Reddit is shutting itself down due to controversial firing

redpillschool · 2015-07-03T13:18:40+00:00

Since people have been pestering me for the official mod stance on this, here it is.

First of all, no we're not going dark. It's reddit politics/drama, and I don't really care to join them in the drama.

Secondly, if anybody on reddit cared about my gripes with the admin, I'll post them publicly so if somebody really wanted to fix what's wrong with reddit, they'd move away from the pretend issue that's happening, and push the admin on the real issue: censorship and mystery. Of course, their position on this is unlikely an accident, and I believe the grey area in which we operate is entirely on purpose to make it easy to dispose of communities they don't like if need be. (But yeah, if you wanted to solve the biggest threat to reddit, it's this)

It's well understood by our moderation team that we exist purely at the whim and mercy of the admin and that we must mind-read to understand what guidelines must be followed. There is no comprehensive rule book for mods- and more importantly, there's no set of rules to let us know how or what to follow to avoid being shut down like other subs.

The admin have had very little actual contact with us, beyond the random subreddit shut downs and dramas that take place here and there where we, as mods, have to decide what details to take from these events to apply to our own policy, lest we suffer the same consequences.

I have reached out more than once to the admin asking them about their opinion on certain policies or which rules we could follow to keep us in their good graces. I have never once received more than a few-word answer from them, which is usually along the lines of "just follow the reddit rules, it's that easy." Nothing could be more vague.

We're pretty sure there's an anti-brigading rule on reddit, but we've got no clue what it means, how it's applied, how we could possibly prevent it with our tools (we have little in the way of mod tools), and whether or not a user who happens to be a regular subscriber is considered "brigading" if they follow a link to get there.

If this reminded you of anything, like, say, how our ancestors used to try to read astronomical events and natural disasters to determine whether the gods above were angry with them... well, you'd be spot on. Because at the end of the day, no matter how careful we try to be, there isn't really a good rule set to know if we are even following the rules, let alone whether we're enforcing the right ones.

We take a conservative approach to modding, trying to mostly keep to ourselves and not stir the pot, and that seems to be doing the trick for now.

But if the rest of reddit really wanted to make a difference that would actually protect their interests, they would concentrate not on something stupid and small like IAMA mods having trouble doing their jobs, but instead something that threatens every single sub on the site: the creeping censorship that looms in the background, and the nebulous rule of Ellen Pao that threatens the very userbase as it stands today.

Most people don't consider it a problem because most subs are not controversial. We happen to be on the edge of acceptable which puts is in the cross hairs. But if any of these liberal idiots had even an ounce of smarts, they'd realize that when you nuke the fringe, you don't sanitize the site, you just make new fringes. Today we're in the cross-hairs, but it's anybody's guess what future admin find unpalatable when we're not around to draw the fire.

I'm sure Victoria was a nice girl, and this event may very well be the catalyst of change, but the admin will placate the masses soon enough with some small token gesture like re-hiring victoria, or a new mod tool, or a written explanation that doesn't tell much.

And no changes will be made that actually affect the disease that is eating reddit.

Mark my words.

Drenmar · 2015-07-03T13:13:18+00:00

I always thought TRP will get deleted but it seems more likely now that it will die together with all of Reddit.

London-Bananas · 2015-07-03T16:11:02+00:00

In another thread there was a mod or admin (don't remember) who said Pao kicked Victoria to the curb because she didn't agree with radical (monetization) changes in the AmA style. This included doing video AmAs ($$$$$ + easier brigading).

This is also in line with the banning of FPH. If you want to make serious bucks, you can't have hate against 30-40% of the population reaching your front page, or you might find yourself with tentacle grape juice advertisements.

throwaway1643 · 2015-07-03T12:58:11+00:00

What's interesting is that before Pao married her husband (who's accused of civil fraud, and filed a racial discrimination lawsuit which he lost, similar to Pao's failed lawsuit), he was in an openly gay long-term relationship for 10 years.

