The project is shut down

[ronilaukkarinen]

According to the feedback, I just shut down this project, perhaps permanently. Sorry for all the harm I caused.

Use this instead: https://mastodon.social/public

[majick]

Would you prefer a separate issue for "Opt-in feature or shut down," or should that be included in the scope of this issue?

[ronilaukkarinen]

Would you prefer a separate issue for "Opt-in feature or shut down," or should that be included in the scope of this issue?

Wrote the title of this issue in a hurry, sorry about that. The main point was to add a link to the information that project has been shut down and perhaps talk about any options.

Opt-in would make this idea stupid and opt-out is not an option for many, so I see no future in this experiment.

[ronilaukkarinen]

After the smoke has probably gone down a bit, I'd like to comment this whole thing, since this project was added to fedi-scraper-counter.html list that is also listed on the list of Mastodon tools that I administer. Been a follower of that list with a keen eye, ironically enough it is now me, my name and username who is on that list on that external website, I should add, without consent of mine. How do I opt myself out from that list?

Jokes aside, the list item states as per writing this:

2025-01-10: DJSundog discovers fedi scraper "FediFirehose" by Roni Laukkarinen (@[email protected]) using account on mastodon.social to "firehose" posts to external dstabase and website. No opt-out method existed. Appears to have existed since 2023. Project shut down after outcry. 💀

"External database" stated here is completely false. Anyone can use the Streaming API to build whatever they want without storing the posts anywhere. https://docs.joinmastodon.org/methods/streaming/

This "website" I had is one (1) HTML File (here) and a couple of lines of JavaScript. It does not store anything to any database, it shows 50 real time public posts at a time and then they are forever gone from the view, no deleted posts seen, you can't link to any post, it's exactly the same feed that mastodon.social publicly has here, it does not need even any account to see them: https://mastodon.social/public - The filtering feature was an oversight that I regret.

I do regret building this whole thing, took the model directly from the Bluesky Firehose firesky.tv and did not think it through. I completely understand the frustration and outrage. If it's not obvious yet for some folks, I'm truly sorry and do not try to "explain" myself out of this, I just wanted to point out that wrong information - there is no database and there never was. The point never was to "scrape" or "search", but more like show an IRC like user feed and promote how vivid Mastodon is as a network. I hope I don't dig a hole any deeper with this statement I'm writing here.

As an openness advocate I need to say that this whole ordeal has caused me a mental breakdown and that is the reason for my absence from social media since Thursday. I got too many vilifying comments and was torn from the pressure. I'm not saying this because I'm trying to fish for pity or blame anyone else than me. For some people even saying this out loud is some kind of martyrism or trying to make myself a victim. If you like to think that way, it's your right. I've been bullied, school bullied and gone through many bad things, it doesn't mean I like to take more of that. When I reported those "F Us" and other posts that were against the behaviour rules of our server, people said it's okay because it's justified because of my actions. I've seen people who think a certain kind of better form of hate exists, but I am a pacifist, I avoid hate and always try to look for the most peaceful solution available to me. If there is none, I rather give up and retreat.

I'm going to continue the path that I have chosen, which is keep my head up, always think kindly of other people, always think accessibility first, inclusivity first, ethics first. I will continue to develop online services that welcome all groups of people.

I won't stop programming things daily as I've been doing for the past 20+ years, but I'm putting all my Mastodon, Mastodon Bird UI, FediAlgo and other Fediverse development on pause for the time being.

Like they say in Finland, "käsi pystyyn virheen merkiksi", I raise up my hand to show you all I made a mistake. I made a mistake and I'm sorry. I hope you understand.

I hope the case is closed about this and no further pain is caused to anyone. All the best and peace to all of you, also you who liked to threaten, defame and insult me. I love you all.

“I do not hate anyone, not even Hitler. Hate is a disease which may destroy your enemy but will destroy you in the process. You may not like everyone, but that doesn’t give you the right to be nasty to them. I don’t love everyone but I hate no one. There is no revenge; ­staying alive is the only revenge."
– Eddie Jaku, the self-described 'Happiest Man on Earth,' survived four concentration camps, including Auschwitz, and a death march.

Sincerely,
Rolle