HN is not a replacement for Reddit in general though.
Reddit is a collection of forums/communities with wildly varying topics. HN is just one specific forum.
Some of the worst behaviors that are common in many Reddit subs are discouraged here in HN, and for that I'm thankful. But the topics aren't the same, so one cannot replace the other in general.
A farmers market has a narrower selection than a supermarket, but you’d be healthier in the long run only shopping at the farmers market than going to the grocery store and being bombarded by processed garbage, even if you try to stick to the good aisles.
The problem with Reddit is that the worst of Reddit inevitably pollutes the best of Reddit. Better for your mental diet to avoid altogether.
Continuing the analogy, what if instead of groceries/vegetables you want to buy a car, or discuss a movie, or exchange ideas about watercolor techniques? What use is a farmers market then?
> The problem with Reddit is that the worst of Reddit inevitably pollutes the best of Reddit. Better for your mental diet to avoid altogether.
Reddit does attract some unsavory types, but on the other hand, HN has a very narrow focus while Reddit covers more topics I'm interested in. It wouldn't make sense to avoid it, or to claim HN is a way to de-reddit -- they don't cover the same niches!
And I don't go randomly browsing Reddit looking for subs to read; instead I seek out subs about specific topics I'm interested in. I would say it's HN that I browse randomly, without looking for anything in particular... HN is a "random news" portal for me.
I still use Reddit in the way you’re suggesting, which is when I occasionally have a specific use.
What I meant was that I don’t visit Reddit by instinct anymore when I’m bored - even “good” subreddits. The general user base is not high quality. Even for topics I’m interested in, I really can’t stand the Reddit vibe that inevitably seeps through. It’s incredibly predictable.
