Sorry, I don't participate in Innoxia's Discord, and my server doesn't seem to be like that so i don't quite know how it feels. I received good feedback and criticism in equal measure in general, and it helps me a lot to improve the game.
I'm not sure what that would be like, but it sounds like a fanatical cult. lol
As much as I would like to point fingers at Discord again, the more I think about it the more I realize we're two sides of the same coin.
Both sides have established their territory and only tolerate like-minded individuals into their fold. You go into Discord to criticize and chances are you'll get crap for it. Any of theirs come here to headbutt with us and they get the same treatment. In doing so, both sides have created their own echo chambers. The only difference is that we can't really ban anyone because we don't have any mods on our side. They do.
In essence, this is a fight between perspectives and means to an end. Discord and most subscribers prefer to take a more positive approach, while we tend to be harsher. It's the ol' "donator vs investor" mentality. It would be ideal if both sides could compromise and consolidate but the community prefers to headbutt instead, with the "I'm better than them" mindset, which only drives each other apart.
As for the whole "toxic" thing and the comment section...
Inno didn't shut down the comments "just because", she was partially forced to do so to keep a lid on the toxicity. Before that she disabled anonymous comments a few times to keep things under control, before reinstating them again. That wouldn't last long however, as it was only a matter of time before things imploded again. People don't like to be silenced, especially when they believe they have reasons to be upset. Keeping the comments disabled is entirely her choice, however.
Most comments were criticizing the state of the game and the progress (or lack of thereof) and were relatively "ok" but there were times when things would devolve into a toxic wasteland, with people hurling insults and starting fights with each other. They were upset and would remain so because the root of the problem persisted. They were neither happy with the game's progress nor the developer's methods, but rather than abandon the game and do something else, they still clung to the hope and potential it offered.
And that's basically where the schism that split the community started...