[Meta] Reddit is saying goodbye to CSS

[u/ojima]

Original post here

Yesterday, reddit moderators announced an upcoming "update", whereby they will be trying to redesign the format of reddit in such a way that it will improve the experience of people on mobile phones. One of the downsides of this update would be that reddit would have to say goodbye to CSS and all the stylesheets that come with it. Since /r/DemocratiaUniversalis makes use of a CSS stylesheet (called /r/Naut), and a lot of the functionality of our beloved subreddit comes with this stylesheet (think of the user and post flairs, as well as our recently added logo at the top of the page), all of this functionality would be lost for us.

Here is a small list of just a small bit of the things you may find missing from Reddit after this change on some other subreddits as well. (list credits go to /u/reseph)

• Functionality: /r/Overwatch has subreddit filters

• Functionality: /r/Dota2 has a list of current livestreams and their # of viewers

• UX: /r/videos has a list of rules where on hover it expands out to explain each rule

• Functionality: /r/Minecraft has a list of server status (icons) on sidebar

• UX: /r/Hearthstone has notices & links on the top banner

• Personality: /r/ffxiv has various CSS Easter Eggs to give it a bit more personality

• Functionality: /r/Starcraft has a "verified user" system

• UX: /r/Guildwars2 increased the the size of "message the moderators" to make it stand out more

• UX: /r/ffxi has a small tooltip if a user hasn't set a user flair yet

• UX: /r/DarkSouls2 has related subreddits linked on the sidebar with images instead of text

• Personality: /r/mildlyinfuriating's joke where it slightly rotates "random" comment threads

• Functionality: /r/ClashOfClans not only has a list of livestreams, but thumbnail previews of each

• UX: /r/DarkSouls3 has a reminder when hovering over the downvote button

• Personality: /r/StarWars has quote popups when you upvote

• UX: /r/pcmasterrace has changed the "report" link to red

• UX: /r/explainlikeimfive has custom colored link flair icons

• Personality: /r/mylittlepony has countless emotes

• Personality: /r/onepiece has a scrolling banner (which can be paused)

• UX: /r/FinalFantasy has green background stickies to make them stand out

• Personality: /r/mildlyinteresting has a moving gauge on sidebar

• Functionality: /r/IASIP has a top menu

• UX: /r/DoctorWho has a light red box on sidebar for new users to read

• UX: /r/gallifrey disables the PM link on "Created by" so users focus on modmail

Obviously there is a lot more going on backstage, but the main problem I, as a reddit moderator, have with this update, is that reddit is throwing a way a very important part of their core system away by dismantling CSS: all subreddits would become equals and equally boring, losing their own unique twist and flavor that moderators could now freely give to their subs.

The admins have made it clear that they don't care what the moderators or users of the site think however and they know best and will be pushing forward with this development. We hope there may be some of our users who care enough about the CSS here and their other subreddits that by being vocal and outspoken early we can maybe prevent Reddit from making this mistake.

If you want to show your support, head over to /r/proCSS - subscribe, help recruit and organise, and just raise awareness. We need more people to know about this, so let everybody know.

[u/Timewalker102]

Bring Back Pao