[George83728]

> Considering the amount of media attention this has gotten from even mainstream sources including places like the BBC

Reddit moderators are uniquely privileged when it comes to making their opinions heard on reddit. The shuttering of subreddits is sensational and splashy enough to get media attention, but in itself says little about how most reddit users feel. A moderator revolt is like a strike of middle managers, revolting against upper management. They can lock the doors and keep all the common workers out, but that isn't evidence that the common workers have much investment in the strike. I think this whole thing probably follows the 90-9-1 rule; the 9 are mods and powerusers flipping out against the 1, while the 90 are probably oblivious or simply indifferent.

[ink_13]

Some subs held polls, and in every one that I saw, the strike was quite broadly popular. I think characterizing this as a few power mods throwing their toys out of the pram is unfair.

[heyheyhey]

> Some subs held polls, and in every one that I saw, the strike was quite broadly popular.

These polls have an insane selection bias though. The ones who feel strongly for the issue will be the ones commenting and voting.

It's why stickies/sidebars/etc. rarely work because most of the users simply don't care enough to view them.

[Goronmon]

These polls have an insane selection bias though.

Sure, but isn't it in the other direction? The users are most affected by the change are those using third-party apps, but you can't vote in polls in third-party apps.

[TremendousJudge]

what's your point? the users who care are the users who post the stuff that the others come to see. yeah the majority are lurkers, but they actually like the high quality content or they wouldn't be there. without the power users there's no site.

[davidgerard]

So you're saying... the participants in the polls were the people who write and manage the content?

[jordanpg]

Yes, but the "strike" is temporary, so there's no real sacrifice. That's the main reason I think this whole thing is silly.

Like any activism that actually accomplishes anything, it must be sustained and involve real sacrifice to work. This is just "raising awareness," which I guess it has done, but it's easy enough for Reddit to just batten down the hatches and wait for it to blow over, which it will.

It's no different than when you hear about A march planned for this or that cause.

[ink_13]

It's a first step. I agree that in the longer term it will be necessary for continuing action, but you start with a warning shot, not scorched earth.

[Sunspark]

I was amused to see yesterday that my comments the day previous that some, but not all, reddit mods are paid had been silently deleted. I didn't get a bot message, they were just.. gone.. So, the corporation is watching, or the mod that is a reddit employee in the sub deleted them.

I was also surprised to see yesterday that this same large sub I made them in was blacked out. Virtue-signalling? Throwing a bone to volunteer co-mods in the sub? Against the API changes? Who knows. Big mess now. Tech people don't like change, but when they get mad, wheels start turning.

[czx4f4bd]

Your comments disappeared because the sub went private. Reddit won't show any comments from private subs you aren't allowed to view, even comments that you made.

[Sunspark]

I didn't know that. Thanks for the info. This seems like bad coding design that one cannot see their own history as it is disappeared externally via the actions of a sub.

[mynameisvlad]

It's impossible to know for sure how the userbase feels, but the attention has certainly made the situation known to a whole lot more than 0.01% of users. And most of the closures come with a lengthy explanation exactly why it's important and generally have comments praising the action.

The vocal dissenters certainly seem to be in the minority.