Finding an instance that blocks least and is least blocked

CrimeDad@lemmy.one to Asklemmy@lemmy.ml – 3 points –

Is there a way to shop around for a Lemmy instance based on how many instances are blocking it and how many instances it's blocking? For example, I noticed that the lemmygrad.ml instance is relatively popular, but it seems like a lot of other instances block it. It also blocks a bunch of other instances. So, if there are any communities on there that might be relevant to me then I would be missing out. I guess I could just create an account on a walled instance, but I would prefer not to keep creating accounts. I'd like to just find one instance that maximizes my access. Is the answer to just run my own instance?

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Some folks think that defederation is a bad thing. OK.

Here's a little experiment you can try at home.

  1. Stop using GMail, Hey, or whatever email service you're currently using.
  2. Set up your own mail server (there's instructions on the internet).
  3. When the instructions say to use a Remote Black List just ignore them.
  4. When the instructions say to validate domains, ignore those too.
  5. When the instructions say to set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC just let those slide.
  6. Try to send / receive email
  7. Also try to read your inbox. For added benefit turn on all notifications for received mail.

Voila. Now you have an unfettered email experience.

And this, class, is why defederation is useful.

Please send your comments to the overworked TA in the back of the room.

— Craig Maloney

Is running your own Lemmy instance as difficult as an email server?

probably not, but you'd get the same amount of horrible stuff as you'd get if you turned off all the security precautions on an email server. the point i'm making here by quoting Maloney is that blocking is a security precaution. less is more, and by joining an instance that doesn't block anyone, you're exposing yourself to a lot of terrible stuff. besides, instances that don't block get blocked themselves, so horrible stuff would be all you'd see

Edit: apparently lemmygrad is much worse than I realized

The only caveat I have to this is that being communist shouldn't be an automatic block. Lemmy.ml doesn't block lemmygrad and I see no reason why it should, the posts I see are like "wow capitalism is fucking us up" not like "Tiananmen did nothing wrong and let's repeat it x1000" so it really doesn't seem comparable to proactively blocking Nazis. If you block "both sides" of a violent conflict like, say, the war in Ukraine, you've suddenly blocked everyone with a useful opinion.

Have you read Lemmygrad's sidebar at all? They describe themselves as Tienanmen Square truthers, are openly pro-DPRK, and fully support genocide in the name of Communism. They exemplify everything bad people say about tankies and they take great pride in it.

Wanting to cut out tankies and Nazis is NOT being a radical centrist who wants to "both sides" every issue, it's just being a normal human being who doesn't have bees in their head.

Ahh no I access Lemmy via the mobile app. Thanks for the information, I'll be blocking them.

Lemmygrad isn't blocked because of their views, it's blocked because it's a massive troll farm. the posts that you see don't include the replies they make to posts which they deem not communist enough, where they sealion and argue in bad faith until the op is driven out

And that doesn't apply to liberals and every other ideology on this site? Every person has a political view which affects their opinions

if a liberal/anarchist/not-ML instance popped up and started behaving like Lemmygrad does, they'd get mass-defederated too. like i said, it's not their views they got defederated for, it's their behavior

I saw a lot of tianamen didn't happen, CCP worship, etc on there for the first few days after I registered, which is a bit problematic.

I wound up blocking them after a couple days, more because I don't care about a tiny fringe movement (in my country), and don't have any interest in their content.

U might want to take a look at the federation map. It might be a bit overwhelming but in the settings on the bottom left you may chose blocked and allowed in order to get some insights on who federates with whom.

Oh wow what did lemmygrad.ml do?

They're just generally annoying. They're tankies, constantly praising Putin and the CCP.

Basically sums it up really, although it's great fun to drop in and stir up shit every so often.

They're completely off the deep end though.

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tbh, there is no such instance. Not blocking any other instances is often a reason to be blocked by other instances.

An instance that blocks no one is in effect a "free" speech instance that prioritises the right to be bigoted over the need to provide safe spaces for folk. And that means that instances that value the need for safe spaces over "free" speech are going to block the instances that don't block anyone else as a means of creating and maintaining that safe space.