>>Or is the problem that /r/the_donald exists? Just don't go there if you don't like it.
I think the issue with r/the_donald, and other extremist subreddits (and online communities in general) is that they generate lies, whip each other into a rage-induced frenzy over those lies and then spread that hatred elsewhere on the Internet, and some of that even spills onto real life via certain conservative news outlets. In addition, anyone who even slightly disagrees is banned with prejudice.
Then why not remove r/politics for your same reason? Or r/latestagecapitalism. Crazies from that subteddit have the nerve to post in other parts of Reddit.
The biggest problem, imho is that there is an attempt to 'deplatform' dissenting views. (That term was coined by people on the left actually doing it)
Quite simply it boils down to vilifying your opponents, classifying dissenting views as 'toxic' or 'hatespeech', and screeching loudly and as often as you can to get the opposition removed. If they move, do the same to them on the next site.
This is big money apparently pushing for this as an 'online strategy' to remove opposition. Heck I can buy as many reddit accounts and votes as I like.
We need to push back and see it what it is - to try and remove any wrong think and get people thinking as a controllable single mass.
I think the issue with r/the_donald, and other extremist subreddits (and online communities in general) is that they generate lies, whip each other into a rage-induced frenzy over those lies and then spread that hatred elsewhere on the Internet, and some of that even spills onto real life via certain conservative news outlets. In addition, anyone who even slightly disagrees is banned with prejudice.
This makes the problem difficult to ignore.