> Reddit created an internal clash by attempting to merge these polarizing groups
Isn't segmentation of audiences built in to Reddit in the form of subreddits?
Isn't segmentation of audiences built in to Reddit in the form of subreddits?
Different subreddits have different levels of quality and effort in the average post. But "group" != "audience". The culture trends on Reddit are site-wide, even if the subject matter of each sub varies wildly.
I THINK that what parent commentor is trying to say is that pre-Yahoo-Tumbler, Reddit culture was predominately male libertarian Ron Paul fans... while post-Yahoo-Tumbler, there was an influx of "purple hair" female social leftists. And that Reddit's culture has been somewhat fractured and at war with itself ever since.
I'm not sure that I accept this theory (I think simply has more to do with a continuous influx of newbies, and general youth culture shift over the past 15 years). But I do agree with the result, and the timeline happens to match up neatly.
People talking about reddit degrading reminds me of people talking about when music was the best; it was great when you weren't quite new but weren't quite jaded about it yet.