I have similar memories of early voat. I lurked a little before the first exodus. There wasn't an established order, that I saw, but it was a small community of 'builders'. The one common trait.
I would argue that the first couple migrations were also at least partially builder motivated.
I agree that influxes don't have to be destructive. It depends on the newcomers ability to integrate and/or play well with others.
It really seems to mirror real-life immigration.
I love the highly diverse nature of a place like Vancouver. But it only works because the common thread among all this diversity is the desire to get along, and tolerate.
Historically we never had a race based ghetto that divided us, like in the south. We didn't really have black people at all, in the west. Islam was also never represented in a significant number.
We did have people from just about everywhere else on the planet.
It seems that most cultures are capable of getting along fine. There are a few cultures that seem to have problems with everyone, even their own.
True on the internet, and in reality, I guess.
Ironically, yes.
Though I would add that Voat never really had any sort of established order or feel to it, at least that's what I felt during the short time I browsed it before the first major Reddit influx. It's hard to say if the same thing applies here as I've been a part of it since the beginning, so I don't really have an outsider perspective, but I'd probably say it does.
I don't think influxes are the issue. We have discussed inviting certain Reddit communities here in the past that are politically neutral and focused around a form of content like PC gaming, for example. If we ever had a politically charged influx appearing on Phuks, I would probably be in favour of turning on invite only.