Luke LeBrunNov 21, 2022

This is a big problem for Mastodon.

Canadian journalist Erica Ifill just had her mastodon.online account suspended without explanation. She's been sharing stuff critical of Mastodon re: intersectional issues.

I get the decentralized structure and idea that each server has its own rules. But this Reddit-style moderation, where moderators with god-complexes make mysterious and arbitrary decisions, is going to cause people migrating to Mastodon to flee in droves.

https://www.presscheck.org/journalists/erica-ifill

PressCheck.org

Show threadLuke LeBrunNov 21, 2022

I also don't think it is a serious solution to tell people, especially those from vulnerable communities, to just go find a server that respects them / allows them to criticize racism, etc.

People are joining Mastodon in good faith, but if they encounter these problems once, twice or more, it starts to send them the message they're not welcome here. It becomes a real brand problem and platform integrity issue.

Show threadCaffe NekoNov 21, 2022
@llebrun There needs to be more visibility - so that ppl can make an easier choice in selecting servers. Like a yelp rating for servers in terms of moderation and stability etc.
Show threadCaffe NekoNov 21, 2022
@llebrun Maybe in interim users who have felt themselves discriminated against can post using hashtag # AdminAlert and share screenshots. Granted this is extra labor for victims, but given the decentralized nature of open-source Mastodon the more data ppl have to make a decision on how best to self-sort it will be good. Will also shine a light so rogue admins can clean up their act when they are in the wrong or risk their server being defederated by servers that don't abide by their actions.
Show threadCaffe NekoNov 21, 2022
@llebrun Can also give admins the opportunity to share their own evidence to make their own cases for suspension in case of bad faith reports.
Show threadAndreas KNov 21, 2022

@caffeneko @llebrun *ahem* you mean like FB/Twitter/…

These instances are still private servers that you are using.

In some jurisdictions (e.g. EU) you still might have privacy expectations, but you do not have an expectation of service.

Show threadAndreas KNov 21, 2022
@caffeneko @llebrun (just mentioning it, while I do not run a mastodon instance, I did run private internet-connected servers for decades, the entitlement of users is fascinating in the context of which is basically at least for some admins, a hobby.
Show threadCaffe NekoNov 21, 2022
@yacc143 @llebrun that's fine if it's a hobby - then they should have no issue w/ users providing transparency on their experience so that users can make data informed decisions. Would be good for users to know which servers they cannot have expectations of equitable service.
Show thread⁂ Fish Id Wardrobe
@caffeneko @yacc143 @llebrun With the exception of Eugen's two servers, I don't know of any that are NOT a "hobby". No one makes money from doing this.
Nov 21, 2022 at 10:05pmWeb
Show threadCaffe NekoNov 21, 2022
@fishidwardrobe @yacc143 @llebrun Then maybe such overburdened mods should not be so eager to suspend someone from a marginalized community, if they don't want to provide clear justification. They should expect that that users community would have questions.
Show threadCaffe NekoNov 21, 2022
@fishidwardrobe @yacc143 @llebrun If an admin has a very strict CW policy on their server and gives clear warning that to remain on the instance you should use CW for (insert list of problematic topics: rape, police brutality, murder, uspol, ukpol) - that should be sufficient heads-up that the server is probably not the right fit for someone inclined to post political topics w/o CW.
Show thread⁂ Fish Id WardrobeNov 22, 2022

@caffeneko @yacc143 @llebrun Yes – but if a mod misses banning someone problematic then it's likely their whole instance will be defederated by other servers. Boom, whole server. So *of course* they tend to be trigger happy.

There are reasons for this – blocking the entire instance is the only way you can really make your users safe from malicious users on the other instance. But. But!