Kinda a silly example, but several subreddits that started out with the aim of making fun of some subject (i.e. r/prequelmemes and the Star Wars prequels, or r/the_donald and then Presidential candidate Donald Trump) were quickly turned into communities earnestly supporting the initial subject of parody.
I don't think this is silly at all. And the fact that reddit's admins occasionally have to step in with a forceful hand over what the mods do only speaks louder to GP's point.