this morning, i got in2 an argument with two individuals (one of whom i deliberately avoid engaging with due 2 them setting off my fight-or-flight as a result of their egotism and generally poor behavior) who really did not like the idea of moving the LEARNINGBLOCKS WIKI to MIRAHEZE or another, exponentially less screwed-up platform than FANDOM.
they had many reasons, most of them completely arbitrary (i.e.:

claiming the move would make them "unreasonably angry"

and so on).

the only valid criticism was how long it would take 2 move, but even then they were snarky about it.

if these people are so intent on defending FANDOM, then it must be the Greatest Wiki Farm Ever, Right???????

the simple answer is absolutely not.

FANDOM has a whole host of issues. let us start with the most glaring:

opening a FANDOM page without an adblocker while logged out is like entering a minefield. an assault on the senses complete.

when visiting the homepage for the LEARNINGBLOCKS WIKI in such a state, you are greeted with this screen:

can you see the main issue here? it's the fact that they're knowingly advertising 2 children. kids are an impressionable demographic, and it's very easy for them 2 click on things they shouldn't (for example: ads). there's also the dilemma of the 13+ age limit for making an account - accounts hide ads, but individuals under 13 (the target demographic of franchises like LEARNINGBLOCKS) cannot legally create one.

now on2 other problems...

seems obvious enough, right? i mean, you don't run the servers, you are not the SYSADMIN, you are paying nothing 2 actually keep the wiki alive, so is it not natural 2 say you don't own it?

well, yes and no.

when i say you do not "own" your wiki, i mean you have very little control over it. you cannot delete it if you grow tired of maintaining it. you cannot lock things down in the case of the wiki being a personal project (like what i have done with this one). you have limited customization options that extend 2 the images and colors in the light/dark modes, as well as the font on headers if i recall correctly.

anyone can edit a FANDOM wiki. this includes vandals, and vandalizing a FANDOM wiki is an incredibly easy task given how little there is 2 protect against it. there are no measures prohibiting people from turning on a vpn, spam-creating accounts, and going at it for hours, days, weeks, even months. this has been a recurring issue in the communities i am in, and the main reason one of my close friends moved documentation of their current work 2 MIRAHEZE.

FANDOM has made many questionable moves over the years.

- in early 2022, much 2 my and many others' chagrin, FANDOM staff merged every LGBTQ+ related wiki in2 a single wiki (barring EZGENDER's wiki, which was allowed 2 stay but moved 2 MIRAHEZE soon after). this "new wiki" was critically lacking in (and in the case of intersex people had factually wrong) information about LGBTQ+ identities 2 the point it was incredibly non-useful. despite backlash, this change was never repealed.

- during the GRIMACE SHAKE promotion, MCDONALD'S paid FANDOM an unknown amount 2 change the MCDONALD'S WIKI's GRIMACE page in2 a glorified advertisement. nobody liked this.

- FANDOM is also partnered with the UNITED STATES NAVY. that should be enough for you 2 know 2 avoid them.

all of this shows that FANDOM is more concerned with money than it is information (what a wiki farm should be focused on).

the degradation of the online experience is extremely disappointing 2 witness. i've only been on this earth for 18 years (and online for less than that), but in that time i have seen things get worse and worse.

FANDOM, as ridiculous as it sounds, was a big part of my internet experience as a child. i'd read the MY SINGING MONSTERS WIKI forums (remember when those were still a thing?) for hours on end when i was 10, when i was 12 i made my first account on the site (despite it technically being Not Very Legal for me 2 do so), and by 14 i was already bureaucrat of a very large, very active wiki for a ROBLOX game (the degradation of ROBLOX is a whole other situation that will remain shelved until i feel like writing about it). seeing things crack apart as they have has been upsetting.

the only real advice i can give you is "don't use FANDOM." install INDIE WIKI BUDDY, move any wikis you host off of FANDOM, donate 2 non-profit wiki sites like MIRAHEZE if you have the means. do not let FANDOM monopolize the wiki sphere.

peace, love, unity, respect, responsibility,

- the PIZZA TOWER WIKI's page about why they moved from FANDOM

- INDIE WIKI BUDDY - extension designed 2 redirect you from FANDOM wikis 2 independent ones

- JES's own anecdote on FANDOM as a service - what inspired me 2 write this

- LEGROOM's post collecting reasons as 2 why FANDOM sucks (with articles and sources!) and suggestions for alternatives - a bit dated, so make sure 2 read the edit at the end

- WEIRD GLOOP's advice on moving away