The #Fediverse is native to anti-common-sense governance

My perspective is shaped by years of hands-on experience, weaving together grassroots activism, technology, governance, and the growing crisis of #climatechaos leading to social collapse. On this “native” Alt path, I highlight the failures of liberal #foundation models, which often start with good intentions but inevitably lead community-driven projects into the hands of corporate interests, diverting resources toward maintaining the status quo rather than driving real social change.

Take #OpenAI as an example: originally championing openness, it quickly shifted toward closed, profit-driven models once corporate interests took hold. This is a pattern of capture, often pushed by #fashionista agendas, where grassroots energy is co-opted and repurposed to reinforce existing power structures.

Why governance matters: Resisting centralization & co-option. To counter this, we need governance models that resist centralization and remain rooted in bottom-up, DIY approaches. This is where #OGB (Open Governance Body) and #DIY become tools of resistance and grassroots empowerment.

The #OGB path aligns with the ethos of the Fediverse, prioritizing non-elitism, democratic participation, and simplicity. By following #KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principles, we create governance that is accessible, adaptable, and grows organically—rather than being imposed from above.

The Fediverse is a template for the future, unlike corporate-controlled platforms like Facebook and Twitter, which impose governance designed to serve profit over social good, decentralized networks like the Fediverse provide space for experimentation with participatory, community-driven governance.

This opens up opportunities for anti-“common sense” tools, such as reputation networks, which build trust through human connections rather than encryption-based paranoia. Moving away from “trust nobody” models toward community-focused trust systems allows us to foster resilience rather than fear. The Fediverse, with its anarchistic roots, offers a sandbox for developing governance models that could influence the broader #openweb movement to challenge the #deathcult mentality

Social collapse, fueled by #climatechaos and the prioritization of short-term profits over long-term survival, defines the “deathcult” mindset. Examples include: Governments doubling down on fossil fuels despite overwhelming evidence of climate catastrophe. Corporate greenwashing, where unsustainable practices are deceptively marketed as solutions.

To challenge this, we need tools that emphasize simplicity and accessibility. The #OMN (Open Media Network) follows this principle, ensuring that its systems remain open and easy to use. The #4opens provide a foundation for transparency and trust, which are crucial in resisting co-option and capture. Practical Steps we can take:

  • Reputation-based trust systems → Prioritizing human connections over algorithms, strengthening real-world communities.
  • Human-readable governance → Avoiding jargon-heavy, overly technical solutions to keep participation inclusive.
  • Keeping it #KISS → Simplicity prevents alienation and ensures broader engagement in the movement.

The fight against the #deathcult is not just about technology, it’s about reclaiming governance, community, and resilience. Let’s build systems that work for us, not against us.

Should we do something that is native to the Fediverse, and what would this look like?

The #Fediverse is #anarchism this is likely the best description of the community.
A represents the Greek anarkhia (‘without ruler/authority’), and the circle can be read as the letter O , standing for order or organization.
We currently have a Herding cats governance in the Fediverse and the projects that make it up
An idiom denoting a futile attempt to control or organize a class of entities which are inherently uncontrollable
This was very evident in the outreach to the #EU project.
We have the A but we do not have the O – we are asking what would the O look like in a online social tech project?
The #liberal #foundation model will be forced onto us if the Fediverse is taken up buy large #Burocratic orgs like the #EU and yes the will be a figleaf of “democracy” placed over the self-selecting oligarchy that will be put into place by “power politics” that this path embeds.
This path is the default outcome.
Should we do something that is native to the Fediverse, and what would this look like?

Q. how can someone “take up” the fediverse while it’s based on free software and open protocols like #activitypub, that are available to everyone and cannot be taken up by anyone?

A. Microsoft used to be very good at “taking up” open source projects. Google is VERY good at doing this… I think this is a part of the crises in #FSF foundation currently. When a big institution brings money and resources into an underfunded project it takes power and shapes the agender.

Q. Platform cooperatives, owned and run by users. Coupling this with netcommons. I am trying to launch PoC in ****

A. This is a path. My experience of this path is problematic and have repeatedly seen “process geeks” kill social movements by ossification of process, without any idea of the damage they are actually doing.

The whole tech co-op movement smells like this issue. But I don’t know anufe about this to make a judgment so kinda put the movement to one side for now.

Looking for places where it works on the ground is always a good thing. Examples please.