@rgegriff Clout is definitely a thing, there are users with thousands of followers or who are on good terms with Important People & what they say counts for more because of that. People also get away with saying shit because of their social ties on here. & there are people who are quite explicitly/openly on here to advance their careers (as well as those for whom it's presumably an ulterior motive)

If you/others have been able to steer clear of that stuff that's great but if you just haven't noticed it you could learn a lot talk to anyone who's vocal about anti-oppression on here