Joseph Quattrocchi

@warning @Linux @Sujiyan @mellifluousbox @haubles The instance maintainer is active and engaged, regularly posting content. The instance is funded, and the organization behind it has a track record of supporting and developing Mastodon. The conflict: (1) .cloud is based in Japan, (2) they aim to keep the instance open, (3) they lack dedicated admin and moderation teams, though that’s common across many instances, and (4) it’s one of several internet projects they support, not a primary focus.

@mastodeck @Barredo I get this message: "Mastodon instance is not valid" What's wrong?

@Barredo @mastodeck Now it says: "Client authentication failed due to unknown client, no client authentication included, or unsupported authentication method. "

@warning @mellifluousbox @haubles This puts the onus of responsibility on users to both police their instance and protect their data from vigilante campaigns. The responsibility should be placed on publicly accountable institutions to maintain the protocol and sustain the communities built on them. In this case, Mastodon gGmbH should be developing a conflict mediation process. Surely these inter-instance conflicts will continue to occur.

@Linux @warning @Sujiyan @mellifluousbox @haubles Yes, this is an effort to assess the problem and pursue constructive solutions. There’s a technical issue already being addressed by the engineering team. We should also explore moderation approaches for larger, international instances. The goal is to grow the network, not burn bridges or lose instances.

@warning @mellifluousbox @haubles Disagree. In large populations, goals and values diverge. Asymmetric social protocols enable useful exchange with strangers, especially for journalism and science. Forcing everyone into constant “infowar” to protect data drains that value. Without accountable public authority, power concentrates into private tyranny - look at what has happened with Twitter-X.

@warning @mellifluousbox @haubles Also, a fundamental assumption is going unaddressed: this decentralized protocol already involves central authorities and coordinating institutions - Mastodon, the EU, the W3C, the Sovereign Tech Agency, and others. “Decentralized” does not mean the absence of central coordination; it means a system with multiple poles rather than a single absolute center.