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.

  • FundMECFS@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    6 days ago

    I love this.

    I think it’s important to say this doesn’t mean pretending you like or agree with something you don’t like or agree with.

    But when you do see something you like, agree with, or appreciate, drop a compliment. Compliments make places better!

    • Cris@lemmy.worldOP
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      6 days ago

      Absolutely agree. Fake niceness is worthless and does nothing to make a space better.

      We need sincerity.

  • Steven McTowelie@lemm.ee
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    5 days ago

    The thing that I appreciated most about Lemmy and my transition from Reddit is how cordial everyone has been. Even if a comment is taken out of context, people tend not to jump down each others throat and assume the worst, or make bad faith arguments full of fallacies. I’ve had legitimate back and forths with people, something that basically never happens on Reddit.

  • Alborlin@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    Okay I agree, so let’s start from Linux related any post, tell them if somebody asks a problem don’t tell them just install mint , or how one is crazy because they are facing the problems in Linux or if you are not using Linux what idiot are you. I stopped participating because

    1. Linux dude bros are just idiots troubling me
    2. I can’t find content which is though not niche is just is plain not news or Linux
    3. It’s very confusing to use fedverse as I don’t know of i can go all subs via my boost app or do i need something else , if so where to access them.

    So let’s make it ACCESSIBLE, NON DERAGORTY FOR ANON LINUX USERS ALSO

  • ArtificialHoldings@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    Completely right OP, and this is worth repeating as MUCH as possible. More than almost any UX or intake changes, Fediverse will only grow if their experience of the community is good.

    Unfortunately, some people have never caught a vibe in their life and it shows lol. A single person with a bad attitude can completely tank your experience in a small community, versus a 20,000 person subreddit where usernames are basically indistinguishable.

  • Angry_Autist (he/him)@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    I disagree, yes being kind is very important but even more important is people engaging and upvoting comments.

    Reddit was great because of what happened in the comment section, not the headliners, and I see very little voting engagement even in active posts.

    Remember, it’s free to do and it encourages others to engage as well. But yea be kind too

  • pebbles@sh.itjust.works
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    6 days ago

    Thanks for sharing! I’m not perfect at this, but I try to keep the vibes welcoming.

    Lemmy’s more intimate and understanding vibes are its best features IMO.

    • Cris@lemmy.worldOP
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      6 days ago

      Hell yeah 😊

      And I absolutely agree. Lemmy straight up isn’t as big as reddit, it’s important that there be stuff to see, but I think one of the best things about the fediverse is that it feels so much more like healthy, actual social interaction, and I think that’s a strength we ought to celebrate and actively facilitate :)

  • Fungah@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    The thing in this post about curiosity isn’t just a lemmy/online thing.

    The vast majority of people are mainly interested in themselves. Like - if you have trouble on dates, making friends, getting along at work, anything to do with people in general - approaching them with a sense of sincere curiosity will completely change things overnight.

    Get people to talk about themselves, be supportive in your discussions with them, and shut the fuck up wherever possible and suddenly you’re interesting, a good person, kind, whatever - traits you’ve done exactly fuck all to demonstrate, but that people will swear are true because you seem interested in them.

    It’s fucking bonkers but it’s true. Curiosity can change your world.

  • GooberEar@lemmy.wtf
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    5 days ago

    On the one hand, yes, yes, yes, absolutely.

    On the other hand, way too often people are absolutely vile here and nobody sticks up for themselves or for others. Really a shame that r-word-it bullshit behavior is often times totally accepted and approved and even rewarded here.

  • ZeroOne@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    Oh trust me, I try to be as kind as possible. But the people here, Oh my… I got hated on for “using too much HTML”.