 Everyone needs to know there's a Fediverse -- much like they need to know there's an Internet. Referring to @pixelfed as a Mastodon app, for example, is kind of like referring to Wikipedia as a Facebook app. Yes, @pixelfed interoperates with Mastodon, but it's not a Mastodon app. Yes, Wikipedia connects to Facebook via hyperlinking and previewing, but it's not a Facebook app. You wouldn't refer to Facebook as the Internet. This is why you shouldn't refer to Mastodon as the Fediverse. 100 comments
@pixelfed Why is it important for people to know that a Fediverse exists? Because just as people can do different things on different websites, they need to know that they can do different things on different Fediverse services. Most people don't visit Wikipedia expecting it to be Facebook. And most people shouldn't visit @pixelfed expecting it to be Mastodon. @pixelfed "But why can't we do everything through Mastodon and define function at the client level?" some people ask. Because servers create boundaries on what clients can do. Mastodon doesn't support comment control. Other Fediverse server software, like @pixelfed, does. This isn't to say that Mastodon is a "worse" service, just that there's certain functions that it does and doesn't support -- and a client can't add those functions. And believe me, that's fine! @pixelfed The Fediverse could unlock untold innovation on the Internet, as much as the world wide web and email. Some might wonder why that didn't happen 10 or 20 years ago. The reason is that it social media's true innovative possibilities were kneecapped by centralization and the entities that became Big Social. But because the Fediverse exists through *protocols* not *proprietary APIs*, it isn't owned by anyone. This makes it possible for anyone to build off of it. @pixelfed Currently, what's preventing us from an explosion of innovative Fediverse services? Mental paradigms. We've been so thoroughly trained to believe that social media should operate through a walled garden, that we so many of us don't actually believe it that the Fediverse offers a functional alternative. "What? @pixelfed can talk to Mastodon -- but it's not Mastodon? Impossible!" they say.  @atomicpoet @pixelfed Someone should make the first Fediverse-enabled web camera, just for grins. @pixelfed Yesterday, I expressed exasperation that Mastodon users don't try other Fediverse services. The sheer numbers bear witness too this. While Mastodon has ~10 million accounts, @pixelfed only has ~150,000 accounts. That means 9,850,000 of you have never tried @pixelfed -- and besides Mastodon, Pixelfed is one of the most popular Fediverse services. This unwillingness to try the rest of the Fediverse could end up killing the Fediverse!  @atomicpoet @pixelfed@mastodon.social Pixelfed needs more advertising. Especially after they added a portfolio feature, because now PixelFed can compete with DeviantArt. in terms of artist exposure.  The idea of #instagram never appealed to me, so I never saw any reason to try out #pixelfed, as they can also see my image posts. I am going to convert my #mastodon server to #calckey when they finish the database migration script, as they really are the most feature rich #fediverse platform. @pixelfed I'm taking a new approach to Fediverse evangelism. Previously, when people asked me about another Fediverse service such as @pixelfed, I'd spend untold hours explaining it to them -- even providing screenshots. People would go, "Oh, neat!" -- then never try it. But now if people ask me about @pixelfed, I'm going to tell them, "Try it!" Not only will this save me time and effort, it will hopefully provoke them to use services like @pixelfed. @jxce @pixelfed I'm happy to answer simple questions. I'm not happy to provide long drawn out tutorials that ultimately waste my time. This fellow wasn't just happy that I answered his question, he privately messaged me to thank me about urging him to try @pixelfed. Again, learning by doing is better than learning by reading and not doing.  @atomicpoet @pixelfed I definitely learn a lot more by doing as well, though being pointed in the right direction is always a huge help. I generally don't need things spelled out to me, but if I'm presented with a topic that can be really overwhelming, knowing where a reputable doc is makes that much less intimidating.  I realize that what a whole lot of people need is an ask. You can't just assume they will try something. You have to ask them. It's as though asking them gives them an incentive to do it. This isn't a bad thing, by the way -- just human behaviour. Someone asked me to do something today, and I did it because they asked. If not for the ask, I wouldn't have done it.  @atomicpoet I’m very concerned about bothering people, so I won’t go someplace or join in a group unless I’m explicitly invited. Someone said, “Maybe you should explain why I should be interested in Pixelfed.” But that could be a time suck. So meet me halfway and tell me how likely you are to try Pixelfed if I explain it to you. @atomicpoet @pixelfed The catch being *why* try it? What does pixelfed do that I can’t do on Mastodon? Or consume from mastodon? Perhaps it’s not the best example from my perspective - I don’t quite ‘get’ instagram either but I am feeling somewhat dense with this. I think I can understand why lemmy or friendica as they’re organized around discussions/groups (I think) but with all inter operating what’s the macro differences other than interface? @atomicpoet @pixelfed 100% - already trying it at pixelfed.de - and I don’t see a lot of distinction (but lots of nice photos)  @atomicpoet @pixelfed I have never used pixelfed, but I run a single-user mastodon server. In what practical ways is Pixelfed different from the /media feed on mastodon? Serious question. @atomicpoet @pixelfed Ok. They have a docker-compose.yml in their GitHub repo... Not sure why they don't lead with that in their deployment instructions page. I'll give it a go.  @atomicpoet Maybe this it's just the wrong group of people to get excited about a service like pixelfeed? Many people came here from Twitter and that is already a different crowed compared to the majority of social media users. For example, I have an Instagram account and open the app maybe once every three to six months. Never post any pictures /upload reels. Deactivated FB years ago. Why should I join Pixelfeed? I have considered Bookwyrm as a Goodreads alternative but that's it @atomicpoet @pixelfed I think you are misunderstanding my point. I know what pixelfeed is. I have looked at an overview of Fediverse options after joining Mastodon last year to see if I wanted to join any other servers. But I have realized that I just don't do the things they offer. I never really used the "mainstream" version and I believe many (fomer) heavy Twitter users have similar preferences @atomicpoet @pixelfed I had forgotten I set up an account there! Promise to give it a solid try! 📸  @atomicpoet @pixelfed No unwillingness here. Have simply never heard of it. I expect many the same. Would using PixelFed to showcase my photography run the risk of segmenting followers? For example, I have @david, which I plan to start ramping up. I'd like to post items such as stories and announcements here, and of course photographs. But PixelFed is better for the photographs. If I create an account there for just the photographs, it seems that would split the followers? Wouldn't some follow only the photo account, missing the stories? Thank you! So my process would be to post the photography in the PixelFed account, then immediately boost it from the "main" account. I get that! What about the folks who find the PixelFed account? How would they know about the other one?  @atomicpoet @pixelfed I don’t know if it’s about willingness….it’s partially about discovery. I’m on an iPhone, put Pixelfed in the Apple Store search and get….50 Mastodon apps. You have to scroll down a bunch of times before you see a Pleroma, Misskey, or other app. So, for the casual user, they’re never going to see another Fediverse app. They’re going to assume Pixelfed is Mastodon on some level because that’s what search told them.  @atomicpoet @pixelfed Absolutely agree about fediverse diversity being important for the fediverse as a whole. But IMO (and I’m prob a broken record on this) needing new accounts for every fediverse platform is a source of real friction and a problem if the we/fediverse *value* diversity and the idea that the fediverse is the way social media should be. @atomicpoet @pixelfed @atomicpoet @pixelfed didn't we think that was true for www .. until the various socials found ways to create new commons and then enclose them? I would love to see someone develop a Fedi overclient that displayed, stored fetched, posted & archived all my different fedi platform accounts. Or has that been done already? Huge QoL improvement just having my picture uploads to #Mastodon stored in #Pixelfed with their #AltText & re-postable across #Fediverse if needed again etc. Proper Alt Text takes times & effort. It is because they don't release that the #fediverse enables interoperability. The difference between the fediverse and the example you gave previously, that being wikipedia and facebook. There is a clear difference in the look of the webpage of #wikipedia and #facebook When you click on a #pixelfed post while on #mastodon all you see is a mastodon post. @atomicpoet people knows Instagram and Facebook are different and both belong to Meta. Even if you can't reply to an IG story, it would be silly to refer to a post in Instagram as a Facebook post. In that analogy, the Fediverse would be the equivalent of Meta, but more versatile. @eco_amandine That is one analogy, although the Fediverse is not a company. But I guess people can "imagine" it is. @atomicpoet Pixelfed is one of the great apps here on the Fedi. I used to photoblog on instagram, post random photos of my day. But now I do it on pixelfed.  > You wouldn't refer to Facebook as the Internet The real tragedy is that plenty of people would do exactly that @atomicpoet @pixelfed I understand your frustration but blaming the people has never been the right way. I recommend educating them. BTW when I search for a #pixelfed app the top hit is #mastodon 🤷🏻♀️ @atomicpoet @pixelfed @Coolmccool I think there are a lot of people who refer to Facebook as the Internet or at least as the Web. Most people don’t get the distinction between the Web and the Internet as well. @atomicpoet honestly it feels like a chore. Just to see what it's about I have to download a new app and click through like 3 pages - feels very not worth it. For now. It's not easy. It should feel easy. I have too many Apps as it is. App fatigue. |
Gregory's Server
@pixelfed I've had a number of people say to me, "Mastodon is a synonym for the Fediverse."
That's only true if you never leave Mastodon, and believe other services work exactly like Mastodon.
For example, look at this feed. If I showed this to a complete noob and said, "This is Mastodon", they would be completely confused.
And that's because it's actually not Mastodon in any logical or meaningful sense.