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imaqtpie @sh.itjust.works
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[Discussion] Should we defederate exploding-heads.com? (Closing arguments)

Exploding-heads.com is another instance on Lemmy where alt-right MAGA types tend to reside. Some people on this server want us to defederate from them immediately, some people want to save defederation as a last resort. They have 104 active users (more stats below).

It seems that exploding-heads has also experienced a recent botswarm invasion. This is obviously another point in favor of defederating them, assuming you are worried about botswarms, which is currently being discussed here.

My advice to you all is please try to discuss this in a civil manner, we need not allow them to create divisive conflict inside our communities. No matter how the vote turns out, you're not going to be able to defederate from your fellow sh.itheads so be nice.

I've linked many of the previous discussions below so people who are out of the loop can get a general sense of the situation.

https://sh.itjust.works/post/216888 https://sh.itjust.works/post/225714 https://sh.itjust.works/post/281126 https://sh.itjust.works/post/410325

Lemmy.world just recently defederated them.

https://lemmy.world/post/747912

https://lemmy.world/post/577526

Although this could be considered a point in favor of defederation, it actually means even if we vote to remain federated, people have a great alternative in lemmy.world where they can still participate in our communities and simultaneously be protected from exploding-heads.

Ensuring diversity of servers is beneficial to the platform as a whole, but it is also not our responsibility to bear that burden.

TLDR, just wrap up any last points in this thread before we open the vote tomorrow. Please be civil.

EDIT: To clarify, this isn't the official vote, this is the final discussion. The vote thread will be posted tomorrow and you will only be allowed to make a single comment saying Aye or Nay.

EDIT2: Vote thread is up, this thread is now locked. Very lively discussion thread sh.itheads. Please try to be more respectful next time.

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384 comments

  • I think I will start a larger thread in the main community about what free speech means in the context of a somewhat anonymous internet. My current view is that while I want to promote openness and free speech that can really only work in a context where the person exercising their speech feels some necessity to use it responsibly and in an honest way. On the internet that takes a lot of self control because the social norms of every day life don't always apply because a) no one knows who you are b) there is not a human being right in front of you that you might feel empathy for c) there are no consequences to anything you say d) not all posts are even by humans. With all these taken together there is a compelling argument that speech may need to be more highly regulated on the internet than in face to face interactions. With the present instance we are discussing they may fit the mold as they have bots ( which don't have any right to free speech ) and posts which seem to be more focused on attacking people in bad faith rather than having honest discussion. I think the point I do want to make though is it's not the speech itself that I find that is the problem it's the methods of the speech : bots, and trollish attack posts; that I take issue with. I think that speech where the person is just mistaken, wrong, or I disagree with them should be allowed. I might change my mind on that in the future but that is my current stance.

384 comments