Can you be more specific about the downsides?
I joined this instance because I was looking for a lemmy instance and to be on the fediverse. I mean I can still do that on a different instance, so if that’s the way you decide to go it isn’t the end of the world.
I guess the core group has its motivations that are not necessarily shared by every user, although presumably our ideals are aligned. This is the first I’m hearing that the association with Lemmy is incidental.
Whether I’d stick around or not, I’m not sure. One thing I like about the fediverse is that it presents a real shot at being a free-culture alternative to corporate social media, and I think losing federation with one of the most successful instances would be a loss for that movement.
If you do defederate, would you continue to use Lemmy as the software for the community? Being able to use the mobile apps is convenient and honestly that’s probably the thing that has me logging in as much as I do.
There are some aggressively snarky lefties on here. Funny enough I felt that way more when looking at it from a different instance, but I guess internally it’s not as much of a thing because the tone is more relaxed internally, imo. Which is an interesting phenomenon. Maybe has to do with how people talk when they feel they’re in their in-group vs when they feel they have to have their defenses up.