After much lurking, it’s been brought to my attention that the Fediverse has gained a reputation for banning individuals who express support for Elon Musk’s rhetoric or who are affiliated with groups like KF. I speak from personal experience, having witnessed a particular individual (though I won’t name names, but I’m sure you can guess who) being banned from multiple instances simply because she was a KF user. She was diligent in adhering to each instance’s rules, ensuring that her actions were in strict compliance with the guidelines. This wasn’t a case of coincidence or an isolated incident, she took great care to follow the rules. Yet, despite her efforts, she was banned multiple times.

This leads to the question. Are there unwritten, unspoken rules within the Fediverse about aligning with certain groups or individuals, such as the one I just referenced? If so, I find myself quite curious about what specific protocol the average person is supposed to follow in order to avoid inadvertently crossing into these invisible boundaries. How can one navigate the Fediverse in a way that doesn’t unintentionally breach these seemingly arbitrary restrictions? Is there a set of guidelines that users can follow, or are we all just left to guess what is considered acceptable by the unseen and potentially very biased powers that govern these communities? This is an intriguing issue, since it’s one that seems to raise far more questions than it answers.

From my perspective, this situation seems to fit squarely within the realm of the logical fallacy known as “guilt by association.” The idea here is that because someone is connected to a certain group, they must share all the views and behaviors associated with that group. However, this kind of reasoning is, at best, deeply flawed. The group in question wasn’t created with the intent to promote hate speech, doxing, or any other harmful activity. In fact, it was founded with the purpose of defending free speech, a value that, unfortunately, many other platforms fail to fully embrace. The group’s mission was to create a space where open dialogue and expression could flourish without the kind of censorship or suppression often found on other platforms. It clearly states, right from the outset that it is not responsible for the actions of its members, and frankly, it shouldn’t be.

And yet, it’s important to note that other platforms, such as Discord, have been associated with perpetrators of mass violence, most notably in the case of the Highland Park shooting suspect and yet this connection seems to be largely overlooked. For some reason, I don’t see users of Discord being immediately banned or suspended simply because their accounts were linked to a server where someone with violent intentions was active. So why is there this stark contrast in enforcement? Why do some platforms face intense scrutiny and swift action, while others are seemingly given a free pass, despite their connection to far more serious issues?

This leads me to wonder. Why the double standard? Why does it seem that individuals associated with one platform are swiftly punished for their affiliations, while those linked to other platforms seem to avoid any real consequences? These are the questions I feel deserve some serious consideration. Reaching out as a concerned lemming.