I think reddit has the potential to turn into something really worthwhile, if they let it. But my personal opinion is they need to let the current culture go, and think more about what they want this site to be in 5 years, 10 years, 50 years.
What is their vision for social communications for the short, mid, and long-term future? Is it superficial communications and small discussions around niche interests? Or is more like the discussion boards as they existed, for example, in Ender's game, where where leaders of the world have serious talks about policy, politics, and philosophy, and invoke real change?
I mention the Ender's game boards specifically because it seems so easy to start to transition reddit towards something like that. Make karma worth something. Have karma split into types for entertainment vs. insightful commentary, and earn your way onto "serious" boards. Let the current site just be the starting point, but build a new tier above it, of more serious talk. Build your way up into a multi-faceted communication tool that can be taken seriously by all levels of society, while still leaving the light-hearted, superficial nature of its current culture intact for those who want it.
I have no idea what the reddit leadership desires... I am sure there are 1000 other directions it can be taken. But they need to pick a direction and start going there. Because right now, the site is growing in numbers, but stagnating by all other metrics.
What is their vision for social communications for the short, mid, and long-term future? Is it superficial communications and small discussions around niche interests? Or is more like the discussion boards as they existed, for example, in Ender's game, where where leaders of the world have serious talks about policy, politics, and philosophy, and invoke real change?
I mention the Ender's game boards specifically because it seems so easy to start to transition reddit towards something like that. Make karma worth something. Have karma split into types for entertainment vs. insightful commentary, and earn your way onto "serious" boards. Let the current site just be the starting point, but build a new tier above it, of more serious talk. Build your way up into a multi-faceted communication tool that can be taken seriously by all levels of society, while still leaving the light-hearted, superficial nature of its current culture intact for those who want it.
I have no idea what the reddit leadership desires... I am sure there are 1000 other directions it can be taken. But they need to pick a direction and start going there. Because right now, the site is growing in numbers, but stagnating by all other metrics.