First off, I consider myself a Buddhist (former Christian, and former atheist). I started going over to r/Buddhism almost two years ago mostly out of curiosity (it was different then, a lot more democratic, and somewhat more naive than it is now). Lately, it's been hijacked by a bunch wise-asses who like to think they have all the answers - even when they plainly don't! But there are some over there who are okay, and they constitute what I consider real Buddhists (I've been at this Buddhist thing in earnest for maybe 30 years; give or take). Rule one for me is is okay to think of yourself as a Buddhist, but don't ever really believe there is ever any such thing. Too many have turned it into a religion only and other a philosophy only thing. It's neither but also both at the same time. You can never pin it down to what it really is because it's so much more than 99.9999% will ever understand or even realize.

I learned a lot over there on r/Buddhism because it got me to really consider what Buddhism was all about, on a very very personal level. And not everything on that sub (weird as it gets) is as trashy as it seems on the surface, nor as religious or as philosophical as some want to pretend either. There are some people there who are really sincere and have some decent ideas about what makes Buddhism what is truly is. But some get bogged down in methodology and their own eccentric and egocentric views. Some also get snarled up in certain doctrinal ideas and also often their own egotism.

For the most part I have to say that a lot of the people hanging out over there aren't what I consider real Buddhists, even if they think they are. Buddhism is far too simple and yet complex too explain in words; far too involved internally than most of those people on r/Buddhism apparently understand. I think maybe none of them will ever get it, nor really want to.

I have to say, after a lot of contemplation over what makes Buddhism really Buddhism; it's not something you can ever really fully understand (in so many words) or simply put your finger on as matter of fact, a this-or-that. However try saying that over there; it won't go over very well. Most people on that sub think it is expressible in a few mere words and there particular version is the cat's pajamas; the wiser ones know better, and don't say it, realizing it will rob them of their inner peace; their needed balance.

I know a lot of the people who were on r/Buddhism have stopped posting. One rather nice woman from the UK decided it was too much bullshit, too much political wrangling. She went on to much better things as a serious social counselor professionally, still doing zen in her life privately. I think that gives witness to the overriding fact that the Buddhism sub has gone to shit in a hand basket - populated by the typical internet know-it-alls we all love and learn to despise. You can tell that by the kind of questions that roll in there now. The mods there have squelched a lot of people because of particular misconceptions, and have allowed some others (bigger squeakier wheels) to reign free because of the sub-based politics that abide there.

I still like to go in and find one or two posts that seem to hold enough promise to develop into a good dialog. But I can go a weeks without wanting or feeling a need to post a word there. I used to post there regularly, almost daily. It used to be fun, but now it's a hangout for charlatans and crafty high-minded illusory-practiced trolls, advocating something other than real Buddhism in the clothes of what's usually called Buddhism.