Interesting bit to watch. Gab head techies considering saying screw-it to Fediverse content.
That could improve the climate in the rest of the Fediverse, avoid nastiness by association like some instances suffer (not by supporting Gab, but simply by defending open network connection unless there's a reason for limiting or denying it)
a post by @isolategab
@freemo @arteteco @realcaseyrollins
QT: https://todon.nl/@isolategab/104254977308985846
@isolategab@todon.nl
🇳🇱
the only reason they are in the fediverse at all was to hijack the fediverse apps int he app store to circumvent censorship.
Now they got smart enough to realize they could keep the API the same so those apps still work for them and just ditch the federation part.
I dont think they ever really cared about decentralization in the first place.
@freemo @design_RG @arteteco @realcaseyrollins
But then every app maker of any following blocked them at the app level, so.... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@isolategab
Some of the app makers have since removed those blocks
@design_RG @arteteco @realcaseyrollins
> Some of the app makers have since removed those blocks
I am glad to know that -- as that should be at the user's discretion. Otherwise it's Censorship.
To be absolutely clear -- I personally BLOCK all content from gab and affiliates, a personal user decision which is open to ANY fediverse user (depending on their platform, slightly different ways to implement).
I am not a flag bearer for free speech, considering an inherent human right, but the limiting of user options in the clients is wrong headed, imo. You opinion is probably different, but no offense meant or taken.
We could just ignore these fringes, blocking individual users or instances as needed in case of conflict.
Says me, a free thinker, opinionated and #FediReporter via my blog.
#QotoJournal worthy theme and mention.
Why woudl you think my opinion is different on if censorship should be in the client level. I certainly agree.
I think it should be at the user discretion largely because a user wanting to view immoral content is not the same as the user being immoral.
I do not block GAB personally. The reason is two fold 1) as a moderator I need a complete view as to what my users need to deal with but, more imporantly 2) I dont want to hide racist or nazi content. I want to see it, know its there, and know what im up against in the battle to end it. Information is the most important weapon I have.
That said I have yet to come across a single gab accoutn worth following or sharing content from. I usually just see their racist crap, roll my eyes, maybe tell them to fuck off, and go about my day.
@freemo @design_RG @arteteco @realcaseyrollins - for folks who do not want to block Gab entirely (our preference) our advice is at least silencing them helps. Then they are still there for admins who want to allow their instance to support that but at least uses not following it are not shown it.
I prefer to leave the decision of that in the user's hands, and to provide them with User Guides and support, explaining how to do it. That has been my course of action here at Qoto, even before I joined the staff.
Personally, I use a full Block for them and their satellite instances. We all have limited free time and energy to spend here, and I rather not getting into confrontations or name calling with users from known radicalized places.
Irks me though -- when we see a respectful instance (ours here) get treated as Guilty by Association -- due to the admin's decision, still standing, to keep federation links normally.
Gab is irrelevant for the Fediverse -- their own software developer's post, included above in this thread, admitted to the Insularity they have -- which is Off the scale.
Public data and careful analysis create these reports, for all instances. Gab's numbers are phenomenal -- they are in a corner, and not talking to anyone.
Many of us are not interested, and if things stay like that, the rage love fedi block is in my view incorrect, negative and doing damage to Non-facist instances all over the place. Despicable.
Those supposedly anti-fascists are actually the ones acting the way they profess to despise. I have confronted one of their members, when I came across a thread advocating de-federation of this instance.
That person acted surprised, to have a response.
See the thread here : https://radical.town/@DissidentKitty/103360603294150583
Adding a screenshot of their OP -- pretty low effort job, if you are going to War, at least prepare for it.
This person went on to creating a big incident in early March this year (three months after the thread above posted) which nearly destroyed the instance they were involved in at the time. This is documented and known by many people, it was big indeed.
