Hi! In thinking about how to help the fediverse grow, I wonder if there are more mainstream Lemmy instances?
I’ve pointed a couple folks to Lemmy.world and it’s uhhh, pretty hard Left for them (as one girl, who volunteered for the Democrats said “I just got yelled at because I can’t be Left wing unless I want to destroy capitalism? Which feels weird.”) We’re much farther Left than reddit which itself was definitely Left of centre…
I don’t know if decentralized open source social media actually attracts many mainstreamers but assuming we want to grow the fediverse, I’d like to have somewhere I can point people to without feeling very nervous for them.
Thanks!
I get why folks do it, but I’m not sure if they’re going to get people to embrace their philosophy, if they keep jeering at other people like this. There are more cordial ways that one can acknowledge the benefits while showing why the drawbacks outweigh them.
Can vouch for this. I learned a thing or two from people who had the patience to explain. Including some ML people. @[email protected] for example has nerves of steel. Permanent snark isn’t useful but it’s understandable, especially coming from people who are being actively harmed. Repeating the same things over and over without frustration isn’t something everyone can do.
Appreciate the kind words! You’re 100% correct in saying that snark isn’t useful but is understandable. Many good people are being actively harmed and are out of patience in explaining how and why said harm exists, and how we can move beyond it. That isn’t even mentioning the outright hostility many Leftists face in general, on a daily basis. Ultimately, what I’ve found is that most people aren’t going to be convinced of something that seriously challenges their worldview in a single conversation, but through compatible life experiences make themselves more open to new ideas. Those are the ones that end up listening to others genuinely and taking to heart what the other person has to say.
While I do think some ways of communicating are certainly more effective than others, social change also requires some amount of tension to be effective. Cordial methods are often the first to be tried, and are also most often summarily ignored.
Moderates often find tension emotionally distressing because it pierces their perception of themselves as a morally just person. They sometimes perceive what is often valid criticism as being yelled at. This tension is required in order to enact social change, though.
As someone who has been on the receiving end of that tension before, I can attest it’s an unpleasant experience, but it passes, and hopefully leaves room for some amount of contemplation in its place.
I’d highly recommend reading MLK’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, as he bridges the concept much more eloquently than I could ever hope to.
Queer people like myself are currently in the crosshairs and don’t have the energy or patience to put up with this shit.
I’ve been screaming from the top of my lungs since 2000!!! about how we were heading towards fascism and nobody listened. I’m out of fucks to give. If they’re too stupid to see it that’s on them. In my book lib shit behavior is complicit in the rise of fascism.
Then maybe don’t waste energy being shitty online and instead build the local community and personal resources to protect your ass.
If I was in your situation looking at the changes Trump did in just the executive orders his first day, I can tell you one thing that would be at the absolute fucking bottom of my todo list: argue on the fucking internet.
I’m currently extremely ill and bedridden with a painful and dangerous dental infection that I’m struggling to get adequate treatment for thanks to capitalism.
But yeah, do tell me how to live my life. Typical liberal scolding.
Also I LOVE the assumption that I don’t normally make community when I’m well. 🙄