The Reddit Implosion

[s_stabeler]

um, I haven't heard anything like that- the issue was that several mods of large reddits got fustrated because thye didn't know who was going to co-ordinate AMAs. It because something of a storm in a teacup because quite a few subreddit mods have felt that the company isn't properly supporting mods for a while- or even not listening to the mods at all. When they were reassured that wasn't the case- or at least, not any more- they largely calmed down, and the subs that went private went public again.

[Gravekeeper]

um, I haven't heard anything like that- the issue was that several mods of large reddits got fustrated because thye didn't know who was going to co-ordinate AMAs. It because something of a storm in a teacup because quite a few subreddit mods have felt that the company isn't properly supporting mods for a while- or even not listening to the mods at all. When they were reassured that wasn't the case- or at least, not any more- they largely calmed down, and the subs that went private went public again.

Here is the terrible apology in question. Comes across as confusion and desperate band aid fixes. I wasn't paying any attention to the whole new CEO thing by and large, but it really does sound like Reddit's management is completely out of touch with its user base.

Also, yes, I know what the issue was. My first post indicates as such and you even linked the full details from Reddit itself. Though I caught the news on my blog feeds prior to this thread ( and have been keeping tabs on it there ).

[s_stabeler]

which is not in dispute- they ADMIT they have drifted out of touch. I'm not saying that they should be forgiven immediately, but that the admins of reddit should probably be given the benefit of the doubt that they are at least trying to get back in touch with the userbase. ( basically, don't write reddit off completely until we see if they are actually going to do anything longer-term)

after all, many of the problems cannot be fixed in a couple of days- to create new moderator tools, for example, would take MONTHS, including testing.

and Gravekeeper, i was talking about the_std's post about big names being allowed to pay for more visibility in AMAs.

[Gravekeeper]

after all, many of the problems cannot be fixed in a couple of days- to create new moderator tools, for example, would take MONTHS, including testing.

From what I understand the moderator tools has been a problem for years and the new search function was completely and utterly universally reviled but they kept it anyway. They're also still mum on why they imploded AMA in the first place.

The problems can't be fixed in a couple of days, sure, but they've been festering for years it seems and they don't seem to have much of a clue how to go forward fixing it.

and Gravekeeper, i was talking about the_std's post about big names being allowed to pay for more visibility in AMAs.

Ah, okay, sorry. Wasn't any quote in it.

[s_stabeler]

they're mum about why they imploded AMA because it was them firing an employee- it's standard procedure not to talk abut why an employee was fired in many companies. (their only actual error in the AMA debacle was not having someone available to replace the fired employee- something a LOT of employers get wrong.)

as for the search, there is an option to use the old search page- check your preferences under display options and you'll see "show legacy search page"- which is a fairly good way of dealing with it, to be honest.

[Rageaholic]

This is when the court of public opinion can be used for some good. Though I'm not sure how effective it would be. Youtube still hasn't changed their google plus requirements even though it's clear most people hated the change. I'd like to think that everyone's dissatifaction would clue these people in.

[TheHuckster]

This is when the court of public opinion can be used for some good. Though I'm not sure how effective it would be. Youtube still hasn't changed their google plus requirements even though it's clear most people hated the change. I'd like to think that everyone's dissatifaction would clue these people in.

If there was a mass exodus of people removing their videos and accounts, then yeah, Google would respond. They aren't going to respond to people who are still giving them revenue but are merely making a big stink about one of their policies.

[Andara Bledin]

Talk's cheap.

Until people put their money where their mouth is, the people they bitch about aren't going to do a damned thing.

[Rageaholic]

It looks like there's been a shutdown

The moderators have shut down AMA for 24 hours in protest of the firing of Taylor. One thing I find interesting is that these moderators work for free as volunteers. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Also, an employee who was recovering from Leukemia was fired by this bitch. This guy was willing to move to San Francisco because she made some idiotic policy that forced all workers to work there. Never mind that this is the age of the internet, in which people can work anywhere.

