Poll

Are you interested in an EEVblog Mastodon server?

What's a Mastodon?
47 (41.2%)
No, don't waste your time!
24 (21.1%)
No, but don't care if there is one
16 (14%)
Yes, and I'll use it.
11 (9.6%)
Don't care at all
16 (14%)

Total Members Voted: 114

Author Topic: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?  (Read 7776 times)

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Online EEVblogTopic starter

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POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« on: November 23, 2022, 11:54:37 pm »
As the poll says, should I bother to set up an EEVblog Mastodon server?
A couple of people have complained there isn't an electronics focussed server, whatever that matters for?  :-//
I don't use it myself, I'm all-in on Twitter.
 

Offline Jackster

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #1 on: November 24, 2022, 12:06:07 am »
I use to run a Mastodon instance a couple years ago. Around 50-60k users at the time.

I might be a bit behind on what it is like now but..
I don't really see the platform going anywhere tbh. It will sever it's current userbase well but won't get to large scale.

 There is no monetisation for server owners so they are either running them at a loss or asking for donations. Granted most servers don't need the server scale that we ran with at 50-60k users and 10TB of media files.
Small instances can run on decent raspberry Pi boards..

Pretty much have 3 types of users on it.
Banned Twitter users.
Anti Twitter users
People who are on both platforms, that don't really pay attention to Masterdon.

There are also some servers that are into CP content. Said content can end up being pushed to your own server if you don't actively ban those servers from the start.

It could be interesting though as EE is so niche, even with a few hundred to a thousand users, finding interesting things and users would be easier than on Twitter where everyone is after attention.

If you do go ahead with it, I know the server stack pretty well. Happy to help out.

Offline MrMobodies

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #2 on: November 24, 2022, 12:08:07 am »
Seeing that it is decentralized I think it's an idea worth looking into especially if Twitter starts banning people/content or doing unfavourable stuff to the masses on there like what happened with Youtube and the dislike counter.

I wonder, is it possible to synchronize and replicate all of your Twitter posts and tweets on that platform just as a backup incase anything happens.
« Last Edit: November 24, 2022, 12:10:16 am by MrMobodies »
 

Offline John B

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #3 on: November 24, 2022, 12:30:42 am »
I've been hearing mixed things. I like the idea of decentralisation for social media. You can self select if you want an echo chamber.

But is it bound by german speech laws?
 

Offline wilfred

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #4 on: November 24, 2022, 12:42:52 am »
I've been hearing mixed things. I like the idea of decentralisation for social media. You can self select if you want an echo chamber.

But is it bound by german speech laws?

It seems to me it's the people who do the shouting that select whether you get an echo chamber. I suppose you could try talking about Nazis to find out if German laws apply.
 

Offline wilfred

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #5 on: November 24, 2022, 01:01:37 am »
If you want to set one up why not just go ahead and do it. I hadn't heard of Mastodon until a few days ago when I read an article saying disgruntled Twitter users were starting to do it. I don't know if I am just out-of-touch with the various social media platforms but if I'm not an outlier then maybe many other forum users also don't know if they would benefit from it.

You get very few responses to polls and I would argue a self-selected unrepresentative few. So maybe suck it and see, or "build it, and he will come" would be a better approach.

I doubt whether in a niche like EEVblog fills it would be any more problematic to manage than the forum. And for me it might shift a lot of the noise that has built up since the TEA fiasco away from the forum proper. That may be a big plus for many forum users.

I say do it and see what happens.
 

Online thm_w

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2022, 01:53:11 am »
I've been hearing mixed things. I like the idea of decentralisation for social media. You can self select if you want an echo chamber.

But is it bound by german speech laws?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastodon_(software)
Quote
Mastodon uses community-based moderation, in which each server can limit, or filter out undesirable types of content. For example, mastodon.social and several other servers ban content that is illegal in Germany or France, including Nazi symbolism, Holocaust denial, and incitement of violence against Jews. Servers can also choose to limit, or filter out messages with disparaging content. Mastodon's founder Eugen Rochko (born in Russia and based in Jena, Germany) believes that small, closely related communities deal with unwanted behaviour more effectively than a large company's small safety team.[20] Users can also block and report others to administrators, much like on Twitter.
Profile -> Modify profile -> Look and Layout ->  Don't show users' signatures
 

Online EEVblogTopic starter

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2022, 03:06:46 am »
I use to run a Mastodon instance a couple years ago. Around 50-60k users at the time.

