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"Aloft" — An old digital painting from 2010. This painting took me something like three years to finish, and I have dozens of WIPs saved to my HD; it was a major labour of love. 
#Art #MastoArt #FediArt #DigitalArt #Photoshop #Fantasy #Pegasus #Sky #Monochrome #Sepia #Mountains
@TapiocaPearl You've absolutely got it.
The Fediverse has had so many opportunities to prove to the outside world that it's the better, more humane option, but every time it's fallen down on a massive scale to convince others of its worth or utility, which really sucks.
I'm so torn.
The Fediverse has been a wonderful online home for me since I first joined 8 years ago. I made my own instance 7 years ago specifically so I could provide a similar home for other creative folks as well.
The Fediverse has a long and complicated history, and has very real issues when it comes to how it treats Black folks and other POC, as well as marginalized folks. On a large scale, the Fediverse is a complicated, often hostile place, especially to newcomers.
I love it here. But I'm privileged. The colour of my skin and my economic status has a lot to do with that, as well as being an admin that can shape my immediate surroundings to suit myself. There's nothing I want more than to be able to invite more of my friends here, but I can't really do that with confidence, despite my good intentions, when the wider network has so many cultural issues.
I do think that an ecosystem made out of thousands of intersecting communities all trying (within their means) to do their best (hopefully) to make this place good and welcoming is more encouraging than one or two large "cities" run by corporations at the whim of their CEO's eccentricities and bigotry. But I honestly can't blame people if the cost of entry is way too high when it comes to understanding this place and its history and acknowledging its flaws in addition to the good.
Anyway. Wish I had an answer.