Source
r/happy•
Ashex

Hey there happy reddit subscribers! After some discussion, we've disabled self-posts. This is why:

Recently an option was added to disable self-posts in sub-reddits giving moderators a bit more control over the content. Over the past several months users and mods have noticed a steady increase of self-posts and a decrease in article submission. This trend resulted in an overall drop in content and contribution to happy reddit.

Self posts have been considered to be in the gray area for submissions as we prefer they are submitted to Askreddit or one of the other reddits meant for self posts.

After some deliberation and feedback received from users who frequent the happy reddit, we are now asking our users to instead submit self posts to other reddits as a majority of them do not have any real content and are passing musings. Because of this, they are considered circle jerk self-congratulatory posts with little significance to the sub-reddit and discourages users from adding r/happy to their main page.

Instead of submitting these types of posts to the happy reddit, we ask users to reconsider what they are submitting to determine if what they are posting engages the community, encouraging them to respond/comment.

Consider these things:

  • Does what I'm submitting tickle the mind of my fellow redditor?
  • Am I talking to the community?
  • Does this make me and others happy?

If what you answer is yes to all of the above, then please submit it to r/happy. If not, then please consider another sub-reddit

I do hope you understand our reasoning for this change in r/happy submission criteria and that you continue to enjoy the submissions here and contribute.

-Happy reddit moderation team

Edit: It's rather apparent that quite a few of you don't agree with the decision. This came about as a result of the sub-reddit being flooded small one line self-posts that made it difficult to keep an eye on spam. I do agree that there were self-posts that were uplifting and had some pretty awesome accomplishments and I was trying to avoid doing this, hence why it took me several months to take action.

Now rather then try and continue to explain my reason and state that I am in the right, I'm going to listen to the community and reverse the change. Only thing I actually request is that you please write more then one sentence, I want to know why it makes you happy!

And per mention of myself submitting content, I do what I can to submit content, but for the last few months I've been a bit busy (laid off, went overseas, got engaged, came back, working on getting a job) so haven't had the time to make any real contributions (any volunteers for helping moderate?) to reddit lately.

Posted Jul 3, 2010, 2:34 AM UTC · edited

032
CredditCard•

As a reader of r/happy, the self posts are my favorite part about it.

34
TheTwilightPrince•

Agreed. IMO the removal of self posts is a travesty.

14
insomniasexx•

Agreed. I don't ever even click the articles.

13
penguinsarecooool•

I didn't even know people submitted articles to r/happy!

2
jerrygofixit•

Yeah, it's nice hearing about fellow redditors happy happenings, brings me some happiness when I'm down.

12
FunnyMan3595•

They're the only part I ever cared about.

unsubscribes

11
adremeaux•

$20 says you didn't actually unsubscribe because you think that by claiming you unsubscribed, people will listen to you, and now you want to see if it happens.

-1
FunnyMan3595•

You owe me $20. I'm keeping an eye on the situation, but I hit the "- frontpage" button about five seconds after posting that comment.

1
copasetic•

Same here. Definitely the best of happy.

10
kylev•

Yup. Short little self posts about someone having a good day or a triumph that they want to share are a highlight. The last thing I'd call someone having something good happening and wanting to share it is "circle-jerk".

If you want more content-full submissions and links, then invest time in adding that content yourself. Act as a normal redditor and bend the content in a direction you see fit via submissions rather than using admin power to shut down content that the community has already deemed worthwhile.

This change makes me un-r/happy.

9
m1ss1ontomars2k4•

I thought they were the ONLY part.

2
AnotherEcho•

Articles and good news and feel-good pictures make people happy, but personal stories and anecdotes do too. I understand your reasoning for the change, but I can't say I completely agree with the justification.

15
AshexOP•

That is a very good and strong point. I enjoyed reading the personal stories people would post, I just wasn't happy with the number of posts about the weather being nice and being high on a rainy day. A lot of people found it easier to just make a one line submission then to really tell a story.

