Except for the vote counts changing, I really don't see that my Reddit experience has changed at all from when I first opened my first account 2 years ago. Each sub has its rules, and I find if I don't break them, I can say what I want. I've never been shadowbanned, despite playing devil's advocate at times.

I do understand they've come down on some subs that are borderline child porn or have had some behavior that has made some people fear for their safety, but I would expect any website that wants at least a few advertisers to make sure their website has some standard of human decency.

And all the Ellen Pao hate has been overkill. I don't see how she's ruined Reddit. And as far as I'm concerned, Victoria's firing is absolutely none of my business. Companies let people go all the time. If it was something unfair or unjust, then Victoria has the right to take legal action. Again, none of my business.

In some threads, some of the language thrown at Pao in response to her posts in those threads has been borderline threatening and definitely over the line in terms of social decency (e.g. calling her the C-word), illustrating her point that Reddit needs to feel a little safer for all its users.

I think it's overkill. Reddit is just a message board. And there will always be message boards on the web. As for freedom of speech, Reddit has always kept it only so free, as there are rules in each sub that limit it to some extent.

As for the mod protest. I view it as an abuse of power as they limited my movement as a user through Reddit. I was no longer able to participate in many of my favorite subs. They cut off me and millions of other users who could care less about the firing of Victoria or their problems with the admins. We come to enjoy the website, and to most of us it's just as fun and free as it always has been.