Archive link.

Why are we making these changes? // We mentioned early this year that we want to both make Reddit simpler and a place where the community empowers the community more directly.

Might as well say "we're changing it because capybaras need to learn to fly better", as it makes as much logic as they said. (None.) Or just, you know, admit why you're actually doing it?

In the most lenient of the hypotheses, they might have been taking old feedback into account... but only after said feedback lose relevance. Users hated awards when they were implemented, as they were clearly a way to convert money into post promotion. Except that now users grew used to those awards, so their removal will be clearly met with resistance.

Another possibility is that they're trying to simplify the system not for the users, but for advertisers. Think about it: if Reddit plans to allow you to sell karma for money, perhaps it's also planning to allow you to buy karma with money. Advertisers would love this; instead of buying coins to grant themselves awards, now they would be able to buy an arbitrary amount of upvotes to boost their spam.

A third possibility is some unknown party bribing a few Reddit key positions here and there, to wreck their product on purpose. So when the IPO happens, Reddit prices are in the rock bottom, and the unknown party can buy the platform really cheap.

Frankly none of those things seem remotely sane for me. That's how puzzling their decision is in my view.

On a personal note: in my several years at Reddit, I’ve been focused on how to help redditors be able to express themselves in fun ways and feel joy when their content is celebrated. I led the product launch on awards – if you happen to recognize the username – so this is a particularly tough moment for me as we wind these products down. At the same time, I’m excited for us to evolve our thinking on rewarding contributions to make it more valuable to the community.

So your actions did absolutely nothing, and now you're realising it? Might as well call yourself Epimetheus.