Linkara and the case of people that make web-livings

[Bells]

Please watch this 5 min video

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Now, after you have collected your thoughts on his message, check the comments on youtube and on TGWTG about this video.

Linkara does some good content, and seems to be a very professional thoughtful guy that cares about what he does. If there is something bad to say about him, i am not aware of it.

And now we live in a world where a person can actually make a living (even if only for some time in their lives) where all they have to do is create content talking about stuff they love to people that also love it. I think it's just an amazing thing, and for one, i would love to be able myself to create content good enough to warrant that sort of life.

of course, not all make it.

And let me tell ya. when people say they do this for a living, believe you me this is not to be taken lightly. Making some of those videos is a REALLY hard job. Many of you here have played around making videos and reviews, you know what it takes if you actually want to be one of the best in doing it...

The reaction to the video though.... makes me sad to see it. Actually If i were in his place, this would be one of the times i would stop to think if i shouldn't quite all of it all together. Which is a shame...

I don't like ads, hell... i don't even get most ads since i'm not in the US... but still, i understand that this is a paycheck. You need a TON of views consistently to allow yourself to make a living out of this, and it's not just paying the bills.... to many of these content creators this is also where they get money to invest in their shows... costumes, props and review materials come all from the same revenue...

I dont know what you guys make of this, but right now i kinda wished the internet scene for people who enjoy reviews were a bit more kind and a bit less entitles when comes to support creators.... this is really not a hobby to many of them, and it's not like you are paying for the video... you are enabling the creator TO be payed by the service that gives him the space to provide the content in the first place.

I suppose this is a lot similar on how this site used to have ads, and how a lot of sites get revenue FROM ads. Sure, a lot of them have sucky ads... but can we really punish creators of content we WANT to see for it?

[Magus]

I don't really mind when they ask to let the ads play or to click on the sidebar ads or whatever--it's not like you actually HAVE to comply with the request, it's just something that will give them a little extra money if you feel like it.

[Ramary]

I use Ad-blocker but I also white list, in this case blip was a white listed site for me. I also only watch Linkara for HOPR and I didn't know he put another episode up after a bloody year, so that was good of you to remind me of that Bells.

[Aldurin]

Ad-block is a big deal in this situation, but people that use it should disable it for content they appreciate (many webcomic guys have messages asking to disable adblock drawn into the page background behind the ad slot). It's just a shame that bad ads have made many people resort to this for security and functionality (some ads blocking most of the page or crashing the embedding frame is bad, also viruses). At the very least there does seem to be a better effort for advertising to be properly handled and executed now.

[Aerozord]

Always support your shows. The minor inconvenience of a 30 second ad can be the difference between someone paying their rent this month. While the big names make a comfortable living, if I had to guess Linkara is probably saying this more for the sake of those struggling than himself, with only a few exceptions none make enough money to be called "rich". They make an income closer to any individual with a decent job, and for alot more work. Trust me doing a weekly show requires about as much time as a conventional job if not more.

The only thing I'd add is that I also appreciate those that, despite this being their income, discourage going above and beyond. Fraser from Video Games Awesome often tells people to only click on ads they legitimately care about and that the links to products they share (while they do get some money for those referred by them) to still only use their links for convenience and to not go out of your way to use them.

Ideally just do things naturally. I mean if we just dont go out of our way to get around ads or feel pressured to farm revenue for people, everyone wins. I get free, legal, entertainment. Least I can do is sit through a commercial.

[Amake]

"But I can just torrent all the shows I want and not have to sit through ads! Why should I have to waste precious seconds not being entertained just because some hoity-toity indie film maker wants to look special by putting their shows out in a format that can only be played in web browsers, on their specific site?"

Ah, the logic of entitlement.

[Aerozord]

Amake, please tell me thats not an actual quote, or that there is atleast a decent chance its supposed to be sarcastic

[Amake]

I made it up, but I figure there's a good chance it represents the thought process of people who somehow can't stand giving anything in order to enjoy the work of these people whose work they enjoy.

[Kyanbu The Legend]

Just from reading youtube comments alone. Amake, you're not too far off from the truth about some viewers.