I started this blog immediately after I posted my last one, accidentally deleted it and I had to start again. For me it will be both for the foreseeable future, although I can understand why many are are abandoning X. Abandoning all my followers on X to start again is not an option for me, there is an extension for Chrome or Firefox browsers that will help connect to followers on X but it’s only currently available on desktop computers. The following article doesn’t make this clear but I checked it out.

I tried out this extension to bring my followers from Twitter to Bluesky, and it completely changed my experience https://www.techradar.com/computing/social-media/i-tried-out-this-extension-to-bring-my-followers-from-twitter-to-bluesky-and-it-completely-changed-my-experience

I’m gaining more new followers on both platforms, but I’m losing many more on X than I’m gaining. New followers on Bluesky are mostly old comrades who followed me on Twitter before it became X. I built up my following on Twitter following from scratch by posting about a variety of issues that people care about and I’m doing the same on Bluesky. I have a good start this time around – when I started on Twitter 10 years ago I had no followers and didn’t have a clue what I wanted to say, I now have plenty of material and people with whom to share it. It took a year to gain 100 followers on Twitter, a week on Bluesky! I believe that there’s nowt like having lotsa followers to get lots more – things started to kick off when I reached my century. The #SocialistSunday hashtag helped a lot although I was initially concerned with giving a boost to comrades with only a few followers rather than gaining more for myself. I hope we can keep the momentum going under a Bluesky, but a number of comrades have had their accounts suspended on X and it will be difficult them on another platform. I need an alternative as I refuse to be silent and never know when my main X account @mikecoulson48 will be suspended and I have to assume my alter ego @mikesherburn48 (This is a locked account which I rarely use, if you’re not already following I’ll need to grant permission).

It won’t be easy going, I posted a Morning Star article recently about the Russia/Ukraine war which some idiot called “right wing propaganda”. I quickly told him to sling his hook along with another idiot who doesn’t understand that prolonged warfare is not a good way to save lives!

I’m not finding the Bluesky app easy to use, it feels like I’m using on my phone, but as more people start using it I might encourage the developers to improve the interface.

I recently started using my Facebook account again after several years absence, but it seems I said something naughty and my account was suspended. I haven’t gone through the rigmarole of appealing my suspension and have never used any of Meta’s other platforms, I did download the Threads app but didn’t open an account. I’ve tried Mastodon but couldn’t get to grips with it, like other friends who’ve tried it. So the general consensus seems to be that Bluesky is the best alternative to X, but we shouldn’t be in too much of a hurry. I’ve written before about the irony of using X to post demands for it to be boycotted or banned, as if Musk would care less! Until we have another viable means of communication, I’m not about to cut off my nose to spite Musk’s face!

I wasn’t sure I’ld have a blog this week, I’ve been unwell for a couple of days and I’ve so much to write about that it’s hard to know where to start. I’m still aiming to transition to Substack and may need to take some time to get my head together. I already have a blog to post on the last #SocialistSunday of the year, it’s a special occasion 😊