I need to #fedivent a bit. 🧵 /1

I'm a late-identifying bisexual who was excited to join mastodon.lol, my first LGBTQIA+ community space. After watching the birdsite turn fascist-friendly, a safe space was important to me.

But now because of controversy with the moderator, he's shutting it down forcing everyone to move.

I searched the fediverse & ended up at mastodon.art hoping for creative inspiration and decent moderation.

#mastodon #fediverse #moderation

#fedivent /2

I applied and went through the process of moving.

My first vent is that posts can't be moved. So now it feels like everything I did before is gone. I downloaded my archive but without a way to upload to the new account, I'm not sure what to do with it. I like having all my posts together so do I repost? Frustrating.

#mastodon #fediverse

@angeliquesophia the import process doesn’t include the posts?

@raynor

No. You can download an archive of the posts and media but there is no way to import them. The files can be "read by any ActivityPub software". Not sure how I would access.

@angeliquesophia

I ran into this when I moved back in November.

It's why I keep a separate WriteFreely instance for my long form writing, and copies of my haiku locally on my machine.

I treat anything here as ephemeral, expecting that the tide will sweep it away.

@angeliquesophia Someone posted a tip on moving instances that suggested bookmarking a lot of the best posts on the old account and then reblogging them from the new account. I’m not sure if this can be done retroactively or if the bookmarking has to be done prior to moving

@curtisysmith

I will check this out. I haven't deleted old acct yet so hopefully I can still access the posts. Nothing would be lost permanently if I did, just feels weird to have an empty account.

#fedivent /3

Next issue...as soon as I logged on to my new instance I see the announcement that tech.lgbt will be silenced for now because of an issue with the moderator. This was one of the other instances I had considered and also the place many from mastodon.lol ended up. Am I going to lose friends now because of this? If I had moved there would I have been soon blocked from the fediverse and forced to move again?

#fediverse #mastodon #moderation

#fedivent /4

I want good moderation but does this mean whole instances are quickly cut off forcing people to move or lose access because of the actions of one person (even if that person is a moderator)?

Should I be interviewing moderators before I choose an instance so I know if the place is stable?

Others on Mastodon.lol said it wasn't their 1st move.

How does one find a safe space without necessarily joining a giant instance for stability?

#mastodon #fediverse #moderation

@angeliquesophia

I thought we came to the fediverse to avoid drama but it turns out I was mistaken. Apparently drama here comes with even higher stakes.

@riotRhino

Yes exactly. When I heard it was easy to move instances I didn't worry too much about my choice. But knowing that I lose all posts makes that a very different situation. I feel hesitant now to post until I know if I want to stay (and can stay, mastodon.lol didn't offer a choice).

@angeliquesophia Originally I considered joining that lol instance but decided against it after reading more about it. In my opinion, these iffy instances and the lack of a robust #search function are major weaknesses of #Mastodon. #Mastodon will never be a far-reaching #socialmedia platform without addressing those issues.
@angeliquesophia perhaps counterintuitively, i think small instances are overall much more stable than big instances. as for how to know that a particular small instance will be stable, i think talking to the admin/mods can go pretty far.
@angeliquesophia The absolute best thing to do (in an ideal world) is to get together with your irl friends and figure out who would be best able to run a server, and have them set up a very small instance for just your small group. My server runs this way, and it works great. Inspired by this post by @darius https://runyourown.social/#keep-it-small Small instances with people who know each other are the healthiest instances, if you can swing it.
How to run a small social network site for your friends

This document exists to lay out some general principles of running a small social network site that have worked for me. These principles are related to community building more than they are related to specific technologies.

@holly

I like this. I am mega nerdy and am already dreaming of my own instance.

I thought the idea of communities would be beneficial but if I can interact with who I choose and avoid instance drama, that may be best.

Thanks!

@darius

@angeliquesophia @holly I, perhaps obviously, enthusiastically co-sign this
@angeliquesophia @darius Yeah, and I assume the emphasis on finding a good community when joining is because it's just a gentler way of welcoming people than to say go start your own instance. Now, if you're a really big nerd, you can set up a whole suite of federated services, all single sign on, for your group including matrix, pixelfed, bookwyrm, gitea, mobilizon, etc. Here's a repo: https://git.v.st/vst/env
env

docker-compose environment for the entire v.st system

v.st Gitea

@holly

You're talking hot nerd now. 🔥 Wheels are turning. Hosting services googling.

@darius

@holly

Also, as for community. Yes, I was hoping to have a group I could feel safe with finding connection.

Bisexual women, like many in the queer community, can attract some undesirable energy (politely stating) if we're not careful.

@darius

@angeliquesophia As I understand it, .lol was an early instance set up as a safe haven. Unfortunately, Nathan has been doing all the work by himself since he set it up. The recent events of personal attacks has proven to be too much.
There is a lengthy discussion about the attacks & why it is not possible for him to transfer ownership of the instance. (Chris Trottier has excellent information about the fediverse & Mastodon.) 🙂
https://mastodon.social/@atomicpoet/109836784430755564

@angeliquesophia Yeah, evaluating the moderators is an unfortunate necessity on this whole thing. I kinda look askance at anything with only one moderator, unless it's very much just for friends, because the risk of burnout is real.

And I wish defederation was reserved for, like, fascist instances, but it's an easily available tool, so... it's not. And it sucks.

Anyway, lemme know if you wanna try out wandering.shop? It's been good for me for a few years now and has an admin team.

@angeliquesophia

With mastodon.art you found a safe space. They have a larger moderation team taking the target of a safe space really serious. Contrary to very most of the fediverse instances, mastodon.art consequently blocks racist and hate domains.

mastodon.art is my first recommendation for people looking for a gentle and safe environment.

(A possible downside for some people might be the lack of provocative or weird content though)