So it happened. The clusterf*ck that is Reddit hosted Brian, The Points Guy, and it got run over by a steamroller. Ultimately, I’m somewhat happy about the end result. I don’t like bullying, and I feel that the AMA (Ask me anything) may have crossed that line, but I do like that there is a page out there that really spells out some big issues about that site.
Here’s the top 3 questions. Reddit users upvote these to create a list based on popularity.
Comment
byu/thepointsguy from discussion
inIAmA
Comment
byu/thepointsguy from discussion
inIAmA
Comment
byu/thepointsguy from discussion
inIAmA
Why this is awesome
Simply put, a consumer who stumbles upon that Reddit AMA will start asking questions. These questions are legitimate, and often washed over by those in the points selling game. A novice to it all might not even think to ask them, but once they do, it is a step in the right direction for everyone, it adds in a layer of transparency, and creates a more educated consumer. If everyone who went along to sites like The Points Guy knew the full story, and still got a bunch of credit cards there, then good for them, and I wouldn’t begrudge the owners making good money on that at all.
So were the masses being dicks by upvoting some questions and downvoting others? Certainly, but in doing so they stole a chance to show the world that there’s more than meets the eye to the points game. I’d say that was the perfect example of what Reddit is, curated content, by the people, for the people.
I don’t see it as bullying when someone is so clearly trying to be a “rock star” & putting himself everywhere for free publicity. These are legitimate questions to ask. I have major issues with how he and certain other bloggers push some cards as instant ways to travel in first class for free forever when in reality it’s much more complicated than that, and that’s not how they travel so lavishly themselves.
You know, I had my reservations, because when I briefly looked at the thread I saw a lot of ridiculous questions. In the same way that when a politician goes on a radio show, a bunch of people who are either supporters or opponents (depending upon who’s got the more organized ground game) fill up all the time with questions they want people to hear the answers to. This makes it impossible for a regular person with no agenda to get a question they are genuinely curious about answered.
However, looking at the three questions that rose to the top (as reported above by Matt), they’re reasonable questions asked respectfully. I’d say that’s a success. Even for him, actually, because I think it could’ve been much worse.
I don’t think this was “bullying” at all… those Top 3 questions are completely reasonable, and probably very educational to folks who may not have known how his business actually makes money.
It would have been bullying if it had made Brian “feel bad” (which I imagine would be tough to do) or degenerated into personal attacks… which it didn’t.
Not that I was particularly impressed by his answers (fluffy or redirecting), but that wasn’t surprising either.
In the end, he probably got what he wanted… more publicity for his business.