I've been thinking about an emerging issue here on the #Fediverse, and I would like to suggest we solve it collaboratively.
Issue
Civilians in #Gaza are trying to provide food, medical treatment, and basic necessities for their families. They can't see upfront who would be willing to support them here on the #Fediverse. They can't stay silent either, just watching their kids and vulnerable family members suffer.
So they add long lists of recipients to their posts, and maybe also sent direct messages to a long list of people.
Some recipients feel helpless, because they're already donating. Some people get upset because they do not want to receive a stream of direct messages.
Suggestion
Let's use a ""#hashtag" (to be determined):
1) When you post a call for donations, write it without a long list of recipients, so everybody reading feels addressed by it.
Include the "#hashtag", to encourage boosts.
2) When you're willing to support civilians in Gaza who are in need, subscribe to the ""#hashtag".
No need to boost all of the posts you will see. If we are many, each of us boosting a single post a day will spread the message. If you don't think a post is a genuine call for help, just don't boost it. If you see malicious abuse of the hashtag, to harm its efficiency, report the abusers.
3) Whoever doesn't want to see the "#hashtag" can filter it.
Does that sound reasonable?
If you think this is a reasonable approach, please favorite and boost. Optionally reply with a "#hashtag" suggestion that:
- Signals respect for people and institutions in need
- Makes it clear it's about aid and donations for people and humanitarian institutions on the ground (not just generically about Gaza)
- Suggests boosts are also a form of help, if one can't donate (more)
I'll collect all suggestions from the replies on Thursday Aug 13th midnight UTC, and post a vote listing all of them, that will run for another week, to determine the most favorited one.
katzenberger
in reply to katzenberger • • •A few hashtag ideas (there must be better ones, I'm sure):
El Dado Inquieto
in reply to katzenberger • • •I have using some hashtags you may find interesting or useful in posts like this one (you can see more examples looking at my timeline):
mastorol.es/@eldadoinquieto/11…
El Dado Inquieto (@eldadoinquieto@mastorol.es)
El Dado Inquieto (Mastorol)Oliver Knabe
in reply to katzenberger • • •David Culley
in reply to katzenberger • • •@aral What is the difference between this idea (following a hashtag) and following the account @gaza_verified_accounts?
The main difference I see is your third point: Being able to mute a hashtag. The alternative is having to mute every single Palestinian account individually.
My comment should not be understood as criticism of someone whose goal is to help. I hope it's constructive.
katzenberger
in reply to David Culley • • •@davidculley
Of course it's constructive.
So far, #GazaVerified is probably the largest and most systematic attempt to promote legit accounts, and to help create trust on the side of readers and potential supporters (I'm not affiliated with them).
The team is wise enough though to stress that they have no intention to be a gatekeeper, or a monopoly. This is why they have this in bold, on a bright red background right on their homepage:
»It’s important to note that this site is not exhaustive. Just because the Mastodon account of a Palestinian person trying to raise funds on the fediverse is not listed here, it doesn’t mean that the account is not genuine.«
I'm maintaining a list of initiatives on the web here, not all of them are centered on the Fediverse.
Because there are several (luckily), I was thinking about a more generic and simpler way that would be compatible with them all. It's always a good idea to follow @gaza_verified_accounts and it will give you a full stream from many accounts, but not of all people from Gaza that are asking for help, on the Fediverse.
Does that make sense?
@aral @gaza_verified_accounts
RE: tldr.nettime.org/users/katzenb…
katzenberger (@katzenberger@tldr.nettime.org)
katzenberger (tldr.nettime)Jade Alarue
in reply to katzenberger • • •@marion_v @delsaulnier @raphaellakay @shad @AnnaLion @RFancio @Geri @fedipourgaza @DailyGaza @apenkop @MajDen
Guys, désolée de nouveau pour les tags multiples mais vous avez besoin de lire cette publication de
@katzenberger
Totts
in reply to katzenberger • • •a very good idea
#GazaAid
Perhaps?
Warning, though, I write quite under the hashtag Palestine Action but notice this gets 'hijacked'
Xx
Jonathan Lamothe
in reply to katzenberger • •@katzenberger I've noticed that a lot of the #GazaVerified accounts have been unlisted by their servers. Would using a hashtag that others have deliberately subscribed to solve the fact that they are essentially shouting into the void?
I would hope so, but I don't have a solid enough understanding of the underlying ActivityPub protocol to be sure.
katzenberger
in reply to Jonathan Lamothe • • •It's meant to do that, yes.
It's an experiment, or an offer. I do not want this to be presented as "the" way it is done on the Fediverse, but if it works, in can be helpful for many.
I believe they're not shouting into the void. It's understandable that someone fighting for the lives of family members keeps hammering a list of accounts that they believe to be in support of Gaza. Also in direct messages.
Sadly this almost certainly leads to an account being blocked, in the end, because there is always someone reporting it, out of helplessness or frustration. The recipients may be struggling in their lives, too.
Jonathan Lamothe likes this.