Since I'm trying to phase out tagging everyone individually, as it feels a bit scammy, but everyone asked to be kept in the loop... so here are some alternate "official" ways the conversation should continue:

1) On the official Gitlab repository, which is where all voting and formal discussions will take place

https://gitlab.com/ufoi/constitution

2) The group found here for mastodon discussions (just tag them instead of everyone): @ufoi

3) On matrix chat. #UFoI:matrix.org

And of sourse you are all welcome to contact me directly. I am very excited how there is so much talk about it and it hasnt even been released for 24 hours yet!

@timezoneless @floppy @ufoi @skanman @john @stevenclyman @robryk @ejg @dashrandom @Romaq @ichoran @AlanOutback @tsomof @aebrockwell @Ryle @tatzelbrumm @Gaythia @realcaseyrollins @stux @stux @trinsec @khird @darnell #mastoadmin @jq

So energizing to see all this activity after just a few hours of launching the United Federation of Instances repo.

https://gitlab.com/ufoi/constitution

We already have 7 discussions going on and 2 merge requests for the proposal... The more people keep getting involved the more energy I have to put more into it. Cant wait to finish a draft of the bylaws.

#UFoI #UFI @ufoi

The remarkable concentration of total household wealth held by the wealthiest 10%
🇺🇸 US 79%
🇳🇱 Netherlands 68%
🇩🇰 Denmark 64%
🇩🇪 Germany 60%
🇨🇱 Chile 58%
🇦🇹 Austria 56%
🇬🇧 UK 52%
🇨🇦 Canada 51%
🇫🇷 France 51%
🇳🇴 Norway 51%
🇦🇺 Australia 46%
🇪🇸 Spain 46%
🇫🇮 Finland 45%
🇮🇹 Italy 43%
🇯🇵 Japan 41%
https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/e2879a7d-en/1/3/1/index.html?itemId=/content/publication/e2879a7d-en&_csp_=629b9a65616a4d96ca81e8985e607a2f&itemIGO=oecd&itemContentType=book#section-d1e599 @sociology @economics

@Gargron @realcaseyrollins @serenebabe @ceoln @freemo

Are tools to map block/limited relationships between instances, forbidden? Or was because it was created by Kiwi Farms?
Did QOTO's moderation policy change in some way that made in non-compliant with the Mastodon Server Covenant? Or was it his mass email to plead with so many instance owners?

The fediverse is brilliant because not even you have the power to defederate. You only control a few instances. But now, people who gripe with you seem to have focused on this joinmastodon list as if you have supreme power over the network and are some kind of Kingmaker.
I personally didn't bother with the joinmastodon list, as I knew it was only a small fraction of available servers. So I used instances.social which had some useful filters, but would not delist any server for a policy violation.
Have you considered abandoning your own list in favor of an independent party?

My article has been updated to now include a public/official response from Eugen... Surprise surprise, he confirmed the article as true.

https://jeffreyfreeman.me/eugen-rochko-ceo-of-mastodon-found-to-support-nazis-agenda/

#mastoadmin #fediblock #Eugen

“Its AI accelerator chip, a type of graphics processor, is critical to train #AI algorithms by feeding them massive amounts of data. China cannot make them. Nvidia is nearly all of China’s supply. Other alternatives, which include chip designs from Intel, Microsemi or Advanced Micro Devices, are also all US-based.”

https://on.ft.com/3gqHeDq

Nice to see some support on reddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Mastodon/comments/z09ioa/qotoorg_an_inclusive_stemfocued_instance/

#reddit

Sp I wrote a pretty lengthy blog post entitled:

Eugen Rochko, CEO of Mastodon, Found to Support Nazi’s Agenda

Sadly I wish it was clickbait.

You can all read it here:

https://jeffreyfreeman.me/eugen-rochko-ceo-of-mastodon-found-to-support-nazis-agenda/

It is the pinnacle of the recent drama. I will also be sharing it on twitter, linking the joinmastodon account there. I tried to include most of the evidence in the article. Hopefully this will have some positive result

#fediblock #mastoadmin #mastodon @Gargron @trinsec @khird

The #fediverse is one of the most hopeful aspects of the internet, since it tries to bring it back to its decentralized, federated roots. In my opinion, there is no other way to guarantee free communication.

However, it is not without its challenges. Looking ahead, it's easy to identify some of them:

1. Centralization is an emergent phenomena. We can see this happening with the distribution of instance sizes, and the clear “rich get richer” dynamics that take place. This is not due to bad actors, it is simply how people tend to behave.

2. Commercialization is yet to hit this platform, but if it becomes popular, it will undoubtedly happen. Instances that serve ads, promotes content, etc, will appear at some point.

