6 ms·

> If the blackout is only for two days then they're right Yeah... I don't know the tradeoffs at play but 2 days is... extremely insignificant / probably a bad

> If the blackout is only for two days then they're right Yeah... I don't know the tradeoffs at play but 2 days is... extremely insignificant / probably a bad decision by all of the moderators? It sends a message sure but, it's a bunch of "whiny reddit mods" versus C-level executives in a "help us make API more affordable versus help us not lose a ton of money offering generous free API hosting/usage" negotiation. How does the CEO + team not just ignore this two day spat? They are in the business of making money. Why should they foot the bill for the API calls? So they have to crack down on some 3rd party apps we all took for granted and kill a few apps off. Sucks but at the end of the day, will it really matter in 6 months? Now, blackout for a week or two weeks to really hurt their ad revenue traffic, sure But 2 days?... lol

nequo 3y ago
What the 2 day blackout does is it nudges people to explore alternatives. With this, Reddit management has lowered the barriers to exit. When the next boycott comes, migration for many subreddits will be easier.
- MuffinFlavored 3y ago
  > What the 2 day blackout does is it nudges people to explore alternatives I don't think 2 days is significant enough for that slash I don't think an alternative to reddit exists given the fact that it has millions of users and millions of different niche subreddits
- jamcrimer 3y ago
  but we're already commenting on the only good reddit alternative... :)
  - MuffinFlavored 3y ago
    You won't be talking about stocks or NBA / NFL / NHL on HackerNews (for good reason :))
    - wesapien 3y ago
      For my hobbies (vinyl, headphones, audio gear, android), the forums are still the superior way to interact with other hobbyists. Some of these forums have been around since early 2000s are still around and very active.
  - gestatingAI 3y ago
    Correct. I’m here because of the blackout and find it a refreshing change
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  - lambo4bkfast 3y ago
    Fingers crossed braindead redditors don't migrate here and ruin this space.
- InitialLastName 3y ago
  What alternate website can I tack onto a search to get an actual human's answer to a question that is otherwise only served by blogspam?
  - Halfwhit 3y ago
    StackOverflow?
    - InitialLastName 3y ago
      That works for a certain class of problem, but if I have a question about woodworking, home repairs, personal finance, a video game, or a bit of geography, it's not so comprehensive.
      - zymhan 3y ago
        https://woodworking.stackexchange.com/ https://woodworking.stackexchange.com/ https://diy.stackexchange.com/ https://diy.stackexchange.com/ https://money.stackexchange.com/ https://money.stackexchange.com/ https://gaming.stackexchange.com/ https://gaming.stackexchange.com/ https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/ https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/
        aerio 3y ago
        Perfection
- cameronfraser 3y ago
  no it doesn't, I have barely even noticed there is a blackout because there is plenty of content from non blacked out subs. The only thing I've noticed is when I try to visit subreddits I like some of them are blacked out. A 2 day blackout does literally nothing, just virtue signaling
  - brainwave92 3y ago
    Exactly. I said the same on reddit and got downvoted (not that it matters, but indicates the mindset of people downvoting). They really thing virtue signalling is sufficient and impactful lol. 48 hours means nothing.
    - gremlinsinc 3y ago
      It's not 48 hours though. /r/AskHistorians has gone permananently dark, or protected. Existing content/comments will remain, but only as an archive.
      - cameronfraser 3y ago
        No they didn't, https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/ https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/
- lawn 3y ago
  > When the next boycott comes, migration for many subreddits will be easier. Which will be when all the third party apps stops working and people realize what hot garbage the official app is.
- wlonkly 3y ago
  It also demonstrates to Reddit management that the moderators are capable of a coordinated action.
throitallaway 3y ago
> Why should they foot the bill for the API calls? So they have to crack down on some 3rd party apps we all took for granted and kill a few apps off. Sucks but at the end of the day, will it really matter in 6 months? This would be all fine and well if their official app weren't garbage. They do everything in their power to push you to the mobile app, but they seemingly haven't improved it since its inception.
- MuffinFlavored 3y ago
