In regard to delisting of QOTO on joinmastodon.org:
I'm not here to make a judgement on who is "in the right" here as I've been here for only around a week, and I can't know or verify the events that lead to this.
However, Eugen's lack of communication and transparency about this is highly concerning - I think the least we deserve is a public statement on the delisting - arguably a responsibility of Eugen's, considering the outsized influence that the joinmastodon.org directory has over the Fediverse, and in particular Mastodon instances.
I urge him to remember that the Fediverse is supposed to be decentralized - his actions right now suggest he is trying to move towards the opposite.
Re: joinmastodon.org instance directory
In many ways I am uncomfortable with the concept of a single person having so much unchecked influence over what is supposedly a decentralized network. I suggest we look into alternative methods of listing instances that is not so centralized and dependent on one person, while still providing some guarantees about server policy. Not an easy task by any means, but I believe it might be necessary if the Fediverse is to become truly decentralized.
What do you think? @freemo
🇳🇱
There are several alternative directories and lists.. the problem is that gargron maintains an "official" one and thus his list will represent the bulk of the traffic.
The only way you could reach a solution where alternative lists are viable is if he decides to take down his official directory entierly.
@freemo @Gargron True. I suspect this is also an issue with people's mindset in many aspects, particularly the new users who are part of the Twitter migration due to them being used to single, centralized services. I've managed to avoid this due to not actually using Twitter or other centralized social media, despite hearing about Fedi from the surrounding drama. That obviously does not apply for the majority of people though.
This is the second instance I am on and was pulled from the list on joinmastodon in a short time . The second time after an external attack and an attempt to prove some fascism or Nazism and other intolerance. Something bad is happening because every instance that has freedom of speech in the rules is attacked.
And the second time it is done without any explanation or possibility of defense. And only on the basis of notifications.
It is the people who fail, unfortunately. And it's always those who fight supposedly for tolerance.
And unfortunately, instead of everyone talking to everyone I'm afraid that there will start to be a very big polarization and closed groups of only one right vision of the world.
@freemo @Gargron
Yeah, that's true - IMO there really shouldn't be an "official" directory at all - that has the same smell of mastodon.social being considered the "official Mastodon instance". Again, not an easy problem to solve unfortunately.