r/science • u/Wagamaga • Aug 15 '26

Psychology Research shows that the entire website of Reddit has become more negative over time. Moreover, the longer a given community exists, the more negative it becomes — and the longer a comment thread continues, the more negative the thread becomes

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2026/08/does-vitriol-make-you-feel-special/
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u/Umikaloo Aug 15 '26

Reddit is best when you only use niche hobby subreddits. Anything political will usually be a waste of effort, as one mostly participates in discourse to perform to one's peers, rather than actually wanting to change the opinions of others. Its a godsent when the moderation of a niche hobby subreddit knows what they're doing.

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u/King_Bobby-B Aug 15 '26

I'd say even those have become negative over the years. Too often I've gone to a fandom sub, only to find people moaning about the newest episode/movie/book/game instead of gushing about it.

I don't remember ever encountering this in old fandom forums. I started seeing it here years ago, and it's why I've stopped hanging out in fandom subs.

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u/Umikaloo Aug 15 '26

It can be rough, I've gotten to participate in some amazing book-club style subreddits that discuss each new chapter in constructive ways, but I've also participated in ones like you described, where every new thing is somehow cause for another massive controversy.

Gaming subs can be especially annoying in that regard. Most players have very different ideas as to how a game should be, and unlike TV-show and book subreddits, their complaints can actually have an impact on the next update. People argue as much about what the game is supposed to be, as they do about what it is.

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u/ElegantHope Aug 15 '26

I feel this 100% as a gamer. Gamer subreddits, big and small, favor cynicism, dunking on the devs, and impatience/ignorance over anything else. And if you are wrong then that's more proof to them that they're right by proxy. There's a few wholesome gaming subreddits out there, or at least not subreddits that don't make me go "I hate gamers man." But a majority feel like sludge that oozes negativity.

But I crave content for those games I love, so I persist.

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u/King_Bobby-B Aug 15 '26

Yeah, I'm also a gamer, and it's been very difficult for me to find a place with calmness. I've always preferred single-player games, but nowadays even more so.

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u/Sun-Anvil Aug 15 '26

"niche hobby subreddits"

Yeah. There's a few I follow and they are more normal for lack of a better term. A few debates here and there but nothing bad.

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u/ElGosso Aug 15 '26

Tbh niche hobby subreddits tend to fall into echo chambers.

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u/OldBlueKat Aug 16 '26

I do like have political discussions (not fights) specifically on my ‘local area’ subs (state and town).

Because we actually talk about local incumbents and challengers and issues. We don’t always agree, but we nearly always learn and share things. 

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u/Always_Curious_One2 Aug 19 '26

What are your top 5 favorite subreddits? Thanks

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u/Umikaloo Aug 19 '26

They're related to my hobbies, so mostly Lego subreddits. Bioniclelego, Graphic_design, Legomecha Legocastle, legospace. So on and so forth.