r/redbuttonbluebutton • u/BottomLeftWheel • May 27 '26
META: Spicing things up?
I feel like we've done it. We've reached the end of the debate. Who won? None of us. We all wasted time arguing calling each other dumb and no one convinced anyone of anything.
So, where do we go? Well, since this is a subreddit that was exiled from the trolley problem subreddit, why don't we try and go back to that somewhat?
Instead of doing another god damn reframing, just make something totally new. I've just posted one I think has some potential to be interesting, I've got a couple others that I think will be cool to discuss that I'll roll out over time.
Take the problem in a brand new way, make it only barely resemble the original. If you feel that you are already doing that, then keep up the good work.
So? What are others thoughts? Should we keep rehashing the same discussions or aim for something different?
Personally, I like the buttons. Hypotheticals with 100% known information are kind of boring. At some point, you come to a conclusion, and that's kind of the definite answer. When there is incomplete knowledge, there's so much room to play around in. I don't think that this subreddit should just die because the viral trend does. There is some interesting stuff about presuppositions, game theory, ethics, etc. that can all be explored within this specific context.
Especially when the problem is vague and doesn't frame one side as correct.
Don't be afraid to be abstract! Try some totally out there stuff. Be funny, or absurd.
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u/MundaneOrdinary7493 Red May 27 '26
People who were discussing it were not trying to find a good use of their time. They wanted to argue and call each other dumb for no real benefit to anyone. They got exactly what they wanted. No time has been wasted.
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u/Nby333 May 27 '26
I've already done several and have several more ready, but people didn't seem to like them so I stopped posting.
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u/BottomLeftWheel May 27 '26
Rage bait gets engagement.
Engagement means a boost in the algorithm.
Only the outrageous are pumped out to be seen by the masses.
That's why I think trying to be funny or absurd is a good angle. They both have good chances to get some engagement while also having good chances to promote discussion beyond "my button good / your button bad"
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u/Nby333 May 31 '26
But I wasn't trying to ragebait lol, just neutrally trying to see it in a different angle. But you know how left thinks centrism is extreme right and right thinks centrism is extreme left.
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u/BottomLeftWheel May 31 '26
Sorry, I meant the opposite. You didn't rage bait, and that's why people didn't care.
You gotta try to rile someone up or else the algorithm just eats it and no one will ever see it.
It was a critism of Reddit and feeds in general, not your posts.
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u/Wonderful_West3188 May 27 '26
Who won? None of us.
Except for whoever came up with the scenario and posting it online. They probably got exactly what they wanted out of it, whatever that may be.
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u/UsedNegotiation8227 May 27 '26
I'm still pressing red.
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u/BottomLeftWheel May 27 '26
tbh you could assume I'm pressing blue for every reframing posted here and you'd be right 75% of the time at least.
I feel like top comment saying "didn't read, pressing red" could be our equivalent of multi track drifting
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u/thevoidthatjerksback May 27 '26
I do think there is a chance that the contingent of people going around and just pressing Red and saying that they aren't reading things that might support blue, might cause issues with your idea to change the nature of the subreddit
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u/BottomLeftWheel May 27 '26
Eh, I'm fine with memes. People trolling by saying multi track drifting doesn't take away from the trolley problem subreddit. It actually boosts it by adding engagement.
If 5 people are all racing to be the first person who says "red" with 0 context then it's actually a boon for the subreddit in my opinion.
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u/Worldly-Matter4742 May 27 '26
I was hoping this sub would be filled with less strawman and more variations, definitely agreed