  > This would be all fine and well if their official app weren't garbage It's not garbage. I've used it for years. It's fine. Try not being dramatic online / feeding into the narrative that so and so app is garbage or not / parroting other things people say / being picky.
  - pritambaral 3y ago
    It is garbage. I've tried many times. Every time, my disappointment with the experience mirrored many of the complaints others have with it. It may have been a "fine" experience for you, but that does not give you the right to attack ad-hominem others who did not have the same experience. If you want to attack their position, attack their arguments. Show us how the official app is at least barely usable. Or how navigation and search aren't like children's toys. Or how the iOS app actually got better instead of worse after Reddit Inc. bought it. Or how the Android app got any of the features the iOS app deigned to retain post-acquisition. Or how the YouTube-esque ad-pushing makes for a good UX. Or how comment scores and user karma aren't totally infuriating to look for. If you can't argue on merits, you cannot participate in discussions of any kind except primary school 'no u'.
  - InitialLastName 3y ago
    In the Android app, audio in GIFs (that have audio in the target link) have only infrequently worked for years.
  - brainwave92 3y ago
    I installed it today and uninstalled it. I also used 2 days a few years back, it was garbage so I deleted. Did that again today. It's not hyperbole to say the app is garbage.
ComodoHacker 3y ago
> they have to crack down on some 3rd party apps we all took for granted and kill a few apps off I believe they aim for selling API access to AI companies, for (re)training data. Third party apps are just taking collateral damage.
- gremlinsinc 3y ago
  If that were the case, they could offer exclusive deals to existing mobile apps that are NOT using it for AI/data-scraping. Reddit is also financed by the same VC's that finance OpenAI, do you honestly think they didn't know what was going on? They knew, this is not just about AI Companies, this is about control, and honestly maybe some Elon Musk fan-boyism by Steve Huffman.
danaris 3y ago
2 days shows Reddit that the mods can organize. It's a warning shot. Now, you can't entirely extrapolate from there to an indefinite blackout, but statements like this from the CEO seem like one of the best ways to make it more likely—especially given the average orneriness level of the stereotypical Redditor.
Kazrath 3y ago
>Why should they foot the bill for the API calls? You have a serious misunderstanding of how this works. They are footing the bill for API calls regardless. All reddit access by users is to external public facing API's. We are not on their internal network. They MUST have accessible servers + data costs. In all honesty the 3rd parties are probably more efficient as they are a lot less bloated which means LESS costs.
- cykros 3y ago
  I'm just waiting to see third party apps that, in lieu of API access, work by scraping the website, and are a LOT heavier on the servers. A major selling point of API's is to lighten the load.
  - aequitas 3y ago
    These apps will then also be a lot heavier on the phone’s battery and the users patience. So I doubt they will retain the experience the users are accustomed to.
    - gremlinsinc 3y ago
      Not really, all you need is a server that does all the scraping using cron jobs/etc and creates a reddit api backend service that pushes up new content when new content is added. In this way all that extra load would be via some server on digital ocean or even serverless functions.
      - renata 3y ago
        You could maybe even get away with the 100 calls/minute free tier if you were doing it that way. The problem is that the user can't vote, submit, comment, or check anything personalized then, which really limits the value of the third-party app anyway.
        tedmiston 3y ago
favorited 3y ago
> They are in the business of making money. Sounds like they're pretty bad at it, then. 4 days ago, their CEO claimed that Reddit is not profitable. https://www.reddit.com/r/reddit/comments/145bram/addressing_the_community_about_changes_to_our_api/jnkd09c/ https://www.reddit.com/r/reddit/comments/145bram/addressing_...
- Atotalnoob 3y ago
  Cause he 10x'd their headcount. If he kept headcount low like craigslist, wikipedia, etc. They would probably be profitable
  - ink_13 3y ago
    Minorly profitable, though, not "giant IPO" profitable. Reddit has investors who clearly want their money back with a nice return on top.
bitshiftfaced 3y ago
I'm not saying anyone planned it this way, but it's no surprise to see this particular length of time. You can't accuse the mod of failing care since they did participate. But then again, pushing it much longer poses the risk that the mod loses their subreddit to a new volunteer when Reddit inevitably forces the subreddit open again.

