Sure, there are some exceptions. But the reality on which we sit is that Lemmy is a very, very small community. Its all basically one community right now because there isn’t really enough membership to support balkanization and still get useful engagement. I think I’m centrally arguing in this thread that we’re “beyond neo-liberalism” in whatever the central tendency of Lemmy has become. To pervert a Big Lebowski quote, “Say what you will about neoliberalism, at least its an ethos”.

There is something that has happened on Lemmy (and elsewhere) that has taken us beyond a dispute over political idealogy. The movement we see on display here isn’t political arguments; its a form of team identity not at all dis-similar to the MAGA movement. Like, check out Michael Shure’s interviews with MAGA/ Trump supporters. Like, once you scratch past the surface, it becomes clear there is no coherent ideology under the hood. MAGA is just as much a reaction to how people feel socially, as it is a reaction based on how people feel politically. That movement is predicated on belonging to a team, and having a identity that shapes your politics. I’m making the argument that Lemmy’s allergic reaction to introspection/ criticism of their proffered team, is not at all dissimilar to the shape and dimensions of how Trump supporters form their views. They’re on a team. You are here to cheer and if you aren’t hear to just sing the praises of my team, you are my enemy. Whatever is happening online, and in America, is beyond politics at this point.