You can't make this stuff up.

derpmikeyt · 2015-07-03T22:40:41+00:00

-( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)╯╲___卐卐卐卐 Don't mind me just taking my admins for a walk

4_YRT · 2015-07-03T18:56:44+00:00

After Chairman Pao destroys Reddit, what will she replace it with? The answer is "nothing." Chairman Pao is a feminist. Feminists only know how to do one thing: destroy; they don't know how to create or innovate.

colucci · 2015-07-03T15:48:01+00:00

Let's put TRP and Pao-hate aside, and take some notes on how not to run a company.

HS-Thompson · 2015-07-03T19:01:01+00:00

I've been involved in Internet communities since they were all green text on a black background. They are all expendable and they all come and go naturally, and one constant is that people make way too big a deal out of it when they do.

OneInAZillion · 2015-07-03T17:48:26+00:00

I'm so fucking tired of this "everyone has to conform to political correctness" agenda.

My IP address got banned from r/funny for the following:

There was a picture of a woman hunched over the toilet puking (because she's pregnant) and a man close by in a chair with his head in his hands, seemingly devistated that his wife is pregnant (and a small child holding a jar of Preggo (so we all understand the context)), and I commented:

"Oh I get it, the woman is pregnant and the man has his head in his hands indicating that he is not happy about it. Hardy har har". (Because "jokes" like this have been beaten to death).

My comment ended up getting around 10 or so upvotes from people clearly feeling the same as me but I still ended up getting banned from r/funny without even an email to explain which "rule" I violated. I logged out and tried to see if I could get into r/funny that way but no dice.

Well done mods.

jimmybrite · 2015-07-03T13:00:21+00:00

You left out the theory of Victoria's dissent.

JanLul · 2015-07-03T12:59:58+00:00

This will blow over soon enough. IAMA will change back pretty soon and the stream of people joining 'VOAT' will be minimal. Even though a fair amount of people dislike Ellen Pao, things will not get bad enough for reddit to fold / implode.

The Red Pill sub will even stay here. There are no indications that the sub will be banned (as long as we keep to ourselves). Sign up for the mailing regardless. Fail safes are a good thing.

savedarticles · 2015-07-03T15:15:23+00:00

lol at everyone getting worked up over a fucking website. The community can reside anywhere. Reddit is just a host. Don't let this bother you to much. Go improve your lives. Leave reddit politics to the poor souls that have to deal with it(our mods)

[deleted] · 2015-07-03T16:14:25+00:00

Reddit is just a real life RPG for Social Justice Warriors sometimes

Hrodrik · 2015-07-03T19:59:37+00:00

Far left vision? Where are the reddit official "fight the TPP" stickied posts?

It's hard to believe that a website actively censoring TPP related content is far left.

So, will people here so fucking lumping SJWs and feminists together with the rest of the left wing?

bexpert · 2015-07-04T00:27:12+00:00

I, for one, will be happy to see Reddit dissolve. It is a vile cesspool of low quality content and low quality users.

That being said, it has formed a useful community for TheRedPill (and certain other small sub-communities) simply due to its format.

I wish the owners of Puearchy would at least add a simple forum so we can continue TRP discussions and posts over there. As it is, there is no forum on the web dedicated to TRP besides this subreddit. If Puearchy won't implement a TRP forum then someone else should.

topredhat · 2015-07-03T13:04:07+00:00

To make it worse, she doesn't even know how to use reddit. This ladys a joke lol.

Edit - It's not like making your sub private is going change anything. Reddit likes to feel they doing something righteous then later change their mind and want everything back how it was before.

I_Am_My_Own_God · 2015-07-03T13:40:42+00:00

Pao's feefees were hurt. So someone's head must role regardless of larger impact. This is completely in line with what we've all learned from this godsend of a sub.

misergabby · 2015-07-03T19:50:53+00:00

It's digg.com all over again

WAFC · 2015-07-03T13:13:28+00:00

Got my tinfoil hat on this morning.

