Robert W. Gehl
@rwg.aoir.social.ap.brid.gy
Ontario Research Chair of Digital Governance for Social Justice, York University.
My latest book, "Move Slowly and Build Bridges: Mastodon, the Fediverse, and the Struggle […]
🌉 bridged from ⁂ https://aoir.social/@rwg, follow @ap.brid.gy to interact
My latest book, "Move Slowly and Build Bridges: Mastodon, the Fediverse, and the Struggle […]
🌉 bridged from ⁂ https://aoir.social/@rwg, follow @ap.brid.gy to interact
Reposted by Robert W. Gehl
Rest in Power #stevecropper I'm so glad to have lived during the time of your music
https://apnews.com/article/steve-cropper-obituary-57fff73cf820438e89fe894cdd3a5995
https://apnews.com/article/steve-cropper-obituary-57fff73cf820438e89fe894cdd3a5995
Steve Cropper, guitarist and member of Stax Records' Booker T and the M.G.'s, has died at age 84
Steve Cropper, who co-wrote classic songs, including “(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay” and “In the Midnight Hour,” during his years playing guitar at the legendary Stax Records in Memphis, has died.
apnews.com
December 4, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Rest in Power #stevecropper I'm so glad to have lived during the time of your music
https://apnews.com/article/steve-cropper-obituary-57fff73cf820438e89fe894cdd3a5995
https://apnews.com/article/steve-cropper-obituary-57fff73cf820438e89fe894cdd3a5995
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
At the heart of this is a clash between Rochko and many Mastodon contributors. This has been framed as a tension between open networking – which would build up the nascent Mastodon federated network, a goal of Rochko’s – […]
At the heart of this is a clash between Rochko and many Mastodon contributors. This has been framed as a tension between open networking – which would build up the nascent Mastodon federated network, a goal of Rochko’s – […]
Original post on aoir.social
aoir.social
December 4, 2025 at 2:00 PM
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
At the heart of this is a clash between Rochko and many Mastodon contributors. This has been framed as a tension between open networking – which would build up the nascent Mastodon federated network, a goal of Rochko’s – […]
At the heart of this is a clash between Rochko and many Mastodon contributors. This has been framed as a tension between open networking – which would build up the nascent Mastodon federated network, a goal of Rochko’s – […]
I'm exhausted. AMA
December 3, 2025 at 8:03 PM
I'm exhausted. AMA
Reposted by Robert W. Gehl
🚨 Unconfirmed reports that ICE is on the American University campus, near Nebraska Hall. Please take caution and warn fellow students and colleagues.
December 3, 2025 at 4:35 PM
🚨 Unconfirmed reports that ICE is on the American University campus, near Nebraska Hall. Please take caution and warn fellow students and colleagues.
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
In contrast to the boutique approaches preferred among the three SocialWG camps, corporate social media at least have one common goal in mind: more users, which leads to more personal data to gather and more attention to […]
In contrast to the boutique approaches preferred among the three SocialWG camps, corporate social media at least have one common goal in mind: more users, which leads to more personal data to gather and more attention to […]
Original post on aoir.social
aoir.social
December 3, 2025 at 2:01 PM
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
In contrast to the boutique approaches preferred among the three SocialWG camps, corporate social media at least have one common goal in mind: more users, which leads to more personal data to gather and more attention to […]
In contrast to the boutique approaches preferred among the three SocialWG camps, corporate social media at least have one common goal in mind: more users, which leads to more personal data to gather and more attention to […]
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
In keeping with the name “Playvicious,” Marcia brought a great deal of creative energy to the instance. They started hashtags, like #finefemmefriday to highlight self-identified women, #fridayfeelsradio to share music for […]
In keeping with the name “Playvicious,” Marcia brought a great deal of creative energy to the instance. They started hashtags, like #finefemmefriday to highlight self-identified women, #fridayfeelsradio to share music for […]
Original post on aoir.social
aoir.social
December 2, 2025 at 2:01 PM
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
In keeping with the name “Playvicious,” Marcia brought a great deal of creative energy to the instance. They started hashtags, like #finefemmefriday to highlight self-identified women, #fridayfeelsradio to share music for […]
In keeping with the name “Playvicious,” Marcia brought a great deal of creative energy to the instance. They started hashtags, like #finefemmefriday to highlight self-identified women, #fridayfeelsradio to share music for […]
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
First, it is false to argue that the #fedipact members are against openness. As I have argued across this bok, the covenantal fediverse is open to people who want to become members. They just have to do a few things: see […]
First, it is false to argue that the #fedipact members are against openness. As I have argued across this bok, the covenantal fediverse is open to people who want to become members. They just have to do a few things: see […]
Original post on aoir.social
aoir.social
December 1, 2025 at 2:01 PM
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
First, it is false to argue that the #fedipact members are against openness. As I have argued across this bok, the covenantal fediverse is open to people who want to become members. They just have to do a few things: see […]
First, it is false to argue that the #fedipact members are against openness. As I have argued across this bok, the covenantal fediverse is open to people who want to become members. They just have to do a few things: see […]
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
Instead of seeing it as a marginal activity, Fisher and Tronto see caring as essential to human society. “Caring crosscuts the antitheses between public and private, rights and duties, love and labor,” they write. Care is […]
Instead of seeing it as a marginal activity, Fisher and Tronto see caring as essential to human society. “Caring crosscuts the antitheses between public and private, rights and duties, love and labor,” they write. Care is […]
Original post on aoir.social
aoir.social
November 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
Instead of seeing it as a marginal activity, Fisher and Tronto see caring as essential to human society. “Caring crosscuts the antitheses between public and private, rights and duties, love and labor,” they write. Care is […]
Instead of seeing it as a marginal activity, Fisher and Tronto see caring as essential to human society. “Caring crosscuts the antitheses between public and private, rights and duties, love and labor,” they write. Care is […]
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
Ro heard all this....
