this post was submitted on 25 Aug 2023
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Asklemmy

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I’m not trying to cause an argument but when Reddit pulled it’s bs - I said that’s enough. I gave up my Reddit addiction and didn’t open it or visit the site for over 30 days.

The tone and people on Lemmy is great. I don’t miss Reddit. But I miss the content types. For me Reddit was a topic related news source, a place for great discourse about those news pieces, a place where community members asked constructive questions or shared ideas/projects - and lastly a place for some very specific community types.

Over the last few days I noticed that the first 2 categories of content came over to Lemmy no problem. But the second 2 types I outlined above don’t seem to have come. I went back to Reddit this morning and it’s all still there. Certain types of posts just don’t happen on Lemmy, and on top of that many communities never came over (street_photography is a great example. They literally shut down a subreddit with thousands of users and created a new location in Lemmy/kbin, and instead of coming over the community just evaporated). Other communities are also non existent and some that do exist are simply just not enjoying the same types of posts. I like it here, I want to stay - but it’s difficult. Is anyone else having this issue?

Thanks for hearing me out.

TLDR: all of my communities seem to link posts only, many types of posts just don’t seem to happen here.

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[–] relative_iterator 234 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Make the posts you want to see. I’ve posted some questions in some niche communities here and I get well thought out responses and discourse.

[–] [email protected] 126 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Best answer, Lemmy, like all social media follows the 90-9-1 rule of social media. Of 100 people, 90 will lurk, 9 will comment, and only 1 will actually post anything.

There are people in the communities that want to talk, but you gotta be the one to post.

Hey take it as your opportunity to become a name in a community!

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago (5 children)

I don’t know how someone can lurk without the urge to post something or comment, that must take willpower

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year ago

Was on Reddit 15 years, left in June. It was definitely a build up, but I eventually posted every day.

Not healthy, so I scaled back. I post when I have something worthwhile. Otherwise I just contribute comments. And even then I erase half of them because they aren’t helpful or contributive.

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[–] [email protected] 104 points 1 year ago (10 children)

A lot of people (like myself) need to step out of their comfort zones if we want Lemmy to get more conversations going. Yesterday I made a game thread in the community for my favourite NFL team; I was the only one who commented. But I’m going to try and make one for the game next week.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago

I'll join you during regular season.

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[–] [email protected] 62 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not at all. The only thing taking time to build here are the art communities, but they're growing. So I'm patient and am trying to contribute

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I'm trying my best to start up lemmyloves.art and it seems to be going pretty good so far

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[–] [email protected] 51 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Doesn't matter how good the content is if I have to fight the interface to get to it.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Lack of search really makes it hard to find a discussion on anything, which is what I used reddit for. I hope its a thing that gets implemented eventually.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It took Reddit years to become what it is today. And the native search function was ass. Google made the damn thing easier.

Memmy has a search function, and it works for now since the content is much smaller. But if it grows it won’t be that great. But so far I’ve been able to find specifics of what I’m looking for.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

But reddit search also sucks, TBF.

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[–] [email protected] 48 points 1 year ago (4 children)

EXACTLY

there's just not enough in depth stuff on here. i love shitposts, i love memes, i love a chill tone. but we need people posting interesting posts, you know. i'm not even sure how to put my finger on what's different or why, but there's just less....stuff here. it needs to be seasoned, or something.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 year ago

It's a matter of numbers. Like sports. You get the best by having a large pool of possible posts to rise to your attention. Reddit gets a bunch of posts that never get read. Lemmy we read pretty much all of them. There are some good posts here and there in Lemmy but not to the level of reddit. And until Lemmy gets reddit numbers it will suffer from "athletes" from small towns vs athletes from big cities. No contest.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I think a lot of the hobby and project posts on Reddit aren't necessarily created by people who (also) have the internet / computers / net culture as an interest. Say, a hobby carpenter who only uses Facebook and Reddit casually, why and how would this person end up on Lemmy? The seasoning missing is all the people we left behind.

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[–] [email protected] 42 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Lemmy has enough to keep me entertained, and I did successfully finally break my years-long habit of going to reddit. However there are still some subs I look at occasionally since they can provide valuable information, like city-specific and subs about certain video games.

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[–] [email protected] 40 points 1 year ago (5 children)

because low density of content, i browse lemmy by all and just block spammy communities im not interested, my home looks too empty for now, but still don't feel the need to hang out on reddit

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[–] [email protected] 37 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I understand it but personally I got so disgusted by the owners behavior that I will never use that site again.

