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15 votes
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The rise of Reddit's megathreads
I originally posted this as a comment here but thought it might deserve it's own discussion. I think that the rise of megathreads/ultrathreads/collections of threads on reddit has been a large...
I originally posted this as a comment here but thought it might deserve it's own discussion.
I think that the rise of megathreads/ultrathreads/collections of threads on reddit has been a large detriment to the site.
I'm a mod for a few large subreddits that utilizes them (and I know a good portion of people reading Tildes right now are as well), and as time goes on I've started to dislike them more and more.
At first they were great - they seemed to silo off all the posts and noise that happened around an event, and made the lives of mods easier. Posts that should've been comments could now be removed, and the user could be pointed towards the megathread. Users could go back to the post and sort by new to see new posts, and know that they'd all have to do with that one topic.
I believe that this silo actually hurts the community, and especially the discussion around that original megathread, more than it helps. As modteams I think we underestimate the resilience of our communities, and their ability to put up with "noise" around an event.
The fact that we are in a subreddit dedicated to that cause should be silo enough - each post in that subreddit should be treated as an "atomic" piece of information, with the comments being branches. By relegating all conversation to a megathread we turn top level comments into that atomic piece of information, and subcomments into the branches.
But that's just a poor implementation of the original! There are some edge cases where this might make sense (take /r/politics, it wouldn't make sense to have 9 of the top 10 posts just be slightly reworded posts on the same issues), but I think this can be remedied by better duplication rules (consider all posts on a certain topic to be a repost, unless the new post has new or different information).
There is something to be said about the ability to generate a new, blank sheet of conversation with a post, that is not marred with previous information or anecdotes. New comments on a megathread post don't have that luxury, but new posts do.
Additionally, I feel like the way reddit originally conditioned us to view posts is to view them then not check them again (unless we interacted with someone in it or got a notification). This prevents potentially great (but late) content from gaining visibility, as a non-negligible portion of the population will still be browsing the subreddit, but will never click the post again.
24 votes -
The malicious use of artificial intelligence
5 votes -
Name a cool, mostly unknown feature of your OS of choice
Please
23 votes -
Firefox Color
13 votes -
My phone started to play the same thing my computer was when playing YouTube
Oddly all off a sudden, while I was watching a video, my phone started to play the same sound as my PC speakers. It was kinda of cool, like my phone was a second speaker. But it did it...
Oddly all off a sudden, while I was watching a video, my phone started to play the same sound as my PC speakers. It was kinda of cool, like my phone was a second speaker. But it did it automatically. Anyone else see this? I have access to YouTube music now so maybe that's a new feature or something?
edit: My device is Windows 10 PC using regular Chrome and Google Pixel XL (Android P)
7 votes -
GitLab Ultimate and Gold now free for education and open source
26 votes -
AMD reveals Threadripper 2 : Up to 32 Cores, 250W, X399 Refresh
9 votes -
David Bray's Response to the Gizmodo Article Regarding the FCC and Net Neutrality Comments
6 votes -
Best Android Alternative to iOS Continuity
The one good thing, imo, that iOS does is its continuity and handoff with other devices. What are the best ways you've found to emulate this on your devices? Like if I'm actively working on a...
The one good thing, imo, that iOS does is its continuity and handoff with other devices. What are the best ways you've found to emulate this on your devices? Like if I'm actively working on a document or on web pages how can I seamlessly continue using them on my tablet/phone without having to re-open all the tabs or docs again?
Has anyone found a better way?
At the moment I get around this a couple ways:
-Google drive is my primary basic filesystem on all my main computer (desktop/documents/downloads/pictures/videos folders)
-Google Photos on all devices
-PulseSMS for the texting
-Google Chrome which offers a somewhat fix to webbrowsingBut the actual feature of my devices popping up and letting me "carry on" with what I was doing exactly where I was doing it with the click of the button isn't there. Also, the Google Chrome "continuity" is simply the ability to let me go see recent tabs open on my devices and click to reopen them. If anyone knows a way to sync tabs across all my devices (desktop/laptop/phone/tablet) and make them open/close altogether that would be great.
