Well, there was a bit of drama last night around 5:30-6pm, with dozens of troll posts being posted on lemmy.nz as well as other instances. Luckily @idanoo@lemmy.nz has emergency access and managed to get it under control elegantly and skillfully.

For the moment we have registration applications turned on. Recently we have not had a lot of new users joining lemmy.nz, most joining our communities are from other instances, so I intend to keep the requirement to apply for an account for the moment. If we get an influx of new users (e.g. from something reddit does), I'll try to work out a way to make registrations open, because it's important to me not to create barriers to entry.

I'm also investigating fediseer.com, which is a spam fighting measure where instances guarantee others, creating a chain of trust. Currently we have very few instances defederated, but if we implement this, and especially if we get it automated, then you may see many more instances on the block list, and these would update frequently (e.g. blocking an instance while it's gettting a spam invasion, then unblocking once it's resolved). I haven't implemented anything yet, though.

Fediseer seems to be explicitly only about spam, so in theory we should not see instances blocked for ideology or anything like that. Though there is the ability to censure instances for any reason. I guess I have more to learn.

[–] liv 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You must be learning heaps of cool stuff by running this instance!

[–] Dave 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Haha oh boy, it has been quite the learning experience. It has been really cool watching everything come together in terms of all the instances learning how to solve a bunch of reasonably unique problems.

When I look back, I think both "I can't believe it's already been 3 months" and also "I can't believe it's only been 3 months".

[–] liv 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sounds so intense but also what you describe about collaboration really makes me feel optimistic about human nature and the future of the internet.

One day you'll be reminiscing about these times and how you wrre part of it all. I really believe federation is the internet's best direction.

[–] Dave 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah me too. All the things people say are blockers to federation going mainstream, I don't think are insurmountable. Federation need not be more complicated than email, it's just we are in the early days and the focus is on having things actually work rather than quality of life. That will change as things mature.

[–] liv 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah, I think one day it's going to have way less friction and be taken for granted.

and the focus is on having things actually work rather than quality of life

That's a good way of putting it. I wonder if there's like, a tech version of Maslow's heirarchy of need?

[–] Dave 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

There's one listed here. I would say Lemmy is still working on the "functionality" part, as it is missing many basic functions needed to meet what I think is the bare minimum. So it's still very much only suitable for early adopters willing to put up with jankyness.

As with Maslow’s hierarchy it is essential for a design to meet the lowest need on the pyramid before progressing to meet further needs.

Functionality – for a design to meet any need it must work and it must meet the basic needs of the user. However, if this is all it does; it may well be seen as having little value if any to the user in the short to long-term.

Reliability – the next step is for your design to function in a reliable manner and present a consistent experience. This may increase the user’s perception of the value of your product from a purely functional one but it does not add large amounts of value either.

Usability – then a design should be simple to use and relatively forgiving of user error. When you meet this need the product is likely to be considered of middling value by the user.

Proficiency – a design which helps a user to do more or achieve more is one which is likely to be desired as a high-level of value and fulfil user needs more effectively.

Creativity – the final step in the design pyramid is to create products which fulfil all other needs and are beautiful not just in form but also in interaction and function. This is where the highest user value is placed (think Apple products for an example in real life).

[–] liv 3 points 1 year ago

Ah thanks, this is so cool!!! TIL!

Yeah I think you're right. I love this part of the fediverse but it does feel janky and require a certain amount of perseverence even just as a casual user.

[–] Ilovethebomb 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I saw that come through, it was over and done with pretty quickly though.

[–] Dave 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yeah, @idanoo closed registrations and did tidy up pretty promptly. They then went to feddit.jp and started attacking from there. We've also had some issues a few days ago with other accounts that signed up here but posted on other instances. Unfortunately there is no way to report this to the instance they are from, so I didn't know until I got messages telling me.

[–] eagleeyedtiger 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Like clockwork one week before the school holidays - kid brings something home from school > toddler sick > adults sick.

Sigh..

[–] Dave 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Nothing here so far. I'll look forward to coming down with something over the weekend!

[–] eagleeyedtiger 2 points 1 year ago

You've jinxed it now!

[–] NoRamyunForYou 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

With Potting Mix or Compost and the risk of Legionnaires Disease, does the risk subside the longer its been spread out on your garden?

[–] Dave 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm no expert, but I believe that yes the risk does reduce over time, especially as it dries out. However, I'm pretty sure you can still get Legionnaire's Disease from garden soil even if it's not bagged compost, the risk is just lower.

[–] NoRamyunForYou 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Geez, did a bit of digging/mixing and all that with a mask on, and it was pretty hard! Better continuing using one when I first open up the bags.

[–] Dave 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah, it's a good idea. I think it's recommended to keep it wet to reduce the amount of airborne dust as well.

[–] Floofah@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

AI response, hope this helps …

Legionnaires' disease can decline if the compost is infected and has been spread on the garden. However, the exact amount of time it takes for the bacteria to die off depends on a number of factors, including the type of Legionella bacteria, the temperature and moisture conditions, and the presence of other organisms in the soil.

In general, Legionella bacteria prefer warm, moist environments. They can survive for long periods of time in water, but they are more susceptible to drying out. When compost is spread on the garden, the Legionella bacteria are exposed to sunlight and other environmental elements, which can help to kill them off.

However, it is important to note that Legionella bacteria can form spores, which are very resistant to environmental conditions. Spores can survive for months or even years, and they can germinate and start growing again if conditions are favorable.

Therefore, it is important to take precautions when working with compost, even if it has been spread on the garden for some time.

[–] NoRamyunForYou 4 points 1 year ago

Makes it sound really scary. Better do a lil bit more research as to actual risk levels etc.

[–] Ilovethebomb 4 points 1 year ago

My boss is closing in on a replacement vehicle for my van which blew a head gasket, so hopefully soon I won't be trying and failing to fit a van's worth of gear into a Corolla.

Give me cubic metres of volume!

[–] Floofah@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Tried one of our Warehouse purchased avos. It was great, a Haas variety which are usually nicest. Paid $6 for 5 good sized avos, seems a good price to me.

Crickey I’m starting to sound like a Warehouse salesperson, but I’m just keen to advise on better value food etc. if we find it.

[–] Dave 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

TBH I'm happy to pay the same price if it splits money away from the duopoly. We don't have produce at our local Warehouse, but we get 90% of our produce from the local market anyway.

[–] Floofah@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

True story coming up.

A local friend used to grow courgettes. He would supply to an intermediate, the only way he could sell them to supermarkets, who would then on-sell them to our local Countdown.

His courgettes, complete with his label, would be priced at $12.50 a kilo in the supermarket. He would have been paid $1.50 a kilo for them. They would of course need to be a certain size and appearance quality or be simply rejected.

He tried selling at the local markets, but customers were still so picky about the size and shape even selling them at half the supermarket price to cover his costs, he couldn’t make it work.

He gave up growing them.

[–] Dave 2 points 1 year ago

There are many stories about the brutal contracts Countdown negotiates, where you might grow 100 tonne of something. Countdown will buy your 100 tonne for $1 per kg or whatever, and refuse to pay more. Your choice is to sell to Countdown at $1 a KG and they will take the 100 tonne, or you can turn them down, they will buy nothing, and then there's nowhere that needs 100 tonne of produce.

It's been in the media a bit over the years, and I think has led to the proposal for some rules for how supermarket negotiations are allowed to play out.

I have never in my life felt the urge to work for myself, but if I did, I won't become a farmer. People see the farmers with fancy cars and think they're all rich but they don't see all the ones going broke for reasons outside their control.