I think one of the reasons why we cannot be too harsh on F-Droid top contributors, is that in order to switch instances, I understand that you need to leave behind all your past toots and updates. I don’t believe ActivityPub has a method of cryptographically signing over to a new server, and having all your content move to that new server.
Another good reason why we should be confident with the top contributors is they allow easy access to the uncensored Fediverse, via at least one app.
One thing I know is true. Having loosely examined instances that do interface with Gab, I’ve not seen any major ill effects that warrant this heavy-handed approach to block Gab instances. So what I would do is ask those instances who brazenly blocked Gab, and blocked everyone they can communicate with, to slowly reopen their communication channels.
Steps toward sensible federation for an instance:
- Drop the policy of banning instances who interface with Gab and reopen communication lines with the smaller instances who do such.
- In the second month, if there are no major issues, reopen communication with the larger instances who interface with Gab.
- In the third month, if there are no major issues, change the policy of outright banning Gab to allowing communication based on the understanding that if Gab users engage in violent, and aggressive ways that the communication lines might be re-closed for another year.
This is how a Federation should work. There should be a give-and-take process.
Yes it is a political process. Not everything political is bad. If we purge all politics from our lives completely then we perish, just like if we purge all clothes from our lives, we’ll not live very long. For those who like to call themselves Liberal, it means they end up with Tr&mp again, by default. And after Tr&mp… another Tr&mp worse than Tr&mp. Etc. (Whether they secretly want this outcome is a debate for another time)
If concerned about censorship, please refer your admin to the above steps toward sensible federation.
Memes don’t produce bad presidents, providing no meaningful alternatives to a bad president produces bad presidents.
While we are in a politics, freedom and censorship thread… FREE JULIAN ASSANGE!!