How can you explain the Fediverse to someone?

SamXavia@kbin.run to Asklemmy@lemmy.ml – 99 points –
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If you where to try and explain the Fediverse to someone, how would you explain it with it's different instances? As well as explain why it is better in some ways for the future of the Internet?

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How should those federation evangelists explain it? You've basically just passed the job to someone else lol

Yes, but crucially I've passed the job to someone else who is a) already doing that full time in excruciating, obnoxious detail, and b) who is behind the massive barrier to entry that is making an account and starting to use the service.

By that point the people asking the question already know the basics and are engaged. At that point the problem is stopping people from scaring them away by overexlpaining federation, not getting them to understand how it works. It's not the same.

already doing that full time in excruciating, obnoxious detail

How would this person describe The Fediverse?

Constantly, through obtuse similes that only make sense if you already understand what is being explained to you and mostly to each other, rather than to anybody who wouldn't know.

But still, by that point you have an account, so you're already set.

Obtuse similes... Like the email thing...?

Okay, look, I'm being mildly facetious here, but the genuine, serious point is that the differences interoperability introduces aren't that big of a deal in common use, they're not a selling point to average users and there are plenty of readily available resources to catch up after the fact.

The selling points should be about the features and content. You seriously don't need a tutorial on interoperability before making an account, just perhaps a suggestion of a good default instance to join on the service of your choice.

skeletons all looking at you

Imagine being on the Fediverse and not wanting to explain to everybody how it's the best thing since sliced bread

Oh, wait until you hear what I think of the name "Fediverse".

That weirdly makes sense. I hate it. But kinda makes sense with some people.