So yeah, I'm missing out on some things I guess but that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

[–] [email protected] 36 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Nah, it's true that Lemmy has less content, no matter how many communities I join. And I also feel Lemmy has slowed down a bit in the last days/weeks. But I still won't return to reddit. It feels overwhelming, and also I think I got over FOMO. Lemmy will keep growing, I'm in no rush. Leaving reddit was definitely good for me.

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[–] [email protected] 33 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm not having trouble giving up Reddit. I've given it up. And I've definitely noticed the lower volume of content here on Lemmy/the fediverse, but:

  • it's getting better pretty much daily; and
  • the percentage of good quality content here far exceeds Reddit, so I still feel better off.
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[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Haven't gone back to Reddit since. But what I do miss most is the sorting algorithm. I don't know if it was just the abundance of posts, or better sorting. But on lemmy I keep seeing the same posts over and over again, regardless of my sorting setting. But I'll be patient and hope that it gets better.

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[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Its still early. This is the first time there has been a legitimate alternative to reddit and thats honestly only because 3rd party apps like sync have made it usable.

Reddit started when Digg changed its site and everyone went to reddit. There has also been multiple attempts to leave reddit, but no similar alternatives. Now there is a good alternative and there will be more things reddit does that will make people look for alternatives.

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[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 year ago

No, I don't use reddit anymore. Kinda. I sometimes visit Reddit due to search results. Otherwise there is not much I miss or care about.

The content isn't as plenty here, but it is still giving me my mindless scrolling fix.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 year ago

My reddit usage is 99% mobile app and 1% desktop. Since there are no more suitable reddit mobile app. I stopped. The only time nowadays that I visit reddit on desktop is google search and reddit is on top result.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 year ago

Reddit basically doesn't exist to me anymore. Lemmy is hardly a substitute but it's the best there is (because reddit doesn't exist) so it'll have to do. Every now and then I manage to bait someone debate me here but unless that happens I go thru the content pretty quick and then just have to come up with something else to do. It's not what I would have wanted but it's probably good for me. Social media is just entertainment. It's in no way essential and probably has net-negative effect on society.

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 year ago

Nope. The only time I use Reddit is when a search leads me there. I deleted my account and open it in a container tab in Firefox so they can't track me and I have ublock origin running to block their bullshit ads. I suggest everyone do that. I feel like lately even Google takes me there less often, and when they do, the content is shittier than it used to be.

Fuck reddit. I don't need it, it's dead to me.

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 year ago (7 children)

I was very bolshy in deleting my reddit account and made a real solid commitment to only use Lemmy the instant that the api changes where announced, .. Two months later and I started feeling a bit stranded, at times it seems like there's nothing but content about programming, Linux, Foss, privacy, and Ukraine but at other times it can be really engaging..

However I have ended up making a new reddit account just so I can lurk from time to time

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[–] jbrains 23 points 1 year ago

I was disappointed the first couple of weeks after I moved here, but the communities that interest me have filled in quite well and I feel quite at home now.

Good luck.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm about 90% all in on Lemmy. The only thing I go to Reddit for now is old posts with useful information about tech stuff or some random things.

I basically use it as a knowledge base now, instead of using it to interact with others, post stuff, or follow the daily feed.

All my active/daily posting, reading, and news stuff is on Lemmy & Mastodon now.

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago

Here's a little known secret: you can still enjoy Lemmy without giving up reddit. I use both. There are some sports subreddits that I am not prepared to walk away from.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I still have a Reddit account, but I only subscribe to the communities that aren't replaceable yet.

But I refuse to use the Reddit app, so I only access on desktop, with adblock, maybe 3 times a week just to check in.

Being unsubscribed from the mains keeps it from being a rabbit hole.

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago

The most sticky subreddits have been ones that are niche and not tech-related. The most likely users to make their way over to Lemmy have been technically inclined ones who were using third-party apps.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 year ago

There were some niche subs that I miss but I haven't looked back since migrating here. It's really not an option anyway. They removed any usable way to view their content so that is that.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I just use reddit for basic news on specific products I'm looking forward to, and the occasional time I need to search a specific question on it.

After trying out Lemmy, I used a script to delete mass edit/delete all my stuff in reddit, deleted the account, and never went back. I find no enjoyment in commenting on reddit anymore so it was an easy decision.

I agree Lemmy has a long way to go, but I only see it getting better from here which is enough for me to stick with it.

Now that you mention it though, communities do kinda feel empty. Not as in a lack of users/content, but that theres nothing in them that try to promote discussion like "weekly discussions" you would see on reddit. Its more or less entirely some random post by someone, or a news post.

