Safe?

Safe? 04/24/2009

One was my fault, the other, well ... that one was my fault, too. But not as much.

Yesterday I wrote the blog about religion and should have spent a little more time explaining how I view religion and faith as being separate entities. I should have also spent more time explaining my fundamental criticism of religion--that being the requirement to nod and say yes to everything it presents you, thereby encouraging a person to never question their surroundings.

All said, I think I did an okay job presenting my views and providing a starting point for the discussion that followed. Minus Obsquatch (I'm sure he'll catch up with us eventually, unless he's intentionally absent for this discussion) there was an interesting cross-section of opinions offered.

Before I tell you where I'm at now, I need to tell about the other thing that went down yesterday which helped me get here. Victor posted a video (I was actually a bit late in getting to it, so probably already watched it yourself) wherein he invites open criticism of the performances in the last episode of Talking Heads: The Christopher Mast Story. (Check out the playlist for the miniseries here.)

It was a good video (any video that has anything even remotely to do about me is good :) but it caught me off guard. I don't disapprove of it or disagree with the motives behind it ... it just caught me off guard.

A little while ago, towards the end of the old jordancg youtube account, I was watching another one of Blunty3000's video where he bitched incessantly about how much he hated the people on youtube for flagging one of his videos. Previously, I had stopped watching Blunty because it seemed like all he ever did was bitch and moan ... and that just got tiresome.

That evening I decided to post a video response which would invariably change everything. For the first time ever, here's everything that transpired after I posted my video response and why, ultimately, I don't like Blunty3000:

1) He actually allowed the video response on his video (he reviews all the video responses and is notorious for not allowing many ... which is fine, his discretion ... but with the amount of bitching he does about youtube and the youtube users, you'd think he'd work to set a better example, right?) so he allows the video response
2) he actually clicks into my channel per my request. he sorts by "most viewed" and selects one the nonsensical madness videos:

Blunty3000 (1 hour ago) Show Hide
Dude, is this one of your videos you claim are so much better than mine? fucking TEDIOUS drivel! couldn't make it though the whole thing.

jordancg (1 hour ago) Show Hide
Jump to the bottom of the bin, why don't you? I told you to watch one of the newer videos, was that really so difficult? No, you had to dig to the bottom, huh?

Blunty3000 (1 hour ago) Show Hide
Bottom of the bin? I selected this as one of your most viewed.

jordancg (1 hour ago) Show Hide
Yeah, and my whole argument is that I have no audience. My quality productions have no viewers compared to ANY of your videos. Fuck if I know why this is one of my most viewed--it's a shit video.

Blunty3000 (1 hour ago) Show Hide
And it's just not possible you have "no audience" because your vids aren't as well made or appealing as you think they are?

3) Next up is Zaphod Zombie:

Blunty3000 (1 hour ago) Show Hide
You asked me to look at something recent from you so here I am. You claimed "high production values" No. Here I find Terrible, distorted audio. Nonsensical amateurish and distracting editing. and frankly an uninspired gimmick I've seen done before, and better.

jordancg (54 minutes ago) Show Hide
Color me impressed, sir. I certainly cannot knock you for your opinion.

However, based on these brief conversations I've had with you just now, it is clear to see that you truly are a bitter and angry individual ... I imagine if you left youtube well enough alone, you're blood pressure might thank you.

At any rate, thank you for at least checking out the vids and reaffirming why I stay away from your channel in the first place.

Until next time ;)

Blunty3000 (48 minutes ago) Show Hide
Actually, I'm quite content and happy, blood pressure is fine and I'm bitter about little in life. What you see as "bitter" and "angry" is just the fact I don't sugar coat shit, I call it like I see it, I'm blunt. You called me out claiming that your content was high production value, deserves the exposure I get, and I'm telling you, your production values aren't anywhere near what you seem to think they are. If you can't take constructive criticism why'd you ask me to look?

jordancg (42 minutes ago) Show Hide
I can take constructive criticism just fine. Please alert me when you have some.

Perhaps I spoke out of term in referring to "production value" but what speak of is creative production value. Throughout youtube you have endless amounts of videos that have no point and achieve nothing. I write stories and original content ... exemplified best by my series. I work with what I have (what EVERYONE has) to show people that they don't have to make pointless vlogs all the time.

jordancg (39 minutes ago) Show Hide
You should watch episode 24 of Talking Heads and tell me if I'm the one who should leave youtube alone.

