this post was submitted on 23 Aug 2024
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Fediverse

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We propose the symbol ⁂ to represent the fediverse.

...

⁂ is called an asterism. In astronomy, it refers to groups of stars in the sky, akin to constellations. We suggest that it’s a very fitting symbol for the fediverse, a galaxy of interconnected spaces which is decentralised and has an astronomically-themed name. It represents several stars coming together, connecting but each their own, without a centre.

...

@ is the symbol for e-mail. # is the symbol for hashtags. ☮ is the symbol for peace. ♻ is the symbol for recycling. ⁂ can be the symbol for the fediverse. ⁂ is standardised as Unicode U+2042, making it ready to copy and insert anywhere.

Git Repository: fediverse-symbol/fediverse-symbol

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

How about, the same idea, but you use railroad couplers instead of buttholes? Everybody is connected! Rather than being full of shit.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

Of note: ActivityPub (the protocol) has its own logo, seen in https://activitypub.rocks/ and other places. The protocol and the community are absolutely separate things, so this is really good.

I've never really linked the rainbow star icon, just because I don't really like rainbows (IMO the ace flag is the prettiest but I might be biased). I'm also still not convinced that Meta's icon is even supposed to represent the fediverse, as opposed to just a Threads feature that lets it connect to the fediverse. So overall I'm a fan of this proposal, although it does bug me that it uses 6-pointed stars in the font on the webpage and 5-pointed stars in most other typefaces. The 5-pointed stars create some nice negative space.

@[email protected]

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

However, its design is a little too complex to be used at small sizes, as you would in text or in a button.

I wonder what the criteria are. Because ⁂ just looks like three blurry dots to me. It's not making things worse, but I wouldn't say it's making them much better either.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

First thought: e pluribus anus

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

A fellow greendale alum. Streets ahead!

[–] [email protected] 14 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Why though? We don't need a symbol. Is it that hard to type "fediverse"? The fediverse logo is good enough.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Do we need to address the typographical issues for the existing symbol? I am not using that symbol every time I talk about fedi. Fedi accounts are identified as @username@instance, so there's no need to use some obscure unicode.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

Exactly. And if needs be, get the existing symbol included in Unicode. It might already be in FontAwesome.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

i like the gay satanism icon

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 weeks ago

lmao this is the funniest name I heard for the rainbow Pentagram surrounded by a rainbow Pentagon.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago

It looks like a bunch of snowflakes. I'd rather not associate with that image.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 3 weeks ago

Its use looks contrived to me on the linked GitHub page. The comparison with @ and # is flawed because those symbols are part of the resource name, whereas here the symbol is superfluous. It's like adding a 🌐 in front of every web URL.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 weeks ago

There is no real dichotomy between the logo we have and the proposed typographical symbol. They have different uses, neither can really replace the other. Keep the established colourful Fediverse logo in visual layouts and when desired use the typographical symbol in text. It is natural that they won't be exactly the same symbol because they are designed for different needs; one is meant to look pretty and one is meant to read well as text.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Whoever decided that a logo should be standardised as Unicode? That is the worst criterion for picking a symbol that has and will have hundreds of other uses than inline text. If it's so important — work to have the current, pentacle fediverse symbol included in Unicode.

Registering a domain to introduce your dumb idea with a lot of empty bravado leaves you with ... an annual bill and a dumb idea. The pentacle symbol is so much more recognisable.

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