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[feditips@social.growyourown.services]

@BlameDutchie @gotofritz

"The most common definition of an algorithm is: a finite, step-by-step sequence of precise instructions"

I'm not talking about a technical dictionary definition, I mean the way non-technical people actually use that word in the real world.

They'll typically say something like "the algorithm is showing me stuff" or "the algorithm has hidden my post".

My accounts and websites are largely aimed at non-technical people, so I try to use non-technical meanings and words.

[finchhaven@sfba.social]

@FediTips

I am attemting to translate using the Translate text at the bottom of given post

Again my instance uses LibreTranslate

Sometimes I'll click through to the post on the origin instance and try there

Sometimes (when I have a lot of time to waste and I'm in a better mood) I'll open up the instances

/public/local

and see

1) if they have any posts in anything other than their native language, and

2) do they seem to offer any translation at all

And here's the core point:

how much effort should I be expected to expand, to translate a foreign / European/ German post just to read something that ends up being extremely mundane

And how much finite screen space am I expected to give to posts / posters I'll never be able to translate and read?

I've already Muted and Blocked two in the last 15 minutes...

[feditips@social.growyourown.services]

@FinchHaven

Are you seeing a "translate" button below remote posts you are viewing within your own instance's website?

If you are, what happens when you click it? (Not on the origin instance but when viewed within your own instance's interface.)

[finchhaven@sfba.social]

@FediTips

JFC...

I have four tabs open, Firefox web browser on Ubuntu, to my home instance

/home

/public/local

my Lists

and my Profile home

I'm on my /home tab viewing posts

I am looking for and using the Translate tag at the lower left of a given post

Do you need a screenshot to understand what I'm saying?

Or do you think I don't know what I'm talking about?

[blamedutchie@expressional.social]

@FediTips @gotofritz

I agree with Fritz... You are not even willing to consider you could do better.

So be it. I have better things to do than trying to convince someone he is writing like an AI.

Cheers.

[feditips@social.growyourown.services]

@FinchHaven

"Or do you think I don't know what I'm talking about?"

Absolutely not! I am the one who doesn't understand, I am trying to get a better picture of what is going on by asking for details 🙂

I'm trying to help.

[feditips@social.growyourown.services]

p.s. Good grief. I'm trying to help people use this place and just got accused of "disinformation" and "causing harm" because they didn't like the way I used the word algorithm in the guide.

Can we please chill out and be a bit more friendly? The Fedi relies on volunteers helping each other and making suggestions in a constructive way.

If I've done something wrong it is brilliant if you point it out, most of the guides rely on people correcting me. But there is no need for personal attacks.

[faraiwe@mstdn.social]

@FediTips there is no pleasing those both humorless and in terminal thrall of Dunning Kruger. Just block, move on.

[kierkegaanks@beige.party]

@FediTips that sounds exactly like mastodon

[coolerpseudonym@wandering.shop]

@FediTips I am sending more kofi money

[arosano@mastodon.bsd.cafe]

@FediTips You are doing an excellent job. Don't let them get to you.

[martinescardo@mathstodon.xyz]

@FediTips asks "Can we please chill out and be a bit more friendly?"

I highly recommend that.

Always.

But also particularly when somebody is trying to help without compensation, just for the sake of the community.

[kaliah@dragonscave.space]

@FediTips Ugh, some people just need to chill. I think you're doing fine.

[coolerpseudonym@wandering.shop]

@FediTips Perhaps a positive reinforcement will outweigh the negative one you just got

Thank you for what you do.

[piper@lgbtqia.space]

@FediTips I just glanced through the article to see how you were using the word. You even explained how you were using it and why while acknowledging that other meanings exist. I would give that an A+ for communication. I'm sorry someone decided to be mean to you. I hope one day they learn to chill out and help people instead.

[jannem@fosstodon.org]

@Arthfach @FediTips
Sorted in chronological order is absolutely an algorithm.

[shally@mastodon.social]

@FediTips chill buddy please. Just don´t let it get to you.
I´m critizising a lot about this platform but never personal. There is potential lost here, that´s true imho.
Don´t let that get on a personal level, please

[threeforks@mastodon.social]

@Arthfach @FediTips Agree 500 Trump percents. You ARE doing a great job. Ignore the pestilence.

[ifixcoinops@retro.social]

@FediTips this thread is providing good blocklist fodder. Lotta pendants showing their arses today.

[owlor@meow.social]

@FediTips Accusing someone of causing harm for using the non-technical definition of algorithm is kind of darkly funny in a way.

Like it's clear that they understand that words can have expanded and non-literal definitions, but seemingly only for words they want to use to make a fiddly argument about terminology sounds more dire.

Tbh, between the word "algorithm" and the word "harm", it is probably more important to insist on an accurate definition of the word "harm".