@Gargron QTs weren't something that I thought about until coming here and reading your and others thoughts on the negative points about them. Which convinced me to be opposed to them.

So if you so add the feature I'd prefer an opt-in rather than opt-out.

I'm not sure opt-in would work though because I guess people wouldn't opt-in in enough numbers to make it useful for those that do want it.

@Gargron thank you. I don’t want that hot take culture to take over here.

@Gargron if we have to have them, then this is the best option.

But mastodon is better for not having quote-RTs.

@Gargron I think it would be a mistake (for reasons you already know to be valid), but if you do it, we need to be able to set QuoteToot/Boost preferences like:

QTs of my posts are:
a) never allowed (default)
b) always allowed
c) must be approved by me each time (getting a QT request similar to a Follow request)

Should there also be an instance-wide setting for Admins to prevent QTs of their members?

Most new users demanding QTs didn't even try to give the "Mastodon way" a chance first.

@Gargron I'd strongly prefer an opt-*in*. With the fast growth of Mastodon the risk of misuse might be bigger, so switched off as standard seems safest.

@Gargron
> If we did do it we'd like to make it
> something you can opt out of, in a
> similar way to how we plan to allow
> disabling replies.

I think, I would be annoyed by not being able to respond. Could we have a filter for this kind of toots?

@Gargron I've only seen journalists asking for it, so opt-in would make sense I guess?

@Gargron when I joined mastodon and learned why there where no quote toots at first I thought I might miss it. Now I think it is just fine, as people often use it to spread their hot takes that causes so much rife rough discourse on the bird app platform. A default opt out would be great then.

@Gargron disabled replies is one of the more frustrating features of Twitter.

On Mastodon, you can already only ask the people who are following you. Disabling replies leads to public posts with questions you can’t answer.

@Gargron personally not a fan of quote replies, being able to opt out of them sounds good in theory, but then if a user opts out they then run the risk of losing possible engagement on a toot, from someone who might only engage because of the quote reply function.

@Gargron @aloa5 @charles_ex

@Gargron Why not simply expand the preview of a link to a toot so that it also shows the text within Mastodon?

Like for this one. It should not only show your name and photo but also the toot text:

https://mastodon.social/@Gargron/109623891328707089

@Gargron

Perhaps you can have an opt-in system that allows quote boosting if the quoted writer allows it. The settings could be:

Allow quote boosts...
* Always
* Never
* With my approval

@Gargron THANK YOU. This is really important to make Mastodon safe for all users.

@Gargron Yes! If you do add it, let there be the ability to opt out!

@Gargron Just don't. Cherish this good decision #NoQuotesInBoosts

@Gargron that could actually work, and please make it opt-in not opt-out

@Gargron I think this would be a bad idea, and for exactly the same reasons you ruled it out before.
It seems to me those looking for this are new here (as I am). They are just the loudest voices, as no one shouts much to retain a status quo. It's not needed, if they want they can put the direct link to a toot in their text.
It will be used to dunk on users. Of that there's no doubt

@Gargron

Individual opt outs are a good thing IMO
but the facility as such may change mood and dynamics of the place as such.

@Gargron 's plan to modify Mastodon to disable replies strikes me as profoundly misguided and likely to make fighting disinformation and lies more difficult.

No one who makes a public statement should have either the right or means to constrain replies -- whether positive or negative. If it is within one's right to speak, it is certainly within another's right to respond.