It is a weakness.

Mixed opinion these days often reads more like outright polarization vs balanced discussions.

Huge strength.

The alternative is Reddit or 4Chan if you want centrist or right wing takes. I know which of the 3 platforms I want.

Seeing this place run by individuals with a commitment to creating a better social environment is also a huge plus. You wouldn’t get that under a non-leftist platform.

Maybe lemmy will grow over time to include more types of people.

Social unrest may evolve this network faster than expected, in particular ways that are not foreseen. So, in my mind there are two paths for lemmy. A stable growth or chaotic .

Edit : unrest in any country that has a lot of lemmy users if alternative social networks clamp down or are unsafe to use

It's definitely a weakness. There is an entire spectrum of personal beliefs, but wherever you are, if yours don't align with the mods you get censored. Reality is every new users first week is finding out where they 'belong' and this both discourages new users, and creates detrimental echo chambers.

There is a bunch of angry brigading here for any of a multitude of reasons, and that shear wall of vitriol thrown at people doesn't help lemmy grow.

Sit at a table with Nazis and you just make more nazis

On Lemmy.world it's a weakness. Your instance may vary

For me, it’s neither strength nor weakness. I’m a boring old fart, I’m not here for politics.