Exploding-heads.com is another instance on Lemmy where alt-right MAGA types tend to reside. Some people on this server want us to defederate from them immediately, some people want to save defederation as a last resort. They have 104 active users (more stats below).
It seems that exploding-heads has also experienced a recent botswarm invasion. This is obviously another point in favor of defederating them, assuming you are worried about botswarms, which is currently being discussed here.
My advice to you all is please try to discuss this in a civil manner, we need not allow them to create divisive conflict inside our communities. No matter how the vote turns out, you're not going to be able to defederate from your fellow sh.itheads so be nice.
I've linked many of the previous discussions below so people who are out of the loop can get a general sense of the situation.
https://sh.itjust.works/post/216888 https://sh.itjust.works/post/225714 https://sh.itjust.works/post/281126 https://sh.itjust.works/post/410325
Lemmy.world just recently defederated them.
https://lemmy.world/post/747912
https://lemmy.world/post/577526
Although this could be considered a point in favor of defederation, it actually means even if we vote to remain federated, people have a great alternative in lemmy.world where they can still participate in our communities and simultaneously be protected from exploding-heads.
Ensuring diversity of servers is beneficial to the platform as a whole, but it is also not our responsibility to bear that burden.
TLDR, just wrap up any last points in this thread before we open the vote tomorrow. Please be civil.
EDIT: To clarify, this isn't the official vote, this is the final discussion. The vote thread will be posted tomorrow and you will only be allowed to make a single comment saying Aye or Nay.
EDIT2: Vote thread is up, this thread is now locked. Very lively discussion thread sh.itheads. Please try to be more respectful next time.
So... Every bit of content I've seen from there is awful, the people seem pretty shitty and for what it's worth, I'm subscribed through lemmy.world so my opinion really shouldn't matter.
... But I don't think you should deferate them. Lemmy is new, the fediverse is new, and setting the precedent that lots of instances are willing to deferate instances basically because of political and ideological difference isn't healthy.
It sets the expectation that if you want a forum where you can speak reasonably freely, you'd better sign up somewhere where the mods and all the users share your opinions. I came to Lemmy hoping to have more personal control over how much of an echo chamber I live in, not less.
Thank you for your input, you may not be able to vote but it's certainly okay to share your opinion.
I'm also from another instance but I totally agree. Defederation is only reasonable if there is a concrete threat that runs a risk of undermining the basic functions of an instance.
Echo chambers are really dangerous but in different ways, so defederating should only be a last resort.