@mkj My problem is that a lot of them follow me because I run a hashtag, and I've just had to unfollow people over the years. Once I see that first comment that sounds even remotely hoity toity, it's over. I block people who absolutely deserve it as well. No one should be looked down upon or spoken to like they're less than. Period, end of. I'm glad you haven't dealt with many of them. I'm not sure what possessed me to rant last night, but it's been coming for years, and I felt better after spewing it all out. Sometimes we need that. But you're right. We like to make the world better, little by little, in whatever way we can. You're a sweetheart. That's a very good guiding principle to have.

And about your other post, regarding indie published authors... I couldn't agree more as well. 10000% true, I swear. My friends here who are indie published (which I did as well) are way better than mainstream published authors around, in my opinion. I'm thankful to be here and have made great friends.

When you follow someone, you get the whole package. That's part of the deal. I would like if Mastodon offered somewhat more fine-grained filters, but that's one thing that filters are there for. And I didn't think of what you wrote as a rant. Venting, maybe. Stating boundaries. Calling attention to an undesirable behavior. Just because you "run" a hashtag doesn't mean you should have to put up with bad behavior. Even in disagreement, respect and politeness should be possible.

🫂

@HeliaXyana It's interesting how many indie authors with relatively few sales I've found since I hopped on Fedi a few years ago whose works I have liked *better* than mainstream authors with lots and lots of sales and a large professional publishing house behind them. 🙂

If anything, it's more about the standard of quality one holds oneself to, than about some arbitrary classification. And the quality one aims for is within one's power to choose!

@floofpaldi

@solarbranka And not just writers, for that matter. We all start out somewhere. No one is born with much knowledge that is of any particular use in a modern, high-technological society. And everyone has different talents and makes different choices, which impacts where they are and what knowledge they have at any one time in their lives.

We can still treat each other with respect and as people who aim to get along.

If all do, it makes it much easier to resolve differences. 🙂

@floofpaldi

@mkj

I don't believe people say so much 'I'm an aspiring dev, or plumber, or electrician', etc...

Absolutely, we all start out somewhere. Together also we make things better and it's easier to find common ground.

@floofpaldi