There are a number of great discord servers for Murderbot Diaries (book series) fans, each with a little different characteristics.
Murderbot Transit Hub was created as a beginner-friendly place for those new to both fandom and discord/communities. We have separate channels for each book so that people who only started reading can join the discussion without any fear of spoilers. We also act like a hub station to other servers.
We've been running a weekly audio-book listen-along (Kevin R Free version) since the launch back in September 2024. We are shortly starting System Collapse, and plan to move on to the upcoming Platform Decay (to be published on May 5, 2026). Our listen-along event is pretty relaxed. You can choose to just passively listen or you can also share your reactions in text channels. (Thus, no need to use the microphone)
You are most welcome to join us.
A beginner-friendly discord server for The Murderbot Diaries fans! All are welcome! | 196 members
[ID: Tweet by @ KyleTrainEmoji:
"Picard: Data, shields up
Data: Brilliant! Shields can reduce damage we sustain. Not immunity. Not hubris. Just prudence. It's not precaution – it's strategy.
[camera shakes]
Worf: (text in all caps) Hull breaches on nine decks
Data: Here's what happened: you told me to raise shields, and I didn't"
End ID]
you might think the worst type of adaptation that can happen to a fandom is a bad one. but in truth, i find that's rarely the case. usually the world at large doesn't pay attention, the fandom unites around the piece's badness, and otherwise continues along as usual. hell, if the adaptation is so-bad-it's-good then it really can evolve into quite a nice treat, once the sting has worn off.
no, what you actually gotta look out for is the mediocre adaptations. the pretty but soulless adaptations. the technically-competent-but-misses-the-point adaptations. because there will be enough folks who think that the new Adaptation is Good, Actually, and no matter how politely you word your disagreement, they will resent you for saying as much.
Murderbot and Project Hail Mary (AO3 Category data comparison)
Thank you for liking and commenting on my impromptu data post on how Murderbot is a more gen-fic centred fandom compared to other book-turned-into-tv/film fandoms!
Several people pointed out that the large portion of M/M in the PHM fanworks must be attributable to crossover fictions, in particular with Iron Lung.
@rajamitsu suggested that category proportion might get more similar to murderbot if we removed crossovers. So, I decided to try just that.
I am now comparing:
Murderbot (before the TV adaptation came out)
Murderbot (current, but without any crossovers)
Murderbot (all the data to date)
PHM (before the film came out)
PHM (current, but without any crossovers)
PHM (all the data to date)
And here is the raw data
The most amaze-amaze-amaze thing is that 98% of all the PHM fanworks came out after the film - which was only 4 months ago (premiered on 9 March 2026)!
Indeed, prior to the adaptation, 67% of all the works in the PHM fandom was "General" - meaning, no shipping centred which was comparable to the Murderbot fandom.
Focusing on shipping categories, the highest shipping category for Murderbot Diaries is "Other". This is not surprising considering that the protagonist Murderbot has no gender, and even though Murderbot expresses disinterest (as in actively NOT interested in sex or romance), people often use '/' tag for special flavours of platonic (e.g., QPR) when writing stories focusing on relationships between Murderbot and other characters.
In the Other category, the most popular ship is "ART/Murderbot" (488 works), followed by "Dr. Gurathin/Murderbot (433 works)".
In PHM, the highest shipping tag excluding crossover is F/M, followed by M/M. In the F/M tag, the most popular pairing is Grace/Stratt (754 works). But what really surprised me was the second most popular one: Ryland Grace/Reader (504 works)!
In the M/M category, the highest one was Grace/Rocky (586 works).
Needless to say (?), if I include crossovers, the most popular pairing in PHM is "Simon (Iron Lung)/Ryland Grace" (2793 works). (why...) This is much higher than Grace/Rocky (669 works).
If we ignore shipping, the most popular relationship tag (without excluding anything) is "ART & Murderbot" (1525 works) followed by "Dr. Mensah & Murderbot" (635 works) in the Murderbot Diaries. In PHM, it's "Grace & Rocky" (4865 works), followed by "Simon/Grace" (2999 works) and "Adrian/Rocky" (1649 works).
Conclusion:
Murderbot is still a very Gen focused fandom.
Project Hail May got rapidly de-gen-centred since the film came out, and the large portion of shipping works are crossover fics, particularly with Iron Lung as rightly pointed out by many!
The Murderbot Diaries attracts fans who are aro/ace and/or less interested in shipping (romance, sex) in general, I hear.
Is this true? Since this is my first fandom I don't know what other fandoms are like. So I decided to check.
