Chris TrottierNov 20, 2022

Seriously, what's with people now telling me that donating to the Mastodon non-profit is dodgy?

Do they not realize that it's a registered non-profit, and this non-profit helps fund the code as well as Android and iOS apps?

How's that dodgy? Most of you use that stuff!

Show threadChris TrottierNov 20, 2022

But seriously, people say, "Donating to Mastodon doesn't help instances". Again and again, I've shown it does.

Nevertheless, I hope if an instance is *receiving* donations that they're a registered non-profit.

I say this because I already know of several instances that are set up as for-profit entities.

Show threadChris TrottierNov 20, 2022

So I want everyone to think long and hard about this.

If an instance is selling access as part of a media subscription deal -- and this is actually happening -- do they need your donations?

Or is it better for you to *buy* their services -- if you believe this is something that should be supported on the Fediverse?

Show threadDirk-Jan SwagermanNov 20, 2022
@atomicpoet I predict that instances will become their own brands and people might pay for access and belong to a certain mastodon tribe.
Show threadblaineNov 20, 2022

@djswagerman @atomicpoet I'm hopeful local timelines on instances will become more like mailing lists (or, at least, that you can sign in to a remote instance with your primary id); there's a time & place for local instances (the way Darius uses his hometown fork), but overall the fragmentation of identity isn't good for anyone.

But 100% agreed on gated access to communities. It's coming, whether the fediverse is ready or not.

DrAlexandraKNov 20, 2022
Show threadblaine

@djswagerman @atomicpoet I'm hopeful that it doesn't mean the end of pre-November Mastodon communities, though. I expect we'll see a lot more of them, and with rich culture!

This is a big umbrella and we need to start designing & building for diversity. The protocol support is in place, just need to get the software & culture on board. 😅

Nov 20, 2022 at 10:07amMastodon for Android
Show threadChris TrottierNov 20, 2022
@blaine @djswagerman I was actually talking to a New York Times editor about this today.
Show threadblaineNov 20, 2022

@atomicpoet @djswagerman nice. I spent several years trying to get Condé brands to launch a Mastodon instance (pixelfed wasn't ready, or would have done that); got close with Vogue!

I think it makes a ton of sense for brands that have avid followings. Not my jam, but who am I to judge? I've seen what happens when activist spaces become elitist, and I hope the fediverse can pull the Overton window back towards cooperation, even if it means being open to commercial use on the network.

Show threadblaineNov 20, 2022

@atomicpoet @djswagerman hilariously, my goal with Condé was to try to drive adoption of Mastodon/the fediverse. After years trying from the tech side, I'd given up, but concluded that the only thing that was going to move the needle was pushing for a large non-tech community to get really into it and drive the wedge.

Gave up two months ago and left Conde feeling hopeless that this was ever going to happen. 😂

Thanks, Elno!

Show threadDrAlexandraKNov 20, 2022
@blaine
😅 patience is a virtue lol comes to mind,
Show threadChris TrottierNov 20, 2022
@blaine @djswagerman Well, I definitely think we should normalize the idea that people should be compensated for the work they do on the Fediverse. Someone else said this, and it bears repeating: when people work for evil corporations and work on good stuff in their free time, that's a net positive for evil. It would do all of us good to think about better, more sustainable monetizaton models.
Show threadblaineNov 20, 2022
@atomicpoet @djswagerman 💯
Show threadDirk-Jan SwagermanNov 20, 2022
@blaine @atomicpoet Absolutely. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds. The willingness to pay for either “elite” / verified identity or “anarchist” support to your admin will in both cases probably be higher that the willingness to pay to a big cooperation.