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If these communities then see a decline, then maybe that's a sign that Reddit was smart to pursue its free speech policy. As much as people get outraged by the

If these communities then see a decline, then maybe that's a sign that Reddit was smart to pursue its free speech policy. As much as people get outraged by the content, there is no doubting that Reddit has done well for itself due to its radically permissive policies up until now.

tptacek 11y ago
Has it? In the past 6 months it's been newsworthy primarily due to the worst parts of its community. That may impress a subset of message board nerds, but it probably doesn't do much for revenue.
- kelseydh 11y ago
  Don't confuse bad news with bad traffic or bad metrics. I'm willing to be Reddit has seen far more traffic benefits from their "scandals" than they may have ever lost due to "boycotts" of them allowing sometning on the site. I'm also willing to bet the so-called "pressure" from advertisers to appear more mainstream is far less of a financial threat for Reddit than people are making it out to be. This is particularly true when you consider that NSFW sub-reddits almost never make it to the front page, where the presence of offensive content could threaten traffic.
dragontamer 11y ago
All communities pursue free speech policies until some toxic truly is spewed forth that no one likes. /r/ShitRedditSays has really called into question exactly what "free speech" means. Its like "downvote brigades" are anything new these days. Does anybody remember "message board invasions"??? Its fine to say whatever you like, except you have no right to assemble a downvote brigade. Which is speech. You have complete free speech, except you aren't allowed to make /r/picsofdeadkids, /r/HurtingAnimals, or /r/rapingwomen. Even then, the Reddit owners are looking for a way to cut back on the downvote brigades, which really is the "invasion" problem that has always been eternal on these forums. There is _always_ a limit to free speech. And when a community figures out exactly what that limit is, then the "free speech" nutters leave. I dunno, maybe they'll leave for 8chan or some "more free" place. Whether or not that causes death for the site... its a question. The Gamefaqs LUEsers were neutered because of message board invasions, as well as the "shock sites" of Goatse and Tubgirl. Reddit is "free-er" and seems to be accepting of internet shock humor like Goatse and Tubgirl (As well as grossly / weirdly pornographic material like /r/clopclop). But there will be a day when the Reddit admins draw a line and say "No, you aren't allowed to talk about that here".

tptacek 11y ago

Has it? In the past 6 months it's been newsworthy primarily due to the worst parts of its community. That may impress a subset of message board nerds, but it probably doesn't do much for revenue.

kelseydh 11y ago
Don't confuse bad news with bad traffic or bad metrics. I'm willing to be Reddit has seen far more traffic benefits from their "scandals" than they may have ever lost due to "boycotts" of them allowing sometning on the site. I'm also willing to bet the so-called "pressure" from advertisers to appear more mainstream is far less of a financial threat for Reddit than people are making it out to be. This is particularly true when you consider that NSFW sub-reddits almost never make it to the front page, where the presence of offensive content could threaten traffic.

dragontamer 11y ago

All communities pursue free speech policies until some toxic truly is spewed forth that no one likes. /r/ShitRedditSays has really called into question exactly what "free speech" means. Its like "downvote brigades" are anything new these days. Does anybody remember "message board invasions"??? Its fine to say whatever you like, except you have no right to assemble a downvote brigade. Which is speech. You have complete free speech, except you aren't allowed to make /r/picsofdeadkids, /r/HurtingAnimals, or /r/rapingwomen. Even then, the Reddit owners are looking for a way to cut back on the downvote brigades, which really is the "invasion" problem that has always been eternal on these forums. There is _always_ a limit to free speech. And when a community figures out exactly what that limit is, then the "free speech" nutters leave. I dunno, maybe they'll leave for 8chan or some "more free" place. Whether or not that causes death for the site... its a question. The Gamefaqs LUEsers were neutered because of message board invasions, as well as the "shock sites" of Goatse and Tubgirl. Reddit is "free-er" and seems to be accepting of internet shock humor like Goatse and Tubgirl (As well as grossly / weirdly pornographic material like /r/clopclop). But there will be a day when the Reddit admins draw a line and say "No, you aren't allowed to talk about that here".