murderbot newbies

[murderbot101]

About this blog

This is a blog to talk about some of the Murderbot communities and events that I happen to have noticed. I have been in this fandom since before the tv adaptation but not much longer than that. So I am not an expert. But because I was here as a very confused newbie murderbot fan not so long ago, perhaps I can share some insights. I also write about my observations about fandom culture in general.

[murderbot101]

Hey there! Thanks for collecting resources for people new to the fnadom. I think it'd be helpful for the fandom to have a primer on how to talk about people of color, and why it can be alienating to see white allies with good intentions still perpetuate the use of "minorities" and "non-white" in their posts.

Thank you for the suggestion! I agree that language around race and culture can be sensitive, and even well‑meant phrasing can sometimes feel hurtful. A good primer would definitely be useful for the fandom.

I’m not the best‑qualified person to write one myself, but I’d appreciate thoughtful, unbiased resources or perspectives from people who have more direct experience. Once I’ve learned more, I might be able to put together a summary for Murderbot101.

[murderbot101]

Murderbot's character development

Murderbot's character development was most significant/noticeable:

From All Systems Red to Artificial Condition

From Artificial Condition to Rogue Protocol

From Rogue Protocol to Exit Strategy

From Exit Strategy to Fugitive Telemetry

From Fugitive Telemetry to Network Effect

From Network Effect to System Collapse

From System Collapse to Platform Decay

What character development?

Combo of above

Voting ended onJul 15

You are welcome to add your option or elaborate in the notes!

[murderbot101]

The result is out.

Murderbot's character development was most notable:

From System Collapse to Platform Decay (31%)

From Network Effect to System Collapse (16.3%)

Seen across multiple works (14.3%)

From Rogue Protocol to Exit Strategy (13.8%)

[murderbot101]

Creative Events

The Murderbot Diaries attracts lots of creative people and stimulate creativity in those who haven't done much creative activities before.

Some events might be happening exclusively on Discord community servers (such as read-along, streaming, writing challenges) but there are many events available to anyone to join and enjoy.

I cannot always keep track of all the events happening in the murderbot fandom, but I know, for example, that there is a zine event taking place at the moment (https://www.tumblr.com/aggregatefunctionzine). I've seen many events posted on "Murderbot Fandom Events" blog (https://www.tumblr.com/murderbotfandomevents). If you just want to read fan works, you can head to Archives of Our Own and look at Murderbot fandom (https://archiveofourown.org/tags/The%20Murderbot%20Diaries%20-%20Martha%20Wells/works). There are over 6,800 works now!

[murderbot101]

Murderbot's character development

Murderbot's character development was most significant/noticeable:

From All Systems Red to Artificial Condition

From Artificial Condition to Rogue Protocol

From Rogue Protocol to Exit Strategy

From Exit Strategy to Fugitive Telemetry

From Fugitive Telemetry to Network Effect

From Network Effect to System Collapse

From System Collapse to Platform Decay

What character development?

Combo of above

Voting ended onJul 15

You are welcome to add your option or elaborate in the notes!

[murderbot101]

Constructive Criticism and Toxic Positivity

I’ve been thinking about “Don’t like, don’t read” since an anon asked me about it. I’ve also been thinking about fandom communities that discourage negative views and promote positivity.

On the surface, these ideas sound perfectly reasonable. Fandom spaces are meant to be places where we share our joy in the media we love, right? Why spoil someone else’s enjoyment by expressing negative opinions? It’s like going to a restaurant regularly and complaining about the food every time. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to go there. Keep your opinions to yourself and let others enjoy things!

That’s surely the logic and it's the correct attitude.

But is it always?

On further reflection, I’ve come to think that even in fun, voluntary communities, having space for both positive and negative views is essential for a healthy environment. Not all “negative” opinions are the same, and not all of them are harmful.

