• mrmule@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I’ve signed up to lemmy.world don’t know what an instance is or why it might be important to sign up to something different. Want to help as much as possible. Please educate me!

    • Phelpssan@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      The best analogy I’ve seen is “think of your lemmy instance as your email provider”. Your account “lives” in your home instance, but no matter which instance you are you can see content and interact with all instances that are connected.

      Since the instance you are doesn’t matter much, people recommend spreading simply to avoid overloading one instance with too many users.

      • dustedhands@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Email analogy is good to explain the systems architecture, but it still doesn’t communicate ethics of proper use (decentralization). Just look how many people have gmail or outlook as their mail account.