I Joined Mastodon and All It Took Was My Sanity and Self-Esteem

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8 points·jasonhansel··8 comments

I get that it's amusing to make fun of this person for failing to understand what Mastodon does, but I think that kind of misses the point.

If you like Mastodon and want it to succeed, you should understand that if something like this happens, it's fundamentally a UX failure, not a user one.

That's essentially why I posted this; it shows what happens when (some) people outside the HN crowd try to join the fediverse.

I’ve heard more than a few complaints about the apps. For myself I’ve only used the web interface, and it’s been fine.

I'm not sure how joinmastodon.org can improve its UX for sign-up. It seems as simple as it can be right now, without just piling everyone onto mastodon.social. Any ideas?

Perhaps a "pick what topics you like, and here's a couple recommended, open servers" thing? Maybe that picker can even lead directly into the server's sign-up form.

If my mom can’t use it without explanation it’s not gunna replace Twitter.

> I’m a tech reporter, I generally understand how to use things on a computer.

> Wrong.

> First, I downloaded the Mastodon app from the Apple App Store. I have since learned (maybe?) there’s more than one app, or something?

Maybe "tech reporter" and similar jobs should be regulated and you need to get a license demonstrating a fundamental understanding beyond "my mac usually turns on when I press the button".

If the sign up process filters out these kinds of people, then that's a feature.

https://archive.ph/bCuuE

"10 worst things about mastodon. You won't believe number 3!"

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