this post was submitted on 20 Jun 2023
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This magazine is dedicated to discussions on the federated social networking ecosystem, which includes decentralized and open-source social media platforms. Whether you are a user, developer, or simply interested in the concept of decentralized social media, this is the place for you. Here you can share your knowledge, ask questions, and engage in discussions on topics such as the benefits and challenges of decentralized social media, new and existing federated platforms, and more. From the latest developments and trends to ethical considerations and the future of federated social media, this category covers a wide range of topics related to the Fediverse.
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You are appealing to reason, the people that are in favor of defederation are doing so based on emotion (because they simply can't have enough information, because no one has that right now).
I'm not saying either approach is inferior, sometimes it's better to use reason, sometimes it's better to use emotion, I don't know what is better in this case (there's a component of future prediction to it, how you can even do that properly, I don't know).
But I don't think appealing to reason works in this particular case. People that are willing to act on emotions aren't going to change that for rational reasons, they'll change it for emotional reasons. You'll have to give them emotional messages instead.
I think the people in favor of defederation are looking at how Meta has handled similar situations in the past, and inferring from past behavior how they are likely to act in the future.
No, they're in favor of defederation because they know Meta's history, and I suspect that you don't. Read up on Facebook and XMPP, then comment.
Consider that three common core values of the Fediverse, and open software in general, are a propensity towards transparency, privacy, and decentralization. Literally everything Meta stands for is in opposition to that, including their lackadaisical approach towards moderation. If you look at our value profile, Meta is a threat actor in that regard.
We aren't trying to find out what something new is going to do. A cancer that metastasizes in every host it's ever had is likely to keep doing so, you don't take a wait and see approach. You excise the malignance.
In this case, you surround it with walls until it dies on it's own.
I agree in general, although I really don't understand the “Fediverse is good for privacy” argument. This is a public forum. Everything I post here can be trivially scraped by anyone and everyone, including Meta. There is no privacy here because there is nothing private here.
Privacy vs Privacy. In this case I'm talking less about the accessibility of the information by masses and more about the acquisition of that data and the monetization thereof. I believe firmly in the right of the individual to control the relevant secure aspects of data (Confidentiality and Availability, integrity gets a back seat for a rare case). When an organization takes that data and utilizes it, it's a breach of the desired confidentiality of the data. It doesn't matter if the data is read it matters who is doing so and for what purpose.
Something akin to a non-commercial open source license. I don't care much what individuals know my stuff, I do care what organizations know and do with it.
Wait, are you saying there's a chance Meta isn't Meta?
Because I'm at least 99.9% sure of that information, and if accurate there is no need for any further information.
If you have reason to suspect that Meta somehow aren't themselves, but candy unicorns, please tell me. That kind of intel would be pertinent.
Amusingly enough, your assertion here is functionally identical to the one you're criticizing.
Your assertion is that it's not worth engaging with those who advocate for preemptive defederation because their fundamental nature makes it such that you cannot legitimately expect a positive outcome.
And that's EXACTLY the position that those in favor of preemptive defederation have taken regarding Meta.