[kstrauser]

What if I register the email address [e-mail] or [e-mail] and claim to be the original?

More broadly, there are lots of John Smiths in the world. Context is everything: the John Smith in my Bay Area office is different from the John Smith who makes the news in Boston.

[cortesoft]

Right, but my point is that this is a problem that the AT protocol is trying to solve. You pointing out that it is a problem elsewhere is exactly the point; why not try to solve it?

This is especially important for a federated system where individual servers may come and go, and you want to have the ability to move your account if the server goes down or starts doing something shady.

Part of the reason people choose a centralized social media service is because they know their account will last and they can build a reputation. Unless you can move your account and maintain your reputation, a federated system won't have that trait.

[criddell]

The AT protocol is designed to fix this. If email ran on AT, you could take your [e-mail] account and move it to Microsoft or even your own server.

[kstrauser]

Understood, but... was that in dire need of fixing? We're all pretty acclimated to it over the decades we've used email.

That isn't to say we can't or shouldn't improve things. It's more that I'm not convinced the problem here is important enough to justify the complexity of the solution.

[cortesoft]

People have worked around this problem by choosing an account at a well known, long lasting, centralized service.

This is why people have email accounts on gmail instead of a smaller provider; they know the email will last and they can maintain control of it. Same for twitter and facebook accounts.

If the whole point is to get away from centralized services and move to a federated model, that problem needs to be solved.

[criddell]

For some people, it would be a big deal if Google suddenly locked their account. They might say it’s worth it.

[jrm4]

In what universe do you think the Google corporation would allow people to violate their trademark on another's server? Not technically, but legally.

The more I roll over this AT thing in my head, the dumber it really sounds. The skin-in-the-game nature of tying names to servers, and also -- this is the important part -- the fact anyone can make their own server, is an infinitely better solution.

[criddell]

I think you misunderstood. kstrauser and I were using gmail as an analogy. You’re right about Google owning gmail. That was my point - you don’t really own anything. If they lock you out, you’re screwed.

I agree that the fact anyone can make their own server is great and I’m glad the AT protocol supports that.