that the main cast is consistently friendly with. I can't watch those episodes without feeling gross.

A deep stain in a show with an otherwise excellent reputation.

POV: I follow you, and you're blasting Retweets through the crossposter like a big dummy.

A great way to find instances to suspend is to browse your cache of custom emojis from other instances.

The worst actors can't help but to add swastikas and hateful caricatures to their servers. Easy low-hanging-fruit to get rid of before their users show up and bring you problems.

#mastoadmin #mastomod

Me checking in on TSLA stock, of which I hold zero shares:

One of the big differences in moderation here is that mass-reporting doesn't escalate things like it does on Twitter.

If someone is abusive, and you report them, it will be reviewed by a human being, and they will decide if it breaks the rules.

Getting 20 other people to report the same post isn't going to change that. You're just giving the mods more work to do, especially if a dogpile emboldens the abuser to lash out at more people.

I feel like a lot of people who have spent years on Twitter are looking to return to the "old days" before Elon Musk, and likely even before Trump.

But people are so fixated on the features Twitter offered they are having trouble working with the tools they are given here.

The difference between Twitter and Mastodon aren't shortcomings, they are just facets of how Mastodon is a different place than Twitter.

I also see a recurring argument that abusive comments deserve to be put on blast.

This fundamentally goes against the philosophy here.

If the post breaks the rules, report it. You don't need to give abusive people more visibility.

If the post doesn't break the rules, reply and disagree. You don't need to command your followers to join you - that is a dogpile, and it's not productive.

I see a lot of fresh complaints about Mastodon lacking a quote-tweet equivalent, and while I'll admit that there are a couple of agreeable arguments, people are neglecting some important details.

When you reply to someone, your reply will appear in your followers' feeds. If people want to see what you're disagreeing with, they can click and find out.

And if you want to add additional context, just reply and boost the OP. You'll be seen.

Mastodon doesn't need to be a carbon-copy of Twitter.

More information about the Redevelopment Plan: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/money/business/development/2021/03/05/historic-melrose-high-school-memphis-redevelopment-plans/4582905001/

I've really been enjoying the photographs shared by @AbandonedAmerica. It's been a while since I did that kind of photography.

Here are some photos I took in December 2010 of Melrose High School, the first Black high school in Memphis, TN, located in the Orange Mound neighborhood.

It opened in 1938 and was abandoned in 1981. It is currently scheduled for renovation after more than 40 years of vacancy.

I love how moss keeps the parks green in the winter! Here's a new shot from Leschi Park in #seattle.

#mosstodon

Finally, if you want some extra help, there are a number of paid services that will reach out to brokers on your behalf.

The one I *lightly* recommend, and use myself, is DeleteMe, which has done an acceptable job for some of my friends who did nothing manually first, and found a handful of things that I missed.

Here's an affiliate link that gives you 20% off: https://joindeleteme.com/refer?coupon=RFR-186613-FAYDHF (full disclosure: they'll give me $50 if you subscribe using this link).