I saw that this instance had a large number of users so I thought "more users->more content->more fun". Apparently, I had to prove my value by answering 3 questions that showed my interest in their community and my value as a potential future member.
What could possibly be my value to a general purpose instance besides money? I'm a software/cloud engineer so I guess there are things I could help with, but my guess is they were expecting me to say "I can donate".
I get it, they need donations to exist, but this upfront? And to a community I don't even know? Maybe I'm imagining things and they were looking for something else?
Do all instances rely on donations? I'd like to contribute to the instances I enjoy at some point. But only if I feel at home with them, not as a prerequisite to join.
You say common rules but there are many instances without those
Explicit policies are better than implicit policies. A code of conduct shouldn’t consist of unwritten rules. Maybe this is why you were rejected? It seems like you didn’t understand the purpose or content of their policies when you applied.
most servers have implicit rules, this one has explicit rules, simple as that, and they make it clear they're a safe space unlike most others that try to look free but aren't or are freer but get banned for allowing shit, beehaw is just clear about what it is.