The more I read about this Pao bitch, the more I dislike her. People like her need to be fired... out of a cannon!

[Andara Bledin]

The guy with leukemia? He was kept on at full salary for three years before being let got and they're picking up the tab for his medical bills for another full year. He's manged about maybe one year of work that entire time.

Yeah, what a bitch for firing someone who not only couldn't work for them, but hadn't for over a year and who also has no idea when his doctor will clear him to work (he may be in recovery, but he's not allowed to be put to work, either).

That we could all be treated so poorly...

[the_std]

Also, an employee who was recovering from Leukemia was fired by this bitch. [/snip] The more I read about this Pao bitch, the more I dislike her. People like her need to be fired... out of a cannon!

Is it really necessary to call her a bitch? Twice? I am definitely not a fan of the way things are going under her guidance, but that's another indication of subtle sexism making its way into conversation. She's making unpopular decisions and using some forceful tactics, and instead of any number of gender-neutral insults, she's a bitch? This has been a common theme with Reddit complaining about her - attacking her gender as part of this whole debacle, and I'm bloody sick of it.

Another thing I've learned in my research of this situation is that Ellen Pao was brought in specifically to be an interim CEO. That's a common tactic when your company needs to make some hard choices that won't prove to be popular with anyone, because this person will come in, do the damage, then leave, hopefully taking a part of the negativity with them. So of course she is going to do the hard shit and take the rap for it. It's not about her, it's the company as a whole doing stupid, stupid stuff.

[TheHuckster]

The moderators have shut down AMA for 24 hours in protest of the firing of Taylor. One thing I find interesting is that these moderators work for free as volunteers. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't these moderators people who administer and manage their own subreddits? If so, then they aren't employees, but users of Reddit just as anyone are. It would be like if I were to be expected to be paid by Yahoo because I run my own group there, or paid by Facebook for moderating my own Facebook group/page.

[Andara Bledin]

Is it really necessary to call her a bitch? Twice? I am definitely not a fan of the way things are going under her guidance, but that's another indication of subtle sexism making its way into conversation.

This is pretty much SOP for any discussion that includes Pao. The drivers of most of it are rabidly sexist, and thus the discussion tends to be heavily tainted by their views.

I imagine part of the reason Reddit went with her was that they knew the baggage they were getting and planned on letting her take the fall for things that they felt were necessary but that the user base would throw a wobbly over because of how many people are willing to blame her for everything she's even remotely associated with regardless of it's validity just because they don't like what they've heard about her.

[the_std]

This is pretty much SOP for any discussion that includes Pao. The drivers of most of it are rabidly sexist, and thus the discussion tends to be heavily tainted by their views.

Oh yeah, I've seen this all over the place on Reddit. I've abandoned ship there due to a lot of reasons, but one of the main was that people who supported my view of Reddit making bad decisions were also the ones spewing vile sexism, and it became difficult to find anyone not slandering her gender as well as denouncing Reddit.

Of course it's a vocal and anonymous minority, but I have to say that I expected better of Fratching.

[Rageaholic]

The guy with leukemia? He was kept on at full salary for three years before being let got and they're picking up the tab for his medical bills for another full year. He's manged about maybe one year of work that entire time.

Yeah, what a bitch for firing someone who not only couldn't work for them, but hadn't for over a year and who also has no idea when his doctor will clear him to work (he may be in recovery, but he's not allowed to be put to work, either).

That we could all be treated so poorly...

But it sounded like he was ready to go back to work (unless I read it wrong).

Even if I am wrong, she still screwed over people who worked in anywhere other than San Francisco.

And as for the sexism thing, Seriously? I know how vile the MRAs can be coughgamergatecough, but they do a lot worse than call one unpleasant woman a bitch. By that same logic, anyone who calls someone a bastard is a man hater.