Etiquette and Protocol

Introduction
Observation of the unique etiquettes and protocols applied by the users of any online community is important if you want to get the best out of relationships with others.

Who will see my posts?
Potentially every other App.net user - App.net is searchable and some apps retain a link to the Global (every new post) stream. In practice though it will likely be restricted to those who follow you, or those who see the one side of conversations of those people they in turn follow.

What is a thread?
When you post or view someone else's posts it may lead to replies - and a conversation may ensue. Conversations are something to be encouraged. A thread is the linear or branching conversation structure which ensues.

Do I need to put twenty @names on the end of my post?
It depends. It's not to be encouraged though. If you're in the middle of a heated conversation, with other users joining as the thread grows, contentious topics may cause distress to some people - who may not wish to remain involved. Creating a post including 20 usernames - sometimes known as a swarm - may be seen as spamming and invoke swift measures from those less-than-impressed by your actions. (See 'annoying' below.)

What frequency of notifications do people get?
Dependent on the app or service, the way the app is setup, or the type and length of conversation, they may get a notification every single time their username appears in a conversation. If you're trying to attract followers, think of the story of The Tortoise and the Hare.

What might annoy people?
One example: @Mrgan’s Law: Don’t try to make jokes on pictures of my kids.

Collapsing
Simple. They could simply move on.

Muting
Hides your future posts from another user - until the mute is lifted.

Blocking
Is the most drastic of the three options and prohibits you from viewing all of their posts and they yours following the block, and will automatically remove a blocked follower from their follower list. As far as they are concerned you will no longer exist, and from your perspective neither will they.

Who can I send private messages to?
Anyone.

Really, I can send a private message to @famousperson?
Probably. No bestest friend guarantees though.