Pretty much have 3 types of users on it.
Banned Twitter users.
Anti Twitter users
People who are on both platforms, that don't really pay attention to Masterdon.
There are also some servers that are into CP content. Said content can end up being pushed to your own server if you don't actively ban those servers from the start.

Thanks.
Yeah, that's what I thought, sounds like a just a management nightmare. I'm some would bitch they want to connect to all servers, and others that just want a local EE community.
Sounds like a world of hurt.
 

Online EEVblogTopic starter

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #8 on: November 24, 2022, 03:08:25 am »
I doubt whether in a niche like EEVblog fills it would be any more problematic to manage than the forum. And for me it might shift a lot of the noise that has built up since the TEA fiasco away from the forum proper.

I can see it being potentially more problematic than the forum, for sure.
 

Offline eti

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #9 on: November 24, 2022, 03:09:33 am »
Another software fad? Sounds like it.
 

Online EEVblogTopic starter

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #10 on: November 24, 2022, 03:10:03 am »
Seeing that it is decentralized I think it's an idea worth looking into especially if Twitter starts banning people/content or doing unfavourable stuff to the masses on there like what happened with Youtube and the dislike counter.
I wonder, is it possible to synchronize and replicate all of your Twitter posts and tweets on that platform just as a backup incase anything happens.

Twitter is going in the opposite direction.
It's actually been rather hilarious to watch people rage quit Twitter and move to Mastodon and then get banned there  :-DD
 
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Online SiliconWizard

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #11 on: November 24, 2022, 04:33:57 am »
Don't bother. Especially not right now. I've seen a very recent trend of posts and videos about switching to Mastodon, so no surprise some people are asking you this. This is just a freaking trend. It will die off.

At least wait for a few weeks, or months, until all of this has calmed down, and only then consider whether a Mastodon server (or any other alternative network) could be a good idea. Right now, it makes no sense IMHO. You probably don't want to be part of this frenzy.

 
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Offline Bud

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #12 on: November 24, 2022, 05:13:35 am »
As the poll says, should I bother to set up an EEVblog Mastodon server?
A couple of people have complained...
That is what people on Mastodon do, complain.
Facebook-free life and Rigol-free shack.
 
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Offline wilfred

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #13 on: November 24, 2022, 07:38:52 am »
I doubt whether in a niche like EEVblog fills it would be any more problematic to manage than the forum. And for me it might shift a lot of the noise that has built up since the TEA fiasco away from the forum proper.

I can see it being potentially more problematic than the forum, for sure.

Ha Ha. Talk about contradicting yourself.  I think I was thinking the sum-total of issues won't go up, just move.

I still think it is worth trying. You could add the caveat that it is an experiment.
 

Offline eti

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #14 on: November 24, 2022, 09:19:46 am »
MasterFail more like. Yet another pointless software toy fad to try, just so everyone thinks he’s “on trend”. Why?! The forum still works on code from 1996, and works (just about) fine. Take your software toys and send em back so San Franchumpsco.
 

Offline Jackster

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #15 on: November 24, 2022, 02:51:21 pm »
Thanks.
Yeah, that's what I thought, sounds like a just a management nightmare. I'm some would bitch they want to connect to all servers, and others that just want a local EE community.
Sounds like a world of hurt.

It is somewhat self-moderating. Content only gets pulled from other servers if users follow other users on those other servers.
Users somewhat also have to go looking for the bad stuff.
When I was running one, yea a few people complained but out of 50-60k users, we are talking a handful.
I really don't see it being an issue with a few tech people. That and you can give trusted people moderation power.

There are a few technology-related instances that I am sure users would want to connect with.

I've been hearing mixed things. I like the idea of decentralisation for social media. You can self select if you want an echo chamber.

But is it bound by german speech laws?

Only if you are on a server hosted in Germany or operated by a German company. Masteron.social for example is both.
But if you host a server in the USA, then you are only bound by US laws while on that server.

Offline tszaboo

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #16 on: November 24, 2022, 04:51:14 pm »
Seeing that it is decentralized I think it's an idea worth looking into especially if Twitter starts banning people/content or doing unfavourable stuff to the masses on there like what happened with Youtube and the dislike counter.