I think there are broadly two kinds of negative reactions:

1. Simple venting

This is mostly about taste. “I didn’t like the casting.” “I wish they’d kept that scene.” “That's not the voice I'd imagined for ART”

It’s emotional, subjective, but it's human. Venting helps people process disappointment, and it doesn’t have to hurt anyone if it’s kept in the right space, such as sharing with like-minded friends through direct communications or posting with appropriate tags.

2. Constructive criticism

This is thoughtful, grounded, and often comes from a place of care. It includes things like:

concerns about representation

noticing harmful tropes

pointing out narrative changes that shift meaning

discussing industry biases

talking about why a change matters

For example, in the Murderbot Apple TV adaptation, some fans felt disappointed that the focus shifted away from Dr. Mensah – a middle‑aged Black woman who is central to Murderbot’s emotional development – toward Gurathin, a white‑adjacent male character. Many people loved the show, and that joy is wonderful. It was lovingly created with blessing from Martha Wells herself. The actors played the characters powerfully and memorably. The music and cinematography were beautifully crafted. It brought new people into the fandom.

Nevertheless, the disappointment is also valid, and worth discussing.

This is not the same as “I don’t like Kevin R. Free’s voice” or “The cover art in that edition isn’t my cup of tea.” It is part of engaging with media thoughtfully. What do the choices they made – regarding actors, scenes to include or cut, scenes to newly introduce – mean? Were they commercial choices to bring in existing fans of popular actors? Were they meant to make the show more accessible to viewers who don’t usually watch sci‑fi? Did unconscious social bias play a role in sidelining a Black woman protagonist? What does the change say about the target audience and the society producing the adaptation?

These questions aren’t negativity. They’re analysis. They’re care. They’re part of loving a story deeply enough to think about it.

Constructive discussion, including criticism, has always been part of healthy fandom communities. It’s one of the ways we think about the stories we love, and how we connect with each other. But when communities treat any discomfort as unwelcome, or insist on constant cheerfulness, it can slip into toxic positivity: a pressure to only express joy, and to hide anything that might be complicated or critical. That isn’t healthy for anyone.

At the same time, it’s completely valid that some people may not want to see criticism at all, especially if they already have a lot going on in their real lives and want fandom to remain a space of comfort and escape.

I think a good fandom community doesn’t choose one group over the other; it helps everyone curate their experience. Clear tagging, opt‑in threads, and designated spaces for venting or analysis let people enjoy what they want to enjoy, and avoid what they need to avoid. Joy and critique can coexist, as long as we make room for both.

I’ve never seen a thoughtful and creative community quite like the Murderbot fandom, where people exchange views at so many different levels – from screaming with excitement, to fun and insightful character analyses, to almost academic‑level discussions on social representation and world‑building. Some of these conversations are joyful, others critical, but they are generally thought‑provoking. I hope we continue to have a fandom environment that nurtures all of these interactions.

[murderbot101]

When you encounter a really outrageous take

Occasionally in fandom spaces, Tumblr included, you’ll run into people whose interpretations of characters, world‑building, or canon are so intensely negative and so far removed from the text that it feels like they’re reading a completely different story.

I’m not talking about fanon, creative reinterpretations, or playful over‑reading. I mean situations where someone consistently projects malice, misogyny, racism, ableism, or other forms of bigotry onto the canon, the author, and even onto other fans who simply enjoy the work.

These posts often come with a lot of hostility and anger. The interpretations can be so disconnected from explicit canon that it’s hard to understand where they’re coming from. Maybe it’s venting, maybe it’s a personal filter, maybe it’s a desire to argue — it’s impossible to know from the outside.

The healthiest response is usually to block the user or the tags so you don’t have to see it. Let them have their space to rant without dragging yourself into it.

If you’re tempted to engage, it’s worth checking their past interactions first. Some people simply aren’t interested in good‑faith discussion, and recognizing that early can save you a lot of stress.

[murderbot101]

"Don't like, don't read"

(reposting an ask-answer as a general post)

It's a phrase commonly seen in fandom spaces. Can we use it as a rule for a community?

“Don’t like, don’t read” sounds helpful on the surface, and it can be helpful, but only in spaces where people can genuinely curate their own experience. In other words, places that operate on “opt in” rather than “opt out” principles.

