I understand the insecurity

Many people face about friend groups on here and the popularity contest of it all, I've grappled with it myself years ago. But I cannot muster up the energy to give even a tiny shit about my social standing here today. Of course, everyone likes being liked, myself included. Sure, I care for a lot of you, and wish the best to every one of you. However, at the end of the day, we really need to be focusing on things outside the site, this is a microcosm of a particular niche interest group. It does not translate linearly to real interactions with cashiers, waiters, friends, or family. We all die, we all live, and these communities should be secondary. You cannot replace outside interactions with ones on the site, and your contributions to the real world matter a lot more than you can imagine. Get your education, get your career, and supplement your social needs with the people here when it fits. Taking this all too seriously is a mistake. I know im guilty of the opposite on occasion in my own right, but being kind to others matters also. It's so easy to exclude/judge/berate people when you are not face to face empathizing and emotionally meeting people where they are at. Not to soap box, thats not my intention, but I think these things should be at the forefront of our minds when navigating this space. I know i've tried my best to do that since TG was shut down and we all came here, and I'm grateful for the community despite not caring about the social politics of it all.