I need my GIF button

Are you calling the server list on joinmastodon.org “the federation”? Because it’s not; it’s literally just a list. Nothing about the list tells you about any actual federation between instances. Without a doubt there are instances on that list that are federated with ones not on that list and vice versa. It’s not even the only list out there.

There’s nothing wrong with being right all the time, but relationships need more than just the exchange of facts. If all people know you for is the guy who is right all the time (or needs to be right all the time), then maybe you’re neglecting the other aspects of those relationships. There needs to be other things people remember you for.