Open3DLab and Mastodon

Hello everyone,

By now, you've probably heard about the controversy around X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The company's owner has been making some erratic decisions with regard to the operating platform. In the community, a lot of people have expressed concerns regarding the direction he's taken the platform, and what it might mean for the future of adult content on the platform. There's not a perfect solution, but I want to provide an alternative for people who want to put in the effort. And the one that I feel matches with Open3DLab's stated mission, would be a Fediverse based solution.

Taking on the Fediverse

Open3DLab has taken a significant stride towards further inclusivity and collaboration by becoming a part of the Fediverse and establishing its own Mastodon home instance.

For those unfamiliar with the term, the "Fediverse" refers to a network  of interconnected and decentralized social media platforms. This unique  ecosystem allows independent servers, such as our newly established  Mastodon instance, to communicate with each other while maintaining  their autonomy.

Now, you might be wondering, "What is Mastodon?" In essence, Mastodon can be likened to mainstream social media platforms, but it stands out for its open-source nature and commitment to user privacy. Within this innovative space, diverse communities coalesce around shared interests, and conversations flourish in a respectful and engaging atmosphere.

Our decision to create a "home instance" on Mastodon emanates from our desire to cultivate a more intimate and focused environment for our cherished community members. In this dedicated space, enthusiasts of 3D modeling, animation, and design can congregate, exchange ideas, and form lasting connections with like-minded individuals. And since the Open3DLab network sites already have a modest user-base, it makes it an ideal candidate for an instance.

How the Fediverse works

Mastodon is a social media platform similar to Twitter, but with a few key differences. Instead of one central website, it consists of many independently-run servers known as "instances." Each instance has its own community of users and its unique rules, but the exciting part is that these instances can communicate with each other, forming what is called the "Fediverse."

Here's how it works:

1. Instances: Mastodon is made up of various instances, including the Open3DLab Mastodon instance (let's call it Open3DLab.social). Each instance is like its own private clubhouse with its own members.
2. Home Instance: When we say "home instance," we're talking about Open3DLab.social, the Mastodon instance that we have set up specifically for our community. It's our little corner of the Mastodon world.
3. Connecting Instances: Even though we have our own home instance, Mastodon instances can talk to each other. This means that users from different instances can follow each other, reply to each other's posts, and interact, just like how you can send an email from one email service to another.
4. One Account, Many Instances: Here's the great part – if you already have a Mastodon account on any other instance, you don't need to create a new one on Open3DLab.social. You can follow Open3DLab from your existing account on any other instance. That way, you get to see our posts and updates without the hassle of managing multiple accounts.

If it helps; think about it like email. You have an account with your email provider, and can send and receive email from people with accounts at other providers, without having to sign up for an account with each email provider.

In summary, Mastodon is a decentralized social media platform with  multiple instances that can communicate with each other, forming the  fediverse. Open3DLab.social is our home instance, but you can still  follow and interact with us from your existing Mastodon account on any other instance.

Where to find us?

Our home instance is located at the following address: https://open3dlab.social 

Our content rules are very similar to our Discord and the main sites. So if you have questions about SFW, NSFW or fringe content, just assume that it's the same as on the site or Discord.

Furthermore, the following accounts are our official handles:

• @open3dlab@open3dlab.social (announcements and status updates)
• @open3dlab_uploads@open3dlab.social (Open3DLab new upload bot)
• @smutbase_uploads@open3dlab.social (SmutBase new upload bot)
• @sfmlab_uploads@open3dlab.social (SFMLab new upload bot)
• @ganonmaster@open3dlab.social (My personal account)

If you already have an account on another instance, just log on to that instance and type any of these account names into the search field. No need to sign up for an account on open3dlab.social unless you really want it!

While this is still a bit of a trial to see how it's going to work out, registration is currently open for all. If you want to learn more about how Mastodon works, check out https://docs.joinmastodon.org/ 

If you have any further questions, you can visit our Discord channel.

So, if you're already part of the Mastodon community, feel free to connect with us at Open3DLab.social, and if you're new to Mastodon, it's an excellent opportunity to join a friendly community of 3D enthusiasts. See you on Mastodon!