MovieBob leaving The Escapist
- Thread starter webkilla
- Start date
Honestly, that whole debacle caused a big mess. Who was right or wrong in that with regards to Extra Credits specifically is not something that I really can say much about, but I do know finding out that most of the content creators hadn't been paid anything for their work in a really long time made the escapist look pretty untrustworthy, regardless of the exact nature of the issues back then.Caramel Frappe said:
Paying the people what you've promised them for the work they did is one of the most basic aspects of running a business ethically.
To find out that wasn't happening raises a lot of questions. Even if there were reasonable excuses for why that was the case, it still doesn't paint a pretty picture of what was going on behind the scenes back then...
I like that Greg Tito response to Escapists audience being "defined" by Yahtzee. "Thankfully I can stop trying to change that now." That's very telling, that he was trying to "change" the Escapist's audience rather than respecting them and developing content for them. Seems like a solid business strategy: rather than give our audience what they want, lets give them what WE want and force them to like it.
Lightknight said:
"either misinterpreted or intentionally twisted"
He really has no shame or self awareness. Blaming the audience for something he articulated so badly. A man as gifted in the art of communication as he. I am very happy he is gone.
Interesting. I disliked him at times and enjoyed his work other times. I had no idea there was this much resentment built up. I mean, I was surprised he kept getting away with attacking the escapist's audience (which I guess he didn't), but I thought his reviews were enjoyable enough that he'd make it through unscathed.
Whenever I tried to see anything of his, I always got the impression he's kind of a dick, and this was well before GG. Or his content/style just isn't for me. Either way, I wish him good luck, but that patreon video wasn't the best start.
I go away for a while to get some shit done, only to come back and find the Escapist sacked Mr. Chipman.
*shrugs*
I've had my issues with some of his works (articles/videos) over the years, but for most of those, I chalked it up to him being hyperbolic or passionate with his opinion.
I didn't really hate his work until he published one particular article that was just shameless PR lip-service for a certain controversial figure, devoid of all honesty and critical authority. Just stopped watching him overtly after that.
He occasionally popped up on the radar or in conversations, though most of that was largely due to him making vile, often hypocritical rants on Twitter (especially during GamerGate).
At most, I'd skim the comments section for one of his videos to see the more interesting things going on there if I was especially bored and caught in down-time, but I never bothered watching/reading his stuff.
Based on what I'm seeing from him and others, it appears his sacking was abrupt and unpleasant, though that is just my speculative take based on skimming. He has a Patreon which surprises absolutely nobody, since that's where all the Internet Critics of the past 6-8 years go once their original port of calling has ousted them.
Given the Escapist's recent hemorraging of content producers, I can't imagine the reason for his departure was pleasant at all. I always figured they needed his traffic.
Huh. We'll see..
*shrugs*
I've had my issues with some of his works (articles/videos) over the years, but for most of those, I chalked it up to him being hyperbolic or passionate with his opinion.
I didn't really hate his work until he published one particular article that was just shameless PR lip-service for a certain controversial figure, devoid of all honesty and critical authority. Just stopped watching him overtly after that.
He occasionally popped up on the radar or in conversations, though most of that was largely due to him making vile, often hypocritical rants on Twitter (especially during GamerGate).
At most, I'd skim the comments section for one of his videos to see the more interesting things going on there if I was especially bored and caught in down-time, but I never bothered watching/reading his stuff.
Based on what I'm seeing from him and others, it appears his sacking was abrupt and unpleasant