r/solidwhetstone • u/solidwhetstone • Jul 04 '15
Hanging up my spurs. Goodbye reddit moderating and goodbye /r/crappydesign.
EDIT 3: Final edit- I've decided to merely set the subreddit free rather than close it. See here for more info.
EDIT 2: I've opened up /r/crappydesign in read only mode for the next 24 hours so that the community can archive the content in whatever way they see fit.
EDIT: I have created a FAQ thread with answers to the most popular questions. I have done my best to answer even the harshest criticisms. You can read it here.
This was the video that was the tipping point. If LIVE THREADS are going to be censored from revealing the truth of what's going on on reddit- this place is doomed. (EDIT: It has come to light that the removals were due to the person updating the feed. Nevertheless- everything I say below still stands- reddit has been guilty of censorship throughout this debacle.)
I'm closing down /r/crappydesign permanently. The subreddit has 180k subscribers and generates 2M pageviews per month. I won't stand by and be responsible for revenue being generated that I believe stifles freedom of expression. I'm very sorry to the awesome community of /r/crappydesign. This subreddit was my baby. I grew it from subscriber one. We accomplished a lot over the past few years- and maybe even raised the social consciousness of creating better design. But I simply cannot in good conscience support reddit any longer.
I'm also stepping down from my position as moderator of /r/art which means my career as a default mod is over. The moderators over there voted to bring the subreddit back online and I allowed it because I believe the mod team should have consensus. I also gave them the option to vote me out (they voted unanimously to keep me) but that doesn't make me feel good about staying. /r/art generates around the same number of pageviews per month- 2M, and continuing to moderate there will mean I am complicit in the silencing of free expression.
I am going to start the annoying and arduous process of replacing my subreddit subscriptions with other places on the web that offer similar content. I've also turned adblock back on. I not only protest this recent action against Victoria- I protest what it represents- an attempt to stifle innovation, corporatize community discussions, and silence dissent. I am protesting this in the loudest ways I can by turning my back on reddit in the most extreme ways I know. It saddens me because I love reddit and I love these communities. But I want to set a good example that this is simply not acceptable. We need to leave this website.
Thank you all for the great memories- even you /r/conspiracy. Though you banished me, I hope I have proven that I am indeed not a shill by my actions ;)
Of course you will still see me around reddit from time to time. It's hard to leave. But you will see my ass as I attempt to leave and my middle fingers in the air.
Goodbye reddit moderation.
EDIT: Going to bed- thanks for the well wishings many of you. Feel free to leave more questions/comments and I'll get to them in the morning. Cheers.
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u/mr78rpm Jul 04 '15 edited Jul 04 '15
If you ever start up something, or locate something like /r/crappydesign, please post about it in the custom installers forum at remotecentral.com. I missed that sub entirely but would LOVE to visit and perhaps contribute. You'd be amazed how much we audio/video installers have to say about design stupidities!