RVA LGBTQ+ Mastodon Server

Submitted by gletob t3_z0dyo1 in rva

Decided to setup a Mastodon server after migrating over from my private instance. Runs in the cloud, albeit on a free-tier Oracle Cloud instance so only taking limited signups as it gets started so I can watch utilization.

From the title of this post and the URL you can see I intended it to be centered around LGBTQ+ folks and their allies, but anyone from Richmond or the surrounding areas is welcome!

https://rvalgbt.xyz/invite/d3FXJACj - limited to 100 people to start, will update link if it gets used up depending on how the loading looks like.

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Charlesinrichmond t1_ix5fiqq wrote

Serious question wouldn't it be easier to set up as a subreddit? My ignorance here is vast but Mastodon instances kind of seem like DIY subreddits

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gletob OP t1_ix5kvle wrote

It's not really the type of platform as reddit, more akin to Twitter Mastodon instances are federated so you can follow people on other instances and they'll show up in your feed even though they're not members of your particular server

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Charlesinrichmond t1_ix6l5m3 wrote

Interesting, I thought the instances were more siloed

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___zero__cool___ t1_ixd4og0 wrote

Most of them will have a “local” feed, which is a feed of posts just made to that server, then a global feed which is posts made to all federated servers. You can follow anyone on any server. Usernames are like @Charlesinrichmond@server1.com or @__zero_cool__@server2.com. What will be really interesting is to see how BlueSky implements the Matrix protocol, since there are already a ton on bridge integrations that allow Matrix servers to interact with IRC, Sack, Discord, Twitter, email, SMS etc.

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Charlesinrichmond t1_ixd4xm2 wrote

isn't it so techie still that it's going to be hindering uptake? I read the last sentence with mild comprehension, for example. But most I know would read it with complete incomprehension

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___zero__cool___ t1_ixd7exc wrote

Yes, probably.

The federated models used by the Matrix protocol and the ActivityPub protocol used by Mastodon are really cool, but they both suffer from the same issue. Very techie power users will utilize the projects but never reach the critical mass of users to be relevant for a social network. Case in point, I first looked in to Matrix and Mastodon back in 2017 or so but it’s taken Twitter imploding in 2022 for even the more tech inclined general public to hear about it.

Other option is less tech inclined users just signing up on a server and ceding control over all their data to some arbitrary server owner. Both have tons of issues.

That’s why I’m super excited to see what Jack Dorsey and his former Twitter team come up with for BlueSky, since it’s built on top of the Matrix protocol. I’m really curious to see if they can keep the things that attracted the techies in the first place, while streamlining the usability for everyone.

Edit - This is why I love Signal. They took something that was only used by a dwindling amount of tech nerds and people buying drugs on dark net markets (PGP public key encryption), and made it as easy to use as Messenger or WhatsApp.

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Charlesinrichmond t1_ixdcsq0 wrote

yeah. I just don't see Mastodon going anywhere for those reasons. It needs to be seemless for mass adoption.

I also don't think twitter will go away. Most of the fear of that is by people who don't understand basic corporate structure. If it goes bankrupt it is highly unlikely to vanish - it just gets owned by someone other than Musk. I'm pretty sure many would welcome that

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datgrif t1_ix70nkp wrote

FLY THROUGH DREAMSCAPES. OF VALLEYS, GULLYS, AND SPIRES

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pulledoutdad t1_ix5ptup wrote

If you use someone else’s mastodon server, do they have access to your information?

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Charlesinrichmond t1_ix6l8ym wrote

I think the people running the servers have a lot of access and power, it's been mentioned as a possible issue

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docskreba t1_ix6yhb6 wrote

Yes. Whoever runs each server can read every DM sent between users on that server. Mastodon has serious privacy issues.

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___zero__cool___ t1_ixd4vu5 wrote

You can self-host your own server for just yourself then, that’s the beauty of the federated model.

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Asterion7 t1_ixjkwa3 wrote

I tried to sign up but no email confirmation came thru to finalize set up.

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gletob OP t1_ixksfee wrote

Hey! I missed an email from my SMTP provider and they revoked my account :( sent them the requested information verifying that I am infact human and pending them verifying me.

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