Do You Have Any Tips On How To Keep A Positive Space On Tumblr?

Do you have any tips on how to keep a positive space on Tumblr?

Blacklist all tags, key words and content you don't want to see. Tumblr's tagging system does suck ass on any given day but they did make up for it a little by allowing you to blacklist words and phrases in the actual post, too. Be liberal and unapologetic with blocking any content you don't want to see on your dashboard. You can't get upset or get triggered by something you can't see. Following someone does not mean you want/have to see everything they post.

Block any user, for any reason. There's a strange concept in most online communities right now (especially Twitter) that blocking or unfollowing someone is bad. On Twitter especially, where people have placed value on how many followers you have, the latest demand is that you mute someone rather than unfollow/block them. Fuck that. You don't need an extreme reason to block or unfollow someone. You don't need to explain your choice or defend it. You especially don't need to apologise for it. Whatever the reason; block or unfollow them as and when it suits you.

You don't actually have to answer hate mail. It's actually better if you don't. I run a popular blog in a specific fandom and used to get anon hate all the time for the smallest or weirdest of things. I never answered it, and now I haven't received any hate mail for over two years. Block the sender and delete the message. That's it. Don't argue with them, don't try to reason with or placate them. Don't air them out to your followers. Just pretend you never got it. For one; they can't send you another one anyway. And for two; it damn well pisses them off to sit there waiting for you to react while you're living your best life.

Likewise, you don't have to get involved if you disagree with a post. You don't have to argue with every opinion or statement you disagree with. You don't have to get involved in a fight or discussion that doesn't involve you. You don't have to defend anything. It's perfectly fine for you to live your Tumblr life drama-free. Someone else can prove them wrong. Someone else can defend your favorite character. Someone else can offer that advice.

Tumblr popularity is a social construct and nobody actually cares. Stop eyeballing your follower count and fretting over it. It's an inconsequential number on a digital screen. Most of those people won't ever actually matter to you or impact your life. There are blogs with 20,000+ followers and blogs with 3 followers. The only thing that matters is if you're enjoying the space and community you have and if you're comfortable and safe. If you do really want more followers, there are multiple positive, healthy ways you can grow your follower count.

Tend your fandom garden and it will grow. You don't have to, but thinking of your online space like a garden is a good way to maintain a positive, active, growing space. Supporting the other members of your community is a good way to not only keep the space/community active, but it's a way to help other people have a positive experience and to cultivate your own space. Reblog content if you enjoyed it. Leave a comment here and there on something. Even if it's just a heart emoji. Maybe once a week select a blog and send them a nice, uplifting ask. Again, you don't have to. But I personally feel happier knowing I'm contributing to the positivity, growth and content of my community.

Tagging some fandoms for exposure.