i heard that the timeline split being based on STO/STS was "loving misinformation"

[Ray711]

The STS/STO path has been simplified for duality.
There are more grey areas than black n white.
Being responsible for the self, whilst offering assistance to those who have stepped off the karmic wheel by forgiving, is the positive STS path. To try to help one who has not made this choice...is pointless. Beyond offering assistance for their chosen slumber.
You can be completely focused on the self.
You can be completely focused on others.
You may be focused on the self, whilst holding space for others who reach out needing a light shone on their path.
You may be focused on others whilst holding your torch out for the self.
You may be focused on the self...whilst being equally mindful as to how every choice impacts others.
These are the 3 paths of positive STS and STO...as well as BALANCE.
the sinkhole of indifference...is part of the negative paths...which are the opposite of what I've described here.
The self responsibility and other responsibility model feels true.
The 3rd option...being a combination of both...or unity.

I understand the confusion, because the way the two paths are named easily leads to it, but choosing to focus on the self is not inherently STS work. It can be work of either polarity (or none).

The key for distinguishing the two paths is, for STO, a focus on unconditional love, acceptance and compassion. For STS, repression, control, dominance and power. You will find that it becomes quite irrelevant to distinguish whether this is done upon the self or upon other-selves. We are all one. What we do upon others, we do upon ourselves. What we do upon ourselves, we do upon others.

If someone is truly committed to the path of control and repression, they will judge and try to suppress in other-selves those aspects that the self considers to be unworthy within his own self. And vice versa. Likewise, if someone is fully committed to the path of unconditional love and acceptance, anything and everything will be loved, be it something within self or other-self.

What you're calling "positive STS", someone who loves themselves and who helps other-selves when possible, is actually STO.

Both STO work and STS work can begin with the self or with other-selves. There are probably an infinite ways in which to embody and do work on either polarity. The criteria is simply whether the chosen path revolves around acceptance or around control.