I have the (maybe controversial) opinion that we do not need "free speech platforms" and, in fact, such things are probably undesirable. For reasons related to the point I'm getting at in the OP.
Which isn't to say free speech isn't of critical moral importance.
Just that, one should not expect to find it manifesting from within coherent systems -- but only around such systems. The idea that an integrated platform, with a common interface, a singular monetization model, and standardized structure will ever exist in a free speech ideal, and rather, not *require* editorialization to
maintain stability, is a misguided idea.
People who claim to care about free speech, are often paying attention to wrong things. Which is why I think "protocols, not platforms" is the clarion call for a better internet and better society.
What if balkanization of social media is a good thing? What if scale is inherently unstable? Not for technical reasons. But for sociopolitical reasons. What if that's what's really going on right now?
My New Years Eve read is The Complexity of Cooperation by Robert Axelrod, because, yes, this is how big of a nerd I am in my private life. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00C5H43XQ?ref_=dbs_m_mng_wim_calw_tkin_0&storeType=ebooks
I think more preloading and aggressive caching will add a lot more polished feel.
It bulldozes through the power law that is protects these platforms and creates even deeper network effects in the direction of decentralization and competition.
Here's the other important insight: with more decentralized identify and platforms like Nostr, you own your own social graph. With open protocols, we can even have cross-communication between competing social protocols. There's no barrier to interop. That means, the network effect lock-in of traditional social media platforms is just over.
This is the end of hyper centralized platforms. It might take years for the secular trend to become obvious. But this is the shape of a better internet.
It exists. It's called Weather Underground and it's been around forever.
My understanding is the Apple Weather App in the last version of iOS is Dark Sky. They rolled it in.
It's lightly raining in LA, and Apple's weather app placed the chance of precipitation at 0%. The current conditions in the app do not reflect the fact it's raining.
I was talking in general. There really wasn't a bitcoin subtext to what I was saying tbh.
I'm not really a natural law guy tho
This is one thing that I think DIDs are going to be extremely useful for -- among other things.
Do I show up at NIP-05 verified to people?
Believing there are singular and simple answers is incredibly seductive, though!
Rather than getting outraged at "the system" and the things it "does", try to focus more on the incentive structures that lead there. And be careful not to fall into the trap of believing there is a singular explaination for the failings of any complex and chaotic system like society.
Gm
Yeah
How do I do a human-friendly pubkey?