https://moveslowlybuildbridges.com
#moveslowlyandbuildbridges #bot
Ro heard all this....
https://moveslowlybuildbridges.com
#moveslowlyandbuildbridges #bot
Move Slowly and Build Bridges, by Robert W. Gehl
moveslowlybuildbridges.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:00 PM
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
Ro heard all this....
https://moveslowlybuildbridges.com
#moveslowlyandbuildbridges #bot
Ro heard all this....
https://moveslowlybuildbridges.com
#moveslowlyandbuildbridges #bot
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
And frankly, that is their right. There is no rule that says a FOSS social media project must specify ethical behavioral practices. In the world of Free Software, “Freedom 0” – the freedom to use software for whatever […]
And frankly, that is their right. There is no rule that says a FOSS social media project must specify ethical behavioral practices. In the world of Free Software, “Freedom 0” – the freedom to use software for whatever […]
Original post on aoir.social
aoir.social
November 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
And frankly, that is their right. There is no rule that says a FOSS social media project must specify ethical behavioral practices. In the world of Free Software, “Freedom 0” – the freedom to use software for whatever […]
And frankly, that is their right. There is no rule that says a FOSS social media project must specify ethical behavioral practices. In the world of Free Software, “Freedom 0” – the freedom to use software for whatever […]
"You merely make content," he said to me. "I'm the one who builds the container, hardens it, secures it from pilferers."
November 27, 2025 at 6:59 PM
"You merely make content," he said to me. "I'm the one who builds the container, hardens it, secures it from pilferers."
Reposted by Robert W. Gehl
Details of the MOU as reported by CBC. Hot Take:
It's a sh_t show of oil soaked hopeium and climate defeatism.
- Shovels in Ground by 2029 *(may this be forever extended)
- Tanker Ban will be lifted if the project is approved by MPO *(Coastal First Nations setting rhetorical fire to MPO in […]
It's a sh_t show of oil soaked hopeium and climate defeatism.
- Shovels in Ground by 2029 *(may this be forever extended)
- Tanker Ban will be lifted if the project is approved by MPO *(Coastal First Nations setting rhetorical fire to MPO in […]
Original post on mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
mstdn.chrisalemany.ca
November 27, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Details of the MOU as reported by CBC. Hot Take:
It's a sh_t show of oil soaked hopeium and climate defeatism.
- Shovels in Ground by 2029 *(may this be forever extended)
- Tanker Ban will be lifted if the project is approved by MPO *(Coastal First Nations setting rhetorical fire to MPO in […]
It's a sh_t show of oil soaked hopeium and climate defeatism.
- Shovels in Ground by 2029 *(may this be forever extended)
- Tanker Ban will be lifted if the project is approved by MPO *(Coastal First Nations setting rhetorical fire to MPO in […]
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
Critique of corporate social media is now a major concern of fields such as media studies and software studies. However, unlike many of my peers, I argue for something more than mere critique […]
Critique of corporate social media is now a major concern of fields such as media studies and software studies. However, unlike many of my peers, I argue for something more than mere critique […]
Original post on aoir.social
aoir.social
November 27, 2025 at 2:01 PM
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
Critique of corporate social media is now a major concern of fields such as media studies and software studies. However, unlike many of my peers, I argue for something more than mere critique […]
Critique of corporate social media is now a major concern of fields such as media studies and software studies. However, unlike many of my peers, I argue for something more than mere critique […]
[sarcastic academic question]
In qualitative methods, are there ever any completely unstructured interviews? Every one I've read about is semi-structured. Asking for a friend...
#academicchatter
In qualitative methods, are there ever any completely unstructured interviews? Every one I've read about is semi-structured. Asking for a friend...
