Because of the nature of federation posts and comments on LemmyNSFW communities will live on basically forever. However the photos and videos will likely be lost. Some were links to external media and will stick around, some may be cached. But most photos and videos that were uploaded directly to the instance will break when the server fully goes down.

For example: [NSFW, OBVIOUSLY] [email protected] - that link should load fine on your instance. It should look functional just with no new posts. (Note: it’s actually possible to post and comment in these communities still, but only people in your instance will see it)

The images are served from links like these: (mild NSFW) https://lemmynsfw.com/pictrs/image/d50379d3-7d64-440c-bcf6-13dbf2b81c1b.webp?format=webp

The fact that the images still load is a somewhat hopeful sign. The server is still running, Lemmy just crashed. There’s still time for the head admin to come back, the data still exists. This seems unlikely though as the other admin says they haven’t heard from them since October.

So there’s a small window to archive this stuff, if you’re interested. Between now and whenever the media server crashes or gets shut off for non-payment.

  • fonix232@fedia.io
    40·
    7 hours ago

    If you read the post, it basically boils down to:

    • the Lemmy instance crashing
    • the primary admin (whom would have system level access, not just admin role assigned in the Lemmy instance itself) hasn’t been heard from since last October

    sadly it’s not uncommon for open source devs and maintainers to “disappear” from the community - a lot of these people do not share what they do with their friends and family, at least not the friends and family that could take over or even take steps in case of their passing. Accidents do happen, so do random events, so it’s perfectly possible for such an admin to pass due to some unforeseen reason, and have nobody within their immediate circles who even knew about their role in maintaining the instance.

    • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      2 hours ago

      It pisses me off that my first thought upon reading this was to wonder if he got disappeared by ICE.

    • foodandart@lemmy.zipEnglish
      12·
      5 hours ago

      Accidents happen… Yup.

      Just like when Demonoid finally went down after Deimos died in an accident in 2018. Some of the other admins tried to keep it up but the community spirt there died with his death.

      Happens.