I wonder, is it possible to synchronize and replicate all of your Twitter posts and tweets on that platform just as a backup incase anything happens.
To back it up?
I went there a year ago and deleted all my tweets. It's just a question of time until someone finds something offensive in your tweets and cancel you. I don't think having an online trail of thoughts is safe in the 21st century, they are cancelling dead people now, because they said things in 1980 that's not acceptable today  :palm:.
 
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Offline AndyBeez

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #17 on: November 24, 2022, 05:45:23 pm »
It is certainly worth trialling an instance. I could find very little information about server sizing specifics, other than, more videos, more disk, more users, more bandwidth. I assume the instance is to be hosted in sunny NSW and not in the USA - like the forum is here?

Though exploring the content on https://mastodon.social/ , as well as the MAGA crowd, there's a lot of people posting pictures of cake on trains. Still, nothing to lose for being a pioneer bringing tech to the platform.
 

Offline Jackster

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #18 on: November 24, 2022, 06:18:25 pm »
It is certainly worth trialling an instance. I could find very little information about server sizing specifics, other than, more videos, more disk, more users, more bandwidth.

They don't share how much you need as it is so varied on how many active users you have, how many connections to other server instances you have and what is being done on your instance.

From my experience.
500-1000 users (not online at the same time), you are looking at 2 CPU cores and 4-6GB RAM (Redis likes RAM).
Offload all media onto S3 compatible CDNs. Do not host it yourself! Not worth the disk space or HTTPS requests hitting your server.

If users upload a lot of video content, more CPU is needed as it uses FFMPEG to transcode video to whatever resolution and bitrate the host sets (you can offload this to GPU if you have one).

When I had an instance, it was around 1000-2000 concurrent users online during peak hours.
2x 4 CPU frontend servers for Nginx/Ruby and FFMPEG (these were load balanced via hardware)
2x 4 CPU backend for Sidekick (this processes tasks like new messages, pushing and pulling messages/content etc)
1x 4 CPU backend for Postgresql/Redis databases.
1x 2 CPU frontend CDN server that cached 250GB of media content in front of an S3 bucket.

When doing S3 on a budget, you want to cache as much as possible as requests cost money and so does bandwidth. This server alone was doing 250-500mbps on average 24/7.

Offline ebastler

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #19 on: November 24, 2022, 07:02:50 pm »
But is it bound by german speech laws?

No, you would be allowed to speak English.  ::)
Seriously though -- what "German speech laws" were you thinking of?
 

Online SiliconWizard

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #20 on: November 24, 2022, 07:47:41 pm »
MasterFail more like. Yet another pointless software toy fad to try, just so everyone thinks he’s “on trend”. Why?! The forum still works on code from 1996, and works (just about) fine. Take your software toys and send em back so San Franchumpsco.

 ;D
 

Offline John B

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #21 on: November 24, 2022, 09:22:33 pm »
But is it bound by german speech laws?

No, you would be allowed to speak English.  ::)
Seriously though -- what "German speech laws" were you thinking of?

The German conception of "hate speech".
Laws against insulting people.
Laws providing the German government with control over social media to censor content.

Pretty much any other red flag legal means of controlling conversations on social media.
 

Offline JohanH

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #22 on: November 24, 2022, 09:26:29 pm »

The German conception of "hate speech".
Laws against insulting people.
Laws providing the German government with control over social media to censor content.

Pretty much any other red flag legal means of controlling conversations on social media.

This surely puts up a red flag regarding your intended conversations.
 

Offline JohanH

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #23 on: November 24, 2022, 09:30:25 pm »
I see no big point in residing on a specific mastodon instance. It's pretty much the same as having a specific email domain. You anyway mostly follow conversations from people you follow. Sure, you might find it easier to find people with same interests, but I figure it's quite a hassle to run your own instance if you expect a lot of users.
 

Offline John B

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Re: POLL: Any Interest in an EEVblog Mastodon server?
« Reply #24 on: November 24, 2022, 09:41:54 pm »
I don't see why it's so hard to understand. If I read that something has to adhere to a countries speech laws, then I'm going to look at what that entails. Would it engage your braincells if it had to abide by Chinese law? Maybe Qatari law?
 


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