0
Gettingbetter•

I'm downvoting this more as a vote against the policy change. The self posts were all I read. In reality, and I mean this in no way as a "change it for my sake or I'll leave you fucking fucks," I'll probably unsubscribe as they're the only posts I read in this subreddit.

Edit: I've reread this post, and I've realized that you said most self-posts are "self-congratulatory circle-jerks". I take what I said earlier back. Fuck you guys. Fuck your holier than thou selves. Who gives a flying shit if a self-post in r/happy is a circle-jerk? We're happy! We're celebrating! And we're celebrating ourselves with our community. "Not contributing!"

Frankly I'd rather read about fellow redditors be glad about overcoming their personal demons, get over some kind of grief, or just generally having a good day, and you tell us that not only is their little spot of happiness not topical to r/happy, but that it is less than valueless by belonging in a parody subreddit.

Or you shitbags can watch a stupid video about a dog that's "really fast."

Fuck you guys.

13
m1ss1ontomars2k4•

I mean this in no way as a "change it for my sake or I'll leave you fucking fucks,"

Well, you don't, but I do. Change it or I leave.

2
AshexOP•

First off, you really need to calm down. That was rather bad wording on my part, I want users to post a story, not a note. When all you give me is a note I'm still curious about what you're saying and don't get much out of it.

Tell me about your day and what made it so great, that's what really makes me happy.

-1
[deleted]•

Just to weigh in: self posts were the reason I subscribed and I doubt that I'll stay now that they're gone.

11
AshexOP•

And judging from the reaction of others, that was their reasoning. I've updated the post :)

1
copasetic•

r/DoesAnybodyElse:

"DAE know what made me happy?" That will so not fly over there.

10
[deleted]•

-_-

Thanks for ruining this subreddit.

9
copasetic•

How does one do a happy self-post in AskReddit? Like this (?):

"Who wants to know why I am happy?"

That is silly and will not be seen.

9
mindspider•

I, like most other people here am against this change. If it stays disabled I'll be unsubscribing.

8
NELyon•

Might I add that from the comments so far, this comment was incredibly wrong, the complete opposite being correct.

...with little significance to the sub-reddit and discourages users from adding r/happy to their main page.

Seems like the self posts were the reason many of us DID add r/happy to their frontpage.

7
AshexOP•

When the reddit was first created users came for the articles, when the self-posts started popping up there were complaints about it. However it is now obvious to me that the dynamic of happy reddit has changed.

2
NELyon•

Well, I'm pretty sure I sense a -frontpage from myself in the near future. It's not even worth reading without self posts.

6
FunnyMan3595•

Consider these things:

  • Does this make me and others happy?

Take your own advice.

5
AshexOP•

Moderating isn't something that is easily done, it's a fine line between what should be done and what you think should be done.

1
asanisimasa•

Isn't the point of reddit that people can submit content they enjoy, and people upvote said content if they like it? If people are upvoting selfposts in r/happy, then that means that those selfposts are what the people of r/happy want. A few mods might prefer that people submit links instead of selfposts, but the community is obviously enjoying selfposts as evidence of them being upvoted. Shouldn't it be the community that decides what kind of posts they want?

3
AshexOP•

Yes, you are certainly right. I've reversed the decision so anyone can submit a self-post. Only thing I request is that people tell a story rather then a footnote :)

3
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
AntiMe•

Nobody should complain, it's so easy to make another subreddit for it and subscribe to both. Edit: Wow, downvotes, kinda ironic :)

-3
LieutenantClone•

Yea, but its not as easy to transfer the community.

Edit: Not very nice to downvote him guys, he does have a valid point, the ability to create your own subreddit is the whole spirit of this website.

8
[deleted]•

Exactly. Also, its great that here all this content is one place and provides a community united by an project (happiness) rather than a medium (like in pics, dae, etc.).

5