I have to say I'm really surprised with how quickly my follower count and the #QOTO user count exploded in just a little over 2 months.

When I first came to the fediverse the very first thing I did was start my own server (qoto) because I wanted a place where I could talk freely (free speech), without the facism of censorship. Honest sincere debate, something I felt was lacking from other nodes in the fediverse.

I never intended to draw a crowd, or even other members on my server. It was for me and for one friend, that's it. But somehow in the 2 - 3 months I've gained thousands of followers many of whom have come to join our family on QOTO.

What I dont get is how. What did I do that was so special that got me 3k followers in a few months. I have to think its more than just being a nice guy.

My guess: people, like me, crave a place they can be honest, where a difference of opinion is met with mature respectful debate, not censorship and hatred. I hope we have created that here!

Tell me what you think! I'd love to hear everyones opinion on what brought them over to QOTO or even why you decided to follow me.

@freemo I didn't realize lack of debate was that big an issue. With that in mind, while I am a member (sort of) of the left. It really seems like, particularly the social left, is starting to ignore why free speech is important.O_o

I don't think it's that I've drifted rightward though, rather what I thought of as left, was definitely not what I used to think being left leaning was ten years ago.

@freemo When you realize you're Left Libertarian, what once was called "Big Left" feels more like a betrayal than anything freedom respecting.

@LWFlouisa I think the extreme left, and to a lesser extent the extreme right, is so polarized that any deviation feels like a full on betrayal sadly.