nequo 3y ago

What the 2 day blackout does is it nudges people to explore alternatives. With this, Reddit management has lowered the barriers to exit. When the next boycott comes, migration for many subreddits will be easier.

MuffinFlavored 3y ago
> What the 2 day blackout does is it nudges people to explore alternatives I don't think 2 days is significant enough for that slash I don't think an alternative to reddit exists given the fact that it has millions of users and millions of different niche subreddits
jamcrimer 3y ago
but we're already commenting on the only good reddit alternative... :)
- MuffinFlavored 3y ago
  You won't be talking about stocks or NBA / NFL / NHL on HackerNews (for good reason :))
  - wesapien 3y ago
    For my hobbies (vinyl, headphones, audio gear, android), the forums are still the superior way to interact with other hobbyists. Some of these forums have been around since early 2000s are still around and very active.
- gestatingAI 3y ago
  Correct. I’m here because of the blackout and find it a refreshing change
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- lambo4bkfast 3y ago
  Fingers crossed braindead redditors don't migrate here and ruin this space.
InitialLastName 3y ago
What alternate website can I tack onto a search to get an actual human's answer to a question that is otherwise only served by blogspam?
- Halfwhit 3y ago
  StackOverflow?
  - InitialLastName 3y ago
    That works for a certain class of problem, but if I have a question about woodworking, home repairs, personal finance, a video game, or a bit of geography, it's not so comprehensive.
    - zymhan 3y ago
      https://woodworking.stackexchange.com/ https://woodworking.stackexchange.com/ https://diy.stackexchange.com/ https://diy.stackexchange.com/ https://money.stackexchange.com/ https://money.stackexchange.com/ https://gaming.stackexchange.com/ https://gaming.stackexchange.com/ https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/ https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/
      - aerio 3y ago
        Perfection
cameronfraser 3y ago
no it doesn't, I have barely even noticed there is a blackout because there is plenty of content from non blacked out subs. The only thing I've noticed is when I try to visit subreddits I like some of them are blacked out. A 2 day blackout does literally nothing, just virtue signaling
- brainwave92 3y ago
  Exactly. I said the same on reddit and got downvoted (not that it matters, but indicates the mindset of people downvoting). They really thing virtue signalling is sufficient and impactful lol. 48 hours means nothing.
  - gremlinsinc 3y ago
    It's not 48 hours though. /r/AskHistorians has gone permananently dark, or protected. Existing content/comments will remain, but only as an archive.
    - cameronfraser 3y ago
      No they didn't, https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/ https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/
lawn 3y ago
> When the next boycott comes, migration for many subreddits will be easier. Which will be when all the third party apps stops working and people realize what hot garbage the official app is.
wlonkly 3y ago
It also demonstrates to Reddit management that the moderators are capable of a coordinated action.

throitallaway 3y ago

> Why should they foot the bill for the API calls? So they have to crack down on some 3rd party apps we all took for granted and kill a few apps off. Sucks but at the end of the day, will it really matter in 6 months? This would be all fine and well if their official app weren't garbage. They do everything in their power to push you to the mobile app, but they seemingly haven't improved it since its inception.

