![[Discussion] Defederation does not do what you think it does](https://lemmy.kya.moe/imgproxy?src=sh.itjust.works%2fpictrs/image/caaa8bd1-1b22-4376-8fbb-15c4f14ffbfe.png){kind=link}
In the spirit of being encouraged to speak my mind here’s a slight effort post:
Defederation does not do what you think it does.
The instance creator and admins are those with the ultimate power within their instance. The active users delegate them that power by interacting with their instance.
Defining “defederation” within the context of Lemmy as I understand it:
“the act of denying the ability for accounts within specific instances to interact with each other”
Anyone at this current time can create an account on most instances. One site on sh.itjust.works is defederated right now, but anyone here may also have an account there, who knows? The value comes from our activity and interaction within each instance.
Defederation is a narrow and a slippery slope because it doesn’t actually solve any problems. There are many instances which are doing things I think should be banned. I don’t interact with them. I don’t provide them with any value.
We uphold an inclusive enjoyable community here by being active. Individuals with malicious intent are ostracized naturally by an active community. Defederating entire instances does not stop bad actors, but an active strongwilled community does.
It’s not our responsibility to moderate other instances.
Because “just host your own server” is not an appropriate response to someone just wanting to interact with people they disagree with. And if I’m forced to make multiple accounts just to interact with all the communities, then Lemmy is no better than separate forums and there is a very good reason why Reddit was way more successful than those forums.
Not to mention, most of those instances require you to write a paragraph just to get the account approved, which is something I’m not going to do just to give counter to some users of that instance.
I think server owners might have a different opinion of their ultimate goal. Being “more successful” than Reddit probably isn’t it for a lot of them.
But hey, that’s part and parcel of it. You can’t control the fediverse unless you’re the one hosting it. I’m ok with server admins making the choice to defed or not. Their instances will grow or die accordingly. Ie. Vote with your feet.
If Lemmy wants to be a credible alternative to Reddit, which I think it should be, then there needs to be a certain level of stability. If instances block each other left and right, then normal user will just get confused and leave. And your used software can be as open source and free as you like, if your friends use WhatsApp, Twitter and Discord, you will have to have too, if you want to stay in touch with them.
If you don’t want to host your own server, then why do you think you should be able to dictate what someone else who does host their own server, and allowed you to join it for free, should do with it?