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Instability now because software issues/immaturity, but chaos long term because instances get to decide how to do things. Is any of this going to work? If you like chaos in your internet browsing website interaction experience you've found the right place.

There's an idea of "building a plane as we're flying it." Creating something where you inherently do not know what it'll look like or even if it'll work. The only thing that everyone agrees on is hitting the ground is bad.

The Fediverse is like a squadron of incomplete planes flying together. Each plane has webcams for users in other planes, if they want them. Sometimes planes will veer off and form their own squadron. Sometimes long lost planes will fly back and rejoin. Each plane has people simply enjoying the ride, and others trying to figure out what they've build and what's next and whether the ground is getting bigger in the window. Sometimes anger at the pilots boils over into people grabbing parachutes and jumping off. Some go to other planes, some try to build their own plane where they can put their ideas for how to fly into practice.

We don't have established theories how to administrate sites, which I believe is because we don't really know how to grant and check power IRL. Experience is clear moderating/administrating internet sites requires a lot of leeway, but that leeway will eventually trend towards abuse. Modern platforms are good at suppressing user revolts, which has lead to a lot of stagnation on the internet.

Instead each Fediverse instance gets to decide for themselves how to run things; including what other instances to interact with and on what terms. Users in turn get to decide what instances work best for them. An instance that believes downvotes are harmful can ignore them. An instance that believes downvotes are important can give them extra weight. Which one makes more sense? Let's find out!

This leads to my Grand Unified Theory of Good and Deep Link Aggregation and Discussion (GUTGooDLAD): this is about finding your Cool Kids and hanging out with them. You'll know when you are accepted as a Cool Kid, but it'll be the communities with the spiciest shitposts, cutest cat pictures, and of course the most interesting links and comments.

So go forth and find your Cool Kids, cool kid. And if you can't find them, build the communities where your Cool Kids will find you.