Introducing Follow Packs

Mastodon Migration

@ngmi Certainly it could, and admittedly this is kind of fiddly, but it is something we can do now with the tools available. Hopefully Mastodon will introduce a feature that is more tightly integrated in the future.

Spent some time experimenting with it yesterday and was pretty happy with how it worked. Particularly being able to follow the accounts directly into lists. Using lists really improves the Mastodon experience.

𝕊𝕥𝕖𝕧𝕖 𝕄𝕒𝕣𝕢𝕦𝕚𝕤

@mastodonmigration You should probably make them read only to save accidental mods

Mastodon Migration

@StevePLMarquis

They are read-only are they not? All you can do is download the .csv . Missing something?

SnowshadowII :maple:

@mastodonmigration
well that was easy. Thank you.

Antonia Gardner

@mastodonmigration can you do this for us in the UK?

Mastodon Migration

@antonia Sure. If you have a topic, a list of accounts, and are willing to 'sponsor' the Follow Pack we can make one and add it to the Follow Pack Directory (https://mastodon.online/@mastodonmigration/113498761527464291) simply reply here and we'll get it done.

Edit: Currently limiting packs to 35 accounts for ease of implementation and sharing.

W6KME

@mastodonmigration Follow Packs are for the sort of people who need bandwagons, not interaction. Not what Mastodon is about.

Mastodon Migration

@W6KME

Understand your perspective, but kind of disagree. It can certainly head in that direction, but when people start out here they can feel lost and desire to find accounts that post on subjects they are interested in. This can help. Similarly, people interested in a topic might want to find accounts the've missed and organize their interface via lists.

Really get your concern, but hopefully we can strike a balance of aiding engagement without turn the place into a click bate soapbox.

W6KME

@mastodonmigration I get you, I just don't think Masto needs to be sold as "yeah, we do that too". It's a wonderful place without forced imitation. We aren't a mee-too place.

The wort of people flocking to Bluesky have already avoided Mastodon for years-they aren't after actual interaction with people they know. They're finally leaving an evil corporate site for one that is no different, and I think they know this. In fact, it's the main attraction.

Mastodon Migration

@W6KME

Further an important aspect and hope it goes this way is not to have any 'blessed' Follow Packs, but for people to begin to make their own based on recommendations they want to share with their communities.

I agree we need to be intentional about fostering engagement, not stardom.

Mastodon Migration

@W6KME

Actually, this is not really a me-too thing. This account implemented "Starter Packs" almost exactly one year ago (https://mastodon.online/@mastodonmigra[email protected]/111416613675647348).

Again with the idea of helping people get started, and making people aware of others in their area of interest.

In general, I agree that we should not blindly copy what others do, but we also should not be unwilling to take good ideas and respond to needs in ways that benefit the community.

Jorge Candeias

@W6KME

Well, for what is worth, I know quite a few people who came to Mastodon with me from twitter, had horrible first experiences with some gatekeepers we've got aplenty around here, went back to twitter as a result and are now on bluesky.

They've always been into actual interaction with people they know. And into getting to know new people. They could have stayed around, if only we had less of homeowners association types and more of chill types.

@mastodonmigration

Mastodon Migration

@jorgecandeias @W6KME

Kind of think that is changing. There is a lot of push back on reply guys and HOA mentality. That said, one of the things that keeps Mastodon less attractive to rage merchants is reasonable community standards of discourse and decorum. It's a balance.

𝕊𝕥𝕖𝕧𝕖 𝕄𝕒𝕣𝕢𝕦𝕚𝕤

@mastodonmigration

I hope so, maybe I modified a copy !

Mastodon Migration

@StevePLMarquis

If you downloaded it and modified it, that is what you did. Which actually is fine. You can make your mods and upload it as a way of customizing your list. But, it won't be shared to the cloud.

Greybeaver

@W6KME @mastodonmigration
Dunno, I see them as a type of playlist. They are a collaborative collection of voices speaking to a theme or subject. They may become unwieldy, get 'em while they're young.