I'm not critiquing ewk here. Just think it's interesting that one person has control over the culture and direction of an entire subreddit simply as a result of diligent, ongoing effort.
This sub is incredibly underpopulated and there are way more regulars here than in other subs. And that's actually quite strange, because the term "Zen" attracts a lot of general attention and interest.
I think that's because of ewk's effort to maintain a culture that simply doesn't allow for it to glut with people or go in wild directions. This sub is very conservative and holds to ewk's beliefs. The sub is not without dissent, but the dissent is met with consistent rebuttal by ewk and those who agree with him. Ewk's consistency permeates through the sub, and this is his sangha. Whether or not he is a Zen master, I don't know. But he is the master of this domain. And it's incredibly interesting that someone is capable of that without being the focal point of the sub themself (e.g. Celebrity sub reddits).
Newcomers quickly encounter ewk, and whether or not they stay depends on their willingness to accept his presence and ideals. Many quickly leave as a result, and those who stay are either partial to ewk or consistently trying to undermine him.
I commend the spirit of his diligence and his attitude towards looking to what the Zen masters actually said. But, I wonder if ewk will ever be able to "let go" of this sub (whether or not that should be a desirable thing for him or anyone else is not the point).
When ewk finally does let go or depart, this place will either transform, or it will hold to his precident and teachings. In the end, ewk, like all, will be forgotten.
Submitted January 11, 2020 at 11:33AM by otherbody https://ift.tt/2tJULwZ
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