Yeah but normies are what make platforms thrive. I fear Lemmy may just become an anti-Reddit circlejerk but then die out due to lack of content.

While I understand that most of Beehaw's administrators are not programmers, I think it would be helpful if you reached out to the developers and ask that the Lemmy software offer greater levels of configuration when it comes to the UI. Making a vague post about "issues" on your own forum ensure that whatever issues you have will never be heard by the developers.

The issue with revolutions is that while they tend to get rid of old elites, they create a new class of elites out of the top revolutionaries and the cycle just starts over again. Many communist revolutions were supposed to create these theoretically "equal" societies, but they just insert in a new ruling class.

People are mourning the loss of a platform. I think it's okay that a majority of Reddit alternatives are talking about its death (at least for them).

I still use Reddit but have been exploring alternatives.

There’s an added cog in the machine here. Every time someone tries (and succeeds) in explaining the issues, the astroturfing (or just regular bootlicking) begins and suddenly there’s seeds of doubt.

I am seeing many users (especially those who haven't been around for as long) asking people what the big deal is and why their favorite subreddits are down. Half of the people trying to respond aren't giving these people satisfactory and succinct answers. The protest is breaking down as soon as it began.

I think the real issue is that the protest coordinators were not able to succinctly explain why they had to protest to begin with. Charging third party app developers for API access is an esoteric topic. Most people don't even know what an API is. Most people don't use third party apps. Most people also don't care.

IDK I also see plenty of posts supporting keeping subs closed too. I doubt a lot of people have left the site for good. But those voices are generally outnumbered by people who don't understand what's going on or don't care about the protest.

Don't get me wrong... Lemmy is fine, but I am finding that most of the active posts here are about the protest on Reddit... plus a few discussions on current news and gaming... but little else. I am still spending most of my time on Reddit.

On many subreddits that have polls, it seems like a majority favor keeping their subs open. It seems like the userbase is generally ambivalent or even hostile towards the protest at large.

Lol I'm posting on both here and Reddit. I'm kind of enjoying the drama even though I don't have a strong opinion about the API controversy personally.

Yeah I don't have a strong opinion about whole API access controversy but it does spark a greater debate about how we let centralized services like Reddit subsume the Internet forum culture of old. Of course, Reddit in many ways is a superior product to the decentralized forums of old (you only need one account to post) but at the same time, this whole protest has proven especially damaging to people who rely heavily on Reddit as a resource for support (like the mental health subreddits, the chronic disease ones, etc.).

Agree. I don't plan to leave Reddit but it's good to look at the alternatives that are available out there.

I don't plan to stop using it. I'm annoyed by the changes but it is what it is. I doubt Lemmy will be the same level of resource that Reddit is. Lemmy is still great, don't get me wrong, but to think that entire communities might migrate over is a bit farfetched. Most people are still very confused about how federation exactly works.