Vlogging Apathy?

[janx101]

 

[TripleTwister]

Is it fair? Well to be honest that doesn't come into it

It's inequity in many ways, but life is not fair......A 15-year-old kid may or may not send pocket-money, but you've chosen an emotionally-charged hypothetical. If the 15-year old is that happy to send money, then that 15 year old must be very happy about the videos he or she is watching. Videos can change your outlook, save you money, time, expense, etc. They can change your life in some cases. But, it's not going to be 15 year olds in most cases...it'll be people of all ages, especially those with disposable income.

I didnt say "is it fair". I asked if you thought it was ethical.
Both of your "fair/unfair" comments are fine. As you say, not much is fair except communist russia (?). But this doesn't worry me.
I don't think its ethical if people are asked to send money without knowing what they're sending it for. I see it as the difference between a charity asking for money and tom cruise getting on tv saying "send me the money". Why would he say that? It would be exploitation right? And he would get hammered for it. Motovloggers, while not being tom cruises, are certainly not charities.

I should also say, I didn't realise (until 5 mins ago) spacepod has a paypal button on his channel. I, in no way, was directing any of my comments at him. However, now I'd like to suggest changing the "donate" tag to "purchase"

Also, for a short time I agreed with Shirou, but I figured let them go for it. I know that playing numbers works. Anyone could go around spamming and pick up a crap load of subs, but if they don't continue to watch, then they're useless anyway. So I just ignore any thread on here that says "ive got xxx subs". This conversation, on the other hand, is very interesting... although I'm worried this has been a thread hijack?

I agree with these sentiments/statements. I get called cynical when I have a moan about certain bigger name vloggers "selling" stickers and in my view a lot of the time pushing themselves as a commercial entity (not all who sell stickers etc). The ppl that call me cynical? Other bikers and vloggers that im pleased to call my friends (met through YT and vlogging). That said, if someone can make money, fair play I just have the tom cruise analogy way of thinking. I respond to every message and comment. I dont have huge numbers but I would still do my best if I did. I do post to say when i hit a landmark sub count 500/1K or whatever but not to promote but to pass on to my subs and viewers that I am not only conscious of the commitment made by them to sub, comment and view but to say I do appreciate the support. I do not have a donate button, lol. I dont sell stickers and dont do give aways. I do the odd competition but purely for my amusement and the chance for other bikers to get involved. If the big vloggers want to do some self promotion then they should promote some lesser known yet quality vlogs... increase their vlogging Karma :lol: I try when I can to push vloggers that are worthy of watching but dont have exposure, and lets face it with enough exposure all your YT numbers go up. (thread def hijacked, but im sure he doesnt mind )

 

[TriumfAnt]

Oh, he doesn't mind, does he? Of course I don't, there's been some really interesting points made from everyone. On TT's comment about vloggers promoting other vloggers, (as TT once did for me, cheers dude) I really like the way bakerXderek gives shout outs to vloggers with small sub counts but great content. I do despair a little when some big vloggers (sub wise, not weight wise ) give shout outs to other big vloggers. As if they need it. Sometimes feels like a mutual appreciation society.

 

[TripleTwister]

Agreed, self inclusion I feel. I know when my friend "true" and I get together.... lol only kidding. As a viewer it was both weird and awesome to have met a vlogger with several thousand subs and great vids that i loved watching, I mention this cos he never does. He's one of the nicest most un assuming people I have met. And having him in my vlogs and vice versa will have helped my sub count but def not why I invited him on ride outs, like most of us im a viewer first and therefor a fan of many Its a complex subject with too many variables to contend with. Location and therefor content, if you ride with big name vloggers, if you ride in the back of beyond with low traffic levels. Are you a prolific networker, promoting yourself on YT, FB etc. All vloggers are different and thats what makes it great for me, I can find what I like (mostly) and watch as much as can be produced. Its hard not to feel a connection, feel part of a vloggers world esp if they reply to your comments, if you chat on FB etc so when they suddenly announce theyre selling stickers for £10 a pop it can be hard to swallow as we maybe arent as objective as we would be in different circumstances?

I think Im just waffling through boredom now. If I made a point in this post it was by accident

 

[Shirou]

Well, some people seem to like buying merchandise. I saw in a frigging LOT of videos DS83 keychains and stickers, I was so wanting to know what that logo was, what it meant. Until I stumbled across a video of some guys riding with the vlogger who sold that stuff, it had a big logo on his bike.

