Fired Reddit Exec Launches Competing Site (thenextweb.com)

An anonymous reader writes: "Dan McComas, the former second-in-command at Reddit -- and vocal critic of its more inflammatory groups -- wants to build a better Reddit, one that focuses on 'healthy, positive communities,'" reports TheNextWeb. Raising $3 million, Imzy.com quietly launched earlier this year with over 500 discussion forums, aspiring to become an advertising-free space where content creators can interact with their fans. Moderators and users of Imzy can be "tipped" with online payments from other users, while the site hopes to remain advertising-free by taking a cut from on-site transactions. But "at its core though, Imzy wants to provide a safe place to share and discuss without the fear of being harassed, a problem Reddit has struggled with for several years."

Comments

define healthy

[turkeydance]

oh, and positive, too.

Re:define healthy

[Anonymous Coward]

am i the only one that felt the cult vibe from the website?

Re:define healthy

[Anonymous Coward]

A community that focuses on giving wealth and general messages of positivity and encouragement to a person in a leadership role encased in a cutesy art style? Never.

Re: define healthy

[Anonymous Coward]

A community where minorities and women are gods and the straight white man is not allowed unless he denigrates his own kind to bow to his new overlords.

Re:define healthy

[alvinrod]

Why it's what we're doing here of course, because we have a site that's healthy and positive, so healthy and positive is what our site doing.

I imagine they'll be about as healthy and positive as Fox News is fair and balanced.

Re: define healthy

[Anonymous Coward]

No dissenting opinions allowed. The biggest progressive echo chamber imaginable, where no one is allowes to question this ideology. And no one is allowed to say anything remotely controversial or offensive because it might "trigger" someone's negative feelings and cause untold "psychological" damage.

Re: define healthy

[WarJolt]

No dissenting opinions allowed. The biggest progressive echo chamber imaginable, where no one is allowes to question this ideology. And no one is allowed to say anything remotely controversial or offensive because it might "trigger" someone's negative feelings and cause untold "psychological" damage.

Oh... so basically /.

Re: define healthy

[Anonymous Coward]

I just signed up for an invite. Can't wait to troll them hard.

Re: define healthy

[Anonymous Coward]

Which is why I'm registered in as a mulitracial trans 'man' refugee, rape and FGM survivor.

Bow to my hormonally enlarged clitoral stub.

Re:define healthy

[bill_mcgonigle]

oh, and positive, too.

This is both healthy and positive. A good subset of the idiots will leave Reddit and go there.

The downside is that they'll all eventually say something that offends somebody and so the end-game is that all the users are banned.

Show me any person who isn't perceived as an asshole at least 1% of the time, even inadvertently.

If you give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest of men, I will find something in them which will hang him.

Re:define healthy

[McGruber]

IMZY.com's definition of healthy apparently includes a Delusion of Anonymity. From the site:

Create different profiles to fit your various identities, or even participate anonymously, all easily under one account.

Re: define healthy

[Anonymous Coward]

..only a slight amount of bias there buddy.. Of course, imzy would welcome such commentary openly. However, if you were to post

"I thought the bernie sanders worshiping marxist tax'n'spend omg everyone's a victim of straight white men sjw tards were pretty popular here?" on imzy, you'd probably be banned pretty quickly.

In contrast, slashdot allows much more open discussion which places it several cuts above most other sites and far above moronic hugboxes like imzy.

Re: define healthy

[Anonymous Coward]

A community where minorities and women are gods and the straight white man is not allowed unless he denigrates his own kind to bow to his new overlords.

Jesus, butt-hurt and whiny much?

Re: define healthy

[AmiMoJo]

So, I checked out the site and it's invite only. Did you get an invite? Have you actually confirmed that it discriminates against straight white men?

There are too many perpetual victims on Slashdot these days.

Re: define healthy

[serviscope_minor]

A community where minorities and women are gods and the straight white man is not allowed unless he denigrates his own kind to bow to his new overlords.

