Dear admins, mods, and modmins...
Alas, the same "open registration" instances are used over and over again to harass and troll the fedi. Yes, we understand the arguments for allowing open registration.
But tbh? We find those arguments unconvincing given the abuse we see.
The fedi has a serial troll / spammer problem and open registration contributes to its continuation. Offering them the means to register and immediately harass people makes for a less friendly fediverse, not a more friendly one. Reviewing a "reason for joining" before approving an account is not too much to ask. If it is, then we respectfully suggest that the instance has either too many members or too few moderators.
When an instance becomes a go-to for trolls because it offers instant access, that instance creates work for every other federated instance, makes fedizens into victims, and feeds the trolls' need for attention. That there is such a simple solution (manual approval / vibe check) is kind of infuriating at times.
We know that this plea / request will not convince those driven by growth and open registration no matter the cost to the fedi community. But if we convince at least one open registration instance to switch to screened approvals, we will consider it a win.
Lastly: If you're on an open reg instance, we suggest POLITELY asking your admin / mods to change their policy.
Poliverso - notizie dal Fediverso ⁂
in reply to The Overgoddess • •@The Overgoddess
No, the arguments for open registration aren't that important: open registration is the foundation of the fediverse.
The problem is that the arguments that seek to challenge the open registration policy are flawed.
Banking open registration doesn't prevent harassment: we're in the fediverse, and anyone can create an instance in minutes to harass someone else!
Banking open registration only makes the world a worse place for most people, makes the Fediverse harder to reach, and puts people in difficulty while leaving exactly the same freedom to the more open-minded!
Want a protected environment for your instance? Federation it only with instances you like and that practice registration with prior approval.
Charline likes this.
The Overgoddess
in reply to Poliverso - notizie dal Fediverso ⁂ • • •@notizie Oh please.
"Open registration is the foundation of the fediverse."
Nnno, federation is the foundation of the fediverse. It's in the name?
"Banking open registration doesn't prevent harassment."
It dramatically reduces the risk of harassing accounts beogn created, from those instances responsible enough to use it. Else, we would not be acting as proxy admins for the open registration instances unwilling to take basic steps.
"Anyone can create an instance in minutes to harass people."
Ur def of 'everyone' is rather suspect. Trolls and spammers use open instances to harass people exactly because it isn't as easy as u claim.
"Banking open registration makes the world a worse place for most people."
Opinion.
"More freedom."
You do realize that non-open registration usu requires (on Mastodon) literally a few sentences and a short delay, yes? If someone needs instant grats to get started, they should prob touch grass.
This weird "much freedom" argument is the dog whistle of every supremacist and troll instance ever. Do better.
Bytebro 🇬🇧 🇺🇦 🌈
in reply to The Overgoddess • • •@notizie
Haha! Some of us (i.e. me) are old enough to remember "The September that never ended" in 1993, and what that did to Usenet. Today? In my opinion, open registration on the Fedi is a poor idea, as it gives the inevitable bad actors an easy in. Putting a bouncer on the door makes it a nicer club for everyone, and won't deter nice people 😉
Bitslingers-R-Us likes this.
Poliverso - notizie dal Fediverso ⁂
in reply to The Overgoddess • •@The Overgoddess
The federation ensures that an instance can decide which other instances to federate with: one of the possibilities is to federate only with the instances that have decided to practice free membership.
My experience as an administrator has made me understand that users accustomed to the immediacy of commercial social networks cannot wait even those few minutes, because waiting is a worsening of the user experience and a fediverse hunted by so many competitors cannot afford it.
This is an elitist attitude that's bad for the Fediverse. The principle that we can do without certain lazy users deprives us of the diversity that makes a community strong and stimulating. Doing without users, perhaps with the best intentions and who can find an environment in which to improve here—doing without these users—means pushing us ever further toward the endogamy of closed societies.
The most important thing is that there's no way to limit harassment by approving recordings. The only option is to be a good moderator.
Charline likes this.
The Overgoddess
in reply to Poliverso - notizie dal Fediverso ⁂ • • •@notizie our post was not an invitation to debate, not are we inclined to do so.
As we said, we understand the arguments for open registration. We simply find them uncompelling.
Poliverso - notizie dal Fediverso ⁂
in reply to The Overgoddess • •@The Overgoddess
As I've said, the arguments for open registration aren't important, since open registration is a prevailing fact and doesn't need to be argued.
Rather, it's registration with approval, which must be specifically justified by the conditions. And harassment isn't a valid justification for imposing it.
I understand it's difficult to reconsider one's opinions, but I'll ask you a question: how would you approach organizations that practice registration with approval, but whose harassers manage to register because they don't appear to be harassers? And how would you approach organizations that practice registration with approval, but who approve anyone? Or those that only approve the most troubled sociopaths?
You see, registration with approval doesn't eliminate harassment; good moderation, however, mitigates harassment.
The Overgoddess
in reply to Poliverso - notizie dal Fediverso ⁂ • • •@notizie were we not clear the first time?
We are uninterested in debate.