An EXTREMELY Simple Guide to Mastodon

[landedgentry@lemmy.zip]

It’s not that simple and I don’t get why people pretend it is. The “instance” concept confuses everyone. The email comparison everyone uses is inadequate.

The issue is incredibly fundamental. You don’t just download the app, create an account, and go. You download an app that lets you participate, then you need to decide your instance which is like deciding which specific browser you want tonuse that then lets you see individual communities. But also your instance might have a community with the exact same name as a community in another instance, so make sure you know the difference despite both of them being “news“ or “politics.“ Also all the different instances have different nuances to their federation and voting that you may or may not see, unless you are familiar with how each instance operates.

[klu9@lemmy.ca]

Well, I'm confused. And has it caught on?

Disclosure: I've tried it out on my computer, not the app. Is the app more user-friendly?

E.g. I only just realized now why I've been so confused by Mastodon; the web page shows you replies before showing you what's being replied to, without the UI making it obvious that's what it's doing and what's connected together. Does the app fix that, and is there a way to get a fix in a web browser?

[eyekaytee@aussie.zone]

then you need to decide your instance

Just use mastodon.social

If you feel like you want to join a more specific community then you can

[lgsp@feddit.it]

I'm not sure, but i guess that it is replicating Twitter behaviour. I got used to that quickly.

But if you want a better experience you can easily find other front ends. I strongly suggest Phanpy that makes it really clear when a toot is part of a conversation/thread. It also does a lot of nice things like grouping boosts in horizontal carousels, collapsing long threads to avoid occpying the too many screens, and others, but it is still simple

[nima@leminal.space]

and trying to downplay potential users as stupid before they've even used a social media platform isn't going to exactly make them want to stay. or even try in the first place.

just makes mastodon look like a place where nerds reign free and normal folks won't be able to participate effectively.

if you want to make mastodon a destination and not a niche corner to be avoided, this is not the way.

i agree with you completely.

[landedgentry@lemmy.zip]

I want you to find where in there I said users are stupid or even remotely applied it. Flagrant strawman.

[nima@leminal.space]

wha? you didn't. i just was agreeing with you the whole time.

was just adding my own frustrations to your own, as yours are true.

[landedgentry@lemmy.zip]

We both know that is not how this should work. If everybody joins the same instance, we’re basically right back where we started. We want people to be distributed among other instances.

If one instance has 97% of the userbase then they basically get to dictate the whole thing. What if mastodon.social ended up being hexbear or lemmygrad? Or some MAGA right wing instance?

Twitter was a shit hole but nobody thought it was going to be where it is now. Your average “liberal” CEO typically has a floor of how shitty they are willing to be because even they have common sense. Musk has no such floor

[landedgentry@lemmy.zip]

I very quickly deleted it but I guess you saw lol I totally misread your intention at first glance

[nima@leminal.space]

its ok I edited my comment a bit, I can see how it seemed like I was arguing with ya. apologies bb

[landedgentry@lemmy.zip]

::: spoiler spoiler
asdfsafasdfdsf
:::

[klu9@lemmy.ca]

Phanpy

First impression: "That's more like it!"

But then: "Wait... it's still not showing me the OP followed by replies." It shows me a reply, with some faded text above. I click on the faded text above, and still don't get the OP, eventually click on a group of microavatars with mouseover text "Go to top" and an up arrow, and at last see what the hell it is people are talking about, with replies below. I try going through settings, find no way to get it simply show me the OP in the first place.

I guess I'll have to keep trying out front-ends until I find one that works in a way that is not obviously maddening the way I need it to.

I'll try Ask Lemmy. https://lemmy.ca/post/44479417

(And wondering again if I should try Mbin or Piefed, and what the difference is.)

[kazuyadarklight@lemmy.world]

Try Fedilab, I think it will more intuitive for you, unless I'm misunderstanding your frustration.

[klu9@lemmy.ca]

Unfortunately, it looks like Fedilab is a mobile app only.

Also, I've installed it on Android and the default does not show the OP above with replies grouped below.

Looking at its settings, maybe one might affect completely missing OPs, "Remote Conversations". I've enabled it and will see how it goes.

I can't find any setting to make it show replies grouped below the OP.

[kirk@startrek.website]

When using the official Mastodon app (as suggested in the "guide") "instances" are not a factor at all (unless the user specifically goes out of their way). A new user could have never even heard of the term "instance" and the above steps would work fine.

You don’t just download the app, create an account, and go.

Actually with Mastodon this is literally how it works.

EDIT: I should say this is how it works now, it didn't always used to be this way. The official Mastodon app used to ask the user to pick an instance, but for a number of years now it defaults every new account to mastodon.social unless they opt out. There was a big brouhah about centralization but the Mastodon devs felt it made for easier on boarding.

[kazuyadarklight@lemmy.world]

Correct, it is mobile only. Unfortunately, I think I must be misunderstanding what you're saying about the op stuff. This is my view, The way I think about it, at least, these are all "OPs", ones with a plus sign next to the leftward arrow. Have comments.

And then if I tap, I get the op with its comments underneath it.