fediverse meta; portable identity
A thing that will need more attention in conversations about "portable identity" on the fediverse is the whole "I want to move my posts" feature request.
A problem is that I've seen many such conversations breeze past the folks running the instance to which the posts are meant to move.
A request to "move my posts" is, essentially, a request for the destination instance to review all those posts against their policies. Or, an assumption that the destination instance will neglect to do that for the sake of expediency.
Most instances are not simply fungible service providers for posts. Folks running instances have opinions, impose policies, and moderate content.
While you may own your words in a fediverse post - the publishing & hosting of those words is a negotiated agreement with the admins of a fediverse instance.
This is not usually a customer service relationship. Just because you posted something on one instance doesn't mean you should automatically expect another instance to welcome your posting history with open arms.
None of this is my sole realization. I've seen multiple instance admins express this stuff now. I think it bears frequent repeating.
fediverse meta; portable identity
@lmorchard This seems to be predicated on the idea that an instance works like a moderated listserv or forum, with moderator review of every post prior to publishing. Are there any instances that work this way? I have yet to encounter one.
Otherwise, it seems like the transferred posts would be just a proportionally small blip compared to the continuous stream of new posts on an instance. The only exception being if a significant number of people moved en masse.
Also, if the moved posts only do not show up as new posts on the local timeline or other instances federated timelines then they are even less consequential, since you have to go to that individuals profile to even notice them.
