--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What one realizes there is that we are…" description: "\"What one realizes there is that we are not in control of the [reddit] community, in any way, shape or form. We have no power over it and so we've lost ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/alexis-ohanian-4303_community_what-one-realizes-there-is-that-we-are-n_2749297.jpg" --- # What one realizes there is that we are not in control of… ![“What one realizes there is that we are not in control of the [reddit] community, in any way, shape or form. We have no power over it and so we've lost this total control.” quote by Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/alexis-ohanian-4303_community_what-one-realizes-there-is-that-we-are-n_2749297.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/alexis-ohanian-4303_community_what-one-realizes-there-is-that-we-are-n_2749297.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/alexis-ohanian-4303_community_what-one-realizes-there-is-that-we-are-n_2749297.jpg) > “What one realizes there is that we are not in control of the \[reddit\] community, in any way, shape or form. We have no power over it and so we've lost this total control.” [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledges lack of control over online communities and its impact on influence **In simple terms:** We can't fully control community behavior Key Takeaway Accept limits and adapt strategies Themes control community powerlessness Mood reflective realistic Type philosophical strategic When to use this quote - online forums - brand management - content moderation Key Concepts digital platforms network effects Questions to Reflect On - How can you influence a community without direct control? - What alternative levers exist? A Different Perspective Community dynamics can shift unpredictably, reducing influence ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Control Reddit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-reddit-3086458/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Over it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over-it/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Realizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing/) [Reddit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reddit/) [Reddit Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reddit-community-264125/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Total Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/total-control-334702/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [The weird thing about reddit is that, for a community its size - now I'm no longer at reddit, but the public traffic numbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/the-weird-thing-about-reddit-is-that-for-a-community-its-size-now-i-m/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [All of us at reddit work here because we think that reddit is a community like none other. We think it can be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yishan-wong/all-of-us-at-reddit-work-here-because-we-think-that-reddit-is-a/) [Yishan Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yishan-wong/) > [Facebook makes me hate the people I know, and Reddit makes me love the people I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/facebook-makes-me-hate-the-people-i-know-and-reddit-makes-me-love-the/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [If I were a snarky Reddit user though, I would say, hypothetically, that that would just be like reading Reddit's Front Page a day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/if-i-were-a-snarky-reddit-user-though-i-would-say-hypothetically-that/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [I guess if you include contractors that are six or seven people working on reddit, but when we got acquired there were basically three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/i-guess-if-you-include-contractors-that-are-six-or-seven-people/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [The best part of being an angel investor is seeing these kids coming up with companies that get way more traffic than Reddit had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/the-best-part-of-being-an-angel-investor-is-seeing-these-kids-coming/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [Having that kind of endorsement and having Paul Graham's readership coming to your site and contributing to it and building the foundation of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/having-that-kind-of-endorsement-and-having-paul-graham-s-readership/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [If you do a joke that's really old, then what happens is people on Reddit and Twitter just go, 'Real original, you're just doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hardwick/if-you-do-a-joke-that-s-really-old-then-what-happens-is-people-on/) [Chris Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hardwick/) > [I am not on tumblr. I can barely spell tumblr. However, there does seem to be someone on tumblr (who copied my reddit user…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-collins/i-am-not-on-tumblr-i-can-barely-spell-tumblr-however-there-does-seem/) [Misha Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-collins/) > [Reddit strives to be a community-oriented link-sharing and news site, which means that all our content is submitted and voted on by members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yishan-wong/reddit-strives-to-be-a-community-oriented-link-sharing-and-news-site/) [Yishan Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yishan-wong/) > [I'm all for experimenting with sortition - randomly selected representative bodies of citizens. But I don't favor direct democracy. We're busy. We have lives.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/i-m-all-for-experimenting-with-sortition-randomly-selected/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [It's tempting to just write a comic called 'Everyone Mail Randall Munroe Twenty Bucks' - maybe it would work, and I could just close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-munroe/it-s-tempting-to-just-write-a-comic-called-everyone-mail-randall/) [Randall Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-munroe/) > [If I use Facebook to stay in touch with my high school friends who are church-going Republicans, I may be getting more ideological diversity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-zuckerman/if-i-use-facebook-to-stay-in-touch-with-my-high-school-friends-who/) [Ethan Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-zuckerman/) > [Reddit names are unconnected to real-world identities and it's commonplace for users to create 'throwaway' accounts to reveal sensitive