I have been thinking about this for a while, and I guess I finally need to say it.
I came to the fediverse because I wanted a place where I could simply exist, share what I write, interact with people, and be part of a community without constantly feeling like I had to defend myself. What I wanted was a quiet space, not a place filled with endless drama and people looking for reasons to target someone.
Over time, I have noticed that whenever I post something that some people disagree with, a small group immediately jumps to conclusions. Instead of talking to me or trying to understand what I meant, they choose harassment, assumptions, and public callouts. It is exhausting.
I want to make something clear: I am not talking about every Sharkey server. There are many wonderful Sharkey communities with kind admins and amazing people who have welcomed me, and I genuinely appreciate them. My issue has never been with the software or the developers. Software does not decide how people treat one another.
The real problem is when people choose to create an environment where targeting, harassment, and slander become acceptable simply because someone has a different opinion or writes a blog post they disagree with. That kind of culture pushes people away instead of encouraging healthy discussion.
Because of those experiences, I have become more careful about what appears on my timeline. If I block an instance, it is not because I hate everyone there. It is because I want my online space to feel safe and comfortable for me. Everyone deserves to have boundaries online.
I also want to apologize to the communities that were affected while I was migrating between instances. Looking back, I know it created confusion, and I understand why some people were frustrated. I have learned from that experience, and I am trying to move forward.
This will probably be the last time I publicly talk about this situation. I would rather spend my time writing, sharing news, and interacting with people who genuinely want to have conversations instead of conflict.
At the end of this post, I'll be tagging a few people who have been incredibly kind to me. If you're looking for thoughtful and welcoming people to follow, I highly recommend checking them out.
Finally, if you're new to the fediverse, my advice is simple: don't choose an instance just because someone recommends it or because it seems popular. Take your time, explore different communities, read their rules, and find a place where you genuinely feel welcome. Your experience on the fediverse depends as much on the community as it does on the software.
People to follow:
