https://www.google.com/search?...

Even replacing the mods doesn't do much good if they don't have tools to moderate with. The trolls must be circling reddit like crows over roadkill right now. It will become a cesspool very quickly without the mods and the third party tools they use. I don't see how reddit wins here, except by destroying their site to cash out. But even that is not a sure thing anymore, because if making reddit more attractive to investors is the goal, this is not the way to do it.

They ARE being held hostage by the moderators though. Reddit can't moderate on its own, it needs them. Not to mention that half their content is currently down. The blackout is very widespread. Reddit is nothing new or unique. Its only value is the communities, which are super pissed about this. If most subs don't come back tomorrow, and a reasonable alternative presents itself, it may be the beginning of the end.

My VPN costs $70 for 3 years :)

Why don't they feed the world, establish world peace, or develop a cure for cancer? Because it's their money and they can do what they want with it.

Wikipedia enjoys a level of public support other sites just don't, at least at the moment. This combined with the fact they provide a useful service likely gives them some leeway. I think it's a little cynical to assume this is about stifling dissent. They just have regulation fever at the moment.

Going to Mars is just more marketing BS from Musk. I doubt he can do it, and even if he can I doubt it will matter. There is no compelling reason to send humans to Mars considering the advances in robotics we have made. Yeah it would be cool.. but it's entirely impractical. That he also wants us to think we will be able to LIVE on Mars should tell you how serious he really is.