I think by that he means the Tankies that see everything in a black and white 'NATO bad, everything that opposes NATO good, including Russia' kind of left wing populism, and the 'Russia is good old capitalist oligarchy theocratic fascism just like we want to do here so we should support them' right wing populism. From what I've heard I think Zizek is probably a lot more authoritarian than me (an anarchist, and a leftist), but if he has enough sense to oppose Tankies then I grudgingly accept him as a temporary ally in the fight against Russia.
I don't follow Zizek, and things I've heard about him have given me pause, but one thing he is right about is his criticism of the left-right populist alliance in support of Russian imperialism...
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/left-right-populist-alliance-against-ukraine-by-slavoj-zizek-2023-06
Thanks, that is interesting. However since it remains unfederated, I won't confuse people by putting it in the fediverse guide. I am glad you have included it as a reply though.
News and discussion related to Ukraine *Sympathy for enemy combatants in any form is prohibited. *No content depicting extreme violence or gore.
Found this Ukraine focused group that seems a bit better established...
Joining the fediverse can be a daunting proposition, and it is understandable that many end up on larger more centralised servers that are easier to find. I have also had some bad experience with smaller servers also. The first one I arrived on was very quiet, almost inactive, and I should have taken that as a warning sign. Later it went down and I had to join another. Unfortunately the next server was mastodon.lol and so within a year I had to deal with the drama of that one shutting down. At least this time I had six months notice to migrate.
But bigger servers have their own pitfalls. It is easy to get lost in them, being disconnected from the admins. Many are poorly moderated and willing to federate with problematic instances that increase your chances of encountering more explicit forms ablism, racism and queerphobia. And in recent weeks we have seen the willingness of these larger servers to connect to a new service made by Meta, Facebooks parent company, with the onslaught of bigotry that will bring.
So whether you are thinking of joining the fediverse, or are already here but thinking of either migrating or forming other accounts, this guide is for you. It is also for you to share to queer friends that want to join.
Feel free to expand on this list with suggestions in replies. I will try and keep it up to date with which instances are open/invite only, if people can help me notice.
Microblogging (Twitter like interfaces)
Mastodon
The most popular microblogging software on the fediverse. Good app support
Currently open to new members
- https://chaos.social (two admins, one a polyam lesbian)
- https://queer.af (run by Erin who helped draft the ActivityPub protocol the fediverse depends on. I think she is a German trans woman? I might be remembering wrong. Will edit if someone clarifies. NOTE: the .af domain is Afganistan, and these domains will no longer be available to register or reregister, so this instance will likely end up with a new domain name in the near future.)
- https://toot.lgbt (run by Julia, a Scottish trans woman)
- https://plush.city (run by nonbinary and pan/bi furries)
- https://anarres.family (run by anarchist trans woman inspired by sci-fi of Ursula le Guin)
- https://girlcock.club (run by trans women for trans people)
- https://eightpoint.app (run by trans bi lesbian)
- https://lgbtqia.space
- https://chaosfem.tw (trans admin)
- https://towns.gay
- https://dragonscave.space (mod team includes admins who are enby, ace, agender, visually impaired)
- https://toot.cat (trans admin)
- https://pagan.plus (its primarilly for pagans, but admin is agender)
- https://tech.lgbt (for lgbt people in tech)
- https://peoplemaking.games (admin is bi and genderfluid, but server is for those involved in making games)
Invite only
You might need to network with admins or users of the following instances to get an invite
- https://weirder.earth (all LGBT admin team that includes nonbinary, bi, aroace, queer, transfemme representation, many also adhd, autistic and one light skinned black)
- https://goblin.camp (admin is pan enby)
- https://queer.group (run by bisexual lesbian and trans lesbian)
- https://queer.party (the admin is a nonbinary, gay, and polyamorous furry)
Sharkey
Can use Mastodon and Misskey apps to connect. I use Milktea (a Misskey app) for mobile notifications, but the generic web interface in the browser is so good I usually go there for interaction.
- https://blahaj.zone (run by the two Australian trans women that also run this server)
- https://transfem.social/ (transfem run instance for transfem individuals and allies)
- https://woem.men (trans catgirl instance with trans moderator)
Akkoma
- https://cooltrans.men (trans masc instance)
Social Networking (Facebook like interfaces)
Friendica
- https://embers.social (run by the two Australian trans women that also run this server)
Forum (Reddit like interfaces)
Lemmy
- https://beehaw.org (large instance, several mods are openly queer)
- https://lemmy.blahaj.zone (this server, run by trans women)
- https://hexbear.net (most mods/admin are LGBTQ+, shows pronouns with usernames)
KBin
- https://fedi196.gay/
You are right not to want answers along the lines of 'you are trans' or 'you are not trans'. You are right that you are the only person that can answer that. As a non-binary trans woman, I can tell you that 'being trans' isn't a uniform experience that can be easilly put in neatly defined boxes with easy to recognise checkboxes to tick off.
Even if it turns out you are cisgendered, it is good that you are questioning gender. Some of what we think about as 'gender' is social expectations that are entirely toxic. And more cisgendered men should question those gender norms.
Then you have femboys, and other cisgendered men that have a gender non conforming expression in terms of presentation, clothing, hairstyles and makeup. Expression is not identity. Of course some femboys are nonbinary, genderfluid, trans men, trans masc or demi boys. But most nonbinary, genderfluid, trans men, trans masc or demi boys are not femboys. Again, identity is not expression.
Ultimately all you can do is work out what makes you happy. Does the thought of being a woman spark joy? Does the thought of being neither man or woman (agender) spark joy? Does the thought of being both man and woman spark joy? Or man and agender? Or woman and agender? Or being masc but not quite a man (demiboy)? Or the thought of being almost a woman but not quite (transfem)?
Answering those questions won't give you a definitive answer, just a starting point for exploration. As you explore you may find your answers to those questions change as you pilot yourself and your life towards where you want to be.
Zero tolerance for:
- Bigotry (Racism, Ablism, Misogyny, Homephobia, Transphobia or any form of Queerphobia etc)
- Russian propaganda (both sidism, blaming NATO for Ukraine war, blaming Ukraine for the dam etc)
- Claiming Ukraine doesn't deserve support due to its own poor record on race and LGBT rights. These things are true, Ukraine does have room to improve on those issues, but it won't unless it frees itself from Russian sphere of influence.
- Claiming that Ukraine are Nazis. There are Nazis in most Western and Eastern militaries. This is irrelevant because it does not therefore follow that such countries deserve to be invaded in a genocidal war of aggression by a larger more fascist neighbour.
Still getting things set up. The following things are still needed to finish setting up this group/community. I welcome suggestions in the comments.
What is still needed:
Avatar for group. Roughly square/circle image to represent group.DoneGroup banner. Rectangular image, wide or landscape orientation, to improve look of group profile.DoneSuggestions for resources to support Ukraine, to be included in group description.DoneSuggestions for good pro-Ukraine media and podcasts, to be included in group description.DoneSuggestions for how to explore and promote Ukrainian culture (i.e. books and things to support), that could be included in the description, or maybe a detailed pinned post.Done- Create a pinned post
- Create petition for NATO to threaten nuclear response if nuclear power plant is destroyed.