The Popularity Of Reddit

Straight Talker · 08-01-2025 06:23PM #1

It seems to have replaced the more traditional style discussion forums like this one with a lot of people. Of course this place was better before the site redesign but i still think it's better than Reddit Ireland and other similar sort of subreddits. Forced groupthink seems to be a big thing there as well.

On this site it's possible to have a discussion with someone, on Reddit if you voice an opinion that goes against the grain you get downvoted to oblivion and the comment get's hidden from view. It's hard for actual debate to be a thing when people can hide whatever opinions they disagree with. Are people like me who prefer the older style discussion boards a minority now i wonder?

08-01-2025 07:28PM

Is that how it works? Total echo chamber!

The format here seems the fairest style for discussion.

I do read Reddit for info, e.g. r/unresolvedmysteries, but I've never been involved in a discussion there. And won't be by the looks of it.

Damien360 · 08-01-2025 07:38PM

Moderation is not as extreme on Reddit as it is here. Down voting is a sort of moderation but at least differing opinions are allowed to be voiced without ending up with consensus as we have here.

But the discussion on Reddit can go sideways with humour very quickly and the real question can get lost. Some more technical discussions don't have that issue but it's a problem on the Ireland sub.

This place has lost critical mass of people to make it effective and that's down to shocking site stability for a very long time since the "upgrade" and the moderation.

Straight Talker · 08-01-2025 07:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123034484#Comment_123034484

Yeah once a comment gets enough downvotes it gets hidden from view. I do like reading Reddit as well but posting on it not so much!

mirrormatrix · 08-01-2025 07:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123034533#Comment_123034533

Thats a feature, not a bug, id say. Someone asks a question about how to plaster a wall for example. Who wants to read through pages of posts to find an answer when you can just get it at the top of page one?

Guess it depends what you want to use a forum for.

08-01-2025 07:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123034559#Comment_123034559

Well yeah that's fine because it's just information but it's a different story for discussion. Not much point in a discussion if only the most popular posts are the most visible ones.

dxhound2005 · 08-01-2025 08:17PM

It's not great.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058332314/reddit-its-not-great-is-it/p1

archfi · 08-01-2025 08:28PM

Reddit is not a place for political or societal discussion whatosever due to it's insanely leftist moderation. And when I say insane, I mean the people modding are mostly INSANE.

For techstuff/problems it is a goldmine of info but even that can be a no-no to discuss when say a Linux distro or foundation brings out some incomprehensible DEI policy or 'code of conduct'

Even my favourite comedy podcast's subreddit went the same way once the podcast exploded in popularity - from new 'members' not liking comedy. That happens a lot, a popular subreddit of a popular show or figure or just a subject gets invaded by people who then take it over and absolutely ruin it (mods and posters)

This place is a kind of little heaven compared to there!

Straight Talker · 08-01-2025 08:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123034666#Comment_123034666

I would have to agree with all of what the op said in that thread.

pjohnson · 08-01-2025 08:32PM

It actually works on a basic level and allows some degree of reading posts.

Unlike the elastic slingshotty post sticking mess of here.

yankinlk · 08-01-2025 09:02PM

I consider myself an expert in a product at my job. I joined the reddit channel for that product. I disagreed with someone on a technical answer and i was banned for life. The channel is not owned or controlled by anyone from the company that makes that product.

I use reddit for info but yeah i wouldnt use it for discussion nor trust ALL the info promoted there.

mirrormatrix · 08-01-2025 10:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123034581#Comment_123034581

Like I said, it's about what your expectation is from a forum. Generally speaking, I've no interest in discussing things with people from the internet that I don't know. But obviously you have a different perspective, which is totally fine too!

BorsukBroCsNake · 09-01-2025 12:50AM

I find it good for answering a question about something specific. Also can be good to ask locals about something but be careful your not asking a common question.

Where you run into issues is when you share an opinion that goes against the grain then the pile on starts, so it's rubbish for discussion the crowd will downvote you into oblivion but on the flip side moderation is lax so you can have a lot of fun picking fights with idiots but sure that gets tired quickly.

Pros are its very active

Cons are most posters are kernts

kneemos · 09-01-2025 06:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123034533#Comment_123034533

You can change that in the settings. The default is for old posts to disappear.

The Popularity Of Reddit

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