Here's one absolute truth I know about the fedi.
Bigots have more support and acceptance than progressive, and forward-thinking people do. There is a reason so many Black and Brown instances have come and gone, but the domains on many blocklists are so consistent.
No technology on Earth can fill that gap.
With so many new people coming in, the fedi is at a crossroads and needs to decide what kind of culture it wants.
Either it's going to be a space where bigots feel comfortable, or it's going to be a place that actively supports new and fresh ideas where people from any background can come and find community.
It cannot be both.
Don't get me wrong. I appreciate all the thoughts and well wishes I've gotten about PV as more Black and Brown folks come to the fedi.
But one thing I want people to understand is how demoralizing it is to see places like Gab have virtually unlimited resources and support despite being a platform that enabled the most deplorable and violent hate. The push it took to get them taken down is something my former instance experienced regularly.
I've heard for years how people love my work, but it was always a struggle for support and resources. If it weren't for a dedicated few, I would not have been able to keep it up and running for as long as I did.
I get PV was a point of note for many people for the fedi, but for my team and me, it was grind and a constant experience dealing with the worst people on the fedi day after day after day. Let that part sink in.
Am I proud of Play Vicious? Very. But for as much people talk about how much they loved us, it did not translate to the support we needed to be a permanent place in the fedi.
That context is why I'm adamant about not wanting to start a new public instance unless the fedi proves it can support a place dedicated to safety and equality.
