both companies notably ruined the internet in the 2010s by consolidating discourse then taking various steps to destroy the user experience and the feel of the communities for profit.
so, broadly, the web went from cozy, small hobby forums in the 90s and 00s, then with the 10s as a transitional period, the 20s being practically complete corporate control of online discourse.
it’s a bummer. but nothing lasts forever. where will we go next?
The instance block and the user blocks work differently. The instance blocks affects the communities of the blocked instance, not the users of that instance.
I just checked with an alt where I have hexbear blocked, I can still see their comments. Not sure about their posts, they only created them on the hexbear communities.
Happy to help!