jrm4
@jrm4.bsky.social
Black. Male. Techy. JD/. I.T. Higher-Ed teacher. Classic Rap, Linux, Free Software and Crypto Student. Incredibly insightful and ultra humble or something
Right?
I'm starting to realize you can save time by just counting the number of times people use the word "I" when you ask the question
I'm starting to realize you can save time by just counting the number of times people use the word "I" when you ask the question
November 3, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Right?
I'm starting to realize you can save time by just counting the number of times people use the word "I" when you ask the question
I'm starting to realize you can save time by just counting the number of times people use the word "I" when you ask the question
No it isn't.
If you are aware and able to vote in an election, and you can percieve *any* difference in potential harm between the two candidates...
Then not voting is a choice to NOT engage in harm reduction and thus, to cause harm.
You who do this should feel bad about yourselves.
If you are aware and able to vote in an election, and you can percieve *any* difference in potential harm between the two candidates...
Then not voting is a choice to NOT engage in harm reduction and thus, to cause harm.
You who do this should feel bad about yourselves.
October 29, 2025 at 11:06 PM
No it isn't.
If you are aware and able to vote in an election, and you can percieve *any* difference in potential harm between the two candidates...
Then not voting is a choice to NOT engage in harm reduction and thus, to cause harm.
You who do this should feel bad about yourselves.
If you are aware and able to vote in an election, and you can percieve *any* difference in potential harm between the two candidates...
Then not voting is a choice to NOT engage in harm reduction and thus, to cause harm.
You who do this should feel bad about yourselves.
Op may be right and *you're definitely wrong that it is impossible*
Sorry if you're weak or whatever, but folks like myself (Black, it may matter) are well used to living, existing, being in hostile spaces and keeping our heads, strategically if we think there may be value.
Sorry if you're weak or whatever, but folks like myself (Black, it may matter) are well used to living, existing, being in hostile spaces and keeping our heads, strategically if we think there may be value.
October 23, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Op may be right and *you're definitely wrong that it is impossible*
Sorry if you're weak or whatever, but folks like myself (Black, it may matter) are well used to living, existing, being in hostile spaces and keeping our heads, strategically if we think there may be value.
Sorry if you're weak or whatever, but folks like myself (Black, it may matter) are well used to living, existing, being in hostile spaces and keeping our heads, strategically if we think there may be value.
As a Black person familiar with also his own parents' struggles and stories politically
frankly...the entirety of this discussion is *very weird to me.*
frankly...the entirety of this discussion is *very weird to me.*
October 15, 2025 at 3:41 AM
As a Black person familiar with also his own parents' struggles and stories politically
frankly...the entirety of this discussion is *very weird to me.*
frankly...the entirety of this discussion is *very weird to me.*
Facts. The related idea that I've been working with is -- we shouldn't focus on being *nice* to the opposition, which kind of implies *being mean* -- but I've been reframing that into - "they want a drill sergeant/ mean father" type. The "meanness" needs to be there regardless of like or dislike
October 11, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Facts. The related idea that I've been working with is -- we shouldn't focus on being *nice* to the opposition, which kind of implies *being mean* -- but I've been reframing that into - "they want a drill sergeant/ mean father" type. The "meanness" needs to be there regardless of like or dislike
So true, and the Masto people -- well meaning -- mostly DID NOT HELP by "overcorrecting" WAY hard.
(sadly, in my experience, **especially** the Black people)
(sadly, in my experience, **especially** the Black people)
October 11, 2025 at 6:51 PM
So true, and the Masto people -- well meaning -- mostly DID NOT HELP by "overcorrecting" WAY hard.
(sadly, in my experience, **especially** the Black people)
(sadly, in my experience, **especially** the Black people)
whoo don't get me started.
Honestly, I think Masto missed its moment by not going hard *with big companies* after the eli lilly thing, but of course that's the opposite of most of the masto ethos
Honestly, I think Masto missed its moment by not going hard *with big companies* after the eli lilly thing, but of course that's the opposite of most of the masto ethos
October 11, 2025 at 4:56 PM
whoo don't get me started.
Honestly, I think Masto missed its moment by not going hard *with big companies* after the eli lilly thing, but of course that's the opposite of most of the masto ethos
Honestly, I think Masto missed its moment by not going hard *with big companies* after the eli lilly thing, but of course that's the opposite of most of the masto ethos
Um -- so I like the theory and vibes
But an *ID* is the literal opposite of anonymity.
This really doesn't make any sense.
But an *ID* is the literal opposite of anonymity.
This really doesn't make any sense.