I went to Archives of Our Own (AO3) and selected 4 fandoms: (1) The Murderbot Diaries; (2) Project Hail Mary; (3) Good Omens; and (4) Lord of the Rings. These are all popular books turned into tv/film adaptations.
The problem with AO3 is that it allows creators to select multiple categories (e.g., F/F and F/M). It also allows people to post without selecting a category. So, when you add up numbers from each category, the sum total is different from the total works posted in the fandom. Thus, the percentage graph is not accurate, but it will still give you some ideas.
Et voilà !
The data is taken from AO3 on 15 July 2026.
[Sources]
The Murderbot Diaries - Martha Wells
Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary - All Media Types
Good Omens - Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett
Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien
These include ALL the works, including crossovers and possible translation works.
Here is the raw data:
-----
It's true!
The Murderbot Diaries does have the highest proportion of Gen fics!
Also, it's the only fandom where F/F exceeds M/M and F/M.
Tangent, but I am impressed how m/m seems very popular in LoR, considering that there were none in the books if I remember correctly.
(edit on the same day)
Thank you @securityunit-ese and @specialagentartemis for checking and letting me know of the data errors! I fixed them♡ Where will I be without data-loving fellow murderbot fans!
(edit 3-4 days later)
Related post:
Murderbot and Project Hail Mary (AO3 Category data comparison)
We're a fanzine organized and created by fans of the Murderbot Diaries.
About ⚡ Rules ⚡ FAQ ⚡ Schedule ⚡Dreamwidth ⚡AO3
Zine Team:
Mods:
• Bless (@flipspring) - Social media and communications mod
• Fabu (@tinybowties) - Beta reading and communications mod
• Roki (@thoughtfulraven) - Head mod and spot artist
Design Team:
• Haze (@hazeleks) - Artist mod. Zine layout, social media banners
• Monty (@suckunit) - Logo and icons
• Ranger (@darkelectron) - Fanbinding layout, Tumblr color design
• Rex (@rextrinsic) - Graphic assets
Zine Release:
Aggregate Function will be publicly released for free download in pdf format. We will have an "OSHA-compliant" (safe for work) pdf and an "OSHA-noncompliant" (not safe for work) pdf. Shippy works will be in their own section of each zine, and fanworks will be easy to reference for ships and major content warnings in the table of contents.
The zine will be created with home fanbinders in mind, and you are welcome to print out a copy for personal use. You may not sell copies of the zine.
Questions?
If you have questions about our zine, check out our info docs: About, Rules, FAQ, Schedule.
You can also send us an ask here on our tumblr, or reach out to us by email: [email protected]
This is the Veil Nebula, which Hubble saw on July 1, 2020.
Have you ever looked up what our Hubble Space Telescope saw on your birthday? (Or your anniversary, or your pet's adoption day, or...)
We've given our popular interactive page a new look — and, just as importantly, it now shows you five different cosmic sights Hubble was checking out on the day that you picked.
When ART asks why Murderbot claimed constructs and bots couldn't trust each other, Murderbot says:
“Because we both have to follow human orders. A human could tell you to purge my memory. A human could tell me to destroy your systems.”
ART doesn't deny it, and instead it simply says, "There are no humans here now"
Which was a powerful statement that MB couldn't really argue against.
But realistically, ART could probably say no to an order from its humans, if, for example, it thought that the human who gave it the order might have been compromised in anyway. Also, we all know how manipulative ART could be.
But putting super-MIs like ART or its class of ships aside, do you think bots (not those whom Murderbot considers barely sentient) generally have enough self awareness to want to do decision-making themselves?
Like, you ask Jollybaby or Tellus to do some job and they go, "I don't wanna!" (which would be quite funny)
Discord Red Flags: Signs Your Community Isn’t Healthy
[Summary of this post]
This is a guide to common warning signs in Discord communities, including (1) toxic positivity, (2) gaslighting, (3) tone policing, (4) derailment, (5) groupthink, and (6) lack of transparency. It explains how these behaviours show up in online spaces, why they are harmful, and how to recognise when a server’s culture is becoming unhealthy. It may also help moderators and community leaders reflect on whether their server shows any of these patterns and consider healthier approaches.
Discord is a wonderful tool for bringing people together. Large servers can become lively communities where people from all over the world casually drop in – someone shares a picture of their lunch while someone else says goodnight. These spaces can feel familiar and fun.
But even in friendly communities, server culture can slowly turn sour. Sometimes people contribute to a harmful environment without realising it, genuinely believing they are helping. Other times, the harm is subtle enough that many members stay oblivious while a few begin to feel uncomfortable.
