@benroyce @tinydoctor @sirjofri @Nigel_Lake @paninid

I guess what I wonder is if it gets LARGE, as in 20-50 million users, how does Mastodon not need to be monetized? And when money gets involved, how does it not become like the others?

I know nothing of how anything works.

@RoguePlayer @tinydoctor @sirjofri @Nigel_Lake @paninid

zero argument. and a serious problem

#mastodon is pretty much hobbyist mode. people contribute and donate, but yeah, that can't support growth to huge numbers

number one: fuck #ads. no ads, ever

beyond that, there has to be something

it can't be #capitalist, #corporate

that puts #mastodon in the same vise as #bluesky: the #vulturecapital #venturecapital, once it has that in, can take it over and send it the same way as #twitter

hmmm

@benroyce @RoguePlayer @tinydoctor @sirjofri @Nigel_Lake @paninid I'm tired of people whining about the cost of things like this, when they can afford a fucking Latte every day, they can afford to pay the server 5 bucks a month for operating costs, at the very least. In other words, you get what you pay for.

@csgraves @RoguePlayer @tinydoctor @sirjofri @Nigel_Lake @paninid

it's worthwhile to explore alternative funding methods, because here's the simple truth: people want social media to just work, for free

you can castigate that attitude all you want

but all that means is 99% of people go to centralized plutocrat social media, which we don't want. so we need a better approach than merely "you suck"

and to be clear, i agree with you. but the reality of the situation is not so simple, is my point

@benroyce @RoguePlayer @tinydoctor @sirjofri @Nigel_Lake @paninid and this is a problem. If people just want something to work, and for free, then they'll have to wait a long time for that. The problem with "free" in this context is, and I know this is more preaching to the choir, YOU are the product. Your life, your information, your choices, your family and friends. All for sale. I have made my choice, and I am all but done with META. Just need to get contact for a few peeps and I'm out.

@csgraves @benroyce @RoguePlayer @tinydoctor @sirjofri @Nigel_Lake

Social media is where pamphleteering meets website management.

John Hancock got wealthy smuggling to avoid customs duties to the Crown.

He funneled that money back into underwriting a revolution.

A revolution that relied on pamphleteering and the printing presses of private individuals (see: Ben Franklin).

#DigitalPamphleteering

@paninid @csgraves @RoguePlayer @tinydoctor @sirjofri @Nigel_Lake

and hancock's signature was extraordinary. sitting out there so large and bold and classy

@benroyce @csgraves @RoguePlayer @tinydoctor @sirjofri @Nigel_Lake

so that “the British ministry can read that name without spectacles”

@paninid @benroyce @csgraves @RoguePlayer @tinydoctor @sirjofri @Nigel_Lake

Is it not clear by now that the good guys actually lost the American Revolution?

@sendtherunners @benroyce @csgraves @RoguePlayer @tinydoctor @sirjofri @Nigel_Lake

@paninid @benroyce @csgraves @RoguePlayer @tinydoctor @sirjofri @Nigel_Lake

I often ask my history students here if they know how many people died in the Canadian War of Independence. It's a trick question--we just asked for it at the right time and then negotiated like gentlemen. Apparently none of the founders ever considered that option.

@sendtherunners @benroyce @csgraves @RoguePlayer @tinydoctor @sirjofri @Nigel_Lake

The #American ethos is - and has always been - to #BeUngovernable 🫡

@paninid @benroyce @csgraves @RoguePlayer @tinydoctor @sirjofri @Nigel_Lake

I often ask my history students here if they know how many people died in the Canadian War of Independence. It's a trick question--we just asked for it at the right time and then negotiated like gentlemen. Apparently none of the founders ever considered that option.

@sendtherunners @paninid @csgraves @RoguePlayer @tinydoctor @sirjofri @Nigel_Lake

the usa exists because of the quebec act of 1774

british colonists were incensed at concessions made to french colonists to win their loyalty. the british govt didn't consider the loyalty of someone else

based on that observation, the fate of all of north america was decided in one hour on sept 13 1759:

@benroyce @sendtherunners @paninid @RoguePlayer @tinydoctor @sirjofri @Nigel_Lake would if only the whole drama would have been stopped by the massacre of Columbus and his shock troops, sorry, "explorers."

I want independance from European values. Which means USA/Canada.

Yes, I'm a bit radical that way. It isn't likely to happen, but this continent should not be ruled by European mores at all.

Not even remotely one tiny bit.

@csgraves @benroyce @sendtherunners @RoguePlayer @tinydoctor @sirjofri @Nigel_Lake

The European #Enlightenment learned of #egalitarian values from the indigenous / First Nations people.

Not even the #Renaissance brought that about.