As someone who only cares about news and the discussion around that news, Lemmy satisfies me pretty well. But for people who want a more social experience (probably most people), Lemmy begins to fall apart quickly.

Right now, I think the memes community is really the only active social one.

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

There's a reddit archiver instance of lemmy: lemmit.online. It's a good solution if you only want to access posts from a subreddit without commenting on them or creating traffic for reddit. You can either look for a particular existing subreddit or request one if it's not being archived at the moment.

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't mind having less fun content, the content that's here is good enough for me as far as scrolling a feed goes. My main problem is that every source of actually good information and good community-sourced solutions to things is still on reddit. You want to figure out why your game is acting weird? Check out for config issues that people mention on reddit. You're trying to decide between two solutions/softwares/products? Yeah, you're gonna get all the info you need on reddit. Tutorials, guides, recommendations, fixes, solutions, it's all better when it's communities talking about them, and all of that information is still over on reddit, better indexed, more condensed, the whole nine yards.

I have made ONE post on reddit since things went to shit, and it was to ask redgifs for better lemmy support. I don't add anything to reddit otherwise, but it is still impossible to find good information without relying on reddit.

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I've given Reddit basically zero of my traffic since I quit it during the "Big Reddit Boycott Of 2023."

But there's definitely stuff I miss. Probably my favorite subreddit was /r/BestOfLegalAdvice. There's a [email protected] here on Lemmy, but all the posts link to Reddit. There would have to be a thriving /c/LegalAdvice on the Fediverse for any /c/BestOfLegalAdvice to thrive without linking to Reddit. So, [email protected] most definitely doesn't scratch the same itch.

Not the only example, but the most poignant for me.

I'm not planning to go back, though. I just can't squint hard enough to justify ending my boycott of Reddit to myself. And how are we supposed to get the big companies to quit enshittifying unless we punish them when they do stupid shit.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I don’t miss it one bit as a social platform. I just wish that search engines wouldn’t prioritise it as much when I try to find a “how to do….” guide. It’s insane how many Reddit threads (half deleted and otherwise) dominate the results. Just show me a nice webpage please.

Without Adblock detection. And no bloody “how to” videos either. I just want to read it through, thank you.

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

A huge part of Reddit for me were my small communities. Lemmy just isn’t big enough for the small communities the same way. I miss my bumpers group that were women from all over the world who went through pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting around the same time with me. I miss my teacher groups. I miss my roller coaster groups. Lemmy has replaced the “popular” tab, but not the “home” tab. I also miss the long text posts. I liked relationship advice, aita, tifu, casual conversation. While smaller, it feels more impersonal here. When I left Reddit I deleted everything so I’m not having trouble giving it up, because there’s nothing to go back to. But I miss what I had.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago

A little. I miss the movie and show discussions. Also the smaller community subreddits for specific things/people I like to follow there's not nearly as much or in some cases nothing on Lemmy.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago

I'm having the same problem. I want more /askphilosophy /askhistorians but good answers require expertise which you don't get over here if the experts don't migrate

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The thing with reddit is that it loaded with stuff that is easily searched for on search engines. I know if I search for something, i'll be ending up at the big R. I have been going out of my way asking relevant questions on Lemmy communities instead of using a search engine (much to the annoyance of the 'Did you do a search first?' crew) I'm hoping this helps build communities here.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago

I’m using it much less than Reddit for that reason but less social media is a good thing in my book, so not complaining.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

My niche hobbies are largely not tech related at all, so a lot of the participants have no knowledge or interest in learning about lemmy or learning about why leaving reddit would be a good thing in the long run. Even some of the subreddits rely on a really dedicated group of regulars to keep them alive, since for especially one of them, facebook is where the online community lives and thrives. And I'm also unfortunately not much of a content creator...

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago

Nope, I go back from time to time and realize it's the same repetitive bullshit I've been scrolling for 6 years.

Yeah I'm done.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I still visit posts from search, but I've given up most of the logged-in experience (upvoting, commenting, submitting on a weekly basis). 99% of my previous activity was via third party apps on mobile, so I have little incentive to go back and contribute content. I don't feel like contributing for free to some portal run by a private company. Reddit used to be a steward of their community but now feel they own it. I don't need to work for them for free

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago

For me it's become the opposite. I open reddit /all and see twenty adds for joining the US Army, US navy, I see a few posts with 9k comments. I feel bored. I close it and look on lemme and there's always at least as much if not more content, and the sheer mass of it isn't overwhelming to me at all. People are stupid on both platforms, but for me this one has become a less stressful alternative.

The advertising on reddit is quickly getting out of hand.

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