@_elena @cheeaun @codinghorror it's beyond absurd that the mastadonians are trying to suggest fixes when the answer is simple.... Allow admins to set the limit of a post for their server.

Why Mr Mastodon insists that it stats as 500 is absurd. Equally, as you say, people can use better services. If only they took a moment to open their mind.

@cheeaun Yes, I'd say it's more Doctorow's problem than Mastodon's problem. He keeps on using it in ways it's not intended for.

Maybe he should migrate to a platform that allows a zillion characters per posts, or you know, a blog (I know he has one).

I had to unfollow him because when he decides to invade your timeline with a 300 post-long thread, your timeline basically becomes the Doctorow's feed.

(cc: @pluralistic )

@David @cheeaun You are encouraged to unfollow me if you don't want long threads, which is why my bio here starts with, 'I post long threads.'

Here is a detailed explanation of why and how I use Mastodon, and how to follow me and other thread posters, and why I choose the instance I do:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/16/how-to-make-the-least-worst-mastodon-threads/

My work here is CC attribution only and is available in machine readable form as fulltext RSS, so if you would prefer my work in some other format you are welcome to remix it.

@pluralistic
I have unfollowed you, but not because I wanted to. You do have interesting things to say. I just don't understand why you do those long threads instead of posting somewhere that allows long posts and then share it or something.

There is no algorithm here like Twitter to give you more visibility (which is the reason I always assumed you did these long threads over there in the days and imported the habit here), and you already have the visibility here anyway.

@cheeaun

@David @cheeaun

You mean, "Some people would like it if I published a different social media feed?"

Sure. I'd like it if lots of people published different social media feeds from the feeds they prefer.

But of course, the promise of open social media isn't "Other people will live their lives in the way I prefer." It's "I can construct my experience to fill my feed with people who emit information in the way I prefer."

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@David @cheeaun

Fundamentally, you appear to be asking, "Why don't you like the things I like, the way I like them?"

The answer, of course, is because I like different things from you.

Moreover, I go to enormous, daily, extremely time-consuming lengths to give you a *ton* of ways to get the things I write without following me here.

Surely that's the right compromise: "Use social media the way you like, and if you choose, help others use it the way they like?"