this post was submitted on 03 Apr 2025
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Even the word "Instance" is unnecessary gatekeeping jargon.
Service provider, server, or website as another suggested.
A typical sentence might be, "Do you use Gmail, Yahoo, or proton as your email provider?" There have been dozens of popular services over the decades but only Lemmy used a new word to mean the same thing.
I just tell people it's a network of websites that you can use one login for. Like using your Google account to sign into pornhub.
No follow up questions.
I may be too dumb for web development, but I'm just smart enough to explain it to the other dummies.
Can we make it okay for humans to use their brains again?
The term "instance", in this context, means exactly what it says - it is one existence of many. How is this gatekeeping or jargon?
This implies to me that the "gatekeeping" you are referring to is reading comprehension and basic vocabulary; and frankly, if we've stooped that low, keep them out. There is nothing to be gained from a group that refuses to learn the basic definition of the word "instance".
P.S. "provider" is a good (and correct) term as well.
Why don't you call it an email instance too? It's one of many. News instance? Instant messenger instance? They are all the same as Lemmy but with different data formats that are exchanged.
No one outside of Lemmy uses that term for a public server providing a service. That's what makes it gatekeeping jargon.
So people also use the term "news provider"? What about "email channel"? This argument falls apart fairly quickly with any level of scrutiny.
The English language has connotations. Certain words are more likely to be paired with others due to cultural or historical reasons. "Instance" has a medical and technical connotation; and Lemmy is a technology (software). News is not technical, so it is unlikely (but still correct) to use the word "instance" with it.
Email is more of a service than a technology, so due to connotation, it is often paired with "provider". However, "email instance" is still a completely correct phrase.
Once again, we should not be calling fundamentals of the English language "gatekeeping". This is how you get widespread ignorance and shitty communities.
P.S. Also, your "no one outside of Lemmy" argument is also just wrong. Invidious, Redlib, and other frontends refer to themselves as instances. Bluesky calls itself an instance. And it is very common to use the term for weather services as well.
News meant newsgroup like Usenet. And yes, provider is fine.
That you could use a different word doesn't mean you should. You aren't adding any nuance. The word instance isn't more precise or specific in any way. It is simply jargon.
Website? That's what they are, and I think many people would be more familiar with that than "instance".
And if they follow up with questions about apps you can mention whatever your preference may be.
Like @Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world said, server or website. The latter especially for people with 0 exposure to tech.