Now that for-profit tech companies are beginning to implement #ActivityPub, I think it's important to establish what we want with the #fediverse and whether federation with #Threads, #Flipboard, Tumblr, and the like bring us closer to or further from those goals.
With that in mind, I've come up with a few statements (in no particular order) that describe what I think is an "ideal fediverse" — a fediverse that's not necessarily realistic but that we should aim for:
No actor controls a large portion of visible activity.
Users can move between instances without penalty.
Creating and running an instance requires minimal effort.
People on or entering the fediverse understand the variety of available options.
There is no downside to using free and open-source platforms over proprietary ones.
These definitely aren't comprehensive, and if you have anything you'd add, let's discuss that! They're currently helping me reassess my stance on Threads now that Flipboard is also entering the stage, and I hope they're helpful for others as well.
I'll elaborate on these five statements in the comments.
The whole point of the fediverse in general is that there is no single “we”. There are those ActivityPub servers that one federates with and those ActivityPub servers that one does not federate with. Lack of consensus is built into the technology by design.
but I think it’s still important that everyone at least thinks about what they want the fediverse to grow into
To have wants about the social constructs that sit atop the technology is to misunderstand the technology. The technology enables your enemies/people you don’t like/etc. to communicate and benefit in all the ways you do. By design. You cannot exclude from the fediverse, you can only exclude from your server. If you have wants about excluding then you’ve misunderstood the technology.
@rah Maybe I'm not being clear. When I say that "we" means "the fediverse in general", I don't mean that everyone should gather 'round and come to a consensus on what values they should uphold and who should be excluded. This is obviously something that should occur on an instance or individual level, as (A) there are a large variety of different people and instances on the fediverse with different priorities and (B) as you stated, anyone can implement ActivityPub and tap into the fediverse if they want to, regardless of what anyone else thinks.
What I mean is that people should be thinking about what they think instance owners should aim for and form their opinions on the current situation based on that. My goal with this post is to show what I think an "ideal fediverse" looks like and have others share their thoughts. Having thoughts about what's healthy for people on the fediverse and having wants based on that isn't misunderstanding the technology — it's simply expressing preferences.
As a reader, do you prefer when people give you random books as gifts, or do you prefer getting a gift card to a bookstore (so you can pick the book)? Just curious.
@actuallyautistic
At work, we had a designated quiet space. Today I learned they reverted it back to a conference room though we have many, mostly unused. It was an emergency decompression space. When I spoke up about this loss, I was told, “If someone has a problem with bells & whistles they probably don’t belong in a hospital.” They didn’t realize it was me. “Of course you belong here—you’ve been here forever—we all have to suck it up. We’re all burned out.” #autistic#burnout#audhd
@Bankizo Getting close to true though: software is finished not when there isn't more work to do, but when nobody cares to maintain it. X11 isn't completely unmaintained, but it is getting close.
@drewdevault That is why I supported wayland from the beginning when it barely had any code at all: the people behind it knew what the real problems with X11 were from experience. there were several other attempts to replace X11 before then, but the X11 maintainers who understood the real problems said those wouldn't fix anything.
DAMMIT! We had plans to see some of our most COVID-cautious friends between Xmas and NYE. They don't do much, wear masks, and won't see their grandkids' Xmas concerts for safety. Then she tells us she's going to the salon that week--in what will probably be one of the most dangerous, high-transmission weeks in 2 years!? So, we've canceled with them.
Why is it so hard to make sane, appropriate decisions on elective activities during a #COVID19 surge?! Risk your long-term health over a haircut?!
@sour You mean, aside from the fact it kills over 1,000 Americans every week, is surging to the second-highest level of the pandemic in parts of the US, leaves 10% or more with chronic Long COVID symptoms, and risks increase with each reinfection--yeah, totally irrelevant.
Amongst everyone who shared their FOYAL wip on Mastodon using the hashtag #FastenOffYAL we've drawn a random winner for a pattern prize.
The winner is @LaVisch Please send us a private message with your email address and preferred craft so we can get you your prize.
For everyone else, we have another RANDOM GIVEAWAY, all you have to do is share your favorite design from this year's database below 👇 open +/- 24h
WTF is point in digital safe spaces, if all it does is remove progressive voices from reaching the malleable middleground who are constantly bombarded with RWing bullshit.
Perhaps it's time the #Fedi manned up, put on it's big boy pants, & talked more often about how to also be a force for good in society?
Not just a pleasant cul-de-sac bubble to hide out in & only talk to people who agree.