4 ms·

Reddit has been demonstrated time and time again that it is subject to, and vulnerable to, blatant manipulation and propganda. Whether it's a celebrity endores

Reddit has been demonstrated time and time again that it is subject to, and vulnerable to, blatant manipulation and propganda. Whether it's a celebrity endoresement masquerading as an interview, threads defending corporations and/or their actions, the manufacturing of consent, the anti-democractic activities of shill accounts, or being subject to blanket disinformation, Reddit is a net-negative to society in my opinion.

vinhboy 9y ago
You know, even the military monitors reddit to keep on top of new trends and ideas. It has really become a social force, and that's why I agree with you, it is ripe for manipulation. > Reddit is a net-negative to society in my opinion. I did not agree with this before, but after /r/the_donald, I am re-considering my position.
- Stanish 9y ago
  It's not just the_donald, sandersforpresident was literally shut down and scattered by shill mods after the election, despite having a community several hundred thousand strong of people ready to mobilize for progressive values. Arguably the central force that made Sanders such a phenomenon in the election was taken over and destroyed in the matter of a couple months. Incredibly chilling when you think about it. I think the worst mistake people can make is assuming this is just about alt-right meme factories. It is much more about the manipulation of self-described centrists to keep them pro-corporate, and divided on superficial issues (ie the same as it has always been, they are figuring out how to port their TV strategy to the internet, it is just taking some time).
- nextlevelwizard 9y ago
  I do not get this opinion at all. Just because there exists a thing you do not agree with does not mean it should not exist. It seems like many people on HN are for free speech as long as it's speech they agree with. There will always be people who do not think like you and do not believe in same things as you, but you are not helping any situation by no platforming them. Join the debate and use your words, like adult human beings, don't use force (even if it's virtual and not physical)
  - dynamoa 9y ago
    >It seems like many people on HN are for free speech as long as it's speech they agree with. Sounds exactly like Reddit
  - styren 9y ago
    I wouldn't call what the_donald is doing free speech. I have absolutely no problem with the opinion of people subscribed to the_donald, however their post frequently hit the frontpage and there is never any discussion because everyone with opposing views are banned. The is no "debate" to join.
    - lin_lin 9y ago
      > however their post frequently hit the frontpage Not anymore. Since reddit made numerous changes, I don't think I've ever seen one of theirs make the front page. Pretty funny that the site had to change the core of their operation to target them.
    - nextlevelwizard 9y ago
      >I wouldn't call what the_donald is doing free speech What would you call it? The reason the posts hit front page is because people keep voting them up. You can disagree by downvoting. While they could very well be banning people who express opposite opinions so are plenty of other ideologically driven subreddits. You can join one of the dozen opposing subreddits for discussion about the topic(s) in hand. I still see no reason to take away their platform. I do not subscribe to their opinions completely, but I can also see merit in some of the opinions from that camp just as I can see the flaws. Same goes for more left leaning opinions. Bad thing is that everyone gets so emotional and rallied over their own opinions they completely refuse to listen to the other side and budge even an inch. This just creates bunch of echo chambers on either side where no real discussion can be had.
jefurii 9y ago
So it's much like traditional print media, just a lot faster and with fewer filters.
- nissimk 9y ago
  And more easily manipulated with automated techniques.
komali2 9y ago
>anti-democratic activities of shill accounts Can you clarify why the actions of shill accounts are inherently anti-democratic? I don't really see the connection between the concept of Democracy and paid posters on a social media website.
- nissimk 9y ago
  Propaganda. It's a highly effective tool for manipulating public opinion by API. What do you think all of this talk about hacking the election is about? It wasn't just publishing private emails.
  - komali2 9y ago
    Fair point. I buy that when its a campaign or government entity buying bots (please god someone pass better anti-lobbying laws), but how do we content (legally) with Russian bots flooding these forums?

vinhboy 9y ago

You know, even the military monitors reddit to keep on top of new trends and ideas. It has really become a social force, and that's why I agree with you, it is ripe for manipulation. > Reddit is a net-negative to society in my opinion. I did not agree with this before, but after /r/the_donald, I am re-considering my position.

Stanish 9y ago
It's not just the_donald, sandersforpresident was literally shut down and scattered by shill mods after the election, despite having a community several hundred thousand strong of people ready to mobilize for progressive values. Arguably the central force that made Sanders such a phenomenon in the election was taken over and destroyed in the matter of a couple months. Incredibly chilling when you think about it. I think the worst mistake people can make is assuming this is just about alt-right meme factories. It is much more about the manipulation of self-described centrists to keep them pro-corporate, and divided on superficial issues (ie the same as it has always been, they are figuring out how to port their TV strategy to the internet, it is just taking some time).
nextlevelwizard 9y ago
I do not get this opinion at all. Just because there exists a thing you do not agree with does not mean it should not exist. It seems like many people on HN are for free speech as long as it's speech they agree with. There will always be people who do not think like you and do not believe in same things as you, but you are not helping any situation by no platforming them. Join the debate and use your words, like adult human beings, don't use force (even if it's virtual and not physical)
- dynamoa 9y ago
  >It seems like many people on HN are for free speech as long as it's speech they agree with. Sounds exactly like Reddit
- styren 9y ago
  I wouldn't call what the_donald is doing free speech. I have absolutely no problem with the opinion of people subscribed to the_donald, however their post frequently hit the frontpage and there is never any discussion because everyone with opposing views are banned. The is no "debate" to join.
  - lin_lin 9y ago
    > however their post frequently hit the frontpage Not anymore. Since reddit made numerous changes, I don't think I've ever seen one of theirs make the front page. Pretty funny that the site had to change the core of their operation to target them.
  - nextlevelwizard 9y ago
    >I wouldn't call what the_donald is doing free speech What would you call it? The reason the posts hit front page is because people keep voting them up. You can disagree by downvoting. While they could very well be banning people who express opposite opinions so are plenty of other ideologically driven subreddits. You can join one of the dozen opposing subreddits for discussion about the topic(s) in hand. I still see no reason to take away their platform. I do not subscribe to their opinions completely, but I can also see merit in some of the opinions from that camp just as I can see the flaws. Same goes for more left leaning opinions. Bad thing is that everyone gets so emotional and rallied over their own opinions they completely refuse to listen to the other side and budge even an inch. This just creates bunch of echo chambers on either side where no real discussion can be had.

jefurii 9y ago

So it's much like traditional print media, just a lot faster and with fewer filters.

nissimk 9y ago
And more easily manipulated with automated techniques.

komali2 9y ago

>anti-democratic activities of shill accounts Can you clarify why the actions of shill accounts are inherently anti-democratic? I don't really see the connection between the concept of Democracy and paid posters on a social media website.

nissimk 9y ago
Propaganda. It's a highly effective tool for manipulating public opinion by API. What do you think all of this talk about hacking the election is about? It wasn't just publishing private emails.
- komali2 9y ago
  Fair point. I buy that when its a campaign or government entity buying bots (please god someone pass better anti-lobbying laws), but how do we content (legally) with Russian bots flooding these forums?