October 10, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Um -- so I like the theory and vibes
But an *ID* is the literal opposite of anonymity.
This really doesn't make any sense.
But an *ID* is the literal opposite of anonymity.
This really doesn't make any sense.
Nice, same as as Cairo, GA?
aka
KAY-row?
aka
KAY-row?
October 8, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Nice, same as as Cairo, GA?
aka
KAY-row?
aka
KAY-row?
Haha
Cairo, Georgia
and
Havana, Florida
near me fit this *perfectly*
Also, there's the whole "Houston everywhere except texas"
Cairo, Georgia
and
Havana, Florida
near me fit this *perfectly*
Also, there's the whole "Houston everywhere except texas"
October 8, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Haha
Cairo, Georgia
and
Havana, Florida
near me fit this *perfectly*
Also, there's the whole "Houston everywhere except texas"
Cairo, Georgia
and
Havana, Florida
near me fit this *perfectly*
Also, there's the whole "Houston everywhere except texas"
I agree, but like -- *layers*
It just feels smarter to build on the definitely functional mediocrity that is Mastodon (which you could build healthy centralization on top of) than to go hard on "you can take it with you," which has literally never been done well and is already showing flaws.
It just feels smarter to build on the definitely functional mediocrity that is Mastodon (which you could build healthy centralization on top of) than to go hard on "you can take it with you," which has literally never been done well and is already showing flaws.
October 8, 2025 at 10:10 PM
I agree, but like -- *layers*
It just feels smarter to build on the definitely functional mediocrity that is Mastodon (which you could build healthy centralization on top of) than to go hard on "you can take it with you," which has literally never been done well and is already showing flaws.
It just feels smarter to build on the definitely functional mediocrity that is Mastodon (which you could build healthy centralization on top of) than to go hard on "you can take it with you," which has literally never been done well and is already showing flaws.
I was thinking of it in the Schneier sense, but I suppose what I really mean is "fails in a more antifragile fashion."
Feels like Mastodon's numerous smaller failures are way more manageable than ATProto's bigger ones.
Feels like Mastodon's numerous smaller failures are way more manageable than ATProto's bigger ones.
October 8, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I was thinking of it in the Schneier sense, but I suppose what I really mean is "fails in a more antifragile fashion."
Feels like Mastodon's numerous smaller failures are way more manageable than ATProto's bigger ones.
Feels like Mastodon's numerous smaller failures are way more manageable than ATProto's bigger ones.
I guess its this: I **love** ATProto's theory. "Take your stuff with you" is such a cool idea.
But, like, I'm a huge geek pushing 50 -- and I'll self host everything EXCEPT EMAIL because ITS TOO HARD.
But now ATProto's gonna come along and fix this and make it easy? So doubtful. Good luck.
But, like, I'm a huge geek pushing 50 -- and I'll self host everything EXCEPT EMAIL because ITS TOO HARD.
But now ATProto's gonna come along and fix this and make it easy? So doubtful. Good luck.
October 8, 2025 at 5:49 PM
I guess its this: I **love** ATProto's theory. "Take your stuff with you" is such a cool idea.
But, like, I'm a huge geek pushing 50 -- and I'll self host everything EXCEPT EMAIL because ITS TOO HARD.
But now ATProto's gonna come along and fix this and make it easy? So doubtful. Good luck.
But, like, I'm a huge geek pushing 50 -- and I'll self host everything EXCEPT EMAIL because ITS TOO HARD.
But now ATProto's gonna come along and fix this and make it easy? So doubtful. Good luck.
Don't get me wrong, I *want* all of you to be correct in theory about "everyone and their own repo"
But I *just dont see it happening* -- I mean, that's prohibitively difficult for even the nerdiest of nerds WITH EMAIL. That's why I -- wait for it -- pay a trusted provider.
But I *just dont see it happening* -- I mean, that's prohibitively difficult for even the nerdiest of nerds WITH EMAIL. That's why I -- wait for it -- pay a trusted provider.
October 8, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Don't get me wrong, I *want* all of you to be correct in theory about "everyone and their own repo"
But I *just dont see it happening* -- I mean, that's prohibitively difficult for even the nerdiest of nerds WITH EMAIL. That's why I -- wait for it -- pay a trusted provider.
But I *just dont see it happening* -- I mean, that's prohibitively difficult for even the nerdiest of nerds WITH EMAIL. That's why I -- wait for it -- pay a trusted provider.
Spoken like someone who doesn't remember the early days of email. :)
Yes, server hopping sucks. But my bet is that the small failures that require server hopping are smarter than atproto trying to fix everything once and for all, while still showing the same problems?
