this post was submitted on 06 Jun 2023
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Is there a way to shop around for a Lemmy instance based on how many instances are blocking it and how many instances it's blocking? For example, I noticed that the lemmygrad.ml instance is relatively popular, but it seems like a lot of other instances block it. It also blocks a bunch of other instances. So, if there are any communities on there that might be relevant to me then I would be missing out. I guess I could just create an account on a walled instance, but I would prefer not to keep creating accounts. I'd like to just find one instance that maximizes my access. Is the answer to just run my own instance?

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[โ€“] Ada@kbin.social 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

tbh, there is no such instance. Not blocking any other instances is often a reason to be blocked by other instances.

An instance that blocks no one is in effect a "free" speech instance that prioritises the right to be bigoted over the need to provide safe spaces for folk. And that means that instances that value the need for safe spaces over "free" speech are going to block the instances that don't block anyone else as a means of creating and maintaining that safe space.

[โ€“] bdonvr@lemmy.rogers-net.com 0 points 2 years ago (4 children)

Hmm? Do instances automatically block other instances if they don't block certain other ones?

I self host an instance. I haven't blocked anyone yet as I just sub to communities that aren't bigoted.

[โ€“] alex@agora.nop.chat 1 points 2 years ago

Nah, if you're using your instance as an essentially private one, you're not about to be blocked. If you're running communities on it that run counter to the basic ideals of other communities, you'll probably find yourself losing some federation however.

I run my own, and I'm not blocking anything yet because, honestly, I just won't be vising ones I'm not interested in. I'll probably block a few if I see things coming out of them that I really don't want to see, but at this point it doesn't affect anyone else.

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[โ€“] balderdash9@beehaw.org 2 points 2 years ago

I don't have the answer but I share your sentiment.

One thing I hated about reddit is the mods would ban you for participating on certain subs. For instance, I got banned from r/WhitePeopleTwitter for commenting in a r/Conservative thread. (I was actually disagreeing with someone, but that's neither here nor there.)

The Fediverse feels like a worse version of that phenomenon. Entire communities are blocked off from each other by the admins of the instance. I fear that Lemmy might become a disjointed group of echo-chambers. Some might argue that reddit already is.

[โ€“] salarua@sopuli.xyz 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

Some folks think that defederation is a bad thing. OK.

Here's a little experiment you can try at home.

  1. Stop using GMail, Hey, or whatever email service you're currently using.
  2. Set up your own mail server (there's instructions on the internet).
  3. When the instructions say to use a Remote Black List just ignore them.
  4. When the instructions say to validate domains, ignore those too.
  5. When the instructions say to set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC just let those slide.
  6. Try to send / receive email
  7. Also try to read your inbox. For added benefit turn on all notifications for received mail.

Voila. Now you have an unfettered email experience.

And this, class, is why defederation is useful.

Please send your comments to the overworked TA in the back of the room.

โ€” Craig Maloney

[โ€“] Kurt@lemmy.one 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Is running your own Lemmy instance as difficult as an email server?

[โ€“] salarua@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 years ago (15 children)

probably not, but you'd get the same amount of horrible stuff as you'd get if you turned off all the security precautions on an email server. the point i'm making here by quoting Maloney is that blocking is a security precaution. less is more, and by joining an instance that doesn't block anyone, you're exposing yourself to a lot of terrible stuff. besides, instances that don't block get blocked themselves, so horrible stuff would be all you'd see

[โ€“] Kurt@lemmy.one 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

If instance 'A' has already blocked instance 'B', what does it matter to 'A' whether or not any other instances have also blocked 'B'? Would the admin have to go far out of their way to block the instances that don't block 'B' or is there a way to do it automatically?

[โ€“] salarua@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 years ago

they would have to go out of their way, but it's bad practice to block because of guilt by association. most instances have internal federation guidelines that are somewhat looser than their own rules, but still include a baseline level of decency. so an instance that doesn't allow nsfw content would federate with an instance that does (even if they wouldn't allow images to federate) as long as they don't go all freezepeach or harass everyone

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[โ€“] RedMarsRepublic@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

What a ridiculous false dichotomy, obviously subs which are just creating outright machine spam should be blocked but the current policy is just creating complete echo chambers where the orthodoxy of the admins isn't challenged.

[โ€“] 7eter@feddit.de 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

U might want to take a look at the federation map. It might be a bit overwhelming but in the settings on the bottom left you may chose blocked and allowed in order to get some insights on who federates with whom.

[โ€“] Kurt@lemmy.one 2 points 2 years ago (5 children)

Oh wow what did lemmygrad.ml do?

[โ€“] Phantom_Engineer@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

They're just generally annoying. They're tankies, constantly praising Putin and the CCP.

[โ€“] thevoyage@no.lastname.nz 1 points 2 years ago

Basically sums it up really, although it's great fun to drop in and stir up shit every so often.

They're completely off the deep end though.

[โ€“] rrpeak@feddit.de 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[โ€“] jarfil@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago

Why can't a user choose to block an instance? That sounds like it should be a feature request, at least for the app.

[โ€“] fluffman86@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

@rrpeak@feddit.de linked one reddit post while I was searching for this one, so here it is anyway:

https://old.reddit.com/r/RedditAlternatives/comments/13zl7s1/fediversetips_i_do_not_recommend_lemmy_i_have/

And here's the OG mastodon post from fedi.tips:

https://mstdn.social/@feditips/106835057054633379

Make sure to "Show More" on each post in the thread, including the replies. I thought it was all spamming the same post for a minute, lol.

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[โ€“] CrimsonOnoscopy@beehaw.org 1 points 2 years ago

Deny and or support genocide, for one thing

[โ€“] knighthawk0811@lemmy.one 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

can an instance have only 1 community for support and then have no content of its own? I believe that many already do (or near to it). This would likely be the recipe for blocking the least and being blocked the least.

[โ€“] Kurt@lemmy.one 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

What about an instance with only one user?

[โ€“] knighthawk0811@lemmy.one 0 points 2 years ago (2 children)

self instance? sure, but that's not one you can join persay

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