I don't know if he sold them or if they were given away but, I'd like to get free stickers from my favourite vloggers, or even pay for them as long as nobody knows, I'll say they were given for free to show them around and people will be like what those stickers mean? and I'd have a story to tell about how that sticker traveled around the world to get there.
I think there's nothing wrong with stickers. For me it's a way to show people what I'm into, here mvlogging isn't that common, its unexplored territory, we are only 2 mvloggers in the entire country as far as I know and we live far away from each other.

 

[Spacep0d]

Is it fair? Well to be honest that doesn't come into it

It's inequity in many ways, but life is not fair......A 15-year-old kid may or may not send pocket-money, but you've chosen an emotionally-charged hypothetical. If the 15-year old is that happy to send money, then that 15 year old must be very happy about the videos he or she is watching. Videos can change your outlook, save you money, time, expense, etc. They can change your life in some cases. But, it's not going to be 15 year olds in most cases...it'll be people of all ages, especially those with disposable income.

I didnt say "is it fair". I asked if you thought it was ethical.
Both of your "fair/unfair" comments are fine. As you say, not much is fair except communist russia (?). But this doesn't worry me.
I don't think its ethical if people are asked to send money without knowing what they're sending it for. I see it as the difference between a charity asking for money and tom cruise getting on tv saying "send me the money". Why would he say that? It would be exploitation right? And he would get hammered for it. Motovloggers, while not being tom cruises, are certainly not charities.

I should also say, I didn't realise (until 5 mins ago) spacepod has a paypal button on his channel. I, in no way, was directing any of my comments at him. However, now I'd like to suggest changing the "donate" tag to "purchase"

Also, for a short time I agreed with Shirou, but I figured let them go for it. I know that playing numbers works. Anyone could go around spamming and pick up a crap load of subs, but if they don't continue to watch, then they're useless anyway. So I just ignore any thread on here that says "ive got xxx subs". This conversation, on the other hand, is very interesting... although I'm worried this has been a thread hijack?

Yep, I do rock a donate button. Do I ask for donations? Not in my videos or anywhere, really, but the button itself is a sort of 'tip jar' for those so-inclined. There are occasions when people feel good tipping, for reasons they will often explain. It doesn't bother me when other vloggers have this button either.

I also don't think it's exploitative, because nobody has to tip, watch, sub, etc.

As for charities, I don't consider all charities equal and they're certainly not all 'good'. Some charities practice discrimination, or engage in missionary-work disguised as charity (something I do not agree-with). I contribute to charity, but I keep that separate from my vlogging-life.

While vloggers are not charities, vloggers are worthy of supporting if you're a fan, but that doesn't mean tipping or donating, per se. It could simply mean your comments, your sub, your views, your feedback, your likes, answering questions of other viewers, etc. The 'donate' button is just one of many ways a vlogger can make-available for some to show support.

 

[Spacep0d]

Oh, he doesn't mind, does he? Of course I don't, there's been some really interesting points made from everyone. On TT's comment about vloggers promoting other vloggers, (as TT once did for me, cheers dude) I really like the way bakerXderek gives shout outs to vloggers with small sub counts but great content. I do despair a little when some big vloggers (sub wise, not weight wise ) give shout outs to other big vloggers. As if they need it. Sometimes feels like a mutual appreciation society.

I've noticed this too. It's probably part politics, part genuine-friendship or sometimes a little of both. Some big vloggers have known each other a while and cross-promote a lot.

We as MotoVloggers want our videos to be seen. This is a safe assumption.

Any one of us would be thrilled, if we're in the business of vlogging, to wake up with 10k, 20k or 50k+ subscribers. We'd love to have our vlog featured on TV somewhere. It makes our voice bigger. That brings benefits—and some downsides like trolls and an endless comment stream. All success comes with similar downsides.

Can anyone honestly say that they make videos for them not to be seen much? I would have a hard time believing such a claim. Granted, few of us like trolls, but trolls come with views. Trolls are a sign you're being seen by a lot of people.

If we're honest, we want our videos to be seen. Isn't that why we make them? Isn't that why those who put effort into cameras, second/third/fourth cameras, cinematography, FX, editing, expensive software, time spent learning software, sourcing music and sound, staying copyright-legal, etc. make their videos? We want them to be seen. Fair assessment, I think.