Yes, server hopping sucks. But my bet is that the small failures that require server hopping are smarter than atproto trying to fix everything once and for all, while still showing the same problems?
October 8, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Spoken like someone who doesn't remember the early days of email. :)
Yes, server hopping sucks. But my bet is that the small failures that require server hopping are smarter than atproto trying to fix everything once and for all, while still showing the same problems?
Yes, server hopping sucks. But my bet is that the small failures that require server hopping are smarter than atproto trying to fix everything once and for all, while still showing the same problems?
All of this proves to me the ultimate point that just kind of hit me:
Mastodon is better because it "fails elegantly"
All of these little small failures are good little human learning instances that will improve things.
atproto will just likely FAIL HARD
Mastodon is better because it "fails elegantly"
All of these little small failures are good little human learning instances that will improve things.
atproto will just likely FAIL HARD
October 8, 2025 at 5:40 PM
All of this proves to me the ultimate point that just kind of hit me:
Mastodon is better because it "fails elegantly"
All of these little small failures are good little human learning instances that will improve things.
atproto will just likely FAIL HARD
Mastodon is better because it "fails elegantly"
All of these little small failures are good little human learning instances that will improve things.
atproto will just likely FAIL HARD
Again , the concept of ATProto has picked the wrong battle. "Every provider will eventually suck so lets introduce this VERY complex thing that no one has ever remotely done before" seems less smart than "How are providers incentivized to suck less" -- when the latter has happened, incrementally.
October 8, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Again , the concept of ATProto has picked the wrong battle. "Every provider will eventually suck so lets introduce this VERY complex thing that no one has ever remotely done before" seems less smart than "How are providers incentivized to suck less" -- when the latter has happened, incrementally.
Sure. And my argument would be -- this is exactly why email/Mastodon is a smarter bet. Of all of these services it fails the most elegantly.
ATProto is trying to invent basically a new concept (take it with you) that sounds great in the abstract but ultimately fails on complexity, I suspect.
ATProto is trying to invent basically a new concept (take it with you) that sounds great in the abstract but ultimately fails on complexity, I suspect.
October 8, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Sure. And my argument would be -- this is exactly why email/Mastodon is a smarter bet. Of all of these services it fails the most elegantly.
ATProto is trying to invent basically a new concept (take it with you) that sounds great in the abstract but ultimately fails on complexity, I suspect.
ATProto is trying to invent basically a new concept (take it with you) that sounds great in the abstract but ultimately fails on complexity, I suspect.
You answered your own question :)
Again, I just don't believe "inventing a completely new concept, aka 'you can always take it with you'" -- something untested, unproven, etc etc is smarter than "eh, just do the email thing. it can suck, but it works"
Again, I just don't believe "inventing a completely new concept, aka 'you can always take it with you'" -- something untested, unproven, etc etc is smarter than "eh, just do the email thing. it can suck, but it works"
October 8, 2025 at 5:32 PM
You answered your own question :)
Again, I just don't believe "inventing a completely new concept, aka 'you can always take it with you'" -- something untested, unproven, etc etc is smarter than "eh, just do the email thing. it can suck, but it works"
Again, I just don't believe "inventing a completely new concept, aka 'you can always take it with you'" -- something untested, unproven, etc etc is smarter than "eh, just do the email thing. it can suck, but it works"
yup KEEP GOING.
Being forever tied to an identity thing IS THE PROBLEM.
Servers and identities as ephemeral and disposable is GOOD. It forces people to actually, uh, commune
Being forever tied to an identity thing IS THE PROBLEM.
Servers and identities as ephemeral and disposable is GOOD. It forces people to actually, uh, commune
October 8, 2025 at 4:51 AM
yup KEEP GOING.
Being forever tied to an identity thing IS THE PROBLEM.
Servers and identities as ephemeral and disposable is GOOD. It forces people to actually, uh, commune
Being forever tied to an identity thing IS THE PROBLEM.
Servers and identities as ephemeral and disposable is GOOD. It forces people to actually, uh, commune
Technically I *hope* so too, but I'm pretty much 99% skeptical at this point.
October 8, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Technically I *hope* so too, but I'm pretty much 99% skeptical at this point.
If you're talking Masto, I think it's biggest problem is actually that it tries to police assholes TOO MUCH and is thus boring.
October 8, 2025 at 4:48 AM
If you're talking Masto, I think it's biggest problem is actually that it tries to police assholes TOO MUCH and is thus boring.