@FediTips thanks for your posts. I've referred your material to new users multiple times. Thanks again.

@FediTips I appreciate so much all the work you put in to make people feel welcome here and help them find their way. Thank you.

p.p.s. Thank you so much for all the supportive replies! 🙏 It is very motivating if these guides are helping you 😊

Also, thank you to people who disagree with what I write but do so without personal remarks or accusations. Very grateful for you taking the time to make suggestions or corrections or alternative viewpoints.

@FediTips
I just want you to know that I really appreciate what you do here. You've been a big help to me, and judging by how often I see your posts boosted, I am not the only one who feels that way!♥️

@FediTips you are not wrong. Unfortunately there are ignorant people even in the #Fediverse who it seems are quicker to display their ignorance by attacking you rather than expanding their horizons and learning new things.

@FediTips

Technically, showing exactly the posts and boosts of those you've followed, in chronological order, with no filtering, adjustments, or heuristics *is an algorithm.*

Even when it is *not* the kind of "algorithm" used and criticized by the mainstream sites we criticize.

Our words are often ambiguous. We often need to clarify what *we mean* by them.

…

And hey; I appreciate your good work!

I think many do. 💕

@FediTips personally, I did not see your use of terms as being problematic. I don't know what they're on about.

@FediTips a cooking recipe is an algorithm.
But people are freaking weird about that word
You do good work, dude.
I would say “unleash your troll army!” but that’s just a flashback to my years ago Twitter days

@FediTips I just wanna say: your tips are great. (probably not perfect) Thanks!

@FediTips People accusing you of misinformation apparently cannot read! You did explain how you are using the word algorithm:

«I thought that, at a technical level, “algorithm” can mean any set of computing instructions? So surely all computers and websites use algorithms?

That’s not what most people mean by the word “algorithm”. To most people, especially non-technical people, algorithm means a weird hidden thing that messes up their timeline, often based on what they have previously interacted with.

If algorithm meant any kind of computing instruction, then it would be a useless word when trying to discuss the problems of manipulative black box code.»

@FediTips

There is also the possibility of actually hostile participants running down fedi.

@FediTips Wow - how horrible! I really appreciate everything you do.

@FediTips I appreciate all of your hard work. I’m sorry a few folks are giving you such a hard time.

@FediTips
1) Looked to me like you explained yourself fully.

2) I was just thinking this morning about how wonderful you are for helping people.

3) I'm really tired of obnoxious people driving good people away. I'm sorry you have to deal with it.

4) I probably should have sent you thanks earlier. If I had any money, I'd donate to help you out. You are doing an essential work, and you are appreciated.

@FediTips
WTF?
Block 'em.

@FediTips
💕

@FediTips Well, "There is no algorithm on Mastodon" *is* wrong.

To a techie an "algorithm" is "a procedure which terminates".

In this case we're presumably talking about the algorithm which decides which posts a user sees. Which *does* exist, because the user sees post! - and is described in various places (starting with "you see posts from people you follow" and getting more complicated than that).

@FediTips
Sounds like they need to rolltheirown

@FediTips
Thank you for teaching us something about algorithms and pedants today!

@FediTips
As others already said: keep up the great work! Ignore the nitpickers and haters.

@FediTips Ugh, sorry you’re dealing with that. If I could give one gift to the FOSS & Fediverse world it would be “better communication and social skills”. Seems to be a consistent weak point 😁

@FediTips You do great work, don't worry about the queefs.

@FediTips

When I say #NoAlgorithmsNoMasters, I share your definition of algorithm and I appreciate your work.

@FediTips You do fabulous work. I salute you!

@FediTips The way you used the word was fine. Most people - a vast majority - don't consider simple chronological display to be an "algorithm" in any sense of the word. (Frankly, it ISN'T an algorithm, but convince them of that. Sigh.)

You're doing great work and at least I appreciate you for it.

@FediTips Hang in there. I think you do a great job of helping out, thank you for doing it!

@FediTips

Just want to say that I really appreciate the work you're doing and your guides are great and really helped me to navigate mastodon a bit more confidently . thank you ❤️

@FediTips Accusing someone of causing harm for using the non-technical definition of algorithm is kind of darkly funny in a way.

Like it's clear that they understand that words can have expanded and non-literal definitions, but seemingly only for words they want to use to make a fiddly argument about terminology sounds more dire.

Tbh, between the word "algorithm" and the word "harm", it is probably more important to insist on an accurate definition of the word "harm".

@FediTips this thread is providing good blocklist fodder. Lotta pendants showing their arses today.

@FediTips chill buddy please. Just don´t let it get to you.
I´m critizising a lot about this platform but never personal. There is potential lost here, that´s true imho.
Don´t let that get on a personal level, please

@FediTips Ugh, some people just need to chill. I think you're doing fine.

@FediTips asks "Can we please chill out and be a bit more friendly?"

I highly recommend that.

Always.

But also particularly when somebody is trying to help without compensation, just for the sake of the community.

@FediTips You are doing an excellent job. Don't let them get to you.

@FediTips I am sending more kofi money

@FediTips that sounds exactly like mastodon

@FediTips there is no pleasing those both humorless and in terminal thrall of Dunning Kruger. Just block, move on.

@gotofritz

If you read the guide I linked to, it addresses exactly this discussion of definitions.

What you say is not what most people mean by "algorithm". I'm using the word in its common meaning of an opaque mechanism that messes around with your timeline.

@klu9 @FediTips
I can understand not wanting to see posts in languages you don't know, although as a language nerd myself, I actually love the diversity and find myself thinking things like "I know some German, a little Dutch, and some Old English, I bet I can tease out the general meaning of this news headline in Swedish. Let me give it a shot!"

@klu9

Are you sure you've selected the option to filter languages, rather than just setting your own interface language? (More info at https://fedi.tips/setting-your-language-preferences-on-mastodon-and-filtering-out-posts-in-other-languages )

The language filter should help at least somewhat, but by definition you won't notice the posts it is successfully hiding.

There is also an automatic language detector, and it tells people when they've got the wrong post language setting, but it's not reliable for short posts so that's why it doesn't override the person's setting.