Jim Parkin @ParkinJim@social.cleverlibre.org

#RealNames

Let me be really clear about this. Any social media platform that is toying with the idea of requiring public "real names" use by users is playing with a ticking hydrogen bomb.

It should have been obvious enough how complicated this is given all the problems #Facebook caused when other sites started to require real names Facebook logins for access to comments and other features on those other sites.

I worked with some of these issues at Google, where originally Google Plus was using real names, though this was later wisely changed.

There is a long list of issues associated with forcing people to publicly use real names. Some people are just fine with using their real names on some sites, but on other sites dealing with other topics there's simply no good reason why they should be required to use their real names. An obvious example is someone being forced to use their real name to ask questions about a medical or other personal issue for which they could face discrimination in employment or elsewhere.

There is a controversial argument to be made, that I am frankly somewhat sympathetic toward (though I very much wish we had not come to this point), that in *some* situations where individuals are going to be posting to very large audiences, some way to identify those individuals in cases of extreme abuse may be necessary. I suspect that regulatory changes are headed in that direction.

BUT, and this is crucial, this should not mean that even those individuals would have to use their real names on posts, and their identities would need to be carefully protected, probably by a third party.

In practice, though it's easy to say all this in theory, I have doubts that it would work in the real world. Disadvantaged individuals and groups, whistleblowers, etc. are at special risk. Data leaks might reveal identity associations. It's all so very complicated. Perhaps -- even likely -- it's completely impossible to accomplish in a safe manner.

We're going to be seeing ever more calls for real names having some sort of role on the Internet. Some movement in this direction may be inevitable. But it is crucial that we don't fall hook, line, and sinker for social media firms trying to force individuals to use their real names publicly in the course of regular social media activities. That, is a trap. -L

So I just got locked out of the bird place saying suspicious activity. It then asked me for a bunch of details I’ve never provided including my phone number. Noping out on that.

I see that the sea lions that want to try to tie up your resources by asking you to "prove" things which are easily Googleable have shown up on Mastodon. #NotTodaySatan

Nationalism: Being proud of things you haven't done & hating people you've never met.

Here’s a belter of a jobby splatter I found recently. These calcium phosphate splodges are actually the fossilised regurgitative remains (or diarrhoea!) from a 330 million year old fish! This is a type of trace fossil, commonly known as regurgitalites or bromalites 💩

When I turned 70, I thought, “Well, that’s it. I’ve had a great career, but it’s winding down.”
Boy, was I wrong. I found social media, and then a second wind at my sails in my 70s! I made my Broadway debut at 78, and I’ll make my London debut at 85.
Life is truly wonderful and magical.

If you’re in London, come see me in Allegiance starting in January. Tix here: https://allegiancemusical.com

How wonderful.England’s rivers wont meet standards for good chemical health until 2063 they will contain toxic substances for decades. To think in September 2000 overall health of rivers was at 92% yet in 2022 they are at 14%. It is an absolute disgrace.
#freshwaterfish #freshwater #rivers #environment #pollution

https://www.endsreport.com/article/1806177/why-englands-rivers-will-remain-polluted-toxic-chemicals-until-2063

Twitter offered a fertility benefit for IVF and IUI. Fired employees are stuck in the middle of treatment cycles without funding and no one in HR is answering their q's. @stokel
https://www.wired.com/story/twitter-layoffs-health-benefits-ivf/

Lobster Dinner.

During a workshop in the summer, here on the Isle Of Mull, I spotted that the otter we were watching had caught something in the loch, and was swimming towards the shore.

I got my clients into a position where I hoped they'd get some images, and then lay down nearby.

The otter surprised me slightly by climbing ashore right in front of me! Thank goodness for silent cameras.

#otter #lobster #mull #wildlife #guiding #WildlifePhotography #NaturePhotography #Scotland

I spoke to Lewis Goodall as a UK nurse who has voted for strike. I explained why we felt this decision was justified

Please consider a reblog for me as I'm pretty new here

If you are minded to do so, you can go to the Apple or Google stores and report Twitter as failing to comply with their standards of use. Hate speech is one of them, but to be fair just about any box can be ticked. It only takes a few minutes…but oh what joy if it results in the Apps being withdrawn 👍🏻😇😂

I updated the meme for you.

Cats. Of course cats
#caturday

From Airdrie Firefighters:

With cold weather, it brings space heaters. They CANNOT be plugged into power strips or extension cords.

Plug space heaters directly into the wall outlet.

Power bars are not designed to handle the high current flow required by a space heater and can overheat causing a fire.

#FireSafety #Fire #Heater

I don't think the amazing #LedByDonkeys guys are on Mastodon yet, so please share this video and Vote Out #MattHancock

#ImACeleb #matthancockbelongsinjail

@maggiewillrise I supported Ukraine with aid from the start of the war but it was stumbling across NAFO and those initial titty pics that drew me in to supporting the Georgian Legion and helping the online push back against russian nonsense. You have inspired more people than you’ll ever know.

From the #Mammal Society.

https://www.mammal.org.uk/harvest-mouse-donation/

#HarvestMice