@atomicpoet @lippyduck

Uh-huh. We've now reached the point where you are arguing with yourself—so I'll leave you to it.

@atomicpoet @lippyduck

Okay, as you've noted, words can have more than one meaning.

Yes "public" can mean various things. "Public" was also the name of Emm Gryner's 1998 album. And these various meanings do include 'owned by stockholders' in the private sector. None of which matters in this discussion.

What I am talking about is the public sector. I thought the context of the thread was clue enough as to which definition I was referring to.

Anyway, this might help:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_sector#Infrastructure

@atomicpoet @lippyduck

Just as a basic matter: Government owned and operated = "public". Yes, that's the definition. Neither of our beliefs, yours or mine, are relevant, btw. That's the definition.

The idea of what any particular government might or might not be interested in, politically, is a separate question.

@atomicpoet @lippyduck

Respectfully, I can afford to be lazy when you make my point for me. How does 'running your own server' refute techno-feudalism? That's the very definition of it.

A collection of people all talking from within their bespoke 'individually owned' rooms isn't the same as a public square.

Co-ops and NFPs are all well and good and can be a valuable counter-measure. But the opposite of private is public, not 'lots and lots of more private instances'...

@lippyduck @atomicpoet

Agreed. Much appreciated for the explainer

However, the fediverse is also still a techno-feudal fiefdom (run by various admins).

That there is a plurality of instances and admins is a mitigating factor for the worst symptoms of technofeudalism; but it isn't *necessarily* any more indicative of democratic values (free speech, representation) that Bluesky or even Xitter.

If we ever get democracy back, it will have to include (truly) public-owned and -run Social Media.

@atomicpoet @lippyduck

...right...?

@atomicpoet

The forums of old (waaaaay before Reddit) had directories to guide you.

So, besides someone tooting (as you did) about specific ones, how do I find these ones, please?

@atomicpoet

You're right. That sounds amazing. First I've heard of it.

Is there a list of tags somewhere we can peruse?