It's terrible. That was literally the only place on the internet where a straight white man could feel comfortable and it's been ruined. There is officially nowhere else for you. You are now an oppressed minority.

Re: define healthy

[Anonymous Coward]

It's 2016 and people have different opinions from mine? Lunacy!

Re: define healthy

[Mashiki]

It's terrible. That was literally the only place on the internet where a straight white man could feel comfortable and it's been ruined. There is officially nowhere else for you. You are now an oppressed minority.

"We demand xyz groups let us in, if they don't they're sexist/racist/homophobic!" Groups let them in.

Same said people who were whining: "We're creating safe spaces for xyz groups! Look how progressive we are!" People face palm from the hypocrisy.

Sorry, the real problem is the unbelievable hypocrisy and demands from the perpetual whiners when they want something and decide to invade someone else's places, while demanding privileges and expecting that content creators or societies bend over backwards for them. All the while, they're also running around and making segregated spaces while claiming they're ever so progressive and really, really, really, help people out. Yep it is terrible, that there's such a huge double standard.

Re: define healthy

[UnknownSoldier]

That's a good summary!

Stupid justice whiners are ignorant of a few things:

* Why are they disrespectful to everyone who doesn't kowtow to their ideology?
* Why are they so insecure that someone has a different opinion?
* ignoring a problem doesn't make it go away,
* When opinions are so homogenized that it leads to cargo cult science you effectively have created reverse discrimination -- the very definition of intolerance,
* How the fuck is incorrect information supposed to be corrected with factual information, since by definition that could be seen as 'dissenting opinion' ?

When speech has to resort to censorship, you've already "lost." All that has changed is you've changed _what_ is being censored. How about growing the fuck up and stop being so insecure that you feel the need to impose _your_ values on every else who disagrees with your narrow-minded myopic perspective? True freedom in speech is respecting everyone's opinion even if it disagree with yours. America was founded upon the ideology of I may not agree with what you say, but I'll defend your right to say it.

Not everyone shares the same opinion, and that's OK. When individuality is marginalized then you have become the very thing you originally fighting against.

--
Cult, noun, A belief system that "Our way is the only way". Modern common examples include: Stupid Justice Whiners, Fundamental Atheism, Fundamental Theism, etc.

Re: define healthy

[Mashiki]

Trouble is that people like you seem to believe the entire world is your space, because when someone creates a new place (what this thread is about), people like you start whining horribly like someone has stolen something from you.

You seem to be kind of dense, so I'll use smaller words. See it's not me that believes the entire world is my space. I have my spaces, it's when those perpetual whiners want to invade those spaces that are mine and take them away. Easy isn't it?

Indeed, so when someone actually starts using their free speech and freedom of assosciation, the perpetual whiners like you are all over it because apparently they used their freedoms wrong and that makes you sad and cross.

Very strange, considering the people(aka progressives) who are the perpetual whiners that want people not to have their own spaces(like golf courses, lounges, etc) and demand that they allow admittance are applauded. When those same people(progressives) then turn around and create those spaces on their own where others aren't allowed in...they're also applauded. You should also remember that making statements against those "spaces they're creating" is also racism, homophobia, sexism and so on.

This isn't rocket surgery. If need be, I can explain it again but you should be smart enough to figure it out.

Re: define healthy

[serviscope_minor]

it's when those perpetual whiners want to invade those spaces that are mine and take them away.

So why are you whining all over this thread then, given that this is about creating a whole new place? The founders of the new place haven't taken anything away from you yet you whinge and throw insults like you're 5.

Is it for children ?

[Anonymous Coward]

I clicked the link and visited the site. It looks like it was designed for Barney fans.

Re:Is it for children ?

[Tokolosh]

Strange. Smells like Teletubbies to me.

Awesome

[CrashNBrn]

We need something better than Usenet... Oh wait, nothing has been better than usenet, as not a single damned "service" allows you to easily filter information.

Re:Awesome

[ottawanker]

Because porn is better when it has been uuencoded, just like records sound better than CDs.

