Waffles eat Bluesky | TechCrunch

"The back-and-forth seems to have started with a tongue-in-cheek post by Jerry Chen lampooning a form of social media sanctimoniousness that's become all too recognizable on Bluesky: "(bluesky user bursts into Waffle House) OH SO YOU HATE PANCAKES??" Bluesky CEO Jay Graber quoted this approvingly, adding, "Too real. We're going to try to fix this. Social media doesn't have to be this way." Another user then asked, "have y'all banned Jesse Singal yet or" to which Graber simply replied, "WAFFLES!""

"Singal's presence on Bluesky was a flashpoint last year - while Bluesky built an early reputation as a haven for the trans users, Singal has been widely criticized for his writing on trans issues. A Change.org petition arguing that Singal violated the social network's community guidelines and calling on Bluesky to ban him received more than 28,000 signatures, and he was the most-blocked user on Bluesky until Vice President JD Vance surpassed him."

"In a follow-up post, Graber wrote, "Harassing the mods into banning someone has never worked. And harassing people in general has never changed their mind." She also alluded to the controversy by posting a nudge-nudge wink-wink photo of waffles, as did Singal. Users continued to criticize her - when one compared the criticism to a customer threatening to cancel their service, Graber asked, "Are you paying us? Where?" When another suggested that she should apologize, Graber said, "You could try a poster's strike. I hear that works.""

Bluesky feeds filled with mysterious waffle-themed posts after a tongue-in-cheek Jerry Chen post mocking social media sanctimony. CEO Jay Graber quoted the post, pledged to "try to fix" social media, and replied "WAFFLES!" when asked about banning Jesse Singal. Singal drew controversy last year, including a Change.org petition alleging guideline violations that gathered over 28,000 signatures, and he was one of the most-blocked users until JD Vance surpassed him. Graber warned that harassing moderators does not work, posted waffle photos, and exchanged sharp replies with critics about apologies and poster strikes. Users noted wider platform tensions and satirical takes.

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