This is true of reddit and how I remember it. A lot more akin to 4chan of the time than not honestly, despite redditors acting as if they were above them, but I also changed over time. A consequence of my sheltered conservative christian 90's monoculture small prairie town upbringing, but I gradually moved more and more to the left with life experience and internet exposure. I wouldn't say I really settled until my early 30's. Perhaps as a Democratic Socialist, but I don't like to really adhere to any given labels. Was atheist the whole time but that didn't change much about my upbringing and initial views even if I was immune to the actual deity belief part of conservative religious indoctrination.

reddit became less and less welcoming of me as time went on. Eventually leading to getting banned repeatedly, especially during Trump term 1.

But to answer OP: Yeah, I don't run into much friction here, mind you, I block the tankie triad.

Side question, if Lemmy grows do you think the same will happen here?

I don't think it will, but no. I think more splintering into defined groups that get along would happen.

The Ron Paul supporters were libertarian flavored. I don't think they were social conservatives like we have now.

I didn't agree with them wanting to cut services, but they weren't deranged like with what we have now.

I guess I didn’t encounter them or feel bothered by them since it’s, as noted, nothing like the pernicious idiocy of tea party/maga people.