I have been joking to a couple of friends today who were also redditors that I've been feeling withdrawals from reddit throughout the day. Like I knew I was addicted, I just never thought I was going to have to face the consequences of withdrawals!
But there's also a major part of me that's feeling a sense of loss. I had two reddit accounts that were 11+ years old. I used an app called Redact last night to totally expunge my comment and submission history, and I just was hit by so many emotions watching my old content turn to ashes.
Reddit is where I always spent my depression spirals, but it was also where I found hobbyist communities and group help support. I found sexual partners through reddit, and used to even moderate in my early days. It's where I used to keep up with a TON of current events but also read from so many diverse perspectives with expertise on topics.
As much as I am tentatively excited for the culture and community we can build on kbin, I truly am feeling the inconsequential reality of all that karma and browsing. Reddit felt like it was going to be immortal, but even the mighty fall.
Anyone else bummed??
I'm no longer in the sadness stage of grief, now I am angry. I have thought of all the stupid things they've done since I joined in 2018
First they made the awful new layout
Then they promised to implement css in new reddit, only to never do so
Then they introduced too many award variations, and made it so people could get them for free, removing what value the awards had.
Then they made customizable snoos, which while cute were uneccesary.
Then they introduced, barely advertised, then killed reddit cspan. Never heard of it? Can't blame you!
Then the introduced NFT avatars.
Then they did that awful april fools arg that was so hidden only a few did it and those who found the answer found it on discord. Also the answer was reddit was run on a literal potato which seems to be truer by the day.
Then they did this API shit.
During all that time where they could have introduced features that were useful to their app and fixing up the cruft with new reddit, they slaked off in order to increase profits. Only two features that were useful were ever introduced during 2018 - 2023: polls and gallery uploads. That's it.
So I am sad for the communities, but reddit itself? Nah.