Big Bad John's avatar
Big Bad John 6 months ago
I can't deliver a knowledge base every time I want to discuss protocol design, so I make efforts to speak in understandable abstractions that touch the soft spots. I have attempted to share feedback and designs with nostr for years. I have known fiatjaf since before nostr existed. Aside from talking to fiatjaf himself, that experience has been horrendous. Maybe you can forgive me if my candor is too abrasive or short. Anyway, it's censorable because the relay model is no different than the website model in practice. At scale it requires permission, and nostr has no solution for discovery once permission is revoked. Quite simple, but undermines the entire project. We discovered a better way, and that makes it really difficult to tolerate nostr tribalism. I could go on, about other design flaws, but that is at least one answer for you!

Replies (4)

> Anyway, it's censorable because the relay model is no different than the website model in practice. At scale it requires permission, and nostr has no solution for discovery once permission is revoked. this is factually wrong, I have just broadcast your event to over100 relays, including my own personal relay. Can you tell me how one would censor this very note, without coordination from all of those relays?
I appreciate the response and it's good to hear more context. I've heard your name but don't know much about your work. My understanding is that the relays can be run on many devices (kind of like bitcoin nodes, so similarly decentralized). If I can run a relay that my family and/or community can use, isn't it up to me whether it's censored or not?
"we discovered a better way" Oh please tell, if there is something better than nostr for censorship resistance I'd like to know. Sign me up, I'll join right now.