Mastodon Renaming “Toots” to “Posts” • Hacker News Board

Re: Mastodon Renaming “Toots” to “Posts”

#91

Post by yborg » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 3:04 AM UTC

It's amusing that the issue is the use of "toot" to refer to a post, which in English is used in the standard idiom of "toot your own horn", directly relevant to the platform's purpose as a social medium.

Meanwhile, the real elephant in the room, is the completely non-sequitur name for the platform - 'Mastodon', best known as an Ice Age giant fauna and also the name of an American heavy metal band that is still one of the top hits on Google for that name.

Whatever they call posts on the platform, the fact is that its usage will remain identically at a few percent of Twitter's.

Re: Mastodon Renaming “Toots” to “Posts”

#92

Post by zzo38computer » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 4:28 AM UTC

gargron wrote: post #89

zzo38computer wrote: post #80

This change would be better probably, although, aren't the messages called "notes" in the W3C terminology? Of course, the verb is "post", and I think the noun should be "notes" to be consistent with the W3C terminology probably (which can reduce confusion, I hope).

Yes, the objects are notes, but the verb is create. That being said, I don't see why the underlying terminology which is essentially more like a programming language keyword has to seep through to the UI.

O, you are right; the verb is "create"; I forgot.

Re: Mastodon Renaming “Toots” to “Posts”

#93

Post by selfhoster11 » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 10:36 AM UTC

TulliusCicero wrote: post #31

dsabanin wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just googled Mastodon, and I think you're right. Now I'm going to go tweet about it.

Even when 'google' as a verb was brand new, I don't remember it sounding awkward.

The difference is that "google" and "tweet" are something the general public is used to, whereas "toot" is not.

Re: Mastodon Renaming “Toots” to “Posts”

#94

Post by thiht » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 11:19 AM UTC

bigyikes wrote: post #22

I know little about Mastodon, but it seems like somebody went out of their way to make the cringiest sounding product possible. “Hey man, I just tooted on mastodon!” It really sounds like parody. I hope I am just missing the point. You might say this is a superficial criticism, but I think naming is important when it comes to social appeal. At least, it becomes important when the naming has gone so horribly wrong. If…

DuckDuckGo is a big one in the stupid naming area. They own duck.com, they suggest using "Duck It" (which kinda works IMO) and they still choose to use the ridiculous "duckduckgo" branding. It's stupid but it's honestly the main reason I'm not using it. That and their crappy duck logo.

I wish they would be wise and rebrand too.

Re: Mastodon Renaming “Toots” to “Posts”

#95

Post by thiht » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 11:23 AM UTC

imgabe wrote: post #3

As someone who doesn’t use Mastadon, I immediately went to the toots -> farts connection. I get that a Mastadon is an elephant, elephants trumpet or “toot”, so, toot is a post. A lot of people are going to think of farts though.

FYI it's MastOdon, not MastAdon. This mistake occurs a lot. Maybe it's another issue with the naming by the way.

Re: Mastodon Renaming “Toots” to “Posts”

#96

Post by npteljes » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 11:26 AM UTC

thiht wrote: post #94

bigyikes wrote: post #22

I know little about Mastodon, but it seems like somebody went out of their way to make the cringiest sounding product possible. “Hey man, I just tooted on mastodon!” It really sounds like parody. I hope I am just missing the point. You might say this is a superficial criticism, but I think naming is important when it comes to social appeal. At least, it becomes important when the naming has gone so horribly wrong. If…

DuckDuckGo is a big one in the stupid naming area. They own duck.com, they suggest using "Duck It" (which kinda works IMO) and they still choose to use the ridiculous "duckduckgo" branding. It's stupid but it's honestly the main reason I'm not using it. That and their crappy duck logo. I wish they would be wise and rebrand too.

It's not like Google or Twitter ("tweeting" something) is any more serious. They just established themselves in the public consciousness earlier.

Re: Mastodon Renaming “Toots” to “Posts”

#97

Post by thiht » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 11:27 AM UTC

npteljes wrote: post #96

thiht wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

DuckDuckGo is a big one in the stupid naming area. They own duck.com, they suggest using "Duck It" (which kinda works IMO) and they still choose to use the ridiculous "duckduckgo" branding. It's stupid but it's honestly the main reason I'm not using it. That and their crappy duck logo. I wish they would be wise and rebrand too.

It's not like Google or Twitter ("tweeting" something) is any more serious. They just established themselves in the public consciousness earlier.

They sound better. "DuckDuckGo" sucks. It's even annoying to write.

Re: Mastodon Renaming “Toots” to “Posts”

#98

Post by fsflover » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 11:27 AM UTC

bigyikes wrote: post #22

I know little about Mastodon, but it seems like somebody went out of their way to make the cringiest sounding product possible. “Hey man, I just tooted on mastodon!” It really sounds like parody. I hope I am just missing the point. You might say this is a superficial criticism, but I think naming is important when it comes to social appeal. At least, it becomes important when the naming has gone so horribly wrong. If…

Yeah, Apple is definitely the best company name ever invented. /s

Re: Mastodon Renaming “Toots” to “Posts”

#99

Post by npteljes » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 11:28 AM UTC

munk-a wrote: post #59

dsabanin wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just googled Mastodon, and I think you're right. Now I'm going to go tweet about it.

I actually just finished twatting about it. Talk about naming things in a cringey - these folks should think through all the verb tenses first.

The past form would be tweeted, no?

Re: Mastodon Renaming “Toots” to “Posts”

#100

Post by Ntrails » Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 11:45 AM UTC

octopoc wrote: post #52

Blikkentrekker wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't find “to toot” sound any stranger than “to tweet”.

"toot" means "fart" where I'm from. Imagine a social network where they referred to posts by users as "farts". "Your fart was shared by 230 of your followers." "This fart is NSFW" "This fart has been promoted" "Pin this fart to the top of your feed" It does seem like a poor choice of words. Tweeting on the other hand didn't have a negative connotation until Twitter became what it is today and gave it a negative conno…

There is a concept, on forums, of shitposting.

There are common expressions such as "chatting shit" for unverified speculation or "shooting the shit" to mean talking about nothing and everything.

I suspect most of the content on Mastodon, like twitter, is shit. The choice of words seems appropriate.