Re:Awesome

[AmiMoJo]

What makes it doxing is that it's done maliciously, to harass the victim. If it's so easy to get that information, why bother posting it? It's done to organise harassment.

Only good news!!

[Hans Lehmann]

Reminds me of a newspaper startup back in the 80's(?) called Good News, that only printed uplifting and cheerful stories. Needless to say that experiment didn't last long.

Re:Only good news!!

[JustAnotherOldGuy]

Reminds me of a newspaper startup back in the 80's(?) called Good News, that only printed uplifting and cheerful stories. Needless to say that experiment didn't last long.

Both editions are now collector's items.

Re:I'm all for it, but..

[dadelbunts]

Oh no no. I guarantee you it will still have the internet hate machine elements, just for "acceptable" topics such as all white people being racist and how REAL women are all superobese.

Can someone from that site answer a quick question

[Iamthecheese]

I understand the value of a place like this. A positive, clean environment where I can feel safe. I'm tired of the harassment and constant fighting I see in other sites. I can't wait to join. I just have a quick question. The lobotomy, does it come free with membership or do I have to pay separately?

Re:I'm all for it, but..

[Distan]

It looks to me just to be "take what is killing reddit and amplify it", not an attempt to build a healthy reddit.

Oh HELL no

[JustAnotherOldGuy]

I went to the page, and my browser immediately started asking me for "permission to send me notifications", ala "in-browser nagging and begging".

Instant turn off. Jesus fucking christ, can't you even wait until someone joins before starting to pester the shit out of them??

Also, alll the stuff about "healthy, positive communities" sounds like codespeak for "SJW's run this place". As if Reddit wasn't already infested with all the "safe space" and "triggering" and "micro-aggression" bullshit, this looks to be built for SJW's from the ground up.

Yeah, umm thanks, but I'll pass on this.

Re:Oh HELL no

[Anonymous Coward]

You can't even mention the acronym SJW without a gaggle of the crybabies coming out of the woodwork to call you a meanie it seems.

Re:Oh HELL no

[goose-incarnated]

You can't even mention the acronym SJW without a gaggle of the crybabies coming out of the woodwork to call you a meanie it seems.

Aaah typical stuff from those who like to say "SJW", which is essentially know as "making shit up".

If other's opinions bother you so much, there's a great new site you can go to - a "safe space" - where I'm sure you won't be bothered by people "making shit up". RTFA.

Re:I'm all for it, but..

[Mashiki]

A social media platform that excludes the hate machine element? ....

That's a pretty fancy way of saying "the people who disagree with me, and I can't handle competing opinions or even facts at times." Just remember that there's an entire group of people out there that believe facts are harassment, if you need shining examples all you need to do is go look at the batshit crazy on tumblr. But that constructive criticism? Those same batshit crazy people, especially those that the media like to parrot will simply believe that criticism is harassment, or sexist, or racist or simply misogyny. They don't want facts, opinions that are contrary to their feelings.

What is harrassment?

[thomasdz]

As we've learned from the new Social Justice Warriors movement, many people feel "harassed" just by comments or actions that aren't intended to be harassing... hell, I've probably scared at least three people to their safe place just by this post alone.

Re:What is harrassment?

[Anonymous Coward]

Of course you don't have know that you're harassing someone to harass them.

The legal definition of harassment is repeated undesired contact with the intent to cause (psychological) trauma. If you are told to stop calling them, and you don't, then you know you're "harassing".

However, the claims of psychological trauma are so over inflated today that SJWs say they get PTSD from Twitter -- Even though Twitter has a block function, and the service must be interacted with by the user via their choice. It's not like people can tweet @you unless you actually go to twitter, unlike a phone where anyone in the world can call and cause your phone to ring repeatedly. The problem is that "harassment" is claimed over things that you can close your eyes to make disappear. Some claim that certain people are very sensitive and get their PTSD "triggered" by certain phrases they read. If they know they are this psychologically damaged and yet willfully engage in risky behavior, such as reading a book, then they should seek help, not punishments for those who wrote words that offended them.

