say there are three instances, A, B and C. if A is not federated with B, users from those two instances can’t interact (right ?) but what if both are federated with C ? would both indirectly be able to interact ? if there is a post on instance C and a user from B comments on it, would that comment be visible on all three instances ?

  • scottyjoe9@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    2·
    2 years ago

    Yes, comments from users on instances A and B on a post on C are visible to users on all three instances. De/federation is a way for admins of a specific instance to control which users can interact with posts on their instance. Eg: beehaw defeds sh.itjust.works so users from sh.itjust.works cannot interact with posts on beehaw. Users from both instances can interact with each other on posts on lemmy.world though.

    Edit: In reality, beehaw has defederated both sh.itjust.works and lemmy.world. In my theoretical example, only sh.itjust.works has been defederated.

    EDIT: I actually tested it and I’m wrong! I logged into my beehaw alt account and came to this thread but I can’t see this comment as it’s from sh.itjust.works. Because my comment is hidden, I also couldn’t see the thread attached to this comment section so the comment thread looked empty.

    Sorry for confusion.

  • thgs@beehaw.orgEnglish
    1·
    2 years ago

    I think it depends. Not entirely sure though. Now given the context of Lemmy right, you can certainly post to instance C from both A and B. Even if your instance (either A or B) will not fetch messages from each other (due to not federating) you can always go see the messages through instance C (not logged in). That probably works for all defederation scenarios but that is also a very loosely defined interaction as both parties will have to do the same.

    A diplomatic answer I know.