@opalideas @paulbusch @ZebKing
p.s. One thing to add though, the cost of an instance is not as much as people think and not as difficult either. The managed hosting company masto.host has a typical selection of pricing: https://masto.host/pricing
Managed hosting means they do all the techy stuff as well as hosting it. You just run the thing, it's a similar experience to running an online forum.
I'm not saying everyone should do this, I'm just saying a lot more could do this than realise it.
@opalideas @paulbusch @ZebKing
Another approach is to use things like NodeBB ( https://nodebb.org ) which are part of the Fediverse but based around discussion forums. This is a lot closer to Facebook Groups, but it's also fairly new in its Fediverse connections. Best people to ask would be @nodebb and @julian . You can follow and interact with NodeBB accounts from Mastodon etc.
A third approach might be the various Reddit-style Fediverse platforms like https://join.piefed.social etc.
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@opalideas @paulbusch @ZebKing
There are many ways to approach these issues.
One approach is to use groups to allow people to easily reach each other no matter what instance they are on (more about groups at https://fedi.tips/how-to-use-groups-on-the-fediverse/ ).
These kinds of groups are like "super hashtags", they repeat posts that mention them but use a push method to reach other servers that is a lot more effective than hashtags.
However, they are not forums the way Facebook Groups are.
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Mastodon users, you might want to check out the "timed mute" option, it's really useful! It lets you set a period (6 hours to 30 days) when an account is muted. It's handy for taking a break from someone.
To make a timed mute, you'll need to be using the website, web app or some third party apps. Mute as usual but before confirming the mute click "show options" and select a time period.
If you want to still get notifications from them, untick the "hide notifications" box.
If you're helping people sign up on here, that's great! 
However, I'd strongly suggest not signing up on the mastodon.social server. It's way way too large and that's dangerous (here's why https://fedi.tips/its-a-really-bad-idea-to-join-a-big-server).
I know some find choice overwhelming, so if you just want one general long-established very busy server https://mas.to is a better option for example.
There are also lots of other good servers listed at https://fedi.garden and https://joinmastodon.org/servers
Almost all the servers on Mastodon and the wider Fediverse are run by unpaid grassroots volunteers that pay their server's bills out of their own pockets.
They don't sell your data or carry advertising, and they don't get any share of the donations given to the Mastodon etc software developers.
Please consider donating to your server admin, they usually have donation links on your server website's "About" page. You can also ask your admin directly about how to donate.
Okay, some really bad news but also a suggestion for a way forward.
The Guppe groups domain name was sold by their registrar before they could renew it. This means all Guppe groups are broken, and their web addresses point to a spam blog 
However, there is another group provider called FediGroups, you can find out more on their site:
https://about.fedigroups.social/home
FediGroups has features that Guppe never had, including private groups.
(More info about #Guppe situation: https://github.com/immers-space/guppe/issues/118 )
More scam posts are spreading lies! (see attached screenshot below)
To set the record straight:
- You do not need to verify on Mastodon
- No legitimate Mastodon admin will ever demand you verify
- No legitimate Mastodon admin will ever ask for your bank card details
- There are no monetisation features on Mastodon
- There are no extra features for verified accounts on Mastodon
If you see a scam post, click ⋯ on the scam post, then "Report", and select the option to forward the report too.
There is another "verification" scammer on the move, do not click on their link, it is a scam!
Genuine Mastodon servers never demand verification like this.
If you see a scam post like this, click ⋯ on the scam post, then "Report", then report it and make sure you select the option to forward the report to the origin server.
I don't think you need to pay that much for a single user instance on managed hosting unless you have hundreds of thousands of followers.
I'm not sure exactly what Rogers was doing but it's rare you would need that on here, at least not when you're starting out.
Going by mastohost's estimates that kind of price would be the equivalent of 500 active users: https://masto.host/pricing
If you use a managed hosting service, the hosting company will do all the techy stuff for you behind the scenes. Typical prices on managed hosting are 5-10 euros per month for a small instance including all the actual hosting costs too.
Running a private instance (i.e. not open for signups) is very easy because you don't have to moderate anything.
Running a public instance (where strangers can sign up) is a much bigger commitment because you have to moderate content.
In case you missed it, there is now a Fediverse alternative to Strava called Wanderer:
There is a public server list at:
To sign up on a server, click on "Create Account", then "Login", then "Make One".
If you're running your own public Wanderer server you can add it to the list at https://github.com/Flomp/wanderer/discussions/361
Techy people can self-host using instructions at https://wanderer.to/run/installation
Bluesky are openly welcoming, verifying and hosting accounts of prominent far right politicians. Trump's VP Vance is now on Bluesky:
https://bsky.app/profile/jd-vance-1.bsky.social
"We welcome the Vice President to the conversation on Bluesky" (Bluesky in their email to Fox News)
More 
: Bluesky is centralised, run by a for-profit corporation, its CEO has blockchain background, it is partly owned by VCs & Blockchain Capital.
Bluesky are going down exactly the same Nazi Bar path as Twitter.
(via @mastodonmigration)
Ah sorry to hear, that sounds really annoying 
Yeah, can see why someone would want their tag removed if the muting isn't working.
@ahaldorsen @MaryPot @harald@hub.volse.no
Discourse has just added Fediverse support too, so this is another option for groups.
Restrictions on who can follow you do not directly affect the visibility of your posts.
Post visibility is only affected by the visibility settings of your posts. More info on these at https://fedi.tips/who-can-see-my-posts-in-mastodon-how-do-i-send-dms-in-mastodon
The only way restricting followers affects visibility is if you make posts with "followers-only" visibility and also restrict who can follow you, which indirectly affects who can see your followers-only posts.
I'm not sure what Mastodon's in-house groups situation is.
Mute conversation does usually work, but unfortunately most of the apps don't have it as an option, which is why you have to go on the website. I think that's why a lot of people are unware of it.
" where the same one just kept coming up despite me hitting mute."
...aahh okay, that sounds like a bug. If it happens again might be worth reporting?
It generally works, so it's worth doing. If you start getting notifications from a different branch of the thread you can do it again on notifications from that branch.
Are you getting notifications from a thread that you don't care about? Do you want to stop those notifications?
You can do this by using Mastodon's "Mute conversation" feature:
1. Log in through your server’s website or web app
2. Go to a notification you’ve received from the thread you want to mute
3. Click ⋯ on the notification and select "Mute conversation"
No one will know you've done it, and it will only affect notifications from that thread.
I am an unpaid volunteer who runs five websites and five accounts helping people use Mastodon and the wider Fediverse. These cause bills every month which I pay.
If you want to help these sites & accounts keep going, you can buy me a coffee:
(No registration, choose any amount, all currencies work.)
Alternatively, become a patron:
https://liberapay.com/FediThing
All support very greatly appreciated! 
@FediTips, @FediFollows, @FediVideo, @FediGarden & @homegrown