3. Related to point 2, it is possible that Google and/or Microsoft will seise the opportunity to try once more to move into the social media domain, and make services that connects to the #fediverse. This will be sold as an adoption of the federation, and hence progress. But to see how that goes, we need only to remember what happened with google chat and the open Jabber protocol — they abandoned it as soon as their service became popular enough. Bait and switch.

4. Legal intimidation of smaller instances is a real menace. The push to force Facebook/Twitter/etc to be liable for what users post will backfire, and render every instance admin responsible for what every single user posts. Note that it does not matter one bit if the content is actually problematic — a single cease or desist letter from a lawyer will terrify most admins out there.

These are not problems without solution, but it's unclear how things will unfold.

BREAKING: Elon Musk is offering 90% off blue ticks in the Twitter closing down sale. This is your last chance. Do not miss out! x

@rickmans Note he also mixes up Ockham's Razor ("Non sunt multiplicanda entia sine necessitate / entities should not be multiplied beyond necessity") with Sherlock Holmes' Principle: "Once you have discounted the impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

Here's your irregular reminder that:

Twitter was a multi-billion dollar company with thousands of employees.

Mastodon is a niche hobbyist product run by volunteers

The fact that we're being seen as a viable alternative to them is an admission that a federated, decentralized future is not only possible, but desirable.

Mastodon is not one thing, or one place. It's a network of many things and many places. We don't have a spokesperson (I mean, there's me. I'm the official spokesperson for 💯 of the fediverse, but beyond me there is no spokesperson) we don't have consensus on moderation or blocking or tools or what is good and what is bad. Some of us are professional SREs and Sysadmins, some of us aren't. Some of our instances have been around for 5+ years, some won't be here in six months.

And that's good! All of it, every last bit of it is good.

We're wrestling power away from the billionaire class, in real time, and reclaiming it for the People.

You might have seen somebody using the proverb Vox Populi, Vox Dei. What was missing was the context in which it was used:

Nec audiendi qui solent dicere, Vox populi, vox Dei, quum tumultuositas vulgi semper insaniae proxima sit.

In case you do not speak Latin, it means in English:

And those people should not be listened to who keep saying the voice of the people is the voice of God since the riotousness of the crowd is always very close to madness.

“Then the spaceman took over the bird site so we all started tooting at the elephant place.”

“Oh…ok grandpa. Let’s get you back to bed.”

PLEASE BOOST: Within a day of raising awareness about Mastodon's funding, we've moved the needle on Patreon in a big way

Some Comparisons:

* Yesterday, Mastodon was receiving $21,000/month
* Today, it's receiving 28,000/month -- that's an increase of $7,000!
* Yesterday, 4,720 patrons were donating to Mastodon
* Today, 6,968 patrons are donating to Mastodon

Let's continue this work. Donate, and get the word out!

(Oh, and if you can, send your instance some bux too.)

https://www.patreon.com/mastodon

Okey dokey! People who identify as
#PlantScientists and/or love #PlantScience,
If you'd like to share your name and Mastodon identity with others, and be discoverable, please complete this google form: https://forms.gle/MTqR9tZfkDS53Rdo8

Results will display here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eimFqYMERb5uR4Sh5QOu1g4ZWosngj5nHQEpAeix55I/edit?usp=sharing

Hopefully that works - if not please let me know!

So it seems joinmastodon removed QOTO from their directory without cause, without contacting us, and without any discussion or due diligence.

Since this is the only way to actually find QOTO for new users if it isnt reversed soon it could mean the end for our wonderful community.

If you care about this place remaining fair, respectful, and inclusive environment I highly suggest everyone reach out to them annd voice your objecttion and your disapointment and having no procedure to keep this fair and inclusive.

If you want to see QOTO stick around you can email your objecttion here:

hello@joinmastodon.org

Feel free to CC me here: jeffrey.freeman@qoto.org

Please be respectful, we want to show them we are the good guys and not give them any reason to object.

@Gargron @trinsec @khird

People are running into a paywall—try this link instead. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/19/opinion/pandemic-twitter.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuonUktbfqYhlSVUaCibSRdkhrxqAwuDGxrAxg371aTSKSCpewv5TA5SF_w2FQ5tfUOYJ_mbRQs5dYvhoTeZuz-RbMgs8QgTw-8SIwNEMeStt7N_vVTtz1cydUPVn_zK1PjXlI7whlOb19wiLPzmRLa_b1H0qIQllo4I0Ng35nCxVmdqWV7J9ydJ83vw-BphlRTdmZCaCvvjgCRkWK8zRJ1iHqVFwA7cFLGmVyd2M6LsAcxFRCkbETh585mU-4dBdP7AHLUebaz1GDKI8ZImMnca504U&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare