If this was someplace more commercial like reddit, I’d probably feel ok with occasionally spamming the charity I volunteer at, as it ties in with the content I share, and of course we would enjoy donations. There’s 2 reasons I don’t do it here.

This space I feel is meant to be for users, by users. I don’t want anyone to feel they owe me something for posting, sharing, or interacting with them. I’m here because I like most of you all. I think it’s great we still have an online space like this.

I also think while we need assistance, we are from all over the world, and I think people here should support their local direct action groups before they toss anything my way. Your local groups need you more than you need me. I tell everyone to kick in to them before even thinking of me. The sole exception was the LemmySilver contest, but that was by the World admin team, so that was an organization offering specifically charity money. Even then, I’m pretty sure I asked the community if they were cool with it going to my group.

I just like that money really doesn’t come into play in Lemmy. Shit is expensive these days and it feels like everyone is looking to get a slice from everyone else. Keeping this place non-commercial and with nobody looking for a transactional relationship seems like a huge plus.

Unfortunately I don’t have a solid answer for that because everything I have seen interacts with the community in different ways. Something like that would require some market research… In a respectful way that doesn’t go against community rules or annoy the mods/admins.