4) and then Talking Heads 24 (The One That Starts with the Dark Knight)

Blunty3000 (34 minutes ago) Show Hide
Because you held this out as an example, here I am. Oh Jee whizz. a Joker parody. Never seen that before on youtube. I'm still waiting for you to live up to your claims of high production values and high creativity. I've given you more than a fair chance to justify the claims you made. You've wasted my time again and again with uninspired content, rubbish editing and frankly, pretty clear jealousy. I'm done. Good luck improving while ignoring constructive criticism.

jordancg (25 minutes ago) Show Hide
:D

Thank you, sir! I've always believed that I was a giant ass, so it's rather comforting to personally meet an ass monumentally bigger than me.

How to make friends and influence people (on youtube): at least watch the whole video before you comment ;)

Blunty3000 (11 minutes ago) Show Hide
Yes, you are an ass. You ASKED me to look at this and give you my thoughts on it. Instead because I didn't love it, and told you so plainly without sugar coating, you get defensive and dismissive. You're acting like a six year old.

5) okay ... so basically I'm getting into it with a youtube partner and I'm getting wholly riled up. You know how it goes. It's the internet. At any rate, he can say whatever he wants, but if my stuff had the exposure his had, I'd be rocking the same amount of subscribers and views ... probably even better. But ... whatever. So here's the last of it in form of emails with him:

FROM ME:

where's the love??
It's a question of raising the bar. The majority of youtubers setup the camera and talk about nothing--the very least I want to see is for them to write a script. From there it can go anyplace.

I feel, in doing my productions, I can set an example as to what quality the everyday youtuber can possibly achieve.

Hey, I can appreciate if you don't dig the videos--I don't like many of yours--but creatively we do have similar point of views.

FROM HIM:

Re: where's the love??
The problem here is your arrogance is blinding you. You've shown me no real creativity, innovative thought, or anything you claim to have "high production values" on. There is nothing you're doing that stands out from hundreds of other "wannabe stars", but you think you're pushing envelopes and are being some kind of creative powerhouse, that's your problem.

your second problem is you ASKED me to look at your stuff but you utterly refuse to take on board the criticism I've been giving you so you can address the issues you have.

I too use the same equipment most "everyday youtubers" use. the VAST majority of my vids are webcamed, or filmed with a miniDV cam (the cheapest model). But I have dedicated a large portion of my recent years to learning the craft of video production, whatever equipment I'm using I know how to push the best quality from it, not that I always choose to based on the content I'm creating and if it needs to be at 100% technical quality.

the creativity, which you so loudly have been vaunting is only a part of the whole. You MAY INDEED have some great ideas, but you seem, so far, incapable of realizing them in interesting, well produced and compelling ways.

Hell even the most basic self marketing things like having an interesting video title are utterly escaping you. Why would anyone looking for interesting content click on a vid called "CW04" ? seriously.

Now I've expended a good deal of my time trying to help you here, and you're throwing it back at me in arrogance.
Am I wasting my time? or do you genuinely want help becoming BETTER so you can have a chance at teaching more of the audience here?

FROM ME:

Re: where's the love??
Wow. Two arrogant bastards trying to have a conversation. Like that will ever end well.

I'm stopping this now because I don't have the patience for this ... this is what you wrote which is the root of our mutual contention:

"You MAY INDEED have some great ideas, but you seem, so far, incapable of realizing them in interesting, well produced and compelling ways."

I have the same opinion about you and your videos. We're not going to meet eye-to-eye on this and it's not because either one of us are incapable of taking constructive criticism but because neither one of us will ever place any value on the others opinion.

That said, I do appreciate the time you've spent watching bits of my videos and corresponding with me. While I don't agree with most of the things you say, I do have an appreciation for where they are coming from and do agree that there were valid points raised.

Good luck to you, sir!

AND FINALLY:

Re: where's the love??
Fine, okay you're completely and utterly unwilling to listen despite directly asking for my opinion?. No problem, next time I'll just ignore you alltogether.

It's worth noting I do not watch every vid someone asks me to "check out" and get my opinion and advice on. You have just proved why it's best I ignore these desperate pleas.
You people don't want an opinion or advice, you want affirmation of your own overinflated concepts of how "awesome" your work is to feel more secure and righteous in whining about how unfair it is you don't get views.

"You MAY INDEED have some great ideas, but you seem, so far, incapable of realizing them in interesting, well produced and compelling ways."

"I have the same opinion about you and your videos. "

Well one of us is wrong, because one of us has millions of video views the other does not. The evidence seems to point to the fact that the way I realize my creativity is indeed interesting compelling and well produced enough to grab the eyeballs who are ignoring your vids.

MORE FINAL:
Re: where's the love??
You know what's funny about your last message?

