[nullindividual]

> I'm at a crossroads and unsure of how to proceed.

Have you considered that perhaps online communities are simply unhealthy and withdrawing (at least to lurking) is the best course of action?

[PaulHoule]

I think some are healthy and some aren’t.

There are places where people will help you with your photography problems (dpreview.com) or who will get close to you and enjoy your avatar and praise you (VRChat) and then there are places where people believe there are two kinds of people and you better know what kind I am (Twitter clones)