this post was submitted on 25 Nov 2023

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postmarketOS

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Is it time to reopen the subreddit? (self.postmarketos)

submitted 7 months ago by grendel to c/[email protected]

19 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Today I checked the pmos sub and was quite surprised it was closed. And for what reason? API change is ancient history.

Clearly, the protest amounted to nothing and frankly once I figured out that reddit api change wasn't about preventing foss apps, but about squeezing paid apps out of the market, I didn't care about it at all.

What's important for any project is the community, and reddit is simply the only place where such community can grow. So why not open it back up?

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[–] breadsmasher 16 points 7 months ago (1 children)

are you saying FOSS apps can be created and freely use the reddit api, with no cost? Thats news to me

[+] grendel -13 points 7 months ago (2 children)

as far as I know, redreader which is a foss app, wasn't affected by reddit's fees/api change

[–] breadsmasher 7 points 7 months ago

Redreader was given a specific exemption. So thats specific to a couple apps and not a general rule

In response to user outcry, Reddit introduced exemptions for developers of “non-commercial apps that address accessibility needs.” Rathschmidt confirmed that two apps, Dystopia and RedReader, have received exemptions, and the company is in talks with “a number of developers focused on accessibility.”

https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/13/23759761/reddit-disability-accessibility-blackout-api-blind

[–] krigo666 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

RedReader has strong accessibility features and was given an exemption for that.

[+] grendel -12 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Okay, I was not 100% accurate on that, maybe even completely wrong, but that's beside the point. The point is, protest amounted to nothing, and I do not think that it is beneficial for potential community growth to have the subreddit dead.

[–] krigo666 4 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

I agree with you, though an argument can be made that might make (some) users look for alternative communities like the one here in Lemmy... but it might backfire also.

People want choice, yes, but after having chosen they do not like to change.

Personally I don't mind change when it is for the better, but as much as it pains me I've been thinking about the communities I haven't visited in Reddit. Don't get me wrong, Reddit is still a shithole but there are strong communities there for specific subjects that should not be abandoned or destroyed, we need to lure them to move out of Reddit.

[+] grendel -6 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

we need to lure them to move out of Reddit

I really don't think it's possible. Reddit's strength is that basically everyone is already on reddit. If someone has an odd question about specific topic, they can pretty much instantly find a community and solve their issue. I guess you can lure the core of the community: regulars and contributors, but when people like me have some minor interest in something, it's highly unlikely they'll go out of their way to register somewhere else to ask a question.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

But the alternative of splitting the community and reopening the Reddit bad

[–] grendel -2 points 7 months ago (2 children)

I'm looking at the stats of this community and I gotta say 3 users / day, 38 users / 6 months is negligible even compared to small community on reddit. I don't really think it would split anything.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

I'd say that that makes it more probable.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 7 months ago (1 children)

That's just on your instance, those stats haven't been made to federate.

[–] grendel 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I see the same numbers when I look at https://lemmy.ml/c/postmarketOS and https://lemmy.world/c/[email protected]

Only the number of subscribers, posts and comments differ. Anyway, it's still order of magnitude away from what was possible on reddit.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago

Huh, you're totally right. I didn't realize that had gotten implemented. Thanks for the correction!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

It worked for me. I came here instead of Reddit, which would have alternatively been my primary choice.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago

I for one ditched Reddit long ago and am never going back. Not for any project. If they want to have a sub reddit then fine but they better have FOSS options ike Lemmy as well.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I'd like it opened for new users to be able to participate there without a Lemmy account, but there's a cost-benefit ratio to everything, and the additional moderation burden and potential fragmentation of the small community appears to outweigh the benefits. Additionally, a lack of choice paralysis can be quite a significant advantage.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

No.

[–] grendel -1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

You just replied to a two-month old post. What a booming community! Clearly, leaving reddit vitalized it so much.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

You shouldn't criticise someone because they were late to a discussion.