koi
I was faced with a difficult decision today.
In light of the twitter fallout and a mass exodus of new users being introduced to Mastodon and joining the fediverse for the first time, the server for baraag buckled at the influx of traffic. I thought I had more time to upgrade the server but I am unable to immediately address all this new activity to keep up with it.
koi
To prevent the server from shutting down or otherwise becoming unresponsive, I have turned off federation with all outside instance communities. This means that all communication at baraag is now strictly between local users, no one from any other server can remotely interact with us.
This frees up a tremendous amount of resources and buys me time to figure out the timeframe for when we can pull off the server upgrades necessary for me to enable federation again.
koi
Since 2017, I never wanted baraag to become a siloed and closed off community. I fully embrace the idea of the fediverse and the different communities that can come together. But it is with a heavy heart that I isolate us down to a local timeline, at least for the time being until the end of this year.
For artists that wish to join a still-federating instance that has a similar policy to baraag for what is acceptable content without needing to censor (like pawoo.net), I recommend aethy.com
koi
Thank you everyone for your continued support. I will try to get the server back to federating as soon as possible.
Mircea Kitsune
@satori Oof. How long do you expect this will be required? This is a big issue since some of us follow many accounts on other instances, if it's more than a day it's going to be difficult. I can understand your decision though, thanks for looking into it and hope all will be well.
Mircea Kitsune
@satori I'm most concerned with too many normies from #Twitter coming in contact with the art here: Many of them are ISIS levels of radicalized by puritan cultists, especially those obsessed with "protecting" children from whatever magical danger is being simulated in the depths of their broken minds. If they get scared they may try turning the government on us, like they did with the #UN a few years ago and now payment processors. Just a thought to be careful with them in general.
Mircea Kitsune
@satori A quick little idea: What if a script could be used to detect when the server is stressed and temporarily shut down federation every few minutes based on that? I take it that's not a builtin feature of Mastodon as no one would have imagined it being needed, of course with Linux scripting anything can be automated.
Loli_13ear
@satori Even so, I would like at least pawoo, which is a community of Japanese artists, to always stay connected
Zafe the Hierophant
@satori looks like we can still access the accounts of those we follow. Not sure if we'll see them on our home timeline.
If one of my followers from another instance still sees my posts on your timeline, please let me know; I'm not sure how the defederation affects followers
![?Momma ?? ? [I'm back]](https://gnusocial.jp/avatar/9255-48-20220907154116.webp){kind=small}
?Momma ?? ? [I'm back]
@satori thank you immensely for running this site. I understand it's such a responsibility, but it's the last piece of heaven for us, ''problematic fiction'' enjoyers. I was honestly concerned about the server because I thought it would explode with the influx. These people are just panicking and I hope it will calm down again after a while. I just miss Pawoo, honestly
OG shota Stu Pot aficionado™?
@satori While I understand your decision, and honestly I like the idea of being separated from the rest of Mastodon, I can't help but get a bit worried and paranoid that more people that are not into taboo themes in art (ie: normies, antis) may create accounts to go after us. That's really concerning, in my opinion.
Noshikuma
@satori No worries. This seems like the best approach for now. Not like it'll be permanent.
??
@satori It's a bummer, but completely understandable.
Willa Grey
@satori No worries fren - I have a feeling all that doom and gloom over twooter is premature, so I think things might calm down a bit on mastadon with time.
Sumatsuki?⚧:verified:
@satori its an understandable decision although difficult its for the best rn to keep things running smoothly
Again thank you for providing us with such an amazing place to share our art
Kyspills
@satori thank you for the update! We see the hard work and the transparency is greatly appreciated!
Pickle Henk
@satori i completely understand, i am a systems admin and over the past few days have been working on server stability trying to handle as many request as we can, aslong as the instance is up we will be fine and can still share art and thoughts
Once again thank you so much for all the work you do and hope for many more years of baraag
Punished Mob
@satori I appreciate that at least man. I understand the logistical issues. I have accounts on other fedi servers but I do hope we open up again to the outside at some point when resources permit.
Rasmuse
@satori Its a heavy heart/hand kind of decision. But a necessary one. And I supported your decision in everyone nevetheless.
Thank you for your support and hard works as always.
Playerprime
@satori in order to keep this server going until the upgrade is made, it's a wise choice to make for our survival.
♥SnailsAreGay♥ :verified:
@satori i do not like this, but it is the best and safest option. i am proud of you.
koi
I need to update everyone here on an issue that is a side effect of disabling federation. Until I can work out turning back on our ability to federate, the consequence of becoming locally isolated is that all posts can no longer be viewed without logging in. Posts also no longer embed.
I realize this is a major issue for the visibility of many artists here but I want users to be aware of this problem. Registrations will be mostly closed but feel free to DM me for an invite link to give friends.
sunshineandlolipops
@satori Do what must be done to keep the site censorship free and stable.
Thank you for your hard work. I'll keep donating via Subscribestar to help in the capacity that I am able to.
Mircea Kitsune
@satori Thanks. Just be aware please that for some of us this is a big issue: I follow many accounts from other instances... my home feed is almost empty since federation was disabled, am pretty much isolated at the moment. I don't like using multiple instances for different things so I prefer waiting, but have clearly missed out on a lot in the meantime. Sucks that the #fediverse wasn't better prepared for such an event.
ヤムチ・アレックス ?? :verified:
@satori I guess everyone figured twitter is total shit and that baraag isn't run by a millionaire douchebag huh?
Pickle Henk
@satori please let me know if there is anything you need to help, if i need to up my subscribe star i will, this is a wonderful service you are providing and would do anything to help it
(catching up) M.Vorontsov
@satori Sorry for sending you nothing more but words of encouragement :(
Please do not worry too much! I and many others are certain that you are doing what is best for this community. While we sleep or shitpost you are selflessly holding up this refuge of ours. Even if baraag shut down today never to return, there would be countless people in your debt <3
泉根三つ葉
@satori it Is a very difficult choice but don't worry, you did the right thing, only need patience. :felix:
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