🌈Is the fediverse confusing you? ELI5: fediverse for dummies🌈
Try thinking of it like the edit: EU. Each instance (lemmy.ml, lemmy.world, kbin, beehaw, etc) is its own separate ‘state’ with its own rules and regulations. When federated, these ‘states’ talk and share content with each other. When defederated, they do not continue to talk between each other. You cannot log into another state/instance using your state/instance’s credentials, but you can see and interact with content from another state/instance.
The beauty of federation is that each instance can choose which they do and do not wish to share content/associate with.
Also, translation for ex-redditors:
subreddit = lemmy community = kbin magazine
kbin/lemmy = reddit clone
mastodon = twitter clone
You can currently connect through any of the above using whichever instance layout you prefer (reddit-like or twitter-like), though given that it’s all very in beta (early on) things will be buggy. ETA: there are, of course, more, but these are the ones I’m most familiar with currently
I hope this helps!
My understanding is that defederation has different flavors. You can be defederated, but your server can still read another’s and potentially even comment on that other server, but the communities on your server might be blocked from view on the other server. It matters what level of defederation the server admins decide upon. Please correct me if I’m wrong.
@porkins Honestly, I’m not too certain of that yet myself. All I know is that currently it’s a two-way street which is why Beehaw defederated in the interim before mod tools are developed.
I’m trying to keep it simple ;p
Try thinking of it like the United States. Each instance (lemmy.ml, lemmy.world, kbin, beehaw, etc) is its own separate ‘state’ with its own rules and regulations.
This isn’t the best example, american states basically have to play with the same rules for the most part, and can’t leave the union. Keeping the analogy, the closest example could be the EU I think, especially with the Beehaw situation.
@Delain Fair enough ^^; It seemed to make enough sense to me, looking at how different the states run things despite being a union.
But yeah, that is probably more apt.
It helps some. How do I know what “state” I’m in if using the android app?
You appear to be using lemmy.ml from my end. I am on kbin.social.
I can’t say much for the aps since I do not use them as of yet, but they might have a way to show which instance/state you’re in if you look around.