When you get to know people on a server, it can become difficult to acknowledge that something is wrong. You might find yourself becoming a bystander, or if you’re negatively affected, you might start doubting your own perception and feeling increasingly distressed.
To avoid that spiral, it helps to recognise early warning signs of an unhealthy server environment. Below is a summary of common red flags, based on personal research and guidance from Discord’s own Safety Center, as well as other sources.
[Red Flags to Watch Out For]
1. Toxic Positivity
Toxic Positivity is defined as the pressure to maintain a positive atmosphere by suppressing or dismissing negative emotions, concerns, or criticism, even when those criticisms are valid or necessary. (MedicalNewsToday, 2021; Psychology Today, 2025; Verywell Mind, 2026a) While a positive outlook is considered to be good for mental health in general, it can become harmful by invalidating the individual's genuine emotions, resulting in experiencing guilt and shame, leading to avoidance of authentic emotion (Verywell Mind, 2026a)
[Toxic Positivity in Discord Communities]
Negative opinions about characters, storylines, or community issues are discouraged or shut down.
Difficult topics (e.g., racism, misogyny, harmful behaviour) are avoided to “maintain civility.”
Criticism is reframed as “drama,” “negativity,” or “hurting the feelings of people who are there for fun,” sometimes using cutesy or infantilising language (e.g., “yucking someone’s yum”).
Triggers are sometimes dismissed as mere “squicks,” minimising the seriousness of someone’s trauma response.
Supportive‑sounding or therapeutic language is used to shut down criticism instead of engaging with the concern.
[Why this matters]
This becomes harmful if the fandoms use "positivity" as a shield:
to protect specific characters, narratives, or server members above others
to avoid all forms of conflicts including those that are necessary (discussion) for growth or constructive change
to maintain a curated image of harmony
to silence marginalised voices
to avoid acknowledging harm
2. Gaslighting in Groups
Group gaslighting happens when a community dismisses or reframes someone’s concerns in a way that makes them doubt their own perception or emotional response. (Verywell Mind, 2026b; Healthline, 2024)
[Group Gaslighting in Discord Communities]
Concerns about racism, misogyny, or unsafe dynamics are reframed as “overreacting,” “misinterpreting,” or “being hostile.”
The group insists that “everyone else is fine,” implying the issue lies with the individual.
Moderators demand excessive “proof” while ignoring the context or lived experience behind the concern.
People who raise issues are subtly pressured to apologise, soften their words, or doubt their own interpretation.
[Why this matters]
Group gaslighting can make someone feel isolated, confused, or ashamed for noticing a problem. Over time, it can cause members to:
suppress their own discomfort
stay silent to avoid backlash
internalise blame
leave the community quietly
This is one of the most common early warning signs of an unhealthy server culture.
3. Tone Policing
Tone policing occurs when the focus shifts from the content of a concern to the way it is expressed. The person’s tone becomes the issue instead of the problem they are describing. (Business Insider, 2020; Verywell Mind, 2026c)
[Tone Policing in Discord Communities]
Moderators focusing on the speaker’s tone rather than the behaviour or pattern being raised.
Prioritising group comfort over the validity of the issue raised.
Expecting marginalised members to express concerns in a way that feels “palatable” to the majority.
People who express concerns are told to “assume good faith” in situations where harm or bias is being named. They are labelled as troublemakers, accused of bad faith.
[Why this matters]
Tone policing silences people by shifting responsibility onto them rather than addressing the issue. It discourages honest expression and reinforces existing power dynamics.
4. Derailment Tactics
Derailment refers to conversational strategies that shift attention away from community issues being raised. Instead of engaging with the concern, the discussion is redirected, minimised, or reframed so the original point is never addressed. (Derailing for Dummies, 2010)
[Derailment in Discord Communities]
Questioning the motives of the person raising a concern and suggesting they are acting in bad faith.
Asking for excessive proof in a way that stalls or invalidates lived experiences.
Redirecting the conversation to unrelated topics to avoid addressing the issue.
Focusing on small details instead of the broader concern.
Reframing the concern as a misunderstanding or overreaction.
[Why this matters]
Derailment prevents communities from resolving problems. It can silence people, shift responsibility onto the person harmed, and create an environment where raising concerns feels pointless.
