[mcv]

> Why do admins get a say in who their users follow in the first place?

Because it's their server and they have opinions of what their server is about and what's acceptable there. But more importantly: because their users don't want to have to individually block every troll and nazi out there. There are entire instances dedicated to just shitting all over everybody else, and most people on other instances don't want to have to wade through that shit.

Users can choose their server based on its policies. Maybe admins should be more up-front about their server's policies. But some degree of moderation is simply unavoidable on the internet today, because we've seen time and time again that everything turns to crap if you don't moderate. HN moderates too.

[MForster]

I get moderation of replies. But I choose myself who I follow. Nobody needs to moderate that.

[catboybotnet]

Spin up your own instance if you don't like that. You are using someone else's platform to follow, so you go by their rules whether you like it or not.

[MForster]

Yes, that's what I did (and said so in the top post)

[JohnFen]

Then what's the problem?

For people who don't want to spin up their own, they can likely find instances whose policies are in line with their own and join those.

[xigoi]

Except it's pretty much impossible to find instances that don't have vague rules like “no hate speech”.

[JohnFen]

Well then, start your own? Or perhaps ask around in your online social circles to see if someone is running such an instance? Or stick around wherever you currently are (I assume that it's in line with your preferences).

The strength of federation is that every instance operator can set the rules that best suit themselves and the audience they cater to. You can leverage this ability just as much as everyone else can.

It's pretty hard to think up a better scheme than this for ensuring that everyone has the sort of space they are OK with.

[rchaud]

You're a 1-click install away from setting up your own Mastodon fiefdom if you so choose.

Or you can follow them outside of Mastodon on RSS by adding ".rss" to their public profile URL.

[JohnFen]

Nobody is moderating that. That's part of the strength of a federated system.