"You people don't want an opinion or advice, you want affirmation of your own overinflated concepts of how "awesome" your work is to feel more secure and righteous in whining about how unfair it is you don't get views."

1) I don't whine about how I don't get your views. You may infer whining from my love note to you, but watch again--I'm merely stating how annoying it is to hear your bitch moan about your views (the lack thereof due to unnecessary flagging) when other people (be it myself or others) are lucky to get 100 views on videos that are unequivocally better than yours. Talk being an about arrogant bastard. I know it was to prove a point, but who's time are wasting with that "Blinky/Chris Crocker" shit animation?!

2) I stopped watching your videos because every other one became a bitch fest about youtube. Talk about accepting some constructive criticism?? THE WHOLE FUCKING POINT OF MY VIDEO TO YOU IS THAT YOU WHINE TOO MUCH. The perceived quality and/or relevance of my own videos is ancillary. But I like how you so thoroughly spin it back around on me. That's talent, sir, and I respect you for that.

Love,
Jordan

*****

WHEW. Long story, huh?

I share all of that not only because people have asked about it, but because prior to that whole exchange I tried to be bluntly honest with people about their creative efforts. If a video or script is in need of improvement, shouldn't the creator know that?

What I realized was that, more important than "constructive criticism" (I put that in quotes because apparently the term has different meanings to different people) is encouragement.

And on youtube, you've already got enough people calling you a suckass fucktard, why can't I be the one person who actively encourages your creative endeavors? After all, if you do something long enough, you're eventually going to get better at it, with or without the constructive criticism, yes?

I don't know, really, but that's where I was and that's what got me to where I am now. I place a great deal more value on encouragement than on criticism.

When Victor posted his video, I flashed immediately to YouTube Rejects and how Heather didn't even finish the series because of the criticism she was receiving in the comments. That's why Victor's video shocked me. It's not that I myself can't handle the criticism of my performance, my editing, and my script, but that I do everything in my power to make the people who participate in these productions look good. And although we've wrapped the production of CMS, I would be disappointed to find out that the legions of fucktard youtube haters might in some way influence and inhibit the cast of the upcoming episodes.

And again, you only need to look as far as Heather and YouTube Rejects to see why this came as a shock to me.

Which brings us all the way around to real point of this blog. (Was it long enough for you??) What is safe? What is safe to talk about and what must be avoided at all cost? In a single day I went from religion to some harsh criticism of the very lifeblood of my existence--my creative projects. I would love to live in a world where anything is fair game to talk about, but maybe we have boundaries for a reason. What are your thoughts?

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Comments

Heather Maria

04/24/2009 10:39am

So, here's my "constructive critisicm."

Regardless of your best intentions, Talking Heads can't help but typecast sometimes and too many viewers (in my case) didn't understand that it was just a character. Keep in mind the episode that broke me got a huge amount of attention. More then I ever expected when I recorded the lines and I was not prepared for the hordes of boob-worshipping morons that swarmed my channel.

In the end I learned a lot. The hard way.

And the most important thing is I made it back. The criticism didn't kill me, it gave me the ability to laugh at the concepts that made me run in the first place... and ignore the mindless drivel.

So take what you want from the comments, and leave the rest.

You're creative projects are your own creations krumbine (whoa try saying that 5 times fast) and regardless of any and all criticism, remain yours to do what you like with.

krumbine

04/24/2009 10:44am

You know, maybe I should include a disclaimer at the beginning of every TH episodes:

"While the people who are featured in this show are, in fact, real, the characters of which they portray are not."

or

"The following is a work of fiction from the deranged mind of Krumbine. Any similarity between real persons or events its rather unfortunate for the people who are the subject of said similarities. Weirdos."

Jordan and Allison Middlebrook link

04/24/2009 12:26pm

I remember when you gave me shit about not writing stuff down

krumbine

04/24/2009 12:30pm

You know, I still maintain that scripted is a better, tighter, and more efficient process for most people. You've seen the difference in my vlogs and the new krumbinesBRAIN.

My qualifier is that vlogging is an acquired skill, and going unscripted is even moreso. A lot of people are good at it--you're one of those people--but some people suck hard at it and would be GREATLY helped if they just jotted down some notes.

Ibrahim link

04/24/2009 10:16pm

@Heather
Does that mean people think I'm actually gay and swoon every time someone mentions Krumbine?

Yikes.

Heather Maria

04/25/2009 12:10am

back @ Ibrahim
I think its much easier for hoards of young perverts to think of me as the girl that will show her boobs in every video then to think of you as a lamp-humping krumbine addict.