5. Groupthink/Group Behaviour
Groupthink occurs when a community values agreement and harmony more than honest discussion or critical thinking. Members begin to follow the dominant viewpoint, and disagreement becomes uncomfortable or discouraged. (Janis, 1972; Psychology Today, 2026) According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (2019), online environments can intensify groupthink by increasing social pressure and making dissent feel risky.
[Groupthink in Discord Communities]
Moderators or long‑term members consistently reinforcing each other’s views on community behaviour and norms, creating the impression that their perspective is the only acceptable one.
Difficult topics being avoided to preserve a sense of unity or positivity.
A clear divide forming between an “in-group” and everyone else.
Members feeling pressure to agree with the dominant viewpoint, even when they have concerns.
[Why this matters]
Groupthink makes it difficult for communities to address problems. It can silence individuals, reinforce power imbalances, and normalize unhealthy behaviour. In fandom spaces, it often appears when criticism of characters, storylines, or community norms is treated as a threat to the group’s identity.
6. Lack of Transparency
Transparency is essential for trust in any Discord community. When moderation happens behind closed doors or rules are applied inconsistently, members are left confused, anxious, or unsure of what is actually happening.
[Lack of Transparency in Discord Communities]
Inconsistent penalties: similar behaviour receives different consequences, and the reasoning isn’t clear to the community.
Rules enforced unevenly: some members are corrected publicly while others are handled quietly or not at all.
No reliable place to raise concerns openly: channels meant for feedback may be locked, closely monitored, or discouraged, leaving members unsure where they can speak.
Posts or messages about concerns being removed: this makes it hard for others to know an issue was raised at all.
Moderators directing all issues to private channels (e.g., tickets, DMs), which prevents the community from seeing patterns or understanding outcomes.
Members feeling vulnerable in private channels (DMs or tickets), where moderation happens out of sight and they have no safe place to document or share their experience.
Members “going quiet” without explanation: timeouts, strikes, or bans are not communicated, so it appears as if people simply left on their own.
[Why this matters]
When moderation is hidden, members cannot understand what is happening or why. This creates an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear, and it allows harmful behaviour, including from moderators, to go unchallenged.
Conclusion
These signs don’t always mean a server is malicious, but they do mean you should pay attention to how the space makes you feel. Healthy servers make space for concerns, listen when something feels off, and adjust when needed. Unhealthy ones often repeat the same patterns, dismiss feedback, or protect the status quo instead of the people in the community. If you recognize several of these warning signs and attempts to speak up are met with defensiveness or silence, it may be a sign that the environment is not willing to change.
In those situations, the safest and most peaceful option is often to step away without fanfare. You do not need to justify your feelings or convince anyone on your way out. Your well‑being matters, and you deserve to be in spaces where your voice is respected.
Reference (for further reading)
Business Insider. (2020). Tone policing is a little-known microaggression that's common in the workplace: here's how to identify it https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-identify-and-help-stop-tone-policing-in-workplace-2020-8
Derailing for Dummies. (2010). Derailing for dummies: A guide to derailment tactics. https://www.derailingfordummies.com/
Discord Safety Center. (n.d.). Ban evasion and advanced harassment. https://discord.com/safety/ban-evasion-and-advanced-harassment
Discord Safety Center. (n.d.). Transparency in moderation. https://discord.com/safety/transparency-in-moderation
Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2019). Dangers of groupthink and the internet. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. https://leb.fbi.gov/articles/featured-articles/dangers-of-groupthink-and-the-internet
Healthline. (2024). Gaslighting: Signs, Examples, and How to Protect Yourself. https://www.healthline.com/health/gaslighting
Janis, I. L. (1972). Victims of groupthink: A psychological study of foreign-policy decisions and fiascoes. Houghton Mifflin.
Medical News Today. (2021). What to know about toxic positivity? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/toxic-positivity
Having been watching media for tens of thousands of hours with the capacity to store everything it likes word-for-word, Murderbot has an enviable ability to whip out a perfect quote for every occasion.
So far, I remember:
I didn’t think she was wrong, but I still wasn’t used to things that were unfair to me being a major point of consideration for humans. It also sounded vaguely like the break-up part of the romance scenes on the shows I watched, most of which I usually skimmed over. I said, “It’s not me, it’s you.”
[Network Effect]
I had another newsdrone focusing in on armoredHostile2’s weapon this whole time and my archive search had not turned up a match. (I’ve been out of the game for a while, as they say on some of my shows. Not the good ones, though.)
[Platform Decay]
...
Okay, maybe it's better at coming up with original lines! 🤣
Although it might be interesting to see if lines from Cruel Romance Personage and Honor Princess Detective creep into its phrases.