#academicchatter
November 26, 2025 at 2:46 PM
[sarcastic academic question]
In qualitative methods, are there ever any completely unstructured interviews? Every one I've read about is semi-structured. Asking for a friend...
#academicchatter
In qualitative methods, are there ever any completely unstructured interviews? Every one I've read about is semi-structured. Asking for a friend...
#academicchatter
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
Rochko’s vision had attracted many people. But his decisions have also rankled people. Even in the heady early years of Mastodon, Rochko’s central role as final arbiter of features grated against many Mastodon contributors […]
Rochko’s vision had attracted many people. But his decisions have also rankled people. Even in the heady early years of Mastodon, Rochko’s central role as final arbiter of features grated against many Mastodon contributors […]
Original post on aoir.social
aoir.social
November 26, 2025 at 2:00 PM
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
Rochko’s vision had attracted many people. But his decisions have also rankled people. Even in the heady early years of Mastodon, Rochko’s central role as final arbiter of features grated against many Mastodon contributors […]
Rochko’s vision had attracted many people. But his decisions have also rankled people. Even in the heady early years of Mastodon, Rochko’s central role as final arbiter of features grated against many Mastodon contributors […]
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
Overall, ActivityPub is an impressive work, worthy of inclusion alongside other W3C standards that we use every day on the web, such as HTML (the language of websites and many mobile apps) and CSS (a design language). But […]
Overall, ActivityPub is an impressive work, worthy of inclusion alongside other W3C standards that we use every day on the web, such as HTML (the language of websites and many mobile apps) and CSS (a design language). But […]
Original post on aoir.social
aoir.social
November 25, 2025 at 2:01 PM
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
Overall, ActivityPub is an impressive work, worthy of inclusion alongside other W3C standards that we use every day on the web, such as HTML (the language of websites and many mobile apps) and CSS (a design language). But […]
Overall, ActivityPub is an impressive work, worthy of inclusion alongside other W3C standards that we use every day on the web, such as HTML (the language of websites and many mobile apps) and CSS (a design language). But […]
the internet sucks
I use a VPN because ISPs can now monitor what we do and sell the resulting data. Plus I've had ISPs kill media streams because they can.
But because I use a VPN, email providers, work systems, banks all act like I'm a cybercriminal. I'm lucky if I only have to deal with a […]
I use a VPN because ISPs can now monitor what we do and sell the resulting data. Plus I've had ISPs kill media streams because they can.
But because I use a VPN, email providers, work systems, banks all act like I'm a cybercriminal. I'm lucky if I only have to deal with a […]
Original post on aoir.social
aoir.social
November 24, 2025 at 3:54 PM
the internet sucks
I use a VPN because ISPs can now monitor what we do and sell the resulting data. Plus I've had ISPs kill media streams because they can.
But because I use a VPN, email providers, work systems, banks all act like I'm a cybercriminal. I'm lucky if I only have to deal with a […]
I use a VPN because ISPs can now monitor what we do and sell the resulting data. Plus I've had ISPs kill media streams because they can.
But because I use a VPN, email providers, work systems, banks all act like I'm a cybercriminal. I'm lucky if I only have to deal with a […]
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
While vanta boosts mutual aid posts of others, she also asks for help, as well. Recently, she posted to the fediverse, asking for help in finding a job in Seattle, expressing their vulnerability as someone who is […]
While vanta boosts mutual aid posts of others, she also asks for help, as well. Recently, she posted to the fediverse, asking for help in finding a job in Seattle, expressing their vulnerability as someone who is […]
Original post on aoir.social
aoir.social
November 24, 2025 at 2:00 PM
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
While vanta boosts mutual aid posts of others, she also asks for help, as well. Recently, she posted to the fediverse, asking for help in finding a job in Seattle, expressing their vulnerability as someone who is […]
While vanta boosts mutual aid posts of others, she also asks for help, as well. Recently, she posted to the fediverse, asking for help in finding a job in Seattle, expressing their vulnerability as someone who is […]
Reposted by Robert W. Gehl
What is your favorite example of someone navigating our data-saturated world in a way that cares for others?
More specifically, who should @jesse and I be interviewing for our new book on #datakindness?
More specifically, who should @jesse and I be interviewing for our new book on #datakindness?
November 24, 2025 at 1:23 PM
What is your favorite example of someone navigating our data-saturated world in a way that cares for others?
More specifically, who should @jesse and I be interviewing for our new book on #datakindness?
More specifically, who should @jesse and I be interviewing for our new book on #datakindness?
