[sroerick]

> But Reddit wasn't attacking corporatocracy or actual censorship.

Are you sure? I frankly saw much more of this than the other. I, of course, have a bias, but I think people were focused on censorship.

And you're right. Reddit doesn't owe anyone free speech. But with all due respect, that's the product that they developed. Crowdsourced content aggregation is a useful service, but it's one that is entirely dependent on having "free speech".

If corporations or government can shape the dialogue on a website like reddit, it fundamentally undermines the purpose of having a service that aggregates upvotes.

Reddit can control and censor all they want. But it will take them from having a unique product and niche to being another viral editorial board in a sea of crappy viral editorial boards.

People have the right to free speech. People have the right to be offended by things. And people have a right to leave a service when it stops existing as it once did.