In mixed spaces where you cannot filter or avoid certain topics, it can end up shutting down valid concerns instead of helping people navigate them.

So whether it helps or harms really depends on how much control people have over what they see. For that to function, fandom space, whether Discord servers, Tumblr, AO3, or anywhere, it's important to establish a tacit rule on how to help people curate their experience. Sometimes they don't even want to have a glimpse.

Accurate tags, spoiler warnings, and separate channels/threads (for Discord) can be immensely helpful for that.

[murderbot101]

When different interpretations of a character lead to hurt

(reposting my response to an ask in a more general format)

One thing I’ve noticed — not just in the Murderbot fandom, but across many fandom spaces — is that sometimes people identify so strongly with a fictional character that any discussion about the character feels personal in both directions.

If the character is talked about positively, they feel validated. If the character is critiqued or discussed in a more complicated way, it can feel like a personal attack even when it isn’t meant that way. With atypical characters, such projection might get even stronger than usual.

That kind of projection can make conversations harder than they need to be, especially when people are genuinely trying to talk about broader fandom patterns.

[murderbot101]

isn't it always important to demand proof? you can't just be accepting things as fact with no evidence. how can you tell if you're demanding excessive proof?

Thank you, that's an important point to raise!

I agree that asking for proof matters. At the same time, I’ve also seen situations where people ask for such a high level of detail (like exact timestamps, channels, or explanations for why something wasn’t just an isolated slip) that it becomes impossible to answer. When that happens, the discussion tends to freeze instead of moving forward.

I think the line is whether the question helps clarify things or whether it ends up shutting the conversation down.

[murderbot101]

In regards to your list of red flags: there is another one I've noticed in the last ten years or so which involves people bringing up complaints about some manner of bigotry (racism, transphobia, sexism. the more important the better) and then when people start trying to get to the bottom of the problem and address the concerns, the person who brought up the issue dismisses all attempts to fix or explain the problem as focusing on the details instead of the wider issue of racism, etc... which there is no known way to fix through a fandom discord server. And you slowly start to realize that fixing it isn't even the person's goal. When you really get down to it, the person is dismissing all proposed solutions because the actual main thing they're upset about is that too many people are writing about another topic or character they don't like and they've found over time that this is an easy way to control the conversation and get people to comply out of guilt. maybe you could add it to the list if you get the time? I find it very frustrating because it makes it harder to have meaningful discussions about important issues.

Thank you for this 'ask' (the first one I received!). It’s a really thoughtful addition.

My original post was mostly aimed at participants rather than mods, but you’re right that this kind of dynamic can affect both sides of a community. Even if I haven’t personally run into this exact pattern, it’s definitely relevant to the broader topic of how conversations get derailed or misdirected.

I’m not planning to edit the original post right now, but I’ll keep this in mind for future discussions. I appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective.

[murderbot101]

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.). Facilitating positive environments. https://discord.com/safety/facilitating-positive-environments

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

Psychology Today. (2025). Toxic positivity. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/toxic-positivity 

Psychology Today. (2026). Groupthink. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/groupthink 

Verywell Mind. (2026a). Why Toxic Positivity Can Be Harmful https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-toxic-positivity-5093958  

Verywell Mind. (2026b). Is Someone Gaslighting You? Look Out For These Red Flags. https://www.verywellmind.com/is-someone-gaslighting-you-4147470

Verywell Mind. (2026c). How to Be Direct Without Being Perceived as Rude. https://www.verywellmind.com/being-direct-vs-being-rude-8739387

[murderbot101]

Tagging Convention (mainly for Tumblr)

Here are some of the tags often used to attract people who are interested in the Murderbot Diaries (books).

