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0 pointsjonnycomputer6y ago0 comments

mastodon's tooting...

0 comments

Exactly, it's really gross. This isn't going to catch on in the mainstream.

Mastodon seriously needs a rebrand.

Interestingly it is relatively popular in Japan (to the point where someone non-technical asked me if I used it the other day!) It's really only an issue for English speakers (though in the context of HN that seems like the whole world ;-) ).

I think it would be pretty darn easy to maintain a rebranded fork, though.

WAHa_06x366y ago

It is also not an issue for "English speakers", just a subset of them.

kermitismyhero6y ago

Mastodon and similar projects like Pleroma are old school wild-west open source distributed endeavours, not "notice me, Facebook-senpai!" SV startups. Anyone who thinks that the developers and users involved in those projects give a damn about branding is deeply out of touch with that culture.

gsich6y ago

It works in german. "tröten", also the original developer is from germany.

jamesrcole6y ago

Social communications software is all about the number of users. It needs to able to catch on everywhere. A term that sounds embarassing to many of its potential users is a real problem.

1 more reply

jonnycomputerOP6y ago

to be fair, tooting also means to blow one's horn. Which come to think of it, also sounds pretty funny.

More seriously, the American Heritage Dictionary gives the following definition:

     v.
    To sound a horn or whistle in short blasts.
    v.
    To make the sound of a horn or whistle blown in short blasts or a sound resembling it.
    v.
    Slang To snort cocaine.

None of which is to fart. I do wonder if that meaning is a regionalism?

WAHa_06x366y ago

It very much is, and those who live in those regions have no idea that it is.

jonnycomputerOP6y ago

but which regions. i'm from california.

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0 comments

echelon6y ago

Exactly, it's really gross. This isn't going to catch on in the mainstream.

Mastodon seriously needs a rebrand.

mikekchar6y ago

I think it would be pretty darn easy to maintain a rebranded fork, though.

WAHa_06x366y ago

It is also not an issue for "English speakers", just a subset of them.

kermitismyhero6y ago

gsich6y ago

It works in german. "tröten", also the original developer is from germany.

jamesrcole6y ago

Social communications software is all about the number of users. It needs to able to catch on everywhere. A term that sounds embarassing to many of its potential users is a real problem.

1 more reply

jonnycomputerOP6y ago

to be fair, tooting also means to blow one's horn. Which come to think of it, also sounds pretty funny.

More seriously, the American Heritage Dictionary gives the following definition:

     v.
    To sound a horn or whistle in short blasts.
    v.
    To make the sound of a horn or whistle blown in short blasts or a sound resembling it.
    v.
    Slang To snort cocaine.

None of which is to fart. I do wonder if that meaning is a regionalism?

WAHa_06x366y ago

It very much is, and those who live in those regions have no idea that it is.

jonnycomputerOP6y ago

but which regions. i'm from california.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse