Episode 1: The potato and Reddit
Is this a safe space? Because I have a confession.
Honestly, I'm convinced that Reddit is the dark web, or at least an entry point to it. I have stumbled across some bizarre things on Reddit that have me wondering if I should delete the app afterward. Is there a user guide for Reddit? I fear I missed a tutorial video or orientation class on how to use Reddit effectively.
I have joined one community since downloading the app. I use it mostly to keep up with what's going on in Tallahassee and for the weekly events. I really like it for the cooking subreddits, which I have been exploring more over the past few weeks. This week alone, I explored several of the cultural cuisine subreddits. I'm mostly an observer, choosing not to comment but to sit on the sidelines, taking it all in. Sometimes it can be overwhelming because there are so many people contributing, and it's difficult to find exactly what I'm actually looking for.
I don't know if I will actually keep the app. Okay, I probably will, but I need to figure out all the rules and regulations. I'd love to know about your Reddit experiences and any fun communities you recommend checking out.
LOL. I totally can see why you may have thought Reddit was the dark web. However there’s a lot of interesting things on there. I mostly use it to go to reality tv subreddits I like so I can read others’ thoughts on recent episodes like love island! This may be embarrassing but many times if I’m going through a personal situation or have a question or thought about something random and want insight, I google it. And every time there is a Reddit post going through what I’m going through, so I can read through responses for insight. There’s a saying that goes “if you think it? Someone on Reddit has already posted it”!
ReplyDeleteOh, now I have to go find one of those subreddits! I have also found myself on Reddit a number of times through googling questions and being directed there for answers.
DeleteSometimes I open Reddit and genuinely feel like I accidentally walked into a secret underground society where everyone already knows the rules except me. One minute you’re reading a harmless cooking thread, and the next minute you somehow end up deep in a discussion about alien conspiracies or someone restoring a 1972 microwave for fun. But honestly, I think your description of being an “observer” is exactly how many people experience Reddit at first. It feels less like traditional social media and more like wandering through thousands of tiny internet villages with completely different cultures, languages, and survival rules.
ReplyDeleteI also found it interesting that you use Reddit mainly for local information and cooking communities because that’s where the platform actually shines: niche communities with people who are genuinely passionate about something. The overwhelming part is real, though. Reddit sometimes feels like trying to drink water from a fire hose. Still, your post reminded me that online communities don’t always require active participation to be meaningful—sometimes quietly observing and learning from others is already a form of engagement.
Drinking water from a fire hose is an accurate description of my experience with Reddit. I have found a few more communities to follow, and I am really enjoying the platform, but I do worry about the time I spend on it. I have still been wary about commenting, but as an observer, it feels like being part of another world.
DeleteHow true! It's crazy that so much AI is actually trained on Reddit. Anyway, I feel the same way. Every time I log into the app, I feel like I am entering a jungle of opinions with minimal restrictions. I definitely need to Google the rules. Or maybe I will just ask an AI.
ReplyDeleteI spent some time becoming a little more familiar with the platform, and I am enjoying it more, but I am still careful about what I interact with. I did, ironically, get most of my information about how to best use Reddit from an AI-generated response on Reddit.
DeleteI enjoy Reddit strictly as a lurker to keep up with the latest news in Tallahassee, FSU, instructional design and a few other topics of interest. I recently jointed the subreddits for Roblox and Minecraft to keep an eye on those worlds, since I have family members deeply involved. I have commented a few times but did not find the experience enjoyable. The Reddit commenting crowd can be very harsh - likely because it is anonymous. It seems to enjoy snark more than having a productive conversation, so I don't interact much at all.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes, the Tallahassee sub has brought me great entertainment and information. I usually find out about a lot of new-to-come establishments through that sub. I agree, though some of the comments are ruthless.
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