General

#the murderbot diaries, #murderbot diaries, #murderbot books, #murderbot, #tmbd, #(book title), #(book title + spoiler), #character name, #secunit, #nsfw (for adults-only content)

Fan creations

#murderbot fanart, #tmbd fanart, #murderbot fanfic, #tmbd fanfic, #tmbd meta, #murderbot meta, #murderbot meme

Characters and Groups

#(individual names, such as Dr Mensah), #Three (murderbot), #Secunit Three, #asshole research transport, #ART (murderbot), #Perihelion, #PresAux, #PSUMNT, #Perihelion Crew

TV show

#murderbot tv, #murderbot Apple TV, #mbtv

Relationship tags

Murderbot fandom is very gen-leaning and aspec-heavy, so tagging becomes very important if you want to post something about relationships. If you want your posts (incl. reblogs) to reach the right people without upsetting anyone, here are some suggestions.

Use "&" for all platonic, found-family, friends of all types, or partnership dynamics.

Use "/" only for actual romance or sexual content.

If you want to emphasize the queerplatonic-ness of a relationship, use #QPR, #queerplatonic, "ride-or-die partners", etc. Some people use "the secret third thing", too. Note that some people might avoid posts if it has a "/", even if you use "/&" or "$/" to mean "very intimate, but undefinable relationship".

Safer to avoid portmanteau ship names unless you are actually shipping them romantically/sexually. I'm aware that some people use portmanteau names, such as 'mensahbot' or 'artmb' for intimate but not romantic relationships, but many people tend to assume they are 'ship' names.

If you want to mention a ship but are not shipping it, tag it clearly, such as #mention of ship, #not shipping, #ship mention only.

Common portmanteau ship names:

Murderbot/ART: murderhelion, artmb, artbot, mbart

Murderbot/Mensah: Mensahbot

Murderbot/Gurathin: Murderathin

Other popular relationship tag:

Murderbot & ART: mutual administrative assistance, mutual administrative assistants

For more tagging ideas you can also look at the list of canonized tags on Archives of Our Own (AO3): https://archiveofourown.org/tags/The%20Murderbot%20Diaries%20-%20Martha%20Wells

[murderbot101]

Murderbot Discord Servers (3)

If you prefer small-scale servers, there are several, again with notable differences. My personal experience in them are limited but I will try to describe them, in the chronological order of their foundation, in as unbiased a manner as possible.

(1) Preservation

An aroace/aspec friendly server where discussing Murderbot in a romantic/sexual manner is prohibited.

Canon-consistent discussion of ships (e.g., Mensah and her spouses, Arada/Overse) are fine but mostly take place in the designated area.

Letting off steam by sharing negative views on the books and adaptations is allowed

AKA "Tree server" as you can 'water' the tree to make it grow

There are both on-topic and off-topic categories with multiple channels

Not a place if you are primarily interested in the TV adaptation

Automated welcome message alerts your joining the server to all the members in the welcome channel and you may get welcoming reactions. But they will leave you alone until you initiate interactions.

(2) Moistbot

Adult-only server primarily focused on romantic/sexual relationships among characters, including Murderbot

Highly creative and members often jointly create stories ('noodle') in threads

Weekly prompts are suggested and selected by members to explore various kink ideas

Recommended for those interested in fan-creations than discussing canon materials

Automated welcome message in the welcome channel alerts your appearance to all the members upon joining the server. People may react with a 'wave' to welcome you!

(3) Murderbot Transit Hub

All-age, beginner-friendly server (for both the Murderbot Diaries series and Discord Servers)

Primarily a place to discuss book-canon materials, with separate channels for each book, audiobook, and other adaptations

Non-canon consistent shipping is discouraged and there are no NSFW channels

Has been running weekly listen-along events for Murderbot audiobooks, as well as other popular audiobook (e.g., Project Hail Mary, Mickey 7)

Since it's created as a "transit hub", too, info and links to other servers are found

There is no automated welcome channel, so you can quietly enter and observe without being noticed until you are ready.

(4) Murderserver

Sister server of Moistbot for all Murderbot fans

Fanwork centric with weekly prompts (gen) and lots of lively discussion, but other general channels also exist

Shipping (including Murderbot) is allowed with lots of separate channels for different ships

There are channels for discussing the TV adaptations

There are lots of creative events, movie streaming sessions, voice chat, etc.

