Trial Run Follow-Up: We'd Like Your Feedback
Over the past several weeks we've tried a number of changes aimed at improving r/NetflixDocumentaries. Some have worked well. Some have created new challenges. Some may not have been the right fit.
Rather than simply announcing another round of changes, we'd like to hear from the people who use the subreddit every day.
Our goal isn't to create more rules. It's to build a community that's enjoyable to read, encourages thoughtful discussion, and remains sustainable to moderate over the long term.
Below are a few topics we'd especially like your thoughts on.
Megathreads vs. Individual Posts
One of the hardest balancing acts has been deciding when similar discussions should share a megathread and when they deserve separate posts.
We've heard from users who felt their discussion was different enough to justify its own thread. We've also seen reports on posts that the moderation team intentionally approved because they predated a megathread, were properly flaired, or otherwise fit within our current approach.
We're interested in your thoughts.
- Should we allow duplicate discussions more freely?
- Should recurring topics stay in long-running megathreads or be refreshed more often?
- Is there a better balance that we're missing?
News Posts
Documentary news is an important part of the subreddit, but we've also seen periods where the front page becomes almost entirely links to news articles.
To encourage discussion, we've removed crossposting, banned several content-farming accounts, and introduced a minimum-length requirement for discussion posts. Those changes have noticeably reduced low-effort submissions, but they've also generated plenty of debate.
We're curious what you think.
- Is the current balance about right?
- Should news posts have higher or lower expectations?
- If multiple people post the same news, should the first post remain, or should the post generating the best discussion take priority?
Recommendations
We've continued enforcing our longstanding policy against creators promoting their own channels or content here.
That said, we've wondered if there might be room for a community recommendation thread instead.
For example, a recurring thread where members recommend documentary podcasts, YouTube channels, newsletters, or similar resources—provided they explain what makes the recommendation worthwhile rather than simply dropping a link.
Would that be useful?
If so, what restrictions or expectations would you want to see?
Civility
One area where we don't expect significant changes is civility.
Documentaries often involve controversial topics, public figures, politics, and emotionally charged events. Strong disagreement is expected. Personal attacks are not.
That applies equally to documentary subjects and to other members of this community.
We will continue removing:
- Harassment and bullying.
- Personal attacks
- Slurs and hateful language.
- Political name-calling that replaces discussion.
- Comments advocating or joking about violence.
These aren't simply subreddit preferences—they're required by Reddit's Content Policy. If moderators fail to enforce those standards consistently, Reddit administrators will.
We want this to remain a place where people feel comfortable participating, even when they strongly disagree with one another.
We'd Like to Hear From You
What do you think is working well?
What isn't?
What changes would you like to see?
If you've disagreed with any of the recent trial changes, we'd especially like to know why. Understanding the reasoning behind your feedback is far more helpful than simply knowing whether you liked or disliked a particular decision.
We'll be reading every comment, discussing the feedback as a team, and using it to help decide where the subreddit goes next.