nostr:npub1cmgqvz7xr07euwkum3mjghjqcu4d3k2fcyf6g4uwwe5ggnd6fetq0wrzd2 People who have never been sysops do not understand what an awful slog it is.

To have the technical skills to keep your shit running AND the people skills to deal with the inevitable assholes AND the patience to deal with the well-meaning but clueless people

ARGH

nostr:npub1cmgqvz7xr07euwkum3mjghjqcu4d3k2fcyf6g4uwwe5ggnd6fetq0wrzd2 I have an easy answer for *potential* dickhead users: You're free to dislike and are free to move on in case you don't like it...

Btw, I've gotten really harsh criticism for just saying "Be kind"... that won't stop me from saying it. We can always be kind and I can say "be kind" out of kindness. Encouraging to kindness is not rudeness and I can't wrap my head around it why would it be anything else than focusing on the positive side of things.

There are always people who focus on negativity, pessimism and hate. Whatever hits me, I choose to smile. #Positivity #Kindness #Attitude

nostr:npub1cmgqvz7xr07euwkum3mjghjqcu4d3k2fcyf6g4uwwe5ggnd6fetq0wrzd2 because mastodon is gay

nostr:npub1cmgqvz7xr07euwkum3mjghjqcu4d3k2fcyf6g4uwwe5ggnd6fetq0wrzd2 it can be situational no?

If some (to use an American example) MAGA nazi engages me it's unwelcome.

"Kind" - and maybe there are language issues here to explore - can imply acceptance.

One can be aloof and still not unkind, I suppose I strive for that.

nostr:npub1cmgqvz7xr07euwkum3mjghjqcu4d3k2fcyf6g4uwwe5ggnd6fetq0wrzd2 I am a sysadmin too, but there is a reason I choose to NOT run my own #mastodon instance vs join (and pay). I see too often where people think smaller instances equal better quality on here. There is the "hit by a bus" risk of solo host. Those don't have a great support staff so you rely on the "I am human" approach. In terms of "service", this is not a good enough reason in my opinion, for a solo instance. You want to run an instance? Cool. But adding users? You become a service.

nostr:npub1cmgqvz7xr07euwkum3mjghjqcu4d3k2fcyf6g4uwwe5ggnd6fetq0wrzd2 A bit of expectation management can't hurt and might reduce the dependency on (not: necessity of) voluntary kindness.

Before joining an instance, I'd like to know what the admins and mods are standing for, and they'd probably like it if people signed up only after they've read the About page, at least.

House rules matter way more on the #fediverse than elsewhere. They should neither be copy-pasted, nor be considered optional, because neither side really cared.

nostr:npub1cmgqvz7xr07euwkum3mjghjqcu4d3k2fcyf6g4uwwe5ggnd6fetq0wrzd2 you have “sysop” in your Bio

!NICE!

nostr:npub1cmgqvz7xr07euwkum3mjghjqcu4d3k2fcyf6g4uwwe5ggnd6fetq0wrzd2 nostr:npub1v7sznrjzcj9rw2gc72hxhln3c6ldrhsngs6tp8xltq4208wc0x5shqj7sc Be nice to your Admins, they provide the ‘roof’ over our heads !

Shout out to nostr:npub1gwrllrhrc4c8rzkev4dt2fl66hx72gmtcwauvhrh4lexnk5zdhrq85t50g & nostr:npub184fhe3ch0k74w8g20v9vnrwpy9uxmz4h0dfe7d6m28zzdx5ez0js34gpf3 for keeping the ‘rain’ of this squirrels head 😁 🙏 🫶

nostr:npub1cmgqvz7xr07euwkum3mjghjqcu4d3k2fcyf6g4uwwe5ggnd6fetq0wrzd2 My recommendation to admins is that no matter what, don't make it a one person show, even if you have to create sockpuppet moderator accounts to give the appearance of a team enforcing the rules.

Bullies target individuals. They rarely go after groups. Having a team that you're part of not only gives your actions greater authority, but also provides you personal plausible deniability for unpopular decisions. Ideally, communication to your users should be done by the voice of the moderation team, not the admin account. Keep the community management as separate as possible from the technical workings of the site, and keep your interaction with users through the admin account to a minimum.

Context: ran a non-profit publishing website with a public forum for 12 years before burnout caught up. I would have only lasted one if it weren't for the excellence of our moderation team and their ability to help mitigate the toxicity and spam.

nostr:npub1cmgqvz7xr07euwkum3mjghjqcu4d3k2fcyf6g4uwwe5ggnd6fetq0wrzd2

The longer I am on Mastodon and in the fediverse, the more I realize the early explanations about picking a server were wrong.

The server you choose really is important. I'm thinking that servers should be set up like speed dating. There should also be a component similar to receiverships.

nostr:npub1cmgqvz7xr07euwkum3mjghjqcu4d3k2fcyf6g4uwwe5ggnd6fetq0wrzd2 Universeodon's instance admin is the most recent example of somebody stepping down. Do you see that as an "unfortunate outcome"? If so, do you think it's an example of an admin being a dickhead, or users being dickheads?

nostr:npub1cmgqvz7xr07euwkum3mjghjqcu4d3k2fcyf6g4uwwe5ggnd6fetq0wrzd2 agreed. Two of the admins who have burnt out after being harassed were from my professional community. They are good people who wanted to use our profession to host a positive community. What did they get? Death threats, swattings, their families and children were harassed and threatened, and the people who did or even enabled the harassing have faced no consequences.

nostr:npub1cmgqvz7xr07euwkum3mjghjqcu4d3k2fcyf6g4uwwe5ggnd6fetq0wrzd2 Considering the insane amount of abuse I received on here when I said I have a use case for quote posts, I’m not surprised

I know it’s a minority, but these people are a real threat to the Fediverse

I don’t know what the solution is. But I’m afraid it’s a very complicated issue to solve.

nostr:npub1cmgqvz7xr07euwkum3mjghjqcu4d3k2fcyf6g4uwwe5ggnd6fetq0wrzd2

I really don't get why people do that to each other, it's a volunteer service. Admins are doing this out of the goodness of their hearts & on their spare time.

We as the userbase should be kind to one another & thank the team that runs your instance.

If you want something or report an issue, do so politely, it will be fixed, you won't die if it's dead. Shit happens.

As for the full text search issue, if your instance doesn't have it, move to another one that does, don't threaten ppl.