Somehow, I feel like the federated network is still centralized, because there is still censorship; it’s just distributed across more servers.

I mean, it definitely gives users more rights to free speech, and I’m not worried about privacy issues. However, the removal of content and the banning of accounts are things that are diminishing my passion for sharing my thoughts publicly(on reddit).

I just dont want this happened on here but I am seeing some…

  • HandwovenConsensus@lemm.eeEnglish
    2·
    2 years ago

    I think “polycentric” is a better term than “decentralized.”

    Every instance is a center, and is vulnerable to failure and corruption like any service provider. But at least we have a choice of instances, and there isn’t a single point of failure for the whole network.

    • pjhenry1216@kbin.social
      2·
      2 years ago

      I mean, they’re practically interchangeable words. They mean fairly the same thing. Polycentric is decentralized. You can use that word if it works for you, but decentralized is still correct.

      • HandwovenConsensus@lemm.ee
        2·
        2 years ago

        Then what would you call a network where specific data isn’t tied to specific nodes and lost when the node goes down?

        • pjhenry1216@kbin.social
          3·
          2 years ago

          You are describing a decentralized system. But you aren’t describing a required function of decentralization.

    • Wothe@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      24·
      2 years ago

      I don’t think you quite understand what ‘decentralized’ means. Decentralization means there’s no central server, implying no data collection, no restrictions or moderation, and no banning.

      Furthermore, it won’t corrupt when a single node breaks down. This is because a decentralized network is essentially built by all users within the network. Whenever one user quits or a node breaks down, there are always other nodes/users available to maintain the network. That’s the essence of a decentralized network.

      • breadsmasher@lemmy.worldEnglish
        8·
        2 years ago

        Implying no data collection, no restrictions or moderation, and no banning

        That is absolutely incorrect. All of those things can and do exist but it is dependent on each instance. There isn’t a single entity controlling those things, each fediverse instance decides for themselves. One instance could collect everything you do, restrict what you post, moderate what users post and comment, and ban users as they please.

        Decentralisation doesn’t mean “no rules”

          • HandwovenConsensus@lemm.ee
            1·
            2 years ago

            Because it’s polycentric. Each instance is a center. When an instance goes down, it takes all its users and data with it.

            I know people around here aren’t fond of cryptocurrency, but bitcoin is what I’d consider a truly decentralized system. Nothing is lost to the network when a bitcoin node goes down. As long as you have your private key, you can spend from any node, and you don’t even need a node to receive.

            I believe it’s helpful to distinguish between the two types of systems.

        • Wothe@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
          1·
          2 years ago

          Lmao, I missed the ‘term’ word, I thought you said is better than decentralized, sry bro