Imagine if history teachers had to provide "trigger warnings" and allow black students not to have to learn about slavery because it triggers the manifestation of their ancestral PTSD in their own minds. This actually is a thing. Some professors are catching flack for refusing to put trigger warnings on history... These type of "hypersensitive" people are mentally ill, and should be in an asylum (provided they're not faking for elevated victim status, which they are). Should we make the entire world a padded cell just because there are a few crazies about? If reading a book could "trigger" you, then you should know better than to be on Twitter or the Internet in general -- It's not the author's fault.

No one is responsible for what goes on in your head but you. If you can't be held responsible for the thoughts you think, then how can you hold anyone else responsible? If you wish to punish others for your own actions, such as thinking certain things, then you are legitimately insane, IMO.

Re:What is harrassment?

[quantaman]

As we've learned from the new Social Justice Warriors movement, many people feel "harassed" just by comments or actions that aren't intended to be harassing... hell, I've probably scared at least three people to their safe place just by this post alone.

After reading the comments I think a lot of people here need someone to build them a safe place to protect them from Social Justice Warriors.

Re:Extremely Dangerous

[HornWumpus]

Cash for mods with true believers on both sides. If it works, he'll be rich.

But I doubt it will get the dual critical masses required to really monetize 'the crazy'.

It's a good cynical try, I especially like the fake idealism, all while setting them up. How much money do you think you could extract from (for example) an obsessive Wikipedia article 'owner' per year? (Answer: a lot) The trick will be getting the emotional commitment from SJWs, then letting them find something to fight about, which should just be a natural thing.

Steps:
1. Collect SJWs, let them form up circle jerks.
2. Wait for inevitable slap fight.
3. Profit from the mod bombing as each circle does it's own 'Animal Farm'. Until each SJW is just jerking alone and paying.

Now that I think about it, it will only take one critical mass. As long as SJWs have each other, they will never run out of things to fight about. The usual trolls will provide any sparks needed.

Re:I'm all for it, but..

[HornWumpus]

I give him points for thinking outside the box and attempting to monetize 'the crazy'. If he can draw them all, the rest of the web will thank him.

Think about the % that 'gofundme' and other spamhandling/begging web sites get, just for being a virtual highway on-ramp. This is that, plus mod bombing for pennies/downmod. All he needs to do is implement 'peak mod pricing', for when the pissing contests get heavy and he's richer than the pope.

I don't get reddit

[future assassin]

it looks like someone used craigslist css to for a forum and tried to make it seems like Usenet?

Re:I'm all for it, but..

[Tukz]

tits or gtfo, newfag!

Re:Too Many Assholes For This To Work

[Falos]

There's going to be /something/ about you I don't like. Some of us learn to not make that a dealbreaker. Usually as schoolchildren, but late beats never.

Re:I'm all for it, but..

[AmiMoJo]

Is there really no way to differentiate genuine trolling from people who simply disagree?

I'm starting to see why the -1 troll mod is abused so much.

I remember

[ooloorie]

I remember when disgruntled guys creating new USENET groups didn't end up getting $3 million for their trouble.

Re:I wish them luck, but...

[pr0nbot]

There is such a thing as the quality of a debate, whereby people are expected to make their points with civility. If that's what's meant by a "safe" version of reddit, then I can see the merit. For example, I no longer look to Slashdot for tech discussion, because the comments appear to be dominated by uninformed and vitriolic opinion. (Next time there's a linux-related story, compare the discussion on slashdot with, for example, lwn.net.) Browsing the comments on stories like this is more of a guilty pleasure; it's kind of interesting to see just how one-sided the /. community appears to have become. Stick comment filtering on 2 and count the number of comments that are just variations of a sneering rant about SJWs and censorship.

Re:I wish them luck, but...

[JustAnotherOldGuy]

The term "safe space" makes me think of a place that's moderated for ideas certain people don't agree with,

That is exactly what it is.

"Safe" in their context means "nothing that might upset them, or make them think, or be faced with an unpopular opinion or viewpoint."