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 threadPhilippa CowderoyAug 1, 2023
@davidgerard Email might not be truly centralised but it's sure as shit polycentric in an unpleasant way!
Show threadDavid GerardAug 1, 2023
@flippac oligarchic
Show threadPhilippa CowderoyAug 1, 2023

@davidgerard You could take the money per se out [modulo running costs] and the concentration of power would still be enough of a problem!

(which is to say: an EU-wide "public" competitor would only make the problem even worse)

Show threadPhilippa Cowderoy

@davidgerard Thing that might actually improve it: a large enough organisation representing the interests of smaller operators (perhaps with the likes of Fastmail as their largest members, and both groups and individuals free to join)

Problem is, even with the larger orgs participating it's likely (if for different reasons) to be about as effective as Babylon 5's League of Non-Aligned Worlds. It would certainly help document the way market dominance is used, though.

Aug 1, 2023 at 1:27pmWeb