Don't use discord. Even if you don't agree with the spyware characterization, there are very good social reasons to choose something else (e.g. IRC/Freenode or Matrix or preferably both). I don't use or advise people use discord for anything, but I don't really have any strong opinions if gamers or youtubers/"social influencers" end up going that route (because to them it's a means to an end for their monetization strategies). But it's a totally different situation for open technical communities.
Going with discord you are basically isolating yourself and the community you are trying to form from the older generations. People who grew up on the Internet in the 90s and 2000s and for whom IRC is bread & butter. These are also the folks that have accumulated a lot of experience and wisdom and that you really, really, don't want to be apart from. Especially if you don't have time to waste in mistakes that others have done and learned from before you.
These "wise veterans" are not going to come to you, in discord, but you can go after them by signaling through setting up shop in the places I mentioned.