It's all relative, hehe I dont think you have much to worry about:P

Little Shiela link

04/25/2009 8:56am

I think that when it comes to putting yourself out there on websites like YouTube, or just the internet in general, you've really got to consider how it's going to effect your real life and, more importantly, your self esteem.

When I started my YouTube channel I knew that I would attract a lot of negative attention. I figured I would get haters calling me everything from a dyke to a douchebag. I knew that there were going to be freaky-deaky stalkers that couldn't see above my chest let alone comprehend the fact that I was a living being with feelings, opinions and a beating heart.

But I decided that in the end I would regret not trying more than I would giving it a go.

You just have to look at things in perspective. By doing what you're doing, no matter what that may be, you're doing a lot more than any of the profile-less and videoless losers that spend days on end leaving hateful/ridiculous comments on other people's videos because it's the only distraction they have from they're own inadequacies.

Wow, I should have just blogged this and linked. XD Sorry!

Little Shiela xox

novanine link

04/25/2009 10:54am

I don't think you should think about what is and is not safe to talk about. Look at Victor. He makes videos and vid responses about subjects that a lot of us wouldn't have the balls to touch (myself included) but he does it in an honest and inoffensive way. There's nothing wrong with simply airing your opinion on something, as long as you're not an ass about it.

Just looking at the back-and-forth between you and blunty it does kind of come across as to brick walls meeting head-on (er, bit of a confused metaphor there). But this just highlights the fact that, when you communicate in typed text, the reader will very often hear it in their head quite differently than the writer hears it in theirs.

In short, keep doing what you're doing. Love you for it.

novanine link

04/25/2009 10:56am

*TWO brick walls (obviously)

BigmackZach link

04/25/2009 5:54pm

@Heatha

you indeed did get hoards of boob-worshiping viewers. I WAS one of them, but i followed a link to your Blog/grew up and found out that you're not a character, but a human being. And my views have changed about you, i enjoy your videos (along with, Ob, krumbine, Vicktor, Sabino, middlebrook, and a few others in the "creative circle" I like to call it.)but aside from watching your videos and whatnot i have learned to admire your personality

Victor/Gimmeabreakman

04/25/2009 8:41pm

Here's the thing. Blunty is creative. He's a dick, but he is creative. He is also wrong about what he thinks is worthy. He once told me Blade376 would never get anywhere. He was wrong there. I can understand your frustration, though. And yes you're right that a lot of us NEED the encouragement. But for some of us, the hate and negativity is a kind of ... encouragement. Know what I mean?

Tripp link

04/26/2009 8:14am

So, I've been blogging for about eight years...about religion mostly. And, yes, sometimes the comments are cruel. It's vicious sometimes. But the internet is a public space. I don't know how how to put language on it. I truly believe that it is no different than going down to the nearest big city park and stating your beliefs or offering your art form right there in front of everyone. That's the kind of exposure you can get very quickly and without even knowing it.

Then, to complicate matters, people can function anonymously in many ways and feel invisible. This empowers them to be cruel. Again, I don't know why. It simply happens. Trolls happen.

Don't let the bastards get you down.

Let them throw the youtube equivalent of rotten vegetables and move on.

bell02

04/27/2009 7:00pm

I don't know... lol, that probably should have stayed private, but youtubers seem to love drama so, lol.

My one comment is that I agree, that's not constructive criticism. I think people kind of forget the meaning of the word and spout it out to look either pompous or to protect the feelings of the person making accusations. However, how can something be called "constructive criticism" if it contains nothing constructive? He's right that you don't have to be polite to give constructive criticism, but you still have to explain what you don't like and try to give constructive advice on how to make it better. (Granted, he stated to not use Abbreviations for titles, which you stopped doing, however saying something sucks or doesn't have "high production values" is not constructive criticism unless you say how it doesn't "suck", lol)

Maybe he didn't honestly know that it wasn't constructive criticism. Maybe people generally politely thank him for his remakes while grinding their teeth... but I don't know... I really wouldn't want be bothered from a person like him. From what I remember of the guy is that he is a dick and Break-man does his best to find the best of the guy (Which admittedly I would do the same), I wouldn't have bothered with making any further responses from his initial immaturity. I don't watch his videos, I don't want to make any implications, but people who have made it on Youtube and only from Youtube must know that video quality does not have as much to do with popularity as one thinks, its more luck, timing, and advertising than anything.

But... I say talk about whatever you want. I understand that some opinions hurt fans when you are dealing with acting though, but if it's Vlogging, I say say whatever you want,.. but I guess stay open to people's opinions. (Which you are or do, which is great)