this post was submitted on 11 Jun 2025
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Hey m@tes, as y'all know, this instance has been anti-corporate GenAI positive since it's creation and as such we've typically allowed such content to be posted freely. However in the last few weeks we've had a bunch of drama from GenAI haters who insist on coming into our comms and starting slap-fights. This caused us to vote on a new rule to have the mandate to clear out this constant friction. This worked to an extent, but I think we can help foster a better community with the larger threadiverse.

One issue a lot of anti-GenAI people keep bringing is that while they can block dedicated comms like !stable_diffusion_art@lemmy.dbzer0.com, they don't have an easy option to avoid GenAI content in random other /0 comms as there's no way to filter it out. This kind of content has been seen to cause a lot of strife, because people complain about its existence, while /0 admins and mods based on the above rule, tend to sanction those complaining. This then causes drama loops with /c/YPTB and /c/FuckAI etc.

There is a good point to be made here that while we don't mind GenAI content in /0, there isn't a reason to not help others avoid it. So we want to institute the following soft rule by now:

Simply tag your posts which consist of primarily GenAI content with the [GenAI] tag in their title. Not only will frontends like Tesseract will natively parse this as a tag and display it accordingly, but people who dislike such content, can simply filter it out of their feeds. Eventually lemmy will add tags which will make this tagging more seamless, but for now a manual tag in the title will suffice.

This rule only applies to posts in non-explicit GenAI comms. The assumption is that people can simply block those comms completely anyway.

As I said, this is a soft rule for now. Soft in the sense that you're not going to be sanctioned for forgetting it, but we hope people will remind you to do so. This is a good-faith attempt by us to co-exist and help others avoid what they don't want to stumble onto, much like [NSFW] tags. So I hope you'll add do a good faith attempt to help us in this. Furthermore, people who come to posts tagged as GenAI explicitly to scold and start slap-fights, will give the admins and easier justification to clean up, since they could have just filtered out that content in the first place.

Cheers

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[–] zaknenou@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 day ago

it seems to be for the better imo

IMO the problem is a lack of tags on Lemmy, which are often used as content warnings. With a robust tagging system, people would be able to filter out tags they dislike, such as genAI or politics.

[–] Soapbox@lemmy.zip 13 points 2 days ago (2 children)

As a genAI hater, I appreciate this. I already block the dedicated communities as I see them in /all. This is helpful to filter out more of the outliers if posters cooperate and actually use the tag. (I think alot of genAI zealots get off on trying to see if people will notice their posts are AI.)

[–] xor@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 2 days ago

genAi isn’t the problem, the zealots and fraudsters using it like that is the problem.

I was wondering why everyone just didn't block the communities. Maybe their Lemmy clients do not have the option. I use Eternity and it works for me.

[–] tal 15 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

Most AI image generators that generate images add EXIF metadata indicating that the image is AI-generated. This helps people who want to identify AI-generated images readily.

In the case of ComfyUI, it even includes the entire workflow


like, another ComfyUI user can just grab the image, drop it onto their ComfyUI Web UI and they'll be right where the generating user was.

Unfortunately, EXIF metadata can contain location information


some cameras and such add it


and this metadata led to people posting images at places like Reddit being doxxed after they didn't realize that they were posting their GPS location and maybe real name, stuff that some cameras attach. As a result, a number of image-hosting places simply strip all metadata, to prevent users from from accidentally leaking this information.

Pict-rs, the software package that Lemmy hosts run to permit image uploads, does this. Unfortunately, it means that those "this is an AI-generated image" tags get stripped off.

So, for example, on my system, with ComfyUI, using ImageMagick:

$ identify -verbose output/ComfyUI_00312_.png 

"Properties:prompt" has a JSON encoding of the workflow.

Sample images generated by various AI image generators are readily-available on civitai.com.

For this generator that generated this image on civitai, it looks like the parameter is "Properties:parameters".

I believe that there are a small number of such tags today.