MuffinFlavored 3y ago
> This would be all fine and well if their official app weren't garbage It's not garbage. I've used it for years. It's fine. Try not being dramatic online / feeding into the narrative that so and so app is garbage or not / parroting other things people say / being picky.
- pritambaral 3y ago
  It is garbage. I've tried many times. Every time, my disappointment with the experience mirrored many of the complaints others have with it. It may have been a "fine" experience for you, but that does not give you the right to attack ad-hominem others who did not have the same experience. If you want to attack their position, attack their arguments. Show us how the official app is at least barely usable. Or how navigation and search aren't like children's toys. Or how the iOS app actually got better instead of worse after Reddit Inc. bought it. Or how the Android app got any of the features the iOS app deigned to retain post-acquisition. Or how the YouTube-esque ad-pushing makes for a good UX. Or how comment scores and user karma aren't totally infuriating to look for. If you can't argue on merits, you cannot participate in discussions of any kind except primary school 'no u'.
- InitialLastName 3y ago
  In the Android app, audio in GIFs (that have audio in the target link) have only infrequently worked for years.
- brainwave92 3y ago
  I installed it today and uninstalled it. I also used 2 days a few years back, it was garbage so I deleted. Did that again today. It's not hyperbole to say the app is garbage.

ComodoHacker 3y ago

> they have to crack down on some 3rd party apps we all took for granted and kill a few apps off I believe they aim for selling API access to AI companies, for (re)training data. Third party apps are just taking collateral damage.

gremlinsinc 3y ago
If that were the case, they could offer exclusive deals to existing mobile apps that are NOT using it for AI/data-scraping. Reddit is also financed by the same VC's that finance OpenAI, do you honestly think they didn't know what was going on? They knew, this is not just about AI Companies, this is about control, and honestly maybe some Elon Musk fan-boyism by Steve Huffman.

danaris 3y ago

2 days shows Reddit that the mods can organize. It's a warning shot. Now, you can't entirely extrapolate from there to an indefinite blackout, but statements like this from the CEO seem like one of the best ways to make it more likely—especially given the average orneriness level of the stereotypical Redditor.

Kazrath 3y ago

>Why should they foot the bill for the API calls? You have a serious misunderstanding of how this works. They are footing the bill for API calls regardless. All reddit access by users is to external public facing API's. We are not on their internal network. They MUST have accessible servers + data costs. In all honesty the 3rd parties are probably more efficient as they are a lot less bloated which means LESS costs.

cykros 3y ago
I'm just waiting to see third party apps that, in lieu of API access, work by scraping the website, and are a LOT heavier on the servers. A major selling point of API's is to lighten the load.
- aequitas 3y ago
  These apps will then also be a lot heavier on the phone’s battery and the users patience. So I doubt they will retain the experience the users are accustomed to.
  - gremlinsinc 3y ago
    Not really, all you need is a server that does all the scraping using cron jobs/etc and creates a reddit api backend service that pushes up new content when new content is added. In this way all that extra load would be via some server on digital ocean or even serverless functions.
    - renata 3y ago
      You could maybe even get away with the 100 calls/minute free tier if you were doing it that way. The problem is that the user can't vote, submit, comment, or check anything personalized then, which really limits the value of the third-party app anyway.
      - tedmiston 3y ago

favorited 3y ago

> They are in the business of making money. Sounds like they're pretty bad at it, then. 4 days ago, their CEO claimed that Reddit is not profitable. https://www.reddit.com/r/reddit/comments/145bram/addressing_the_community_about_changes_to_our_api/jnkd09c/ https://www.reddit.com/r/reddit/comments/145bram/addressing_...

Atotalnoob 3y ago
Cause he 10x'd their headcount. If he kept headcount low like craigslist, wikipedia, etc. They would probably be profitable
- ink_13 3y ago
  Minorly profitable, though, not "giant IPO" profitable. Reddit has investors who clearly want their money back with a nice return on top.

bitshiftfaced 3y ago

I'm not saying anyone planned it this way, but it's no surprise to see this particular length of time. You can't accuse the mod of failing care since they did participate. But then again, pushing it much longer poses the risk that the mod loses their subreddit to a new volunteer when Reddit inevitably forces the subreddit open again.