I'm sorry y'all for still being on this but people like Mastodon for its user interface, its privacy and CW features, and the fact it bans Nazis. None of that is provided by OStatus and frankly Mastodon could not implement OStatus, not federate, and be entirely closed-source and people would still write the same articles. Because that's what this is about.

This is not about "OMG look at this open-source technology federation is so cool," it's about "thank God a website that doesn't allow hate and bigotry and actually cares somewhat for its users." The underlying protocols don't matter. Mentioning the other websites that run on the same protocols, but don't also ban Nazis, actually runs counter to the thesis.

I get feeling resentment that "we were here first" but let's reconsider where "here" really is. Because if it's not "caring about general users and protecting their safety and banning bigotry," then it's not really the same "here."

There's more to a social network than just its technical implementation and the specs it conforms to and that "everything else" is *just as integral to the service and the user-experience.* Tired of tech people treating things as though software is the only thing that matters.