I'm still miffed about the pompous condescension from a former mutual yesterday, lecturing us all about the proper use of the Fediverse and how it should be strictly for news, and if you want to have fun or share someone's small business wares you should go back to linkedin (shudder) or the birdsite (violent shudder).
They decreed that they would be blocking anyone who posted or boosted about anything that involved the exchange of money, because this isn't the place for that (apparently).
This walking HOA's ingratiating viewpoint is there's only one correct way to use social media, and of course it's their way. They then use that viewpoint to belittle strangers online because the strangers have the audacity to use a platform in a manner inconsistent with the Fedi HOA President's beliefs. I disagree with their conclusion as well as their approach to the topic.
Personally, I'm fascinated with the ingenuity of my fellow Fedizens. I enjoy boosting posts from small business owners who don't own megayachts that require infrastructure removal just to reach the ocean. #ArtShowSunday was a surprisingly intriguing concept and I thought a great way for people to showcase their talents. I also try to boost Mutual Aid and fundraiser posts when I can based on my gut feelings on it.
And I boost the bloody hell out of shitposts because sometimes the folks I follow provide the only respite I have from nearly constant you-know-what ideation. That's right, friend.. my laughs from your funnies are sometimes the only fuel left for my flame.
I'm wondering if there are any existing hashtags similar to the FediHired or MutualAid tags, or if we could come up with one that would allow folks with delicate constitutions like this to filter out any unwanted creativity and joy from their timeline without having to belittle others in the process? #FediBusiness? #PoorEntrepreneur? #ImBrokeAndDesperate? #IHateSeeingCoolThings?
This concludes my rant.
@LibertyForward1 I read that exchange. I, too, was miffed.
@AlliFlowers Thank you. I'm glad I'm not the only one. Part of me thinks maybe I'm just being overly-sensitive about it, but it just.. it really chapped my hide. People selling trinkets and collectibles are probably barely covering the cost of materials and essentially making a few dollars per hour for their labor, and they're expected to surrender 30%+ of what's left to etsy or shopify or card service fees? And then shipping fees for the cherry on top? It's preposterous.
Not all of us do well in standard capitalistic society, and it's a crying shame that forming a "Mom & Pop" business is more difficult than ever thanks to the sociopathic greed of unbridled capitalism. These folks are working hard so that they *don't* have to beg and plead for Mutual Aid. They're trying their best to survive without handouts, but it's not always easy.
If people can't stand merchandising in any form, can't stand poor people asking for help, can't handle folks promoting their art or writings or creations, that's their own business (pun intended, because in written form it's *always* intended if it's also referenced in written form dammit!). But I feel it's unnecessary be sowing animosity towards people who are struggling just to reach the bottom rungs of the social ladder. They have it hard enough already.