The best thing you can do for the fediverse is just be kind
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.
Saved because would be interesting to read what the people that want to set others property on fire and guillotine people, think what is actually being kind
well i'd argue that setting teslas on fire is property damage, while slashing social security is murder or at the very least neglect of duties that led to deaths of many people.
it is clear that property damage is the minor damage of the two, according to contemporary interpretation of law.
about the guillotining:
same story. talkings about guillotining people is a reasonable threat when the alternative is to let the billionaires upend your roots and your lifes through horrible policy decisions. it's an act of self-defence at some point, i'd say.
though i agree with you at least partially that the US is different than say europe.
in the US, the mindset of "hard work" is more far-spread, as it the mindset that people who don't work, don't deserve to eat. that's just the US being the US i guess.
I'm not sure I follow-
Are you saying you think I want to set people's stuff on fire and guillotine people, or that you think responders in this thread do?
I think the use of violence is complicated. I think people are too eager to let their anger dictate their behavior.
I also think that if you always turn the other cheek you're allowing cruelty, and you won't be the only one to suffer it at the hands of said cruelty.
I'm interested in what's effective. I care about the outcome. I think kindness often has the outcome I want.
I also think that if you lived through the Nazi regime, you'd be justified in shooting Hitler. You'd be justified in taking up arms to protect your loved ones from persecution, or execution at the hands of a group that needs victims to fuel its political machine.
I'm not inclined to believe my anger always dictates the best course of action. I'm also not inclined to believe that my desire to be friends with everyone will always be enough to build a world that isn't ruled by profound cruelty. I think those two ideas can co-exist.