Exploring the Most Civil Subreddits on Reddit

Within my seven years of Reddit, I've come to realize that most subreddits are generally civil places. Users show mutual respect, and the sense of community is often strong. However, there are exceptions and nuances to this civility. This article delves into the factors that make certain subreddits civil, examining community policies and dynamics that foster a respectful environment.

The Influence of Community Identity

Strong community identity plays a significant role in maintaining civil behavior. Subreddits with a tight sense of ingroup/outgroup distinction—such as those focused on niche interests like /r/chess, /r/cocktails, /r/AskLiteraryStudies, /r/trumpet, /r/languagelearning, and /r/opera—tend to be more civil. In these subreddits, participants feel a stronger connection to each other, fostering a more respectful atmosphere. In contrast, large, general-purpose subreddits like /r/news, /r/pics, /r/WTF, /r/TodayILearned, and /r/videos often lack the same level of community identity and, as a result, may be more uncivil even when size is controlled.

The Role of Anonymity

Anonymity can also contribute to civility. On Reddit, the lack of names, photos, or bios can prevent users from pigeonholing or dehumanizing each other. While this absence of personal details can sometimes lead to the dehumanization of others, it may also prevent users from dismissing individuals as being unlike themselves. This phenomenon is particularly evident in subreddits where users mock or disagree with each other, like /r/SubredditDrama, /r/moviescirclejerk, /r/badlinguistics, and /r/IAmVerySmart. Participants in these subreddits are often still civil to each other, and the clear in/out distinction can lead to a tightly knit community, such as /r/fitnesscirclejerk and /r/badliterature.

Ingroup vs. Outgroup Dynamics

In addition to community identity, ingroup/outgroup dynamics significantly influence subreddit civility. Topics that are inherently controversial, such as politics, religion, and social justice, can easily turn uncivil when participants' views are not well-aligned. For example, /r/chess is generally calm, but discussions about women in chess can lead to uncivil behavior. Similarly, /r/politics is rarely civil. Although some topics display greater variation in civility across subreddits, the variation is generally higher across different topics within a single subreddit.

The "Horny Dude Online" Effect

A third factor contributing to incivility is the "horny dude online" effect, where inappropriate comments about women's appearances surface whenever images of women are posted. This behavior is common across most subreddits but can be mitigated in female-dominated spaces like /r/makeupaddiction, in communities that are either explicitly feminist or implicitly so due to their dominant younger, liberal members, and in subreddits that have explicit rules against such comments.

What Policies Keep Subreddits Civil?

Several policies can help maintain a civil atmosphere on subreddits. These include:

Controlling Controversial Topics: Subreddits that focus on less sensitive topics or avoid topics that are controversial in real life tend to be more civil. For example, /r/chess is generally more civil than /r/politics. Community Identity and Civility: Subreddits where civility is an essential part of the ingroup identity are more likely to maintain a respectful environment. Communities like /r/ChangeMyView and /r/AskHistorians, where the community's existence is based on civility, exemplify this. Prominent community figures who model kind behavior can influence others to follow suit. Such individuals can be recognized through user flairs, moderator roles, and gamified systems that reward kindness. Visual Differentiation and Community Engagement: Enhancing a sense of community through visual elements, such as customized CSS, creating common knowledge resources, and recurring threads, can foster a more civil environment. Sticky threads, general discussion threads, and community events also contribute to a stronger community feeling and, consequently, increased civility. Enforcing Rules: Subreddit rules that clearly prohibit uncivil behavior and have consequences for violators are essential. While deleting content and banning users can mitigate some incivility, comprehensively addressing the issue requires addressing the root causes and enforcing rules consistently.

In conclusion, a combination of community identity, policies, and individual behavior can foster a civil atmosphere on Reddit. By understanding these dynamics, users and mods can work together to maintain these subreddits as welcoming and respectful spaces.