Source
r/WormFanfic•
torac

[META] Should /r/WormFanfic join the protest again API changes?

Meta - Subreddit

For those unaware, Reddit is about to kill all third-party apps relying on API access. Apollo, Reddit is fun and others will be discontinued if that happens. Reddit Enhancement Suite may or may not be affected. The way this was done also seems very malicious / user unfriendly.

This will also force some users who rely on accessibility features off the site. r/blind in particular pointed this out as a consequence.

In addition, Reddit has been encouraging bots over users, recently. Various people have reported getting warnings or even temp bans for reporting bots. Additionally, Reddit itself seems to have started using bots to copy machine-translated English posts and comments to Subreddits in other languages.

A whole bunch of subs are protesting the changes by going dark June 12th through the 13th.

So here’s the question: Should our community join that protest?

BTW, anyone know what happened to the [Misc Discussion] flair?

Further reading:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Save3rdPartyApps/comments/13yh0jf/dont_let_reddit_kill_3rd_party_apps/ (Protest Subreddit)

https://www.reddit.com/r/Blind/comments/13zr8h2/reddits_recently_announced_api_changes_and_the/ (Locking out visually impaired users)

https://www.reddit.com/r/AmITheDevil/comments/140ijf5/mods_of_rblind_reveal_that_removing_3rd_party/ (Overview, including links to Reddit staff comments)

https://www.reddit.com/r/Enhancement/comments/13wuwwv/will_res_be_affected_by_the_newupcoming_api/ (RES being possibly affected)

https://old.reddit.com/r/apolloapp/comments/13ws4w3/had_a_call_with_reddit_to_discuss_pricing_bad/ (This shows the price-gouging/unreasonable cost for access.)

https://www.reddit.com/r/SubredditDrama/comments/13p889x/reddit_admins_were_just_caught_using_bots_or_fake/ (Content stealing bots populating new Subreddits made by admins in multiple languages.)

https://www.reddit.com/r/TheseFuckingAccounts/

Posted Jun 7, 2023, 12:25 PM UTC · edited

20466
Puzzled-You•

Do the full blackout. I am in full support of accessibility for those who need it, and these changes will only hurt the user base.

128
ConsiderableHat•

This alone would be sufficient. The other issues are weighty enough, but this? Downright shitty behaviour on reddit's part.

30
hampants98MODMod•

we are

16
WildFlemima•

Full full? Like never coming back full?

5
hampants98Mod•

It's supposed to be two days.

3
toracOP•

Quite a few users, and a few mods, have mentioned that two days is not enough for how serious the issue is. Some subs plan to remain closed until Reddit walks back the decision.

16
Kakamile•

I'm glad, thanks mod

4
Dragongeek•

YES!

The main effort is being coordinated on r/ModCoord -- If you are a moderator and want an invite to the coordination discord server, just PM me.

51
toracOP•

That was the place I forgot!

2478 participating subreddits so far, and steadily rising:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ModCoord/comments/1401qw5/incomplete_and_growing_list_of_participating/

14
LordXamon•

I mean, we are small as heck, it won't do shit. But sure why not.

25
toracOP•

The concept of collective action is based on many small efforts coming together to a greater whole. Hundreds of small subs are participating, afaik. (Haven’t found the list again thousands of subs are participating.)

Strength in unity and all that.

39
TearsFallWithoutTain•

Absolutely, collective action is good even if if we're a small community

21
SmithsonWells•

The way this was done also seems very malicious / user unfriendly.

Vote with your feet.
Will this sub participating do much, in and of itself? Probably not.
Doesn't make it not worth doing. I say yes.

17
toracOP•

To clarify the "malicious" comment:

  1. Reddit does not seem to care about accessibility. r/blind mods refer to multiple hours of talks with Reddit staff, which were then completely ignored.

  2. Admins tried to frame the change as being about "efficiency", as if they just wanted third-party apps to be more conscientious of their API usage. The Apollo developer in particular revealed that to be complete bullshit, and just an attempt at gaslighting. No amount of efficiency would save the apps, and the official app is even less efficient.

  3. Banning users for reporting content-stealing and karma-farming bots is pretty self-explanatory.

  4. Making their own content-stealing bots is also obvious.

18
Deadluck47Author - Deadluck•

What's the point of not doing it?

I don't think this sub is the one to push the protest over the edge, but what exactly is the downside of pressing a few buttons and shutting it down for a couple of days?

The way I see it, any sub not participating is fine with the decision or, at the very least, don't care, since the cost of entry is... nothing?

10
Cookiesy•

Lets do it, so I just have to skip Reddit for two days? "looks at pile of unread book"

8
NeoNarciss1st•

Absolutely. They can't ignore all 3 dozen of us!

7
BackflipBuddha•

The whole API thing is stupid, given that Reddit works the way it is. Every voice matters, and I think we ought to be one of those voices.

7
petrichorE6•

Literally commenting from my rif app, so i'm all for it.

Even if people are against the blackout, that's even better, now we can add the "Finally everyone was working together" line unironically.

6
Conscious_Aerie7153•

The ai bot moderators piss me off I really got banned on my alt for telling someone not to commit jump off building

6
Hollow---•

I'd say yes, but what other subreddit will fuel my literature addiction?

5
toracOP•

what other subreddit

The concept of Reddit going dark to protest includes… not going to Reddit. Shocking, I know.

Perhaps SB and SV, or even QQ and Royalroad will fulfil your needs for two days?

15
Hollow---•

Two whole days, my word. My brain will become naught but sludge. Off to the gallows I go!

15
toracOP•

As someone who is here pretty much every day, I feel your pain. I’ll spend some time searching for viable alternatives on those days. So far, nothing quite scratches the itch.

8
hampants98Mod•

you can read a book :V

I've heard this one called worm is good???

5
misconceptions_annoy•

I’ve found fanfic can be good for getting back into reading. Also planning things. Set up a playlist and a list of chores. Plan a coffee date with friends. Go to the Y. Etc. Stopthesurf or something similar is a sub dedicated to this

1
hampants98Mod•

This is going to sound wild, but you could read a book ;)

7
Hollow---•

But then I'd need to turn pages, blegh.

5
hampants98Mod•

book dot epub :O

5
Hollow---•

:O

4
misconceptions_annoy•

I’m looking at the board games section of the parahumans server. Play games and chat about the lit

2
diametrik•

Various people have reported getting warnings or even temp bans for reporting bots.

What does this even look like? Someone reports a bot and then they get a temp ban saying "Don't report bots"? Surely it can't be that blatant, but I don't see how people could know they are getting banned for reporting bots if it isn't blatant.

5
toracOP•

The reason given was "abusing the report function".

6
UltraNooob•

We absolutely should! Even if this sub is not big it will help. I'm planning on not browsing Reddit as well, but don't have the best willpower so having one more reason not to would be great.

4
otrovik•

Yes absolutely!

3
Traditional-Context•

Sure

3
wille179Author•

I vote yes.

3
zxxQQz•

I would say user hostile rather than unfriendly..

Glad to hear we will join

3
smidgeonofpidgeon•

Yes! This is a big issue and everyone should participate!

2
cszolee79•

No

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