information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-zuckerman/reddit-names-are-unconnected-to-real-world-identities-and-it-s/) [Ethan Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-zuckerman/) > [I'm not looking to step in and make 'big, bold changes' - I think reddit is great, and the team has a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yishan-wong/i-m-not-looking-to-step-in-and-make-big-bold-changes-i-think-reddit/) [Yishan Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yishan-wong/) ## More by Alexis Ohanian > [Our competition has always been anything that is wasting your time when you're bored at work. In a broad sense. We want people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/our-competition-has-always-been-anything-that-is-wasting-your-time/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [Everything is derivative. Everything is a remix, and we all stand on the shoulders of giants - a great phrase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/everything-is-derivative-everything-is-a-remix-and-we-all-stand-on/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [Let's say you're all worried about student-loan debt and you need to have steady income. That doesn't have to be your everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/let-s-say-you-re-all-worried-about-student-loan-debt-and-you-need-to/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [I'm probably the worst Silicon Valley insider ever. I don't hang out with Silicon Valley people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/i-m-probably-the-worst-silicon-valley-insider-ever-i-don-t-hang-out/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [Every founder has to delude themselves into thinking, "Yes, it's going to be big. It's going to take over the world."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/every-founder-has-to-delude-themselves-into-thinking-yes-it-s-going/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [Love making jewelry? Awesome! Find blogs that inspire you, follow people on social media who have great taste, start an Etsy store, and borrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/love-making-jewelry-awesome-find-blogs-that-inspire-you-follow-people/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [Hundreds of these companies I've seen since the beginning stages - including Dropbox and Airbnb - one of them has actually been crushed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/hundreds-of-these-companies-i-ve-seen-since-the-beginning-stages/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [Until we actually get legislation that protects our rights online, we will continue to fight against stupid, lobbyist-bought legislation. We want bills that protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/until-we-actually-get-legislation-that-protects-our-rights-online-we/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [I often think of a quote from entrepreneur Jim Rohn: 'You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/i-often-think-of-a-quote-from-entrepreneur-jim-rohn-you-are-the/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [Because it's so empowering, I want people to think about being entrepreneurial regardless. They don't have to start companies, but that's what makes them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/because-it-s-so-empowering-i-want-people-to-think-about-being/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [People want a remarkable experience; it's what they'll talk about, largely because the bar has been set so low by so many companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/people-want-a-remarkable-experience-it-s-what-they-ll-talk-about/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [My entire career has been built on the understanding that I am not only not the smartest person in the room, I am definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/my-entire-career-has-been-built-on-the-understanding-that-i-am-not/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [If I didn't believe in rooting for founders and investing in founders, I'd be a bit of a hypocrite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/if-i-didn-t-believe-in-rooting-for-founders-and-investing-in-founders/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [I try to help founders as much as I can, but so many of us we won't even take meetings with people who still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/i-try-to-help-founders-as-much-as-i-can-but-so-many-of-us-we-won-t/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [The first version of everything is janky,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/the-first-version-of-everything-is-janky/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) [Explore all 113 Alexis Ohanian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) ## More Community quotes > [Race is the idea that a human being is more superior than another human being, race in society grants illusional rights to mistreat each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/race-is-the-idea-that-a-human-being-is-more-superior-than-another/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [The strains and stresses suffered by the individual in society are grounded in the normal functioning of that society (and of the individual!) rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/the-strains-and-stresses-suffered-by-the-individual-in-society-are/) [Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/) > [Hackney gets a bit of a bad rap, but it's the only place I've ever lived that felt like a community. I know my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-horgan/hackney-gets-a-bit-of-a-bad-rap-but-it-s-the-only-place-i-ve-ever/) [Sharon Horgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-horgan/) > [ The social \[media channel\] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) > [We're at a point in history were we have to become a part of the neighborhood of inhabited planets, like a neighborhood of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-re-at-a-point-in-history-were-we-have-to-become-a-part-of-the/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [It rolls off my back. Ridicule doesn't mean anything - even from people you're supposed to wear knee pads around, like the scientific community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-schultz/it-rolls-off-my-back-ridicule-doesn-t-mean-anything-even-from-people/) [Dwight Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-schultz/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Human life consists of doing certain things ... to take part in the life of the community; to be able to talk about subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/human-life-consists-of-doing-certain-things-to-take-part-in-the-life/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. 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