Automated welcome message in the welcome channel alerts your appearance to all the members upon joining the server. People may react with a 'wave' to welcome you!

I've heard of other more small, niche servers but don't know enough to talk about them. You are bound to get invited directly if you share interests with those on these servers.

[murderbot101]

Murderbot Discord Servers (2)

So, currently there are two large Murderbot discord servers with 1,000+ members: The Murderbot Diaries 2.0 (2.0) and New Tideland (NT).

When you are new to the fandom and maybe also new to Discord servers, at a glance they look pretty similar. They both have on-topic (i.e., Murderbot related) and off-topic (i.e., non-Murderbot) categories with multiple channels. Both servers have channels to chat about daily things, discuss and post images of food, animals, plants, etc., discuss real-life issues, etc. Both have channels where people share their creative works. They also run various events.

But they are quite distinct from each other based on very different running/moderation principles. While many people can enjoy both of them, it's also possible that your particular preferences are better met by one of them.

But before getting into the differences, your initial experience upon entering the servers is the same. Upon arrival, you will automatically receive a set of welcoming message and information on rules, etc. Your entry is not announced to the general members, so you can quietly lurk and observe for a while until you get your bearings.

In my personal opinions based on observations, here are the differences:

2.0 Server

Suitable for those who want to be able to curate their experience without having to remove yourselves from ongoing conversation.

Potentially triggering topics, such as health, food, politics have designated areas. When people accidentally go off the topics for the channel, usually moderators, "greeters", and long-term members gently move the conversation to a more appropriate designation. People gladly move without any resentment.

You don't see shipping in main channels, as the server has many aspec (and adjacent) members who are not interested in shipping.

Shipping does exist and people discuss them in a designated area that uses multiple threads. Shippers and non-shippers peacefully coexist in main areas and (as far as I can see) there is no conflict as the actual shipping-talk does not take place in any of the main channels.

The server uses threads A LOT. People are used to using threads, and the greeters regularly draw attention to threads in each channel by making them visible.

Expression of negative views are allowed, and for things where both positive and negative opinions exist in abundance, like the tv adaptation, threads are created so that people can express themselves without upsetting those with different views.

Many events are organised by the members of the 2.0 server, but you may not always notice this as they don't advertise in order to make it as inclusive as they can. But "Bingo" and "New Year Gift Exchange" are some of their events.

For moderation/concerns, you can fill their "feedback sheet" (Google Docs), or alternatively, you can find a moderator that you have interacted with (and/or find easier to talk to, based on observation) and message them directly. There is a list of moderators and "greeters".

NT Server

Suitable for those who are happy with the attitude of "agree to disagree" in general, and rarely perturbed by seeing topics you don't like being discussed potentially anywhere and can just ignore and scroll on.

You need to be aware that it is up to you to avoid seeing the topics you don't want to see. Their rule is a lot more relaxed than the 2.0, and people are rarely discouraged from discussing something that appears to be outside of the scope of the channel. (Obviously, nsfw topics are not allowed in sfw areas, though)

There are lots of channels for both sfw and nsfw shipping (including those involving Murderbot itself). Many of the popular pairings have dedicated channels, but you can also talk about other characters in them, especially if the said-character doesn't have a dedicated channel.

They strongly encourage positive discussion of the series (both the book series and the tv show), and expressions of negative views are not recommended. (It's against their "do not yuck other people's yum" principle.)

They have lots of events including regular creative (for both art and fiction) workshops, book-reading, and film viewing events. You may see "New Tideland" tags on works on Archives of Our Own (Ao3).

For moderation/concerns, you can use contact the moderator team by using their ticket system. All the moderators will get notified and ones available (there are nine as far as I have counted) will get back to you. (edited) There is also a list of moderators on their rules channel as of 7 June.

