This morning while checking if Quokk.au’s new instance logo was federated out, I discovered that overnight we had been shadowbanned from the PieFed.Social Instance Chooser (This is a tool to help spread out users across the platform and help avoid funnelling users into the largest.)
Knowing that Rimu was happy to explain, I just asked for some clarification as we were visible on every other PieFed instance except his.
Apparently for ’ obvious reasons ', of which I can only assume is our left leaning anarchist/pro-trans stance we were chosen not be advertised on the PieFed flagship instance and first point of contact for many potential new users. Seeing as a large portion of our new users found us via this method, it will have a tangible effect on a small instance such as ours.
This was a pretty sad sight to see, and reflects the sort of petty drama that is emanating from the PieFed project lately. It’s now the third such move to discredit and harm left leaning instances by PieFed’s lead developer. This also shows a trend towards autocratic unilateral decision-making on Piefed.social, of which is starting to be run as a personal fiefdom without consulting the team or users.
I must commend Lemmy.ml for remaining neutral and not letting its own political leanings influence join-lemmy.org, while simultaneously condemn PieFed.social for this immature move that is harmful to the health of the Fediverse.
Following this exchange, Rimu announced a new update to PieFed allowing for some rather concerning things.
- Modlog: Reason for the action is only shown from trusted instances, so abusive mods won’t have an audience. Admins can still see the reason though. Which instances are trusted is set in the admin UI.
This feature means problematic users can now go undetected, and will harm moderators ability to view their past moderation history. For example PieFed.social runs a ‘trusted’ list of only 34 instances, meaning any mod action taken by any of the hundreds of instances outside of this will not show up. So for example if Quokk.au was to ban a user for transphobia (our most common ban), this will not be reflected for piefed.social users potentially leading towards more hate speech on the Fediverse.
- Instance silencing similar to Mastodon. A silenced instance is not defederated from but their posts do not show in the Popular or All feeds and their communities are not shown in Starter packs aka Topics. Their communities can still be found in the communities list and joined in the normal way. Once joined, posts in there show up in the subscribed feed as usual.
This is another way to shadowban instances and not ‘advertise’ them. Surely if an instance is problematic enough that a defederation would be in order rather than this reddit-like move.
that explains why my account got banned before i had a chance to use it.
atleast it ended up working out in my favor: i had intended to switch away from lemmy.word and the ban led me to lemmy.ml; where my social media diet hot a million times better and it made me stop doom-scrolling all the time.
Well, on ML they just ban you from ML when you don’t agree with the hive ;)
I think you’re mistaking “don’t agree” with an ideological refusal to engage with criticism. You’re either engaging in the discussion or not. Maybe you tell yourself “it’s just time to log off”, but everyone can see your evasiveness.
They ban you when you make it clear that you’re unwilling to learn how to deprogram yourself.
Sorry bud, China is a capitalist country. Just like all the rest. ✌️
No, the PRC is a socialist country, same as Cuba, Vietnam, the DPRK, Laos, and former USSR. The working classes control the state since 1949, and public ownership is the principal aspect of the economy. I have yet to see a compelling, rational argument for why this should be considered “capitalist” that doesn’t treat socialism like a fantasy in test-tube conditions, rather than a real mode of production and distribution.
Funny how ‘just like all the rest’ still manages to shrink billionaires instead of worshiping them or letting them control the gov’t; but sure, totally the same. Lol
Yawn. The billionaires control all the governments. Keep on showing us how you simp for the billionaires.
project harder. i just pointed out one system actually restrains the rich — you’re the one who needs all governments to look identical so you don’t have to update your tired, lazy worldview. now go tuck your billionaire boogeyman back into bed and maybe read a book.
You just simped for the billionaires while trying to get out of being accused of simping for billionaires.
reading comprehension isn’t your strong suit, is it? pointing out that one system actually curbs billionaires isn’t simping — it’s just a fact you can’t handle because your whole personality is ‘all governments bad, me smart.’ you’re not woke, you’re just lazy. now run along and practice arguing with someone who confuses cynicism for intelligence.
“Noo don’t look at the executions of billionaires and corrupt officials, they’re fake! Better things aren’t possible! I’m not listening lalalala you’re a simp.”
Woooo dogpile!
Lol, no. They ban anyone not willing to buy the building propaganda they spew
history’s full of empires that swore they were the only ones without propaganda; you’re just repeating their script wo knowing it.
I never said anything about anyone else’s propoganda.
It’s ironic you’re saying this while Whatabouting away criticism of the propoganda you’re covering for.
And you’ll plug your ears and cheer when I get banned for saying this here.
I never cheer when they get banned; I feel like each one would be me if life hadn’t kicked my ass hard enough to force me to learn that western/capitalist contradictions are everywhere.
The fact of the matter is that the western hegemon – our hegemon – has been legally forced to admit that they fabricated their propaganda in writing thanks to the freedom of information act since the 1980’s yet westerners – Americans in particular – cling that that proganda nonetheless. (And the fact that you can learn of this propaganda just as easily as reading the Epstein files is icing on this cake).
The worst part is that they use the propaganda to defend their world view wo ever knowing it.