6 votes -
Using artificial intelligence to augment human intelligence
4 votes -
Internet censorship around the world
Greeting everyone! I think this is the best category to ask that kind of question. I am looking for website/blog/author which provides information regarding new restriction on the internet. For...
Greeting everyone!
I think this is the best category to ask that kind of question. I am looking for website/blog/author which provides information regarding new restriction on the internet. For example in China, Iran, Russia and etc...
Any good sources to get fresh information (In English).
11 votes -
Favorite Laptop?
What kind of laptop does everyone here have? If you had to replace it today, what would you replace it with?
24 votes -
Uber's self-driving car didn't malfunction, it was just bad
12 votes -
Keybase - PGP/GPG Protected Chat, Teams, File Storage, File Sharing and Git!
3 votes -
Behind the messy, expensive split between Facebook and WhatsApp’s founders
5 votes -
Facebook gave data access to Chinese firm flagged by US Intelligence
9 votes -
The cost of developers (or, why Microsoft wants Github)
4 votes -
What can we learn from the life-cycles of Digg and Reddit?
I imagine that I'm not the only one here now that was part of the Digg exodus to Reddit many years ago and I wonder what you all think we can learn from the rise and fall of these platforms to...
I imagine that I'm not the only one here now that was part of the Digg exodus to Reddit many years ago and I wonder what you all think we can learn from the rise and fall of these platforms to better design our new community.
Is it inevitable that our social networks degrade with population until a new one rises from Its ashes, so to speak?
What can we do to protect ourselves from this pattern and maintain a healthy populace?
48 votes -
Android users: What are your favorite apps on f-droid?
13 votes -
Firefighting robot snake flies on jets of water
3 votes -
Apple introduces iOS 12, macOS Mojave
23 votes -
“We had the courage to change the volume hud” (iOS 12 Bug)
7 votes -
Big Tech firms march to the beat of Pentagon, CIA despite dissension
4 votes -
How the alt-right manipulates the internet’s biggest commenting platform Disqus
22 votes -
Microsoft to acquire GitHub for $7.5 billion
21 votes -
Fall asleep in seconds by listening to a soothing voice read the EU’s new GDPR legislation
11 votes -
Facebook Gave Device Makers Deep Access to Data on Users and Friends
11 votes -
Raspberry Pi or Arduino projects
So I've nearly finished my exams and am going to have a bunch of free time soon. I want to try and learn to do some electronics stuff. I already have an Arduino and Pi and have done the basic...
So I've nearly finished my exams and am going to have a bunch of free time soon. I want to try and learn to do some electronics stuff. I already have an Arduino and Pi and have done the basic flashing lights projects, but want to try something a bit more interesting (but not too expensive either)
14 votes -
Anyone else get irrationally excited by new technology?
New devices, new apps, new websites, new tech, all these things get me irrationally excited. Almost like getting a package in the mail...
New devices, new apps, new websites, new tech, all these things get me irrationally excited. Almost like getting a package in the mail...
19 votes -
GitLab sees huge spike in project imports
10 votes -
Despite backlash, Microsoft sticks with controversial “GVFS” name
5 votes -
GitLab: Congratulations GitHub on the acquisition by Microsoft
8 votes -
Spotify is asking its users if they'd subscribe to a $30/month data-only plan with Spotify Premium included
13 votes -
How a hacker proved cops used a secret government phone tracker to find him
14 votes -
I got my Huawei Matebook X Pro a few days ago and really like it. Here is a mini review from a macbook air perspective and let me know any questions.
I purchased the Matebook X Pro for 1350 from Microsoft with the student discount. Build: It is a very sturdy laptop and fits perfectly in a backpack. Trackpad: It feels just like the MacBook Air....