It would be technically possible to just not have pict-rs strip that particular tag (or tags, if there are multiple that a given generator adds?) off, have a list of "AI-generated tags", then have Lemmy add some visual indicator that an image is AI-generated. I'd suggest that this is probably a better longer-term route to indicate that an image is AI-generated than manually-tagging post titles, for a couple of reasons:

  • Spiders that index images on the Web will know that the image is AI-generated and can flag that for users and let them use that as a filtering criteria (e.g. Kagi Images permits for this). They aren't going to understand tags in post titles, but the metadata tags are somewhat universal.

  • Doesn't require manual effort if an image can have some indicator or flair or whatever put on it automatically. And I guarantee that some users are going to get this wrong just by accident, because different instances have different rules. Easier to change how a computer works than to change human behavior across-the-board.

  • Works on all instances.

  • The information remains attached to the image even if downloaded.

  • Works for images that aren't just the subject of single-image posts and don't have an associated title.

  • Speaking purely for myself, I kind of like the open-source, collaborative aspect of sharing the workflows or prompts, since it helps other users see how an image was created and learn from it; it's something that I'm glad to see the generators include, and I'm kind of sad that we strip it off on the Threadiverse.

exif is stripped when uploading to lemmy, I believe

I really appreciate this comment because I didn't know about EXIF metadata for AI-generated images and I think you raise interesting points about long term management of our informational ecosystems

[–] axEl7fB5@lemmy.cafe 2 points 2 days ago

This is what they are gonna call cyborgs born in the year 2100

[–] Mwa@thelemmy.club 60 points 4 days ago

That's good I agree with this

[–] tocopherol@lemmy.dbzer0.com 49 points 4 days ago (27 children)

Good, AI art fucking sucks.

[–] UnrefinedChihuahua@lemmy.dbzer0.com 16 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Can I ask what compelled you to join db0 after reading the sidebar? Honestly curious. If I hated AI that much, after seeing the tagline, I would have noped out.

[–] Nora@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 2 days ago

As someone who feels similarly about AI art, but joined db0 anyway: I like the other things they got going on and I'm not stupid enough to whine and complain about the one thing I don't like. (I guess, technically this is doing some of that but shut up xD)

It's like if I went to a bar that has a bunch of games in it, and one is a bunch of pool tables or something and I really hate pool, I'm not gonna throw a fuss demanding they remove it? Some people like it even if I think it's not that cool.

[–] tocopherol@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I don't think it was a prominent feature when I joined, AI imagery in general wasn't quite as popular or sophisticated at the time. And even if I disagree with that point, it's not a deal breaker and db0 is still far better than many other instances.

[–] db0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 17 points 3 days ago

FYI: The "Generate Art" part of the sidebar tagline was there since day 1

[–] KAtieTot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 3 days ago

Can't be art with no artist, just 'generated illustration'

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 19 points 3 days ago (12 children)

I know, those are my favorite use cases 😏

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[–] MITM0@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago
[–] whalebiologist@lemmy.dbzer0.com 28 points 3 days ago

I like gen ai and I think this rule is a nice gesture towards the other side. It's a good practice to cite your sources when you're online anyhow.

[–] hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com 32 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

I think this is a good addition. We shouldn't alienate other like-minded people because of slight disagreements in my mind "minor shit" like this, and this seems like the least that can be done.

Also, I believe this post should be tagged with [GenAi] because of the attached image? 😅

[–] db0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 29 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Well, the tag is very much in the title yes ;)

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[–] naevaTheRat@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

People should do this for stuff they generated with llms too. Realistically English needs evidentials, like tenses that explain the source.

Much unintentional disinformation would be cleared up if people stated the source. E.g. "I remember learning..." "Someone I trust told me..." "I heard an expert say..." "a statistical text generator emitted..." "a random internet comment said..."

[–] explodicle@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 days ago (2 children)

You remember where you learned things? That's remembering like, twice as much stuff! I'm pretty sure my brain is just making up plausible memories to fill in the gaps.

Wait till you get to be super old like me. The shit my brain makes up aren't even plausible memories!

[–] naevaTheRat@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 days ago

The things I consider myself informed enough to answer questions on.