So, when vloggers get bigger, they find new ways to promote themselves. Some more-ambitious vloggers do this right out of the gate, and it really does make a difference. Stickers, whether they are given, sold or with proceeds donated to charity, are about self-promotion and there is no denying this fact. But that is OK by me. We all pay for that promotion in different ways.

1. Selling stickers: Profits go to vlogger, support new decals being made by printers/cutters. Downside, gets the fewest decals out there, or, people have to really like you to buy a decal. This is better for bigger, more-established vloggers.

2. Giving-away stickers: Vlogger eats 100% of the manufacturing and shipping, but far more stickers are circulating with a vlogger's brand. Gives up cost for benefit of increased circulation.

3. Sells stickers for charity: Contribution amount is undeclared or unknown, vlogger receives accolades for being altruistic, more sales (due to the charity-angle), vlogger gets to help a charity and it's a tax-writeoff. Downside? People may dislike your charity (if it's controversial somehow). They may accuse you of exploiting a charity-angle to promote your brand.

I'll close with this. It's ok to want success in anything you do. Just be ethical as you pursue it and enjoy the ride. Making stickers with your vlog brand is just another cool thing you can do to promote your channel. Do it or don't do it. It's like making a FB page, Twitter, website, etc. You can do as much or as little as you want to do to promote your vlog.

But, the bigger vloggers tend to promote in more than a few ways, and that's part of the reason they're big (on top of great content, natch).

 

[Nerb]

Shit balls... my post didnt print and now I have to remember what i typed.... damnit!

... the button itself is a sort of 'tip jar' for those so-inclined. ...I also don't think it's exploitative, because nobody has to tip, watch, sub, etc.

You should change your "donate" to "tip jar". At least then people will know what its for.
Nobody "has to" tip, but kids are easily manipulated, especially if they see you as being "Famous" (for lack of a better word). I think richer people give poorer people tips and its exploitative for employed people to ask students for tips. Of course I dont come from a tipping culture like the US. I dont give to charities either. But I will happily help out someone I know.

 

[janx101]

Ummm ... Without opening an alternate potential hornets nest....

AND while I often swear and curse till the air turns colours about them... (And I don't mean telemarketers! .. This time)

People want income from their stuff? .... Monetise with ads from YT ?!

I hate the things!! Bloooooody ads!! .. I want to watch the bloody video NOW ... Not in 5 - 30 seconds time!! .. I might forget what I clicked on it for!

But ... It's not taking money from subscribers ultimately... It's taking money from corporations! ... Who think I am going to buy crap because of an ad that I don't pay attention to!

I hate the ads... But I'm considering the corporate dollar income at some point!

 

[O8ride]

Personally, the purchase of stickers stopped once I reached puberty, and then restarted again once I had pre-pubescent children who wanted them

But I do fancy the idea of getting stickers and videoing interesting ways to lose them after sticking them to something. Fire, firework, explosion, drowning, rocket, crushing etc.

 

[MrCods]

Love stickers, won't pay for them.
I have stickers coming soon at only $5.00 a pop .............. Nah just kidding, I will happily give them away


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Maggot]

I can understand people buying Rossi's or Lorenzo's stickers/merchandise.

Why would anybody want to buy stickers of some random dude on YT is beyond me. I cannot blame him for selling them if there is a demand from idiots that buy them though.

EDIT: I shouldn't be suprised, we live in Justin Bieber or Jedward era. What can I say :lol:

 

[OoxTruExoO]

He's one of the nicest most un assuming people I have met.

Blowjob's in the post.

 

[Triple Demon]

Hmm thats strange I just started motovlogging and I'm having a hard time getting comments I genuinely would LOVE to have a conversation with my viewers hell one guy in CA watched an entire video I'm just so curious as to what type of viewership I'm attracting.

I will admit it does seem like other than people that are just starting to motovlog it seems like people are doing it for the wrong things and only the really well established guys seem to be doing it just for fun and to be honest not that I'm tired of established people but I find it hard to find less well known people before I came to these forums.

I do think a lot of new guys would get burned out really quickly if they're busy hell I can see I'm going to have to maybe chill out posting videos at my current rate so I can get some stuff built up and continue posting quality videos.