In sum, if you want to feel safe, knowing whatever topic you want to avoid only happens in the designated area, are happy to comply with the rules of sticking to the topics for each channel, adding image descriptions (or ALT) to the images when you post them (for those who rely on text readers), 2.0 is a good fit for you. It is carefully and skillfully moderated.

If you prefer to be able to talk more freely, without having to remember "I'm not supposed to talk about this here" or dislike being asked to move to a different channel, then NT will be a better place for you.

But as I said, this is based on my observation. You can always see for yourself by joining them.

[murderbot101]

Murderbot Discord Servers (1)

Again, I'm no expert, but from what I can see, currently there are two large (1000+ members) servers and several smaller ones.

If I place them in the chronological order, along with the publication dates of the Murderbot Diaries books and stories, it looks like this:

May 2, 2017 Book 1: All Systems Red

May 8, 2018 Book 2: Artificial Condition

August 7, 2018 Book 3: Rogue Protocol

September 2018 [The Murderbot Diaries server] (aka 1.0 server)

October 2, 2018 Book 4: Exit Strategy

December 17, 2018 Short Story: Compulsory

April 28, 2020 Book 5: Network Effect

May 5, 2020 Short Story: Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory

August 2020 [The Murderbot Diaries 2.0 server]

April 27, 2021 Book 6: Fugitive Telemetry

September 2022 [New Tideland server]

August 2023 [Preservation server]

November 14, 2023 Book 7: System Collapse

April 2024 [moistbot server]

August 2024 [Murderbot Transit Hub server]

January 2025 [Murderserver server]

July 11, 2025 Short Story: Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy

May 5, 2026 Book 8: Platform Decay

Very brief history:

The first discord server by and for the Murderbot fans The Murderbot Diaries was launched in the autumn of 2018. (You can find the announcement on Tumblr if you go back far enough.) At some point in 2020, this server lost the owner/moderator and became defunct.

The Murderbot Diaries 2.0 server was created as a successor in August 2020. This was shortly after the fifth book Network Effect was published, and the server attracted lots of new members. As the server grew in size, members' interests also diversified, resulting in difficulties accommodating everyone's wishes.

Some people who were not satisfied with what the 2.0 server could offer left and created New Tideland server in September 2022. This helped to accommodate people who wanted to enjoy more of the shipping side of the fandom without much restriction.

In subsequent years (2023-), more servers were created, often to serve more specific needs within the fandom (e.g., strictly no-murderbot shipping, shipping-focused, beginner friendly, free creativity-focused).

Many people are on multiple servers, looking for things best found in each. (Some of the servers list links to other servers, too.)

Server invitation links are found on Tumblr posts, Fanlore page(s), etc.

[murderbot101]

Diverse Fans of the Murderbot Fandom

The Murderbot Diaries series attracts a lot of people who (sometimes) consider themselves to be queer and/or non-typical in various ways. These include those with gender identities that are not cis-gender (e.g., transgender, agender, x-gender, non-binary, and gender-fluid), various gender expressions, sexual/romantic-orientations (e.g., homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, aromantic, aroace, alloaro, asexual-alloromantic), neurodivergent (e.g., ASD, ADD, ADHD, LD, OCD), cultural groups that might be considered a minority, and so on.

Murderbot is a character living in a world where a personhood of its category (i.e., constructs like SecUnits) has not been even considered, and expected to be "different" and isolated in may ways. Yet it finds people that come to care about it and it hesitantly learns to call its friends. These people accept it the way it is and don't tell it to fit their way of life. No wonder it appeals to people who often find themselves struggling with expectations of others.

What we always need to be aware is to be sensitive and receptive of people in the community. Not all the people with ASD hate social interactions nor are they some maths/creative genius. Not all the asexual people are repulsed by sex. Not all the aroace people enjoy reading and/or creating smut, either. Just like people from a specific place do not always live up to their cultural stereotypes, people with non-typical traits don't necessarily live up to the stereotypes of their subgroups. We all are different.

What I've discovered is that if one shows genuine respect, they also reciprocate the respect. We can co-exist with differences as long as we respect each other's boundaries.