[–] 000@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 3 days ago

This is a hopefully a happy middle group that stops these stupid fights and makes people focus on bigger things.

[–] Eyedust@lemmy.dbzer0.com 16 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I was wondering if you guys would catch the latest shitstorm on this. Definitely a necessary precaution. Its a good idea, and I hope it will be enough.

Its getting to the point where people are blanket terming us as unhinged and blocking the whole instance because debates are getting heated. :(

[–] irelephant@lemmy.dbzer0.com 16 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I got called an alt of db0 because I explained the instance's stance on Ai.

[–] eugenevdebs@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 3 days ago

I also got called an alt of db0 because I just said "We have our own rules here, you don't have to interact or make an account here."

[–] Eyedust@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 3 days ago

It's going to take a while to do that now. People are all riled up right now and really should cool off a bit. I know what you mean, though, because this instance's stance on AI is basically my stance on it.

There are great applications for it, but the government and big corp are pushing it into a disgusting direction, as they do with everything they get their hands on that could give them power or money.

[–] Deceptichum@quokk.au 20 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The anti-ai people are sending death threats and transphobic remarks to mods.

They really need to step back and reassess their lives.

[–] Eyedust@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 3 days ago

Its getting heated on both sides from what I've seen floating around. I have to stand more with db0, because the other side just seems to be openly marketing hate-mongering. Which of course is going to bait a rise out of some here. We haven't been going around slandering people who hate AI, but I've seen people going around openly slandering this instance for liking it. That's what happens when you create a community solely based on the hate of a subject. Its just a breeding ground for negative energy.

I've been on both sides. I'm not really cool with AI stealing art and prose to add onto their repertoire, but I have self-hosted LLMs and enjoy using them locally. There's a place for AI, and unfortunately big corp is pushing an agenda that places AI in a horrible light, so its no wonder people hate it. That doesn't mean that they should create a hate-based community, but hey, that's a part of real freedom.

On the other side of this coin, we have people here who stoke the flames by pre-banning people from communities they moderate in wild displays of power abuse, or joining in on fuck_ai to openly speak out in a community where they're obviously not wanted and in general just taking a stick to the beehive. I've seen plenty on this side that disregard the rules and beliefs of anarchy, instigate arguments, and flout the premise of one of the ideas that db0 stands against- abuse of power.

Like I said, I can't blame some of them. Its hard to ignore some of the obvious slander that db0 gets sometimes, but it doesn't mean we should openly validate them by getting hot around the collar about it. We shouldn't take the high road, either. Pretentious high-horsing is just as bad as openly getting angry. Let AI-haters openly bash AI and try to understand that there is a vindicated reason for it. Its not us or even AI itself, its how AI is being marketed and used by big corp. We need to push that we don't believe in that, the same as they don't, without swinging bats at the first hater we come across.

The best thing db0 can do right now is be respectful. I get it, we're not exactly receiving that same respect sometimes, but stooping down to low levels of disrespect just based on the venom that spits out of an individual's mouth is just not the answer. Whereas I don't think this will get as bad as .ml or hexbear levels of hatred, I really don't want us to be the next in that spotlight.

Death threats and transphobia are just the cries of the few disgusting extremists. I agree that they need to stop immediately. I tend to dislike anything extremist. Their respective instances should be taking action against those individuals. If they don't, I have no doubts that Lemmy will stand against them as a whole. Transphobia in general isn't and shouldn't be tolerated anywhere, and usually isn't tolerated here at all.

In the case of those individuals, I just see children throwing a tantrum and trying anything to scare or upset mods. That's when slurs and scare tactics pop their ugly heads out of the grass, and they should be ashamed for just thinking those things, let alone acting on them. But that's not instance vs. instance. That's a handful of people in an instance being angry at a handful of people from another instance. There should be no reason to start a war of many based on the battle of a few.

So I don't disagree with you, but the context makes all the difference in the world. Its a very complicated and complex situation.

tl;dr: This whole thing sucks, but at least we're taking steps on our side to solve it.

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