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Reddit vs. Discord (for learning stuff). I wrote this while hungry, btw.

When I set out to observe two PC-building communities across both Reddit and Discord, I felt like I knew what I was getting into since I'm no stranger to either community. There would be the lost souls trying to resurrect their computer from whatever they did to break it, the posts showing off obnoxiously professional-looking PC builds from people claiming it's their first time building a computer, and endless posts debating what the proper strategy for airflow is. This time, though, I was engaging with each community to gauge how one could learn from them.

On Discord, I jumped in as an active participant since lurking on Discord has always felt strange to me, like watching from behind as your friend texts someone else. The server’s real-time chatrooms move quickly enough that contributing with small messages didn't feel like much of a time investment. I asked a few quick questions, got a few quick answers, and went about my day. It was all very human, and the fast pace offered a quick learning experience. Discord feels like fast food for learning. You rarely go into the restaurant because you have better things to do, and it feels weird to linger. So you hit the drive-thru, get your stuff, and bounce. That's what I did. I hit up a specific channel, asked what sort of computer chairs people recommend, was offered a few links, and then left knowing more than when I first arrived.

Reddit, on the other hand, was my sit-down restaurant. Here, the posts are lengthy and detailed, demanding more of your time but often providing something more substantial. If learning through Discord is hitting the Wendy's drive-thru, then learning through Reddit is grabbing a corner booth at your local Indian restaurant and settling in for an array of curries and naan. You settle in and prepare for an experience....it dawns on me that I wrote this post while hungry. That explains the food references. 

Anyway, each Reddit thread was filled to the brim with long-form opinions that went deeper than the frenetic conversations on Discord. A single thread can contain more information than you could hope to absorb.

In the end, I think both platforms are good for learning, but it depends on what you're looking to achieve. If I'm in the middle of troubleshooting my computer, then I want quick answers on the fly, and I'm likely going to Discord. If I'm asking a broader question, like what parts I should keep an eye on for my next PC build, then I'll probably want to settle for a Reddit post. You really can't go wrong...unless you go to Facebook. Then you've gone wrong. That's like eating from the dumpster behind the Panda Express.


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