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Subreddits solve I think the big problem of twitter, namely political flamebait leaking everywhere. Compartmentalize and quarantine that stuff and maybe you ca

Subreddits solve I think the big problem of twitter, namely political flamebait leaking everywhere. Compartmentalize and quarantine that stuff and maybe you can get a healthy message board going, but I think people will never be as open and naive as they were in the early days of twitter / FB again.

airstrike 4y ago
Subreddits are the definition of echo chambers. The only subreddits that work are the ones with heavy moderation to keep things (a) sane and (b) on topic
- fullshark 4y ago
  Echo chambers seem to be the inevitable end state of any of message board. People with contrarian positions eventually get tired and leave except those who get off on that and people love having their views affirmed. Algorithmic feeds amplify this phenomenon big time but you can see it on even traditional message boards.
PM_me_your_math 4y ago
In the early days, Reddit was touted as a free speech platform (sound familiar?) yet it was always designed to be an echo chamber, and changes to the product up to this point have only ever served that end. The mechanics of upvote/downvote, in collaboration with activist admins & moderators, ensures that comments which oppose the current group think are hidden, while comments that re-enforce the group-think (even if it is plainly false) are elevated and treated as canon. The result is that opposing view points are drowned out and then stop all together when those with opposing view points realize the futility. To the outside observer, it would appear that the group think is the real world, when in reality, it is not. This is by design and it is not accidental. Given the politics of reddit staff (which closely match twitter staff) one can see the common thread among these companies and why so many people believe the gaming is by design (because it is.) Reddit is an unmitigated cesspool of mostly 20-somethings who have accomplished very little, but seemingly know everything. It is one giant cluster-** of propaganda save for a handful of subreddits that are actually sane places with great ideas and content.
- ohCh6zos 4y ago
  To add to that Reddit has a huge problem with brigading subreddits who go out and make sure others can’t talk in peace.

airstrike 4y ago

Subreddits are the definition of echo chambers. The only subreddits that work are the ones with heavy moderation to keep things (a) sane and (b) on topic

fullshark 4y ago
Echo chambers seem to be the inevitable end state of any of message board. People with contrarian positions eventually get tired and leave except those who get off on that and people love having their views affirmed. Algorithmic feeds amplify this phenomenon big time but you can see it on even traditional message boards.

PM_me_your_math 4y ago

In the early days, Reddit was touted as a free speech platform (sound familiar?) yet it was always designed to be an echo chamber, and changes to the product up to this point have only ever served that end. The mechanics of upvote/downvote, in collaboration with activist admins & moderators, ensures that comments which oppose the current group think are hidden, while comments that re-enforce the group-think (even if it is plainly false) are elevated and treated as canon. The result is that opposing view points are drowned out and then stop all together when those with opposing view points realize the futility. To the outside observer, it would appear that the group think is the real world, when in reality, it is not. This is by design and it is not accidental. Given the politics of reddit staff (which closely match twitter staff) one can see the common thread among these companies and why so many people believe the gaming is by design (because it is.) Reddit is an unmitigated cesspool of mostly 20-somethings who have accomplished very little, but seemingly know everything. It is one giant cluster-** of propaganda save for a handful of subreddits that are actually sane places with great ideas and content.

ohCh6zos 4y ago
To add to that Reddit has a huge problem with brigading subreddits who go out and make sure others can’t talk in peace.