Oh, ok, I get it. I can set up an account on this instance, but follow people on other instances, and they show up in the "Home" timeline.
Which means instance don't really matter (if you don't mind the @name@instance format). They more like email providers.
@rateldajer Oh, I hadn't thought of that. Interesting.
I haven't really looked at the local/public timelines, since I'm looking at this with a twitter-centric view, where I only see people I follow anyway.
@rateldajer Hmmm, actually, are you sure this is how it works? I had a look at the local timeline, but it's only posts from people from this instance.
@korvys sorry I messed that up, I was describing your view of the federated timeline, local is really local. Federated is local plus people your locals follow + someFunctionOfBoostsEtc
@rateldajer Ok, that make sense, thanks!
THe instance just provides the account.
This does mean if the instance shuts down, you lose your account, but it looks like they're working on ways to move your followers to a new account on a new instance.
@korvys don't forget, you have the ability to export your Following list at any time, and you should always be able to import that into a new instance.
@jason I'm more interested in keeping my followers if I decide I like another instance better.
(Which sounds kinda conceited, but it's more if I move, I don't want to spam everyone "hey come follow me over at this new instance")
@korvys I get that. It's a tricky thing, though. You can't really force people to follow what is a literal different account.
@jason Providing functionality to say "these two accounts are functionally the same account" doesn't seem unreasonable (and seems to be one of the options being discussed here: https://github.com/tootsuite/mastodon/issues/177 ).
@korvys yeah, I'm sure it's doable, and I agree it's reasonable. I just have no idea what would be involved in making it happen. Still wrapping my head around the what is, let alone the what could be :smile:
@korvys yes, that's what follows are like. But no, it matters. The local timeline is a collection of local people's posts or any from users people in your instance follow on other instances. So each follow kind of 'brings them in' to your instance.