Seeing a lot of negativity on here

I don't think it's negativity, it is sharing the hard and ugly things that can happen when doing this type of job. It's sharing the reality.
Definitely better of all the bragging that you see on other platforms.

Reality is not negativity.
The startup scene is notorious for being over-optimistic and ignorant when it comes to failure and mental health.
The real look at things is helpful for people, that live in a bubble caused by this.
They can see that they are not alone and it's normal to fail/hurt/feel lonely.

I am loving the fact that IH is becoming more "real" with these sorts of stories. Save the "10 ways to start a SaaS and print money until you are as rich as Elon Musk" for TechCrunch and other publications like that.

I think it is important to highlight to any new founder that it isn't always a rocket ship ride to billion dollar exits, like the popular Silicon Valley press would like to make it seem.

Not to discourage them, but instead to set their expectations. Too many "Oh I only got 10 upvotes on Product Hunt, so I failed" or "Oh I only have 1000 Twitter followers so I am not as good as [X]" etc. Those are just meaningless vanity metrics. There is far more to building a business than that.

Let's build the next generation of startup founder right, and do their mental health a favour by sharing the good AND the bad.

I believe the experiences shared do more good than harm. In my opinion, being an entrepreneur or indie hacker is a road filled with challenges. The risk/reward ratios are usually quite extreme. So much so, at times, that it is a serious factor to consider. I think most people look at the success stories and get a romanticized idea of building something of their own. Many then start very enthusiastically only to find out that it is a path that's not the right fit for who they are and what they want out of life. Having stories that show the other side of that same coin can sometimes also act as a filter that brings those romanticized notions to a more watered-down version, a more realistic one, and allows newcomers to have a more holistic understanding by which they can make a more informed decision. I think it is equally as noble to decide against working for yourself as it is to do work for yourself, as long as you follow a path that's right for you.

I think that it is important for people to know that they are not the only ones struggling...

I see what you mean, but actually two weeks ago it was completely opposite. Almost too much optimism. :-) I really think this is just a coincidence.
Your talking point however is still very good: don't get scared by posts abound failure - use it to learn!

I think when you share loudly, you make room for people to not suffer quietly.

what do you mean negativity? do you have some examples?

I don't think any of the recent top posts have been negative. I think they have all been realistic and honest personal experiences of IndieHackers in this community. Realistic articles like this are important for other, especially new and wannabe indiehackers, to read from time to time so they know what they are about to embark on.

The road to being a successful entrepreneur is bumpy at best and (as Pieter Levels says) can be "really tough, it's depressing, it's horrible...these are life-changing things...this is soul crushing, depressing...can destroy friendships, family, relationships." These are the parts of being a solopreneur that aren't talked about openly enough and it should be. It's not being negative, it's being open and honest and realistic.

I don't think any of us should dwell on these negative aspects of building your own startup, but I think it's important that we acknowledge this is part of indiehacking for a number of reasons.

First and foremost, it would be naive to ignore that this journey is riddled with obstacles that will make you want to quit and run back to the "security" of a 9-5. There are reasons most people work a typical 9-5 FT job, and the difficulty of building and maintaining your own thing is one of them.

We should be exchanging ideas and differences of opinion within this community. Some of these opinions may seem negative on the surface, but opens up a wider discussion that can help others more easily navigate what @csallen calls the "runway of imminent death".

Also, it's important for all of us to acknowledge the hardships we face along this journey. If most of this community is like me, there probably aren't too many people in our daily lives that understand what we are doing, nor why we have decided to do it. It can be impossible to have a relevant conversation with anyone outside this IH community about the problems we face each day and the mental fatigue and harm these IH problems cause us. Sometimes it's important to see someone else here is going through or has gone through the same issues. That's not negative, that is incredibly helpful, especially when you are at the low points of this journey and ready to call it quits or worse.

All of the above being said, outside of the actual title of your post, it sounds like you completely understand that these "negative" posts aren't actually negative but rather helpful "words of warning" that could help others not fall into the same traps or make the same mistakes as the authors.

I wouldn't say its negative, its showing the truth behind what's involved in starting your own business and/or selling your own project. If every post on here was, I released XYZ in 3 months and made £5000 type post it will warp the idea to some people that, that should be expected, and people who haven't achieved that, might think they're doing something wrong when they haven't.

I think its good to have a balance of optimistic and realistic posts. Sure, your startup COULD take off like a rocket ship tomorrow and for sure, you COULD get dozens if not hundreds of users interested in your product before your MVP is even finished. But is that the reality?

I think it is good to remind ourselves that some people only have to try once to succeed and other need to try again and again.

This life is hard, its is not a pleasant vacation. We all work hard in our own ways and we should remember that some of us will make it and other wont.

Thanks for your comments everyone 🙇🏼‍♂️

I stand by it, the posts are truthful, somewhat of a downer tone (lacking a better way to describe), just more reasons not to push through with your Thing.

Keep chipping away at your products and be smart

acting and doing things the same way as everyone else will only make you behave like everyone else, only do that if you want to blend in

Amen.