this post was submitted on 10 Jan 2026
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Honestly I think this is a problem. I don't think the instance picker should be so opinionated that it blocks (legal) instances. I want extremist to be directed away from the normie and moderate instances. I prefer to clearly characterize instances and let people pick their own, while also providing opinion for people who don't care or lack understanding.
Although this is clearly a point of preference, and I can see why some people would prefer the opposite to possibly prevent the radicalization of a moderate.
The primary problem here is that because lemmy.world isn't visible, the instance picker when organised by activity determines lemmy.ml to be the most popular instance and then not far-off, hexbear. That's not good long-term if people are shepherded into those instances without really knowing their context.
Right, that's why I suggest providing both an opinionated option and an opinionated option. Like a "recommended" section and a "full list" section.
Let people without contest and who don't care to learn the context in advance use an opinionated picker, but don't withhold from people who want to dig in.
But it turns out I misunderstood the example that was given - those instances aren't shown because they simply aren't piefed instances.
I mean... (to be, what's the word, pedantic?:-P) hexbear.net still exists though? And it is their choice if they want to convert to PieFed rather than remain with Lemmy. I am 100% certain that lemmy.ml will never do so though:-D.
So fwiw I agree whole-heartedly with what you said, and that, imho, is what https://piefed.social/auth/instance_chooser provides? Any other new instance can make their own choice, and I like those GUI options much better. Like when I think of "lemmy.ml", the "Technology" aspect and the phrase "A community of privacy and FOSS enthusiasts, run by Lemmy’s developers" is nowhere close to the top few thoughts that spring into my mind. And hexbears aren't even leftist, only pretending to be such. But the "choose your own adventure" category, in opposition to "Newbie-friendly", I feel like MUCH better describes both lemmy.ml and hexbear, wouldn't you agree?
Ah I misunderstood your example, I thought you were saying instances were intentionally excluded from the picker rather than "instances that don't support this platform don't appear".
I'm not going to opine on what constitutes a "real" leftist apart from saying that left/right dichotomy really doesn't describe reality well.
Yeah the PieFed instance picker lists every single PieFed instance iirc, with none of them excluded. Theoretically if one was built and had CSAM then I would expect it to not be listed, but if e.g. hexbear converted to PieFed then it would, and even should, so long as it was properly labeled (e.g. don't say that NSFW is disallowed and then be full of porn).