On the surface level, many of you may read that title and think to yourself yes, and why wouldn't you - it's no secret that bluesky was developed as a twitter alternative in the first place. Many big names have found a comfortable home on bluesky. The Onion, a satirical news outlet, admitted that they left twitter in favor of Bluesky, among other social media networks, and saw success from the decision.

There is no question that regardless of bluesky's intentions, it seems that their userbase is keen on leaving twitter and using bluesky to fill that twitter shaped hole. I can't help but notice a rise in what I would deem "undesirable" behaviors - and I'm beginning to wonder whethers these are bugs or features of the newer platform.

Perhaps it's just me, but I've noticed a sharp incline in toxic behaviors coming across my feed. A "toxic behaviour" is sort of abstract conceptually. What I am referring to is actions meant to tear down or diminish others in one way or another.

I remember back when bluesky was using the referral code system, many of us were users who had long sworn off platforms like twitter. We were craving something different, a place with community, positivity, a place to come together and create and thrive. For awhile, bluesky was exactly that: creatives around every corner, local events being promoted consistently. Small and large accounts interacting regularly. The good of the world being put on display. I'm not saying there were no bad faith actors, but these people were dealt with swiftly. It wasn't just a personal act of blocking and curating. You could rely on your fellow, like minded users to help by not engaging as well, which naturally prevented that sort of content from coming across your feed.

For a good while this worked. It really did! And yet, it seems as more and more users join the platform, these agreed upon actions are going out the door. It isn't just new users, even accounts I have followed for a long time are falling for engagement baits, rageposts, etc. I have found myself surrounded by all the things that I was trying to avoid in the first place.

The genius of twitter as a platform is it keeps you engaging as a part of its design. Allow me to explain: Controversial, hot-take posts are designed to perform better. They beckon users to respond with further insanity. This is the trap: now you are pushing the post to all of your followers and mutuals who, logically, also agree with you and will also feel the need to rebuke the morally wrong opinion. This then invites those opposed to your view to continue to infiltrate your feed, causing you to interact more to state your opposition. It is a vicious cycle. People grow so worn out from being "forced" (morally) to respond to these baits that they begin to ignore sane posts. Now, to be engaged with, you have to make your own bait posts that people will either feel the need to wildly agree with or wildly disagree with - otherwise you're left behind.

Users trained on this cycle join bluesky and begin making inflammatory content as it's what they have been taught to do. The weakest links begin to take the bait, pushing this content out. We are on the precipice of this twitter cycle consuming the entire platform. Already every other post is the worst of the worst, the absolute doom and gloom of the barren pits of earth, beckoning your undivided attention all at once.

God no. Not in the slightest. I'm also not saying that users are doing something wrong. Just as twitter was built to feed off your every reaction, whether good or bad, bluesky is a well oiled emotion eating machine. The difference between twitter and bluesky is the (lack of) algorithm - now, you're guaranteed to be seeing posts that accounts you engage with (and by that logic, like) have also engaged with. It uses your fear of outcast and rejection against you. If you see a post that says "I hate furries" and one of your favorite fursuit makers has qrted with how people shouldn't say that and furry is beautiful, now you have been provoked to also clarify that you support furries - even though that is implied by you actively supporting and engaging with furry creators (hint, this is a metaphor)

No longer are we uplifting for the sake of uplifting. Now everything is a subtle performance - You don't want to be misconstrued. This is only intensified by well meaning but often misguided users who preach how silence on issues is siding with whatever side they disagree with (even though both sides say the same thing, yes they do, and again they are often contributing more harm than good by promoting the harmful content in the first place). It is extremely disheartening.

As a trans person, I don't need to see every time every transphobe shares how much they hate transgender people. As a Puerto Rican, I don't need to see every karen sharing how they're disgusted with the superbowl. As a disabled person, I don't need to see every time people would rather us be dead or gone because of whatever the fuck reason. You can't even curate it out anymore - I would genuinely have to block anything about being "trans" or "poc" or "disabled" and even then it still might get pushed to me in snarky vagueposts. What kind of social media presence is that? One devoid of all the people like me? Aren't we supposed to be interacting, engaging, meeting, loving, UPLIFTING each other? How have we lost the plot so hard?

I really don't know, and I don't have all the answers. But I do have an idea ... and I really think we as communities need to bring back forums! REAL forums. Anonymous forums! A place where people can explore their truest selves and content is archived in a way that is SEARCHABLE!!! You like trains? Boom: four users before you have made threads about their favorite trains, jump in! You see something hateful? Don't click on it!! Someone commenting nonesense on your thread? Boom, muted, now everyone is free from the nonesense. I'm sure it'll come with it's own problems too, but when I think of the places that I have felt the most accepted and open I think of Telegram, Reddit (I know!), Furaffinity, Toyhouse, all places that (at least at one point) have had some sort of forum structure.

You can always comment anonymously on my blog posts by clicking "I'd rather post as a guest" under your comment. You will need to enter a nickname, but if you do not want to share an email you can just make one up or generate one (you just won't be able to get notified with replies). I would really, truly, love to hear some other thoughts on this issue. If I hosted some sort of forum, would you benefit from that? Do you have other ideas? Seriously, let me know! I am genuinely trying to fostor some good community.

I don't know. I don't know!!! God. I'm sorry. It's such a shitty situation. I feel like we (minority populations most affected by the hate being circulated) are who get pushed out first, even though we often lay the groundwork for these platforms to thrive in the first place. Fuck, it is so frustrating! Every time I log on bluesky I just feel so tired. I don't even want to post. I cringe as I scroll, prepping for my next horror. I can't be living in hell and then be consuming nothing but hell. I literally can't take it.

Times have been tough. So fucking tough. My heart is bleeding for all of us going through the mud right now. I know that there is pain everywhere we look. I know it is really hard.

We have to stand together. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Life is beautiful. You are beautiful. Call a friend. Go to the park. Pet a dog. Breathe. I love you.