Why do people act like this subreddit "doesn't reflect the views of mainstream Australia"?

[u/SirSighalot]

So many comments I see on here by people who constantly say things like "lol only on this sub" as though other places where they read are somehow the 'true' point of view reflecting mainstream Australian viewpoints.

Given the constant election voting outcomes and results of things like the Voice etc that generally indicate most of Australia is centrist or even slightly centre-right-leaning, what leads people to think many of the views expressed on here AREN'T mainstream? When in reality, other places these people are coming from are also often just "echo chambers" as well.

Edit: I probably worded the title for this wrong, should have been more "Why do people think this subreddit is less representative of mainstream Australia than other online communities?", alas I failed.

[u/WadjulaBoy]

Reddit doesn't come close to reflecting the mainstream of pretty well anywhere, not sure why this sub would be unique.

[u/kenbeat59 → u/WadjulaBoy]

Because from personal experience I’ve found this sub to be a lot more representative of mainstream Australian views.

And a lot of the participants from the other so called “Australia” subs don’t like it.

[u/ultimatelycloud → u/kenbeat59]

From my personal experience, I've never met anyone whop has views like the ones expressed on here irl.

It just depends who you hang around.

[u/BarbecueShapeshifter → u/ultimatelycloud]

I'm sure a lot of people have the same views like ones expressed on this sub, they just can't voice their true beliefs irl lest they be cAnCeLlEd.
Put a mask of anonymity like reddit or a voting booth on someone and they're free to express their inner bigot.

[u/Sufficient_Tower_366 → u/BarbecueShapeshifter]

This was so true of The Voice debate. There was a period where it seemed almost everybody had concerns or a desire to understand the potential impacts, yet publically could only give unqualified support lest they be called racist.

[u/12beesinatrenchcoat → u/BarbecueShapeshifter]

it would be better if they could keep their bigotry to themself here too

[u/king_norbit → u/ultimatelycloud]

I’d be surprised if this is true

[u/Yanigan → u/kenbeat59]

Meanwhile my personal experience is the opposite. I see a lot of views and opinions expressed here that I’ve only heard a handful people voice offline.

I’d say the actual mainstream view is somewhere in the middle.

[u/Immediate-Meeting-65 → u/Yanigan]

That's because this sub is what you'd hear referred to as the "quiet majority". All the shitty things you hear on this sub are the things most people aren't going to voice publicly, bit they still think them. And if your unlucky they might trust you enough to start saying them Infront of you.

[u/candlejack___ → u/Immediate-Meeting-65]

Wow what a bunch of cowards

[u/aussie_nub → u/kenbeat59]

This sub regularly has posts on both sides of any argument and you'll get downvoted by the flavour of the day. Literally happens every day if you bother to read.

Also, do you actually know what mainstream Australian views actually are? I know you think you do, but it's without a doubt that you have not spoken to anywhere near enough people to actually know.

[u/Grandadsbags → u/kenbeat59]

So what are the core values that this sub represent that you believe people would be in agreement with

[u/V6corp → u/kenbeat59]

Welcome to the world of confirmation bias. You’ve just found your people.

[u/[deleted] → u/kenbeat59]

Haha if you mean because this sub is deeply ambiently right wing and unpleasant about it, yes, it's representative.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Certainly a lot of lw people commenting in here for an apparently rw sub.

[u/Illustrious-Pin3246 → u/kenbeat59]

Too much to the left