Hello everyone,

Based on the recent instability of Lemmy.world, a lot of people have been wondering whether they should move to another instance.

I used to look at https://lemmy.fediverse.observer/list and recommend people to pick a generalist instance with as much users as possible (using the 1m column), usually

Of course, there are also the regional options

And of course, the thematic instances

I used to recommend the most populated instances, as we know that All depends on users subscribed from the instance.

However, now with the introduction of the Lemmy Community Seeder (https://github.com/Fmstrat/lcs), which

tells your instance to pull the top communities and the communities with the top posts from your favorite instances

do you think this should still apply? I have seen promising instances (high uptime, already on 18.4 that was released today)

Would you recommend users to join those as well, assuming that the admins use the LCS to populate the All feed? Most of us remember the Vlemmy.net disappearance, and it’s difficult to tell users to join small instances based on good faith, but at the same time, every instance needs to start somewhere, and they should be given a chance.

What do you think?

    •  trimmerfrost   ( @trimmerfrost@lemm.ee ) 
      4•11 months ago

      When you are running a mainstream public service, you should be automatically obliged to uphold every dissenting speech. Otherwise, you will end up effectively censoring free speech

      I know instances don’t have to technically do that. But the same argument can be said for countries too. Islamic fascist countries like Iran say, “we will run our country whatever way we want”, which translates to murdering atheists, homosexuals, non-muslims and apostates, axing every obvious right, etc etc

      •  chrisbit   ( @chrisbit@leminal.space ) English
        10•11 months ago

        Hey, I get where you’re coming from, but I don’t see this as being a ‘free speech’ issue. This isn’t a public service that anyone is obliged to use - it’s social media that I’m spending my time and money administering, and I don’t want that effort to in any way spread right wing discourse, because I see it as harmful.

        Similarly, even if it was a public service that we’re talking about, say a national broadcaster, I don’t buy into the notion that they should carry ‘both sides of the story’ out of a sense of ‘balance’, or upholding ‘free speech’, if the other side are nutters.

        •  Ulu-Mulu-no-die   ( @ulu_mulu@lemm.ee ) English
          5•11 months ago

          You have to right to do what you want, people criticizing your choices are those who are confused about what free speech really means (hint: it’s about the government, it doesn’t apply to private entities).

      •  Ulu-Mulu-no-die   ( @ulu_mulu@lemm.ee ) English
        8•11 months ago

        Free speech means they don’t arrest you for what you say, it’s about the government, not private entities.

        Private platforms are free to do what they want, free speech rules don’t apply to them.

      •  EssentialCoffee   ( @EssentialCoffee@midwest.social ) English
        4•11 months ago

        When you are running a mainstream public service

        What government is running a Lemmy instance and allowing regular people to make personal accounts?

        I know instances don’t have to technically do that. But the same argument can be said for countries too.

        Any individuals claiming sovereign immunity likely need mental help.

      •  quat   ( @quat@lemmy.sdfeu.org ) 
        3•11 months ago

        Imho, the argument doesn’t translate to countries. In Iran, the government has a monopoly on governing, and most people can’t just hop over to another country with different laws. In effect, you can be stuck with a system you don’t like.

        In the digital world, and Lemmy in particular, the same is not true. If you have a computer, you can “start a new country” with your own rules. No one is forced to join, and you can’t force anyone else to do anything. As a whole, Lemmy allows all opinions. The problem is central power, and free federated software is a solution.