I was scratching my head about people who were saying they didn't feel like Coso was a safe space for BIPOC -- and yeah, most people on Coso are probably white -- but then those same people continue to participate on Twitter. Like WTAF? Twitter is full of literally dangerous people who, if they don't like what you post, will stalk you and your contacts, doxx you on some troll forum, and have a hundred other trolls harass you until you have to move out of your house.
1/3
But then it occurred to me, the lack of an algorithm here works both ways. When white people go on Twitter, Twitter wants our engagement. They put posts by racist and misogynist strangers on our timelines unbidden, because many white people will feel it a responsibility to feed the trolls by speaking out against that stuff.
2/3
But if Black Americans come on Twitter, the platform knows that if they show them that shit, they're not going to stay. So they're going to be fed posts by strangers who are predominantly Black. They will find a space where being Black is more the norm. Their experience on Twitter is much different from white users'. In that context, coming to Coso and just being lost in the sauce with no suggestion of who to follow would feel unwelcoming.
3/3
@EileenKCarpenter I don't think it's good for anyone to seek an echo chamber. That's why, as long as no one is attacking anyone personally, which does not include simply sharing an opinion that doesn't agree with mine, yours, others, I don't block them.
To be clear, an "All X are Z" statements can be taken as personal attacks against X folks if it's negative. But even "Most X are Z" statements are not a personal attack. And really, I focus on the "You are Z" as personal attacks.
Just my 2 c
@TrueBloodNet
I would like to think the algorithm is reacting to which users are following hip hop artists instead of country singers, but when I hear that they have 500 data points on every American, I suspect they know as soon as they see your IP address and email address.
@EileenKCarpenter Maybe? but I don't follow any singers. Also, Facebook thinks I'm Black (I'm not) and Male (also false) so it's in no shape or form perfect. Plus liking hip hop is more a age thing probably.