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Sam Schlinkert @schlink

Re: the "what happens when someone impersonates me on another instance" problem, I think it's going to be important for us to remember what instances each other are on. For example, I know both sides of the @ sign on my best friend's email address. Thus I should learn all of your instance URLs.

To make that easier, Mastodon could ALWAYS display the instance URL whenever it displays a handle?

(But it'd also be totally cool to have a slick cryptographic solution...) cc @princessfluffy @chad

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@kodo oh yeah that's what I meant. handle + instance URL. Is that unclear?

@schlink @chad There needs to be a way to have a global username - problem solved! lol

@princessfluffy @chad I just don't think that's feasible given the way the system is decentralized. Imagine if all email providers had to fight over a shared username namespace? (i.e. no one can have sam@gmail.com cuz there's a sam@aol.com)

Technologically that would be difficult to coordinate between email providers (or Mastodon instances), which are designed to only be loosely connected. But would also give advantage to earlier providers, stifling small competitors and potentially innovation

@schlink @princessfluffy I agree it will become the norm at some point but it will take some learning/teaching because everyone is accustomed social networking and @ user names.