[Linux-aus] FOSS social media

[Kathy Reid]

Hi Russell,


> Why is that?  Is there something broken with the server or is there something 
broken with the client?  Or do the LA people just ignore notifications?

It varies by server - sometimes the account will get replies from an account that the LinuxAustralia at fosstodon account does not follow, sometimes it will. I _suspect_ it is a factor of SideKiq - which is a best effort messaging service and part of the Mastodon platform. If fosstodon.org is overloaded, I may not get the reply. The reason fosstodon.org has gone invite only is that it's reaching capacity for what it is funded to do.

> There's nothing inherently wrong with making a social media account write-only 
for announcements and choosing not to check for notifications.  But if that's
the choice then it's good to inform people.

The LinuxAustralia fosstodon Mastodon account is not _deliberately_ write-only; it's a function of the platform. I agree, it's good that people are aware that not all replies will be seen and are aware of other contact mechanisms.

> But in this case it probably doesn't matter as it's been almost 2 years since 
that account posted anything, it seems to be used to just boost other posts.

This is incorrect. The most recent non-boost posts have been:

https://fosstodon.org/@linuxaustralia/113870943941548405

Congratulating the folks who ran EverythingOpen (January 22nd)

https://fosstodon.org/@linuxaustralia/113859565678133028

Reporting on Joel Addison's presentation to the AGM (January 20th)

https://fosstodon.org/@linuxaustralia/113829551383574306

Publicising the Annual Report (January 15th)


I'm wondering if you're seeing the "pinned" posts at the top of the profile's page? Can you see these recent posts? (If not, that may point to another issue).


> It would be good if the LA council encouraged the use of open social media by 
posting on it.

Linux Australia, as an organisation, *does* post on open social media, as seen above on Mastodon, and we also have an account on BlueSky which uses the open ATProto protocol, although I note BlueSky is venture-funded and will probably be commercialised in the future. The Media and Comms Subcommittee, of which I am the only member, is charged by Council (as a Subcommittee) to post on Linux Australia's channels on Council's behalf. The way this works in practice is that I will regularly post non-contentious items (e.g. here is the LA Annual Report, congrats EO on a great conference), and refer contentious issues for discussion to Council (e.g. "this person is stating $THING on $CHANNEL, here's how I want to respond, is that OK?").

https://bsky.app/profile/linuxaustralia.bsky.social

Posting on social media in a _personal_ capacity is a personal issue for each Council member. Linux Australia, as an organisation, does have accounts on open social media, and regularly posts on them.

Kathy Reid


On 2/2/25 14:18, Russell Coker wrote:
> On Friday, 31 January 2025 21:43:32 AEDT Kathy Reid via linux-aus wrote:
>> That's correct.
>>
>> If an account replied to a post by the LinuxAustralia at fosstodon.org
>> account, from a different instance, and the LA account was *not
>> following the account that was replying* - for argument's sake,
>> example at othermastodon.org - then yes, the LinuxAustralia at fosstodon.org
>> account would _not_ see the reply.
> Why is that?  Is there something broken with the server or is there something
> broken with the client?  Or do the LA people just ignore notifications?
>
> I get notifications of replies, favourites, and people following me from other
> instances and I'm not aware of missing any notifications.  It's the way
> Mastodon is supposed to work.
>
> There's nothing inherently wrong with making a social media account write-only
> for announcements and choosing not to check for notifications.  But if that's
> the choice then it's good to inform people.
>
> But in this case it probably doesn't matter as it's been almost 2 years since
> that account posted anything, it seems to be used to just boost other posts.
>
>> However, we post critical information through multiple channels - such
>> as via this email list that we're corresponding on right now - so I
>> don't see it as a major issue. If someone wishes to engage with Linux
>> Australia there are other channels, like the website contact form,
>> emailing council at linux.org.au etc.
> It would be good if the LA council encouraged the use of open social media by
> posting on it.
>   
>> There are two actions hinted at here - and while I don't want to speak
>> for Linux Australia, I do have a fairly good idea of how much time it
>> takes to host a Mastodon instance, because I have hosted one for over
>> two years. Both of them are time and resource intensive, and I would
>> advise against them.
> The NZOSS is one decent server, there are plenty of others.  No need to create
> yet another one.
>