It was the first instance. I joined lemmy because I was a big proponent of federated networks. I had had accounts on other federated networks before this one, some of which died out entirely. (I think the first “reddit-like” network I was on was called prismo? Diaspora is more facebook-like and still exists.) I had no clue it was going to get anywhere near as big as it has, and I definitely did not forsee how fucking stupid the instance tribalism would become where new users don’t know so just pick one and then seem to be judged for their decision when other members of their community are jackasses in one way or another. I think overall I’m happy lemmy caught on, but it definitely felt more like a community before the redditors came over.