David GerardAug 1, 2023

== HOW TO SET UP ON THE DECENTRALISED FEDERATED SERVICE "E-MAIL" IN 2023 ==

1. your problem is Google, MS and Yahoo.
2. SMTP over SSL *only*.
3. SPF, DMARC, DKIM
4. they don't like your IP or your face or can't be bothered or something and you have weeks of supplication hoping there's a human there
5. give up and outsource it

as a sysadmin, I always advise going straight to step 5

anyone using "e-mail" as an example of a successfully decentralised federated service in 2023 does not know what they're talking about and should be ignored

stop doing this

====

EDIT: if you're a fatuous dipshit, read the replies before you answer. or better, don't.

Show threadRachel Greenham
@davidgerard @cstross however, in this analogy you're describing the (real, undisputed, BTDT) problems with trying to set up an independent email instance server, not just being a user of email and deciding, eg: whether to use google, proton, fastmail, etc and figuring out how to send and receive emails with people on other instances…
Aug 1, 2023 at 12:09pmIvory for Mac
Show threadDavid GerardAug 1, 2023
@StrangeNoises @cstross setting up an independent server is specifically the analogy being made when someone uses email as an example of a successfuly decentralised federated protocol. there's no "however" about it.
Show threadTom BoutellAug 2, 2023

@davidgerard @StrangeNoises @cstross I suppose it’s fair to point out that there are multiple choices for email and consumers don’t really tear their hair out choosing among them. Because the press cannot shut up about the awful struggle of choosing a Mastodon server.

But to say “oh, the decentralization of email just works” is as you point out chalk on a chalkboard to those of us who have tried to be on the hosting end.

Show threadDavid GerardAug 2, 2023

@boutell @StrangeNoises @cstross tbf, picking a server turns out to be important if you pick an instance whose admin is feuding with the admin of your friend's instance - much more so than with email

the mastodon server problem is very far from being a press concoction

Show threadTom BoutellAug 2, 2023
@davidgerard @StrangeNoises @cstross Well yes, you can make an unfortunate choice, but you can also move. It's possible I've been insulated by a fortunate choice (toot.cat isn't feuding with anybody that I know of).
Show threadDavid GerardAug 2, 2023
@boutell @StrangeNoises @cstross and that still doesn't make it some sort of press concoction and not a problem for others
Show threadTom BoutellAug 2, 2023
@davidgerard @StrangeNoises @cstross My intention just now was to acknowledge that. I think the press overblows it, like you just CAN'T decide so here go use Threads.