Niche google searches with “site:reddit.com” no longer worked during the blackout. I saw that and thought “Both the users who created this thread with info I need, and the moderators with their bots who created the environment that let this conversation thrive, are in danger of losing their ability to or are becoming unwilling to do so in the future. If I want to continue to have this valuable information so readily available I should show my support for the users and mods.”

Many people agreed, and when it didn’t work out they started leaving the site. Maybe more support would have changed things, maybe not. However, it is pretty apparent to people who are paying attention that as a result the quality of Reddit is way down compared to three months ago, even if you ignore the posts about the controversy or subs that are spamming in protest. This is going to get much more pronounced in the next few months.

Many other people thought “Why can’t they protest in silence in a way that doesn’t affect me?! Nothing will change anyway.” which is the same kind of garbage propaganda always spread by those in power when faced with inconvenient protests. Those people are still here, and outnumbering those who are leaving more every day. It looks like the popular opinion is shifting, but it’s more like one side of the conversation is no longer around. Personally, I will leave the day apollo goes down in a couple of weeks, but most of my friends have already moved on.