I don't buy it. For a month or so now reddit has been losing parts of its userbase over censorship issues. Now the mods are angry with the administration over similar issues. Subs like KotakuInAction and the like are already blowing up over this. People are picking sides....but the fight is reddit vs. reddit, and admins vs. mods (where aggrieved users pick sides and reddit can control both sides of the narrative) is a great tactic to stem the tide.

The longer it goes on the more convinced I will be, but for now I'm skeptical.

majorasmaskfan · 2015-07-03T16:00:18+00:00

how is a rich capitalist ceo a radical feminist?

thefisherman1961 · 2015-07-03T15:24:23+00:00

Apparently firing Victoria Taylor is part of Ellen Pao's radical left-wing "feminism" empowering women

libertypole · 2015-07-03T17:05:37+00:00

unless i've missed something, the reasons for her being fired are all speculation.

this boycott seems like one of those useless rallies where everyone gets to make their cute sign and feel all important and self-righteous. then some news person asks the protestors what they are protesting and it's clear they have no idea what the fuck they're doing. why get involved when you don't even know what you're crusading for? this victoria person deserved it for all i know.

RiseAboveRuin · 2015-07-03T18:37:44+00:00

I think the admins will just ignore it and reddit will resume usual in 2 weeks and forget all about it. Just like Fatpeoplehate.

bryanlharris · 2015-07-03T19:26:51+00:00

As long as people still use the site Pao can't shut it down or destroy it or whatever. All she can do is make decisions/policies and make money for the company she's the CEO of. I don't understand why these concepts are so confusing to so many people.

reelsies · 2015-07-03T21:01:34+00:00

I hope that this event puts a large dent in reddit's usership, but even if it does, it will be for the wrong reasons.

Mods abuse their power regularly, so the whole fiasco just seems like an argument of power between the powerful/corrupt and the even more powerful/corrupt.

And reddit users just follow along because they're sheep, and will support anything edgy as long as it has a veneer of legitimacy and enough popularity behind it.

trpSenator · 2015-07-03T22:08:52+00:00

Former coworkers of hers have referred to her as a drama queen. Claiming that she's the type of person that's ALWAYS in conflict with someone, wherever she goes. Other people who worked under her, have called her out of touch, and sociopathic.

Either way. Jesus Christ, talk about shitty leadership. This lady came to Reddit and has pissed off literally every subgroup. It's like she doesn't even understand the base here.

Darth_Sin · 2015-07-04T03:45:56+00:00

Emperor Paopatine :- "Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen."

JORGA · 2015-07-03T14:17:01+00:00

Wouldn't the greatest irony of all, be if TRP left reddit of its own volition, because of how shitty it (reddit) has become? Instead of being shutdown.

THAT would send a message. I'm not advocating it, because I'm used to it being here. But this is an interesting development.

PlayOnBirds · 2015-07-03T14:06:01+00:00

I always wanted to ask... what does "puearchy" mean and how do I actually say it? Poo-e-arky?

[deleted] · 2015-07-03T20:43:31+00:00

[permanently deleted]

[deleted] · 2015-07-03T17:34:22+00:00

Left bandwagon of political correctness is on! People will wear rainbow colors panties soon! New freedoms are about to come to existence.

Freedoms where nobody is offended because nobody is not even talking! Feminism and leftism are doing the only thing they know how to do - destroying.

Everything is going down. Straight male shaming is a thing and it will be just worse.

Save yourself and hold you pants - we are going to need it.

[deleted] · 2015-07-03T16:21:44+00:00

[permanently deleted]

Sir_Shitlord_focker · 2015-07-03T21:43:41+00:00

I'm confused but The Blue Pill is still up and open from what I can tell, so is iAmA.

aazav · 2015-07-03T22:22:45+00:00

Do we know for a fact that Ellen is responsible for OKing the firing or for ordering it?

