Enough: manton.org

@manton Thank you. That’s enough for me, too.

@manton Thank you Manton. A good, measured post. As a 70 year old lesbian feminist who’s been on Micro.Blog for about 7 years now I find it a great place to blog and am very happy to have found this space. The guidelines look good to me. I’d like the whole world to be a perfect place, without expressions anywhere of sexism, ageism or homophobia (being the things that affect me) but it is not. As a pragmatist I accept that some folks here (and in the real world) will ‘blunder’ (in my opinion) from time to time. I hope to have the maturity to hold back on negativity about it when it happens, or just unfollow. A hair trigger isn’t always helpful.

@manton solid. Now let’s f’ing blog.

@manton Beautifully written and speaks volumes to the professionalism and kindness above experience on Micro.blog and from its team.

@manton thank you Manton. For what it’s worth I am personally happy to be here, though I can understand why others would not be. I don’t understand the most vehement critisicm I am seeing but I feel you are honourable and trying to build something that benefits all users, whoever they are. I don’t want Vincent to go anywhere if he doesn’t want to. Best wishes

@Miraz @manton This is a wise reply, and thanks for posting it. Wisdom is in short supply (always has been), and it is refreshing to see someone express some. After 7 years of having no social media accounts at all, I came here because my data isn’t being scraped, I’m not being bombarded with ads or other forms of greed-driven self-promotion, and nobody’s marketing or megaphone is being pumped or shoved in my face. I am grateful to have a space where I can share short news posts and longer thought posts with a small collection of close friends and family. That’s enough for me.

@manton It’s a clear stance. I don’t think anyone can ask for more, even if they aren’t all on board.

@manton thank you. We can only make progress through conversation and forgiveness

@manton perfect

@manton Good response. Sane and balanced.

@manton Good post and agree with you.

@Miraz I would have been gutted if you left. I enjoy seeing the world through your eyes… I hope this isn’t too creepy, haha! Seriously though. I feel the joy and curiosity in your posts and try to live similarly. Grateful to have crossed paths with you 💚

@manton I have never felt more justified in my decision to migrate to Micro.blog than after reading this. Thank you @manton for being you and sharing your humanism and empathy with me and everyone else. I feel sappy saying this, but you and Mb are what we need right now, more than ever before.

@manton great response, and absolutely correct. We all aren’t right all the time and we’re not wrong all the time. Life and learning are a process, and differing opinions and ideas as long as expressed in a gracious and non hostile manner should be welcomed. Diversity means different and still including. This is the way.

@Miraz ❤️

@manton I’m sure you have emotionally / mentally prepared for the different reactions after you post this. I appreciate your words and actions, it’s enough for me. It will not be enough for some, of course, and that makes sense too and that’s okay. We can’t be everything for everyone. There’s also not just one right and correct and perfect way to advocate.

@manton Good post. As an LGBTQ person, I have never felt uncomfortable here. If anything, I’ve thought that I might not be liberal enough to be on this platform and risked getting kicked off if I said something that’s “not in line”.

@manton Oh man… I dug into what’s going on now from Daniel Jalkut’s post. I’m sorry to hear you’re being attacked this way. The last thing we need now is good people fighting among themselves.

Don’t let this drag you down… You’re doing good work with micro.blog.

@manton Oh man… I dug into what’s going on now from Daniel Jalkut’s post. I’m sorry to hear you’re being attacked this way. The last thing we need now is good people fighting among themselves.

Don’t let this drag you down… You’re doing good work with micro.blog.

@manton.org Oh man… I dug into what’s going on now from Daniel Jalkut’s post. I’m sorry to hear you’re being attacked this way. The last thing we need now is good people fighting among themselves.

Don’t let this drag you down… You’re doing good work with micro.blog.

@manton additionally, for whoever might see this, please remember that the LGBTQ+ community is not a monolithic community. Some of us are not okay with the behavior that happened here this week and don’t believe that people should essentially be cyber-bullied for not thinking the same way we do.

@michaelfransen it upsets me when people feel like they are not able to speak for fear of persecution. I’m so sorry you’ve felt this. I can relate so much and have lost friendships over similar dynamics. If you scroll up a bit, you’ll see @aeryn who recently wrote something very thoughtful that might resonate with you!

