@eileenb Admins and instances are autonomous. Each can decide what instances they do (or don't) peer with. This isn't unlike other network protocols like email (SMTP) or internet routing (BGP). There are channels for admins to talk to each other (an organisational mailing list), and tools which are built into protocols and servers themselves (Mastodon is only one of several at play).

It's safe to assume bad guys /will/ open instances, or worse, guys or girls who simply don't care what happens.

@eileenb You can also expect that instances (or users) who act in bad faith, or who prove disruptive, /will/ be blocked or retaliated. There's some of that happening now with bots. For all the cries of "Free Speech", if another, or multiple Instances disallow comms with a specific instance, that's going to pressurise the shunned party fairly severely.

On identity: "Who are you?" is the most expensive question in information technology. No matter how you get it wrong, you're screwed.

@eileenb Thanks. I speak only for myself, but I've been 'round the block a few times, seen the inside and the outside.

A flipside of this that might be an interesting angle to consider is the psychological toll on Admins themselves as Shit Gets Realer. Most Instances are small/shoestring operations, and just the hassle of dealing with difficult users (local or remote) can also weigh.

I very much recommend @maiyannah and @MoonMan, OSocial, on this.