Luckyluke23 · 2015-07-04T05:10:53+00:00

I dont even know who jessy jackson is and i dont even kno2 how his ama got stuffed up but anyway....

The way i see it. Fatpeoplehate was poking fun at fat people and we all know most feminists are fat. Our overloard couldnt have that now coyld see

Kind of feel like im in china or north korea right now....

4juice · 2015-07-04T08:52:55+00:00

I think this is what's called Queen Bee Syndrome

[deleted] · 2015-07-04T19:16:43+00:00

Sluthate.com also is a good alternative

Tom_The_Human · 2015-07-03T15:51:14+00:00

It really doesn't matter what is done because I think people are more angry that Victoria was fired suddenly without notice rather than Victoria being fired. So this whole protest solidarity bullshit is pretty much keyboard warrior 2.0 and once they get someone new and everything is under control then people will forget this ever happened and good day. Honestly, if people cared they would protest against the censorship and Chairman Pao's policies and it would have been done a long time ago.

I have an aversion to people like these mods who went dark because they think they are making a difference when really deep down inside they want to feel like they are a part of something and this is a part of something but this something will have no real impact except to get voat a few more converts. I'm just going to go on my day as usual and watch it will be as if nothing happened.

telePHONYacct · 2015-07-03T15:00:42+00:00

What happened in the Jesse Jackson AMA?? What was the 'bad' question???

cover20 · 2015-07-03T16:02:56+00:00

https://archive.is/jouWQ

is the actual JJ AMA, courtesy of a link from breitbart.com. He's even worse than I thought, the personification of all the leftwing big government ideas. Maybe he's getting senile, too obvious.

chillzwerg · 2015-07-03T19:55:02+00:00

I'm going to try to post this comment in any suitable thread.

"Let´s get all the Mods organized together, do a kickstarter, collect millions, start up worlds first user/internet-driven company, hire own admins, make the new reddit, the better reddit, a real redditocracy! Where people not only come together to inform each other on important issues, but to organise all kinds of needed solutions for different problems of the world! That´s my hope for all in this situation: evolving!"

alkyjason · 2015-07-03T17:15:43+00:00

Boo-fucking-hoo.

The only reason there is this level of unrest is because she is a female and apparently she was liked a lot by the community. So all the white-knight neckbeards are rallying in support.

Funny there wasn't this much outrage when FPH was banned but now, because it involves something that reddit generally likes, everyone is all butt-hurt.

[deleted] · 2015-07-03T16:59:25+00:00

So we should be spamming the creation of new subreddits with names similar to fatpeoplehate?

VictorEremitaK · 2015-07-03T19:11:39+00:00

This will be completely forgotten in less than a month.

elevul · 2015-07-03T20:50:29+00:00

This situation is very fun, and reminds me a lot of the beautiful fable "The scorpion and the frog".

The morons at the top of reddit tried to pander so much to the feminists, and now they are getting attacked by those same feminists they tried to mellow in the past.

BenchoteMankoManko · 2015-07-03T14:41:18+00:00

firing a prominent and well-loved administrator

Literally never heard of her in 3 years, she was no one of worth

SgtDowns · 2015-07-03T17:26:09+00:00

You remind me of the NRA always raising alarms about Obama taking away your guns. Stfu it has nothing to do with you. The fatpeoplehate site was shutdown because of personal info being leaked - you raised the alarm and said reddit would shut you down, they didn't. Now you are trying to make it about your subreddit again? Pathetic attempt to drive up us vs them mentality.

KaribouLouDied · 2015-07-03T16:02:35+00:00

I couldn't care less.

Title	Reddit is shutting itself down due to controversial firing
Author	rp_valiant
Upvotes	634
Comments	274
Date	July 3, 2015 10:24 AM UTC (8 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/TheRedPill
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/TheRedPill/comments/3bz9ag/reddit_is_shutting_itself_down_due_to/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/TheRedPill/reddit-is-shutting-itself-down-due-to.34310 https://theredarchive.com/post/34310