Honest question: Why does it matter if he's a transphobe when choosing which Fediverse software to use? The software is FOSS and anyone can make their own instance. I don't understand why his social views outside of sharing the software and protecting it from becoming proprietary matters when deciding what Fediverse software to use.

I'm not arguing my stance. I really want to understand what I might be missing.

[–] Cyberflunk 32 points 4 months ago (1 children)

When people are successful, sometimes their ideas are too. They become a sort of standard, or justified. While I speak only for myself, I think some folks feel like if this guy's projects are successful he could use that success to oppres people. It happened to fluffy JK Rowling.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Ah, that makes sense. Thanks for explaining. What's the relevant story with JK Rowling?

[–] Cyberflunk 22 points 4 months ago

JK uses her platform (harry potter fame) to denigrate and oppress trans women (probably more). She regularly engages anti trans exchanges on public twitter. Considering the reach HP has for children, it could give her considerable chance to promote bigotry. Look up TERF.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 4 months ago

Honest question: Why does it matter if he's a transphobe when choosing which Fediverse software to use?

Because some people have actually financially supported him. I'm not trans, but I would be devastated to know that my money went to feed someone who wants to destroy me.
I already have trouble convincing transgender people in my social circle that Lemmy as a software is safe for them to use even with the variety of trans-inclusive servers like yours, and will be safe and inclusive in the future.

A great example of (2) is the fate of PolyMC. Thankfully, the other developers forked it into Prism, but transphobia put that whole project in jeopardy for a bit.

The software is FOSS and anyone can make their own instance.

IMO that's why I'm not immediately dropping my account and running for the hills, but it's still not good. Most people don't have the technical skills or the interest in learning them to run their own instance.

I really want to understand what I might be missing.

IMO it's that even though he does not personally control how Lemmy instances are run, and even though we do have a good degree of robustness to transphobia because the software is FOSS, it is still both morally and technically ill-advised to have a transphobe at the helm of an open-source software project.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Because he's the developer. He can easily change a line of code to exploit users and servers across the fediverse. Sure, some may notice immediately, but others won't.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Because he's the developer. He can easily change a line of code to exploit users and servers across the fediverse.

This can be done by anyone, and applies to any platform. It's not a problem unique to Lemmy.

I also don't see how transphobia and backdooring everyone are at all related.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Right. Exactly. That's why who develops things matters. Conduct at a project level dictates what comes of the things developed. The fact that this platform is developed by transphobes is a big FUCKING deal and is why I have hope for PieFed and Sublinks because they have actual factual solidarity and decency as core values.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago

The fact that this platform is developed by transphobes is a big FUCKING deal

Not really. Usually the issue is the platform devs also control the instances/servers but that isn't the case here.

The code isn't transphobic. The code is code. We shouldn't reject perfectly good code because we don't like who wrote it. That's just giving the software solely to the people who do to the detriment of everyone else.