Appeal

There's a sentiment I encounter quite frequently. Not here, but on Youtube Comments and occasionally in-person. That being "Why not do X? It's more popular?" or "Why don't you use more ads?"

It's quite surprising to say the least. One of the biggest things any sort of entertainer deals with, is fighting for their authenticity. It's so expected of people when they get "big" to stop talking to their friends, get monthly cheques by tech companies, or repeat a format/character endlessly, that when they don't, a whole other crowd says "what's wrong with you?"

Why didn't you stretch this video out for more ad-revenue? Why don't you ask people to subscribe? Why don't you sell people Energy drinks? Why don't you talk about the most popular games?

While I still enjoy Youtube (and aren't looking to go back to a 9-5), there absolutely are challenges, questions, and pressures now that never crossed my mind in the past, and the doubt against your own character, is something I never considered.

There's the ancient rule of morality, do onto others how you would want them to treat you, and that's what I figured I'd do with Youtube. Don't do the things that I roll my eyes at. But when you start out on Youtube, that's your only lens. You're not aware of how audience members react to your actions on a wide basis. You don't get the cognitive dissidence of two people commenting opposite things of your own act. 

I used to joke on Twitter and screen-cap when I'd get notifications of two comments saying polar opposite things, typically about my voice. Now though, while I am amused by them a little bit still, the joke isn't as funny. Probably because I don't view it as a joke, but as reality.

Not that you'll never please everybody, but that you'll always displease somebody.