I purchased the Matebook X Pro for 1350 from Microsoft with the student discount.
Build: It is a very sturdy laptop and fits perfectly in a backpack.
Trackpad: It feels just like the MacBook Air.
Keyboard: Great typing. Switches are very similar to the MacBook Air but their noise is lower pitched.
Screen: The screen is great and I love the thin bezels.
Software: No bloat besides the driver manager.
Gaming: People underestimate the mx150. It runs pubg at a playable 40fps at mostly low and a few medium settings and fortnite at 60 FPS
with medium settings. I would never use it a a primary gaming machine, but it would be very useful for lan party’s.
Battery life: average
Dislikes: It can get very loud when gaming.
Overall, It feels like the spiritual successor to my MacBook Air in design and size. It has a fantastic display and build quality and it is priced competitively. If you are willing to pay a premium for build quality and portability then I would definitely get this laptop.
I have never done a Reddit review before so ask any questions that I left out.
Pics:
size comparison to MacBook Air https://i.imgur.com/xzcLiO0.jpg
side by side https://i.imgur.com/B4FiTlD.jpg
front view https://i.imgur.com/yDZCdqm.jpg
top view https://i.imgur.com/2n0JNSs.jpg
7 votes -
What is you preferred password manager?
I use Lastpass at work but don't have experience with any others. Last time I looked into it Lastpass and Keepass were the only two viable options if I recall (though my memory isn't the most...
I use Lastpass at work but don't have experience with any others. Last time I looked into it Lastpass and Keepass were the only two viable options if I recall (though my memory isn't the most reliable thing). A few quick searches seem to indicate that the market has opened up a bit since then. I'd like to use something open source with Linux, Windows, and Android clients. So, what's your preferred password manager and why?
45 votes -
Instagram feed algorithm seems to take into account your WhatsApp correspondence.
I've been trying to tame tracking from services like Facebook. I installed many ad blockers and tracker blockers on all of my browser, I don't install FB app on my phone, but I still install...
I've been trying to tame tracking from services like Facebook. I installed many ad blockers and tracker blockers on all of my browser, I don't install FB app on my phone, but I still install Instagram app and WhatsApp.
Something creepy (but totally expected) just happened to me. I haven't really been in contact with a friend of mine for quite some time, and we finally chatted again using WhatsApp. Not long after that I opened Instagram, and her photo was the first one I saw haha. It's funny because I don't think I've seen any photos from her in quite some time before this on my IG feed.
Might just be a coincidence, but with all discussion about how creepy they're trying to make their platform as sticky as possible, I wouldn't be surprised if IG's feed algorithm do take into account your correspondence on WhatsApp as well (I live in a country where everyone uses WhatsApp).
10 votes -
A sobering look at fake online reviews
11 votes -
Microsoft Plans To Buy GitHub, Valued At $2 Billion
7 votes -
Canon has sold its last film camera
14 votes -
Ten years of Loss.jpg ~ What was your favorite version ?
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⠀⣿⣿⡇⠀⢸⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠁11 votes -
YouTube's top creators are burning out and breaking down en masse
17 votes -
What do you guys think about Flixxo?
3 votes -
SpaceX is achieving high bandwidth, 25ms latency with Starlink test satellites
@elonmusk: @nitantbhartia @ninoles @medickinson @thephysicsgirl Pretty good. TinTin A & B are both closing the link to ground w phased array at high bandwidth, low latency (25 ms). Good enough to play fast response video games.
31 votes -
Google unceremoniously removes the tablet section from official Android website
11 votes -
A day later, Ticketfly is still offline after failing to pay bitcoin ransom to hacker
6 votes -
Reddit is now #3 most visited site in the US, below only Google and Youtube
39 votes -
Google plans not to renew its contract for Project Maven, a controversial Pentagon drone AI imaging program
7 votes -
Google Will Not Renew Pentagon A.I. Contract That Upset Employees
8 votes