@manton I appreciate the heck out of MB, which by design doesn’t encourage bad behavior.

@sim0ne Thanks Simone, that’s so kind of you to say. I was in no danger though of leaving and no-one here has upset me in any way, except the merest and most occasional “what a twit!” kind of way when someone happens to say something I don’t agree with. 😁

@manton I am not sure why you won’t do the one thing that everyone has asked. Voice your support for LGBTQ+ members and their protection on micro.blog. Not an update to the mb terms and not hiding someone off the team page. It seems more like a request to move on than a response to the criticism.

@manton Thank you for a measured response and the grace and maturity you’ve shown in this whole thing. I’m happy to be at MB. I’m happy there’s space for true diversity here. I hope you keep Vincent around, too.

@manton oh! So this is what all the fuss was about. I wouldn’t believe in a million years that @vincent is hostile to any minority community. He’s a good man and I’m glad you stood by him.

I speak as someone on the political right—who’s been “homeless” since circa 2015—and so take these rapid fire impressions with

1. I very likely would have left Micro if you abandoned him. He’s done so much for this community it would be unjust to have done anything else.

2. Microblog has always had a center of gravity that’s center-left. I read your updated guidelines, but don’t have a recollection of what’s changed. Still, it got me thinking, one area where Microblog has a lot of potential is fostering genuine across the aisle discourse between Americans (and among the global network). There are a handful of religious and political conservatives here. They, like me, love the community, the larger space of conversations. A Microblog that becomes just another echo chamber (a Bluesky or Twitter) loses the special value that makes it special.

3. Given (2), one area for Micro that might be worth long-term reflection is how to make this a more welcoming place for those who are conservative (broadly defined). Maybe that’s a minority view, but I hazard a guess that it isn’t, even if those who feel and think different might be more vocal.

Again, thanks for making this place. You’ve done a great thing.

@michaelfransen exactly!

@manton He did, in the community guidelines. If he didn’t believe in that himself there would be no reason to put that in the guidelines that apply to his livelihood. Do you want a blood oath too?

@manton Thank you for your response. Your thoughtfulness and kindness do come through. In my three years on Micro.blog I have felt like it is a safe space to be. Quiet, calm, with good interesting people from all walks of life. You have clear community guidelines that are enforced and are welcoming to all.

I do think that Adam went too far. For all his claims of wanting to be provide a safe space on the internet he was quick to start an internet pile-on… again. Fostering such a mob mentality in his community will probably/has lead to other toxic group dynamics.

@manton I guess nobody is immune from
controversy on the internet. One thing that is lost on the internet is that language and cultures are not used in the same way across the world. Ideas and thoughts can sometimes be totally taken out of context or extrapolated. I believe in what you’re doing and trying to build. There will always be bumps on the road. Rise to the occasion and move forward.

@manton It speaks volumes to me that after numerous people asking you to plainly state what you believe, you still choose not to. Good on you for updating community guidelines… but do you support LGBTQ+ people? In this moment trans people are being attacked from all angles. Where do you stand?

@manton It speaks volumes to me that after numerous people asking you to plainly state what you believe, you still choose not to. Good on you for updating community guidelines… but do you support LGBTQ+ people? In this moment trans people are being attacked from all angles. Where do you stand?

@manton You never said you think gay people are people, even. You made the post all about you. I also didn’t realize you were okay with someone liking Nazis. The richest man in the world showed off he can sieg heil and no one will do anything about it. And it apparently gives you a little wood. I was a Micro.blog kickstarter, I’ve been a Core Int subscriber for years (not anymore, no money for Nazi sympathizers). I came back here to read the post again because I thought it might not have been as bad on the phone screen. It’s worse. You’re a bad guy, Manton. And you’re worse because you’re using your position to make people cosign you. But then they’re fine cosigning actual fascists too.

@manton @lukemperez Why, exactly, would you not believe in a million years that @vincent is hostile to any minority community? He considers a game asking for pronouns during character creation to be worthy of an immediate uninstall; and in 2024-2025, he has maintained financial support of Elon Musk (as a paid Twitter subscriber) and repeatedly fawned over multiple Musk companies (and I mean with drooling emoji).

