The majority doesn't have to go anywhere. Just the most engaged people (the ones who will be visiting /r/place, for example) who provide the value that keeps the other ones visiting and viewing ads. Once they're the only ones left the site will be basically a zombie.
It takes time for giants to fall. Digg is still around to this day, and Reddit will likely be around a decade from now too. It just won't be the "front page of the Internet" any more.
I feel like it’s a thing you really can do only once. Just like Twitch plays Pokémon. It’s super exciting when no one knows what’s the outcome. People try to figure it out in real time.
But the second time you already know what’s going to happen. People have already figured it out. Subs had already worked out plans before it even started.
Any attempt at replicating it becomes stale in comparison.
Yeah and it’s also too much effort for communities to band together around it every year. Someging that requires this much effort from communities should remain once every 5 years, otherwise they’ll stop participating.
Not that it even matters at this point :(
I feel it might remain special with enough time between events. Once every 4+ years allows enough shift in users and internet culture to make each unique, if not as special as the first time. Allow every Reddit-"generation" to make their mark.
This one is just empty, though.
I never tried it, thinking, "there's always next year."
Fuck Spez. I'll go back to Reddit to protest there and then leave again, bye it's not what I'd hoped.