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
The adoption of codes of conduct not only differentiated Mastodon from corporate social media sites, such as Twitter, but also from pre-existing, FOSS-based, federated social media systems, most notably GNU social. Started […]
The adoption of codes of conduct not only differentiated Mastodon from corporate social media sites, such as Twitter, but also from pre-existing, FOSS-based, federated social media systems, most notably GNU social. Started […]
Original post on aoir.social
aoir.social
November 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
The adoption of codes of conduct not only differentiated Mastodon from corporate social media sites, such as Twitter, but also from pre-existing, FOSS-based, federated social media systems, most notably GNU social. Started […]
The adoption of codes of conduct not only differentiated Mastodon from corporate social media sites, such as Twitter, but also from pre-existing, FOSS-based, federated social media systems, most notably GNU social. Started […]
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
This attitude is in keeping with general perspectives on the inescapability of capitalism itself. Critics of capitalist culture argue that the dominant view is “capitalist realism,” where capitalism appears to be […]
This attitude is in keeping with general perspectives on the inescapability of capitalism itself. Critics of capitalist culture argue that the dominant view is “capitalist realism,” where capitalism appears to be […]
Original post on aoir.social
aoir.social
November 22, 2025 at 2:03 PM
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
This attitude is in keeping with general perspectives on the inescapability of capitalism itself. Critics of capitalist culture argue that the dominant view is “capitalist realism,” where capitalism appears to be […]
This attitude is in keeping with general perspectives on the inescapability of capitalism itself. Critics of capitalist culture argue that the dominant view is “capitalist realism,” where capitalism appears to be […]
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
Revoy’s funding model is to crowdfund each issue of Pepper&Carrot, and to do that, he has relied on working in public on social media, posting frequently and sharing videos about his work. He sees this as replicating the […]
Revoy’s funding model is to crowdfund each issue of Pepper&Carrot, and to do that, he has relied on working in public on social media, posting frequently and sharing videos about his work. He sees this as replicating the […]
Original post on aoir.social
aoir.social
November 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
Revoy’s funding model is to crowdfund each issue of Pepper&Carrot, and to do that, he has relied on working in public on social media, posting frequently and sharing videos about his work. He sees this as replicating the […]
Revoy’s funding model is to crowdfund each issue of Pepper&Carrot, and to do that, he has relied on working in public on social media, posting frequently and sharing videos about his work. He sees this as replicating the […]
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
Quirk and Gruber are emphasizing that ActivityPub, the protocol that enables the fediverse to work, is an open social media protocol. For Meta to adopt it is an endorsement of such opennness – something Meta is not known […]
Quirk and Gruber are emphasizing that ActivityPub, the protocol that enables the fediverse to work, is an open social media protocol. For Meta to adopt it is an endorsement of such opennness – something Meta is not known […]
Original post on aoir.social
aoir.social
November 20, 2025 at 2:02 PM
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
Quirk and Gruber are emphasizing that ActivityPub, the protocol that enables the fediverse to work, is an open social media protocol. For Meta to adopt it is an endorsement of such opennness – something Meta is not known […]
Quirk and Gruber are emphasizing that ActivityPub, the protocol that enables the fediverse to work, is an open social media protocol. For Meta to adopt it is an endorsement of such opennness – something Meta is not known […]
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
Federated social media is a radical departure from corporate social media. While big companies like Google and Microsoft produce email servers that can intercommunicate with hundreds of other providers, in the world of […]
Federated social media is a radical departure from corporate social media. While big companies like Google and Microsoft produce email servers that can intercommunicate with hundreds of other providers, in the world of […]
Original post on aoir.social
aoir.social
November 19, 2025 at 2:01 PM
[Daily random quote out of context from my academic book about Mastodon]
Federated social media is a radical departure from corporate social media. While big companies like Google and Microsoft produce email servers that can intercommunicate with hundreds of other providers, in the world of […]
Federated social media is a radical departure from corporate social media. While big companies like Google and Microsoft produce email servers that can intercommunicate with hundreds of other providers, in the world of […]
"Mommy, what's a 'snow day'?"
"Well, dear, frozen water used to fall from the sky. It would make the roads slippery and dangerous, so people would cancel school for the day."
"So a snow day is a lot like a CloudFlare day?"
"Yes, dear, that's right."
"Well, dear, frozen water used to fall from the sky. It would make the roads slippery and dangerous, so people would cancel school for the day."
"So a snow day is a lot like a CloudFlare day?"
"Yes, dear, that's right."
November 18, 2025 at 2:57 PM
"Mommy, what's a 'snow day'?"
"Well, dear, frozen water used to fall from the sky. It would make the roads slippery and dangerous, so people would cancel school for the day."
"So a snow day is a lot like a CloudFlare day?"
"Yes, dear, that's right."
"Well, dear, frozen water used to fall from the sky. It would make the roads slippery and dangerous, so people would cancel school for the day."
"So a snow day is a lot like a CloudFlare day?"
"Yes, dear, that's right."