Bigwideland:
What is the purpose of purity if only to be defiled
It same with sweet country towns, or that hidden surf break. The initial people are about a core value the feel, comradery, the vibe. Then other notice less layed back people move in. If you get enough people moving in the opportunity people turn up, then the knockers and trolls. It just seems the nature of things.
You're not entirely wrong, but you are not entirely right either.
We'll never get those simpler times back, but that doesn't mean it's all doom and gloom. Community is what you make of it.
I remember how unsafe and unwelcome I felt when I first started being active on here. Sure, there were nice people, but I got harrassed a lot for being a woman, being black, being Jewish, not being a feedee, etc. I'd say the community was overrun by a special kind of asshole back then.
Yeah, I'd report people, but there were so many people like that it felt like wack a mole. One day I had enough and started publically standing up for myself and others. It was scary, but I couidn't live with myself if I backed down.
Well, it turns out I wasn't the only one that hated the status quo. Turns out, I was dealing with a very loud minority. They were so loud that everyone else thought the nice people were in the minority.
When I plucked up the courage to stand up to such people, others started doing it too. That vocal minority got quieter. It's more peaceful these day, and people are nicer.