That is what the OP is about, they have since altered their algorithms to avoid pure cat pictures and jokes by inflating the value of certain sub reddits.

For many people, reddit is merely a source of internet junk food. They go there for cheap, quick hits of mindless amusement.

See also: buzzfeed, 9gag, imgur, funnyjunk, etc.

I wish so hard I could filter out the junk posts. Just give me something to read, a good article, a debate.

Log in, unsubscribe from all the default front-page subreddits, and put together your own mix based on stuff you're interested in. The Reddit I read by doing this is a pretty genteel and sensible place.

r/all right now has 4/25 threads from the funny subreddit

no cat pictures, 2 gifs of dogs being cute

I check r/all because it's the breadth focused zeitgeist of the internet. Whether the comments are right or wrong doesn't matter. Once you can fix a point on popular sentiment you can interpret how it will ripple through more "prestigious" forums.

They changed the default subreddits a while back, and also have done work to make sure no particular theme (such as funny pictures) outweighs the others.

reddit has been around since at least '07. I remember visiting the default front page back then and it was mostly developer-specific stuff.

A lot has changed.