Jeff JarvisNov 25, 2022
With Twitter's collapse, funders should start helping build up federated discourse: supporting development of better security, of moderation aids, of proposals for affordances welcoming to Black Twitter and other communities. Stop thinking top down. Start thinking emergent.
Stop thinking about how to help newspapers. Start thinking about how to help communities and culture speaking for themselves. This is a place to start.
Show threadCraig NewmarkNov 25, 2022
@jeffjarvis Jeff, is there a US 501c3 or similar? If not, and you have an idea, please tell me as you see fit. Thanks!
Show threadAram Zucker-ScharffNov 25, 2022

@craignewmark @jeffjarvis Are you thinking about a way to investigate and help others understand efforts or a specific platform support 501c3? I dunno about Jeff, but the more I see the strain that Mastodon instances admins' are under, I have been thinking more and more about the need to compensate them for their work to keep this corner of social platforms more maintainable.

I worry that we're replicating the mistake many make about moderation not having value.

Show threadAram Zucker-ScharffNov 25, 2022
@craignewmark @jeffjarvis Or perhaps one of the existing entities you donate to might take this up @craignewmark ? I can't think of one single thing that would prob help at least the fediverse more. I see @danhon is also talking about the costs of moderation and the impact effective moderation in the fediverse has on the long term trust people might have in the platform.
Show threadCraig NewmarkNov 25, 2022
@Chronotope @jeffjarvis @danhon
I'm on it, talking to some folks who are much smarter than me regarding both Mastodon and the nonprofit world. Need to put my affairs in order.
Show threadAram Zucker-Scharff
@craignewmark @jeffjarvis @danhon Can't wait to hear what you've got cooking there then! I hope it comes in the form of something I can contribute / donate to.
Nov 25, 2022 at 9:13pmWeb
Show threaddesertratNov 26, 2022
@Chronotope @craignewmark @jeffjarvis @danhon instead of sending funds to the individual servers and risking the monetization threats/misperceptions, why not create an organization of trained moderators/community managers and those moderators are funded by that external org and individual servers can “request/hire” them from that community management org. That way the funds stay out of indie servers completely.
Show threadMark CrowleyNov 26, 2022
@desertrat @Chronotope @craignewmark @jeffjarvis @danhon there is no organization. if you try to create one, you'll inevitably never get a significant percentage of instances to use join it, then you'll get pressure from the official moderators over the rogue ones...why even start the cycle if its working.
Show threaddesertratNov 26, 2022
@compthink @Chronotope @craignewmark @jeffjarvis @danhon That's why you create an organization that is independently governed & then if instances want support, they can reach out to the organization of community managers & work w/them. There's no rogue mods, its all in the open. I work in decentralized communities & have for a while. We use governance and collective action to solve problems. My understanding is that its not working, or won't at scale as more orgs make instances. Why not try?
Show threadKeith AxlineNov 26, 2022
@desertrat @compthink @Chronotope @craignewmark @jeffjarvis @danhon Governance is what we all hope to avoid because it’s messy, but eventually everyone will understand it’s an inherent need of decentralization. It’s arguably why decentralization hasn’t caught on yet. We’ll figure it out though, and then we’ll have the nice things.
Show threaddesertratNov 26, 2022
@kaxline @compthink @Chronotope @craignewmark @jeffjarvis @danhon the governance aspect is so messy! Glad we've been experimenting with it for a while to see what works and doesn't. Still so much to learn too! Makes experimentation a little less daunting. ;)
Show threadKeith AxlineNov 26, 2022
@desertrat @compthink @Chronotope @craignewmark @jeffjarvis @danhon I like the idea of a resource of experts. I’m starting up my own Mastodon server and would prefer to outsource the domain expertise so I don’t have to worry about it.
Show threadDan HonNov 26, 2022
@kaxline @desertrat @compthink @Chronotope @craignewmark @jeffjarvis the mere fact that you're thinking about how to deal with expertise (and potentially capacity) you understand is needed, but that you don't have (or not to the extent you'd like), feels like imho you're ahead of the pack.
Show threadKeith AxlineNov 26, 2022
@danhon @desertrat @compthink @Chronotope @craignewmark @jeffjarvis Well that’s another wrinkle … what time frame are we worried about? Do we want to get existing mods compensated for their extra efforts in the next 6 months? Or do we want to build a system to support a future decentralized social network at scale? Both, probably. But where as an individual do you want to put your money?
Show threaddesertratNov 26, 2022
@kaxline @danhon @compthink @Chronotope @craignewmark @jeffjarvis I feel like this is a "Yes/And" conversation. I think news outlets running their own instances are going to need to tackle this first. Maintaining a safe and healthy instance where civil dialogue, free from disinformation, can happen is going to be beyond vital in this evolution of news in decentralization.
Show threaddesertratNov 26, 2022
@kaxline @compthink @Chronotope @craignewmark @jeffjarvis @danhon Exactly. And the resource of experts comes from a 501c3 or another org that is structured as a public good. It is governed by a rotating board of folks elected by the communities who use the service and functions like a co-operative.