Communities of Not

In this blog post, Armin Ronacher explores the phenomenon of communities that define themselves by what they oppose, such as childfree groups, anti-car advocates, and LLM-skeptical developer spaces. He argues that while these communities can have positive aspects, they often devolve into policing and harassment when members make personal choices that contradict the group's identity. Using the recent online mob against rsync as a prompt, Ronacher reflects on how negativity can become a trap, leading to collective harassment and the shaming of individuals. He encourages readers to slow down, de-escalate, and remain open to new ideas rather than assuming the worst. The article is a thoughtful critique of tribalism in tech and other communities.