"Keeping Faith in YouTube"

Pretty much everything about the Tom Milsom/Alex Day abuse allegations that I would want to say has been said by other YouTubers. Here are a few examples:

"What is Consent?" by tyrannosauruslexxx

"The Science and Dangers of YouTube Celebrity" by Anthony D'Angelo

Instead of analyzing the specifics behind the controversy (if you're unaware here's a collection of the posts about it), I thought I'd attempt to inject some positivity. I've heard a lot of discussion about how many are losing their faith in YouTube and are starting to not trust YouTubers. While that response is understandable, I don't think it's the right way to go.

I don't think we should avoid this. I think we should keep talking about it, find out what went wrong, and fight to make sure this disgusting abuse of creator/viewer power never happens again. 

I have faith in this wonderful community and the brilliant minds that make it up, both on the viewer and creator end. We will get passed this. We will support the victims. And we will do what we can to foster an environment where everyone feels safe to be themselves.

DFTBA

-Connor

On Trusting YouTubers

I love YouTube. I love the YouTube community. I love being a YouTuber. But there is something that a lot of people, myself included, forget in regards to being a viewer/fan of someone on this space. I don't know many of the people I watch personally. In fact, the only things I do know about these people are the things they choose to share. The persona that is in my mind in regards to many of the creators I love and enjoy is exactly that: a controlled and deliberate feed of the various traits they want me to see. This is not inherently bad. Not everything about a person is necessary to be shared publicly.

Despite my honesty in my videos, I do the exact same thing. I'm not lying to you guys, but I'm also not sharing every aspect about my personality. How could I? Why would I if I could? The only time this is an actual problem is when a viewer/fan of someone is tricked into thinking they do know someone, only for that to be exploited in a way that benefits the creator. This, which you may not know, happens ALL THE TIME in the YouTube creator world. It often times is talked about using words like "metadata" and "search optimization," which are usually codenames for things like click bait and suggestive titles ("Things Girls Do that Guys Hate," "What I Look for In a Girlfriend" etc.).

Like I said, this is not a bad thing. This doesn't have to be a bad thing. Yes, being on YouTube does grant a viewer/fan a bit more intimacy with the creator, and this can be used to drive incredible projects like Nerdfighteria and p4a, but the important thing to remember is that YouTubers are people, and as a result they are flawed, complex, and a whole lot more than the 4 edited minutes a week you get to see them. 

This should not discourage you. Even though I may not personally know most of the people who call themselves viewers of mine, and even though most of you may not know me, that doesn't mean that our interactions are devoid of meaning. On the contrary, it lends itself well to non-judgmental and open-minded discussion. 

The recent news about several influential creators is disturbing to say the very least. Deplorable and outright disgusting would even be putting it lightly. But I'm gonna avoid using the profanity required to tell you how I actually feel about it. Should this upset you? Absolutely. Should we keep discussing it? Fuck yes. Should this make you not trust all YouTubers? No. It shouldn't.

YouTubers are not infalliable. YouTubers are not perfect. YouTubers are people. And given that they are people, some of them are really amazing people, some of them are really shitty people, and everyone else falls somewhere in between. I will always continue to love YouTube and its community. And I will always have faith in its ability to deal with terrible events and handle them accordingly.

DFTBA.

-Connor