Post APc97eP21SjaqszObo by john@liberdon.com
(DIR) More posts by john@liberdon.com
(DIR) Post #APbp4a2Do8qLLxZw3c by mmasnick@mastodon.social
2022-11-14T22:38:45Z
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So... I know, I know the common wisdom says "the algorithm" is bad. But, quite frequently "the algorithm" is pretty good in recommending stuff I want to see that I would otherwise miss.Is anyone working on a good algorithm for Mastodon?
(DIR) Post #APbzpKpT9uYLLUXxyK by LouisIngenthron@qoto.org
2022-11-14T22:42:15Z
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@mmasnick I think that's essentially solved by lists of hashtag follows. It allows you to create your own interest algorithms.Then again, I always used Latest Tweets instead of the Home algorithm, so I'm generally fine with what Mastodon offers.
(DIR) Post #APbzpLDDjbYGX9evzc by mmasnick@mastodon.social
2022-11-14T22:44:26Z
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@LouisIngenthron i get that, but that doesn't work as well at scale, if I'm following a lot of people.
(DIR) Post #APbzpLeA7R6PsiGRzE by sean_ae@post.lurk.org
2022-11-14T22:46:41Z
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@mmasnick @LouisIngenthron you could always follow less people
(DIR) Post #APbzpMJHeXznwFVI5A by mmasnick@mastodon.social
2022-11-14T22:47:06Z
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@sean_ae @LouisIngenthron then i miss a lot of interesting stuff a different way...
(DIR) Post #APbzpMka13pXIuH5d2 by john@liberdon.com
2022-11-15T01:02:21Z
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@mmasnick @sean_ae @LouisIngenthron I follow a gagillion people and limit the noise with a large set of filters (word mutes on misskey). It's not perfect, but it works OK enough for me for now.I wouldn't mind trying out a recommendation system that was a bit smarter. But no, I'm not really working on it.
(DIR) Post #APbzzF61KScWSd0r0y by prannon@the.others.social
2022-11-14T22:42:51Z
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@mmasnick I would think a few things:1) It'd be difficult to implement any sort of common "algorithm" across all of the various Mastodon servers in the federation.2) Other features cover the "I don't wanna miss stuff" ground already, which require a bit more intent to the search. Hashtags apparently are searchable and the main way one is supposed to discover new things. I also keep an eye on the federated timeline as well.
(DIR) Post #APbzzFzfzX8jFF3IlU by john@liberdon.com
2022-11-15T01:04:10Z
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@prannon @mmasnick Why would it have to be common? It only needs to know your history and the available toots, it doesn't need cooperation from other instances.
(DIR) Post #APbzzGBjGimTqcgvYG by prannon@the.others.social
2022-11-14T22:43:34Z
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@mmasnick 3) And then you hit the nail on the head with the whole "common wisdom" thing. I'm not sure any sort of algorithmic development would be well received by the public here. X3
(DIR) Post #APc09kkGVscpVxqgcq by tchambers@indieweb.social
2022-11-14T22:46:02Z
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@mmasnick I somewhat hope not. Or if it is, it is an open-source algorithm or a "choose your own algorithm" that is optional and not the default. But not sure.But I think I'd rather see "filters", especially for the Federated Feed. Filter by language, by the posts with the most momentum of sharing, by top hashtags, etc.
(DIR) Post #APc09l9myz2en7n4PQ by mmasnick@mastodon.social
2022-11-14T22:46:33Z
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@tchambers yeah, obviously i'd want a choose your own setup...
(DIR) Post #APc09ldZCGrSHTiqp6 by john@liberdon.com
2022-11-15T01:06:03Z
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@mmasnick @tchambers It could even live in your client. Though I believe the client-server side of the API never finished standardizing, right?
(DIR) Post #APc5o1tMgGlW3486Ns by ratwerks@sfba.social
2022-11-14T23:02:45Z
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@mmasnick The thing with surveillance tools made for good is that they can be used for evil.
(DIR) Post #APc5o2XmG15k4P2NNI by john@liberdon.com
2022-11-15T02:09:22Z
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@ratwerks Why would a curation algorithm be a surveillance tool? You'd have access to the same data either way.
(DIR) Post #APc97dz9Zg2BYcsjGy by kwun@mstdn.social
2022-11-15T01:04:51Z
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@mmasnick before someone goes and does that, maybe we should brainstorm metrics for a successful algorithm, here in an ad-free contexton the flip side, are there metrics for algorithmic toxicity, so that developers can try to minimize that?
(DIR) Post #APc97eP21SjaqszObo by john@liberdon.com
2022-11-15T02:46:31Z
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@kwun @mmasnick Makes the users' experience more enjoyable and valuable than it would otherwise be.
(DIR) Post #APjyUWMCYdE0KP31Ki by melmc@freeatlantis.com
2022-11-18T21:25:07Z
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@mmasnick If they are it better be optional. We are about freedom here.