I’m not outraged by this post, @Manton – but I am disappointed.

> Some people have accepted the twisted narrative that Vincent is a bigot and fascist. If they truly believe that, his post won’t be enough of an apology. But it’s enough for me.

Let me speak for myself: I have serious questions about whether he supports LGBTQ+ people, and why he supports Musks. And he must’ve known that’s the questions people had. Then why didn’t he address them? The first he only did in a roundabout way – but the second not at all. And I haven’t “accepted” any narrative yet, but I still don’t think that was a proper apology.

In a similar way, you also failed to properly address the most pressing question head-on. Did you not understand what was asked, or do you, for some reason, just don’t want to answer it? You must’ve known that what several have been asking about, and not only Adam, is about your beliefs. Not just Micro.blog’s. Then, and I ask this from a place of love, why on earth won’t you just take the words into your mouth?

>Micro.blog is a good place for LGBTQ+ people. It’s a good place because we have been trying to lay the foundation for a safe community for 8 years. It’s a good place because we are passionate about understanding why communities work and how to make them better. I know there are LGBTQ+ people who have been happy here, who have found the perfect place for their blog and a community that respects them, and I hope they stay with us.

Why isn’t there no humbleness in this paragraph? Why nothing about what people can do if they experience not being safe? Why no personal passage like “If you’re an LGBTQ+ person: I will work hard to make sure it’s a safe place – and please let me know if I can do more.”?

To be clear, I’m not questioning your beliefs. I’m questioning why you keep them obscured.

I ask again: Did you not see that people wanted reassurance from Manton the person (and not only Micro.blog the service)? Where you to proud to provide it, or what? I don’t get it… You might feel like it’s performative – but you’re not doing yourself any favours here. 😕

@manton Thank you Manton. A very reasonable response to some very unreasonable attacks and unjustified criticism.

I also agree with a lot of and appreciate Daniel Jalkut’s Nuance post.

// @danielpunkass

@manton Thanks. Good post.

@Havn @Manton Adding to my own post above:

This part, from Vincent’s latest post is a much better apology:

> I’d like to apologise what has happened from the bottom of my heart.
> I have grossly overstepped the trust and respect of you specifically, the community and all people that identify as LGBTQ+. I made a mistake by my own doing and disregard of other people’s feeling and identity.
> It was incredibly stupid, childish and disrespectful of me to make that comment, which I realised on the day as rightly pointed out by the community. It was irresponsible, insulting and insensitive to all — and rightly have been called out for.
> It was never my intention to hurt you or make you feel this way. It is, and was, very out of character of me to say what I said and there is nothing I can say here to make you feel better.
> I made a terrible mistake. I ask for your forgiveness.

Too bad it’s from an email from June. This is what should’ve been public.

@manton extrapolating based on replies here and elsewhere, along with what I would like see, what is desired isn’t a non-apology, but a clear statement of personal principles.

I <fill in name> believe women, bipoc, and lgbtqia+ folks are people and deserve the full equal protection of the law.

I believe Nazis are bad. I believe Bigots are bad. I believe Anyone who can’t echo those two statements is one or both, and doesn’t deserve a seat at the table anymore.

This shouldn’t be controversial - but if someone can’t say that much from the heart, people who rely on them should know.

@manton You can please all of the people some of the time, you can please some of the people all of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.

I don’t think there’s anything else left that you need to say in regards to where you stand and who you are. At some point you just have to move past the Kobayashi Maru of unreasonableness those seeking to be angry are intent on constructing around you, and ship something.

@heyloura This is how I’ve experienced all of this, albeit with only six or seven months on the platform so far.

@michaelfransen Amen.

@manton @manton Sending a cease & desist and compelling others to take down content critical of you is the way you and @vincent get back to your values, show proportionality in your response, and show your understanding of why communities work and how to make them better?

@manton Rather than leave the above comment hanging I want to acknowledge that you and @vincent both say the C&D was not from you. We don’t know who it was from, and Adam is compelled to silence under legal threat.