Internet Underbelly Department
Reddit’s general manager Erik Martin says Reddit is a “free speech site and the cost of that is that there’s stuff that’s offensive on there.” Here’s a sampling:
/r/beatingwomen
A reddit community with over 1,100 readers. Most of the posts are graphically violent images of battered women. Despite the morally repulsive content, defenders of the community call it “trolling”, only designed to provoke a reaction.
/r/mensrights
Reddit’s feminist communities often accuse this 28,700 strong subreddit of misogyny. Members believe “men are currently being disadvantaged by society” and “fight” for male equality. While there may be discrimination against men in education and the court system, many discussions become overly mean-spirited against women, especially with the topic of female rape accusers.
/r/jailbait
Reddit administrators shut down this community after CNN’s Anderson Cooper did a story on it in late September. Before its shutdown, redditors posted and commented on sexually suggestive pictures of adolescent girls. Archives and less popular offshoots have been created in the wake of its shutdown.
