The fediverse is small, and thats both a blessing and a curse - one of its several blessings is that in a smaller space we all individually have a bigger impact on what the culture of this space is like.

On this comm (and on lemmy broadly) there’s a lot of discussion about how to grow the fediverse, what to improve, but an easy thing you can do for the fediverse is right in front of us-

  • Be kind

  • Ask people what they think, and why

  • Approach folks you disagree with with curiosity rather than hostility (EDIT: no, this is not specifically referring to Nazis. I get it, they’re the first thing that comes to mind. I’m not telling you to approve of Nazis I’m just saying be kind to your fellow lemmites)

  • Engage sincerely

  • Ask yourself if there’s something nice you can say

  • Make this small space worth being in

A platform lives or dies by what’s available on said platform and often we have this conversation in the context of “content” or posts - and we may never have as much content as reddit does. But content and posts aren’t the only thing this kind of platform offers- it also offers people. It offers community, and human interaction.

Culture and community is lemmy and the fediverse’s biggest differentiator, and we all have a role to play in shaping the culture of this space.

The biggest thing you can do to help the fediverse is make it a place worth being.

  • SuiXi3D
    0•5 months ago

    The second best thing is remember that tolerance of intolerance breeds intolerance.

    • @shaggyb@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0•5 months ago

      Call them out so that resistance is visible, then block them to remove their agency to engage you.

    • @gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      0•5 months ago

      i think if someone’s intolerant, pointing out that they’re wrong is something appropriate, but picking a fight over it is not worth it. it makes you like that person in that meme:

      edit: in bad cases, report it and move on with your life.

    • Mike WooskeyEnglish
      0•5 months ago

      That suggests we should be intolerant of intolerance, which is an oxymoron.

      • BananaEnglish
        0•5 months ago

        Sure, if you think of it as purely semantic, or a zero sum game with no nuance, but it’s not.

        Gotta be intolerant of those being needlessly cruel to those just trying to live their lives, and gotta be tolerant of those just trying to live their lives that don’t affect you, even if you find it cringey.

      • @dota__2@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0•5 months ago

        it’s only an oxymoron if you’re a moron. tolerance is a social contract. the intolerant break that contract and are no longer to be protected by it.

      • SuiXi3D
        0•5 months ago

        Almost as if the statement is referring to the paradox of tolerance.

        By allowing people like Nazis, Christofascists, Tankies, etc. a platform, it only invites more sharing that view to spread their bullshit around. You see it on platforms like Truth Social and X, but in reverse.

        If this is to be a kind place, we must encourage kindness and rid ourselves of unkindness. You can’t tolerate intolerance, lest it spread and take over.

        • BananaEnglish
          0•5 months ago

          If you allow wolves and sheep into a space, that is a wolves-only space.

          (For context, I agree with you.)

      • @rocket_dragon@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        0•5 months ago

        Paradox of Tolerance - Karl Poppler - 1945

        It’s a shame that something we already figured out 60 years ago still needs to be learned by most people.

        The good news is, this is an opportunity for you to grow and be better right now. It’s never too late to improve yourself.

        • CoelacanthEnglish
          0•5 months ago

          60 years ago? Buddy, I have some bad news for you…

          • @rocket_dragon@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
            0•5 months ago

            Wdym financial cashes, pandemic, doomscrolling, Trump got the presidency twice??

            You’re talking crazy it’s only 2005 bro, futuristic computer interface means frutiger aero, I listen to music on my iPod and text on my candybar flip phone </3</3

            • CoelacanthEnglish
              0•5 months ago

              Don’t worry, at least 2005 was only ten years ago.

              …wait.

    • @misk@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      0•5 months ago

      I think part of pleasantness is not bringing politics into things that weren’t intended to be about politics.

      • Yardy SardleyEnglish
        0•5 months ago

        To interject with a somewhat pedantic point, nothing is truly apolitical. But there is something to be said about sensing the proper time and place to start a political argument.

      • BananaEnglish
        0•5 months ago

        The problem is politics impacts everything and the word “political” means different things to different people.

        To some, talking about being gay is political, even though to people who are in that community, it’s literally just talking about their lives.

        • @misk@sopuli.xyzEnglish
          0•5 months ago

          It did not impact this thread at all before this comment which was my point exactly.

    • CrisOPEnglish
      0•5 months ago

      This is a whole different train of thought (mine is, I won’t speak for yours) and I don’t wanna derail my original thought but that’s a thing I’ve been thinking about a lot lately.

      I agree with you, and subscribe to the idea of tolerance as a social contract that, once broken, is no longer owed to the one who broke the contract.

      At the same time, I’ve also learned that very explicitly, feeling persecuted is a requisite ingredient in radicalizing people into hate groups. And that at an individual scale, it’s generally undeserved compassion that helps deradicalize them. We know this from the accounts of people who managed to leave hate groups- a little while ago there was really good (and long) interview with someone who used to be leader of a white nationalist group where he talked a fair bit about that idea, since he now works with a nonprofit that helps families and friends support and deradicalize loved ones, but it’s far from the only account

      At present I’m really not sure how I personally reconcile those two things I belive to be true. The Nazi bar analogy is real.

      I know wading into this more specific conversion runs the risk of immediately derailing what I was trying to start a discussion about, but I figured I’d share my thoughts. If anyone reads this and has thoughts to share (though I’d prefer not to get 50 comments just saying I suck for having complicated views on what we do about the predicament the US and world is in with the rise of fascist ideology. I’m interested in what’s effective in terms of fixing the problem just like you are) I’d be interested in hearing them. I’m still looking for a way to synthesize my beliefs into a coherent whole.

      • @pelespirit@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        0•5 months ago

        I agree with everything you said at the top and this comment as well. You don’t have to be mean, cruel, or shitty to the bad actors. In fact the best case scenario is to make your case once and then walk away. It’s much easier to talk about than to actually do, but it’s really effective. If you assume they’re not trolls or bad actors, even better. All of these actions curtail flame wars, which is what they’re after anyway if you’re correct that they’re a bad actor or troll.

        • CrisOPEnglish
          0•5 months ago

          Thanks for your thoughts, thats a bit different of an approach than I’d really thought about, I feel like my thoughts have kinda been stuck at both extremes

          That gives me new things to think about, thank you ❤️

      • @dota__2@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0•5 months ago

        they’re going to “feel” persecuted, no matter what. might as well make them actually fucking fear it.