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this analysis completely ignores the fact that reddit.com is the 8th largest website in the united states and a primary source of news for large portions of its

this analysis completely ignores the fact that reddit.com is the 8th largest website in the united states and a primary source of news for large portions of its users. And I'm sure that pretty much every reddit user ever can attest that multiple viewpoints on political issues were HEAVILY debated and often led to flamewars. just saying that this is direct evidence against the article's conclusions. http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/reddit.com http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/reddit.com

pohl 10y ago
That sounds like something that needs to be measured in order to be claimed. I'm a reddit user, and I confine myself mostly to /r/rust Your observation that lively debate exists somewhere on Reddit is valid; no doubt about that. It's a stretch to suggest that this is the common case for Reddit users, though.
rjeli 10y ago
I strongly disagree re: heavily debated. /r/politics was literally moderated by paid shills. /r/the_donald and /r/hillaryclinton immediately banned and deleted all dissenting comments. Most subreddits explicitly chose a side and deleted opposing viewpoints, e.g. /r/trees deleting anti-Clinton (pro-weed) posts. To me, this is just more evidence of the polarization of politics (I am obviously on the right side, and my opponent is so abhorrent that silencing them is justified).
bbctol 10y ago
A flamewar is not a real connection of opposing sides that lets each understand the other, it's a progressive back-and-forth of increasingly simplified versions of the other's position until both sides hate each other more than when they started. It's still a part of the echo chamber phenomenon; just because there are people who hate each other shouting at each other, doesn't mean the inherent structure of the medium won't make each more rigid in their views.
- judahmeek 10y ago
  I'm hoping that platforms like Pol.is can lead to a better future: https://blog.pol.is/pol-is-in-taiwan-da7570d372b5#.qpentztrq https://blog.pol.is/pol-is-in-taiwan-da7570d372b5#.qpentztrq

pohl 10y ago

That sounds like something that needs to be measured in order to be claimed. I'm a reddit user, and I confine myself mostly to /r/rust Your observation that lively debate exists somewhere on Reddit is valid; no doubt about that. It's a stretch to suggest that this is the common case for Reddit users, though.

rjeli 10y ago

I strongly disagree re: heavily debated. /r/politics was literally moderated by paid shills. /r/the_donald and /r/hillaryclinton immediately banned and deleted all dissenting comments. Most subreddits explicitly chose a side and deleted opposing viewpoints, e.g. /r/trees deleting anti-Clinton (pro-weed) posts. To me, this is just more evidence of the polarization of politics (I am obviously on the right side, and my opponent is so abhorrent that silencing them is justified).

bbctol 10y ago

A flamewar is not a real connection of opposing sides that lets each understand the other, it's a progressive back-and-forth of increasingly simplified versions of the other's position until both sides hate each other more than when they started. It's still a part of the echo chamber phenomenon; just because there are people who hate each other shouting at each other, doesn't mean the inherent structure of the medium won't make each more rigid in their views.

judahmeek 10y ago
I'm hoping that platforms like Pol.is can lead to a better future: https://blog.pol.is/pol-is-in-taiwan-da7570d372b5#.qpentztrq https://blog.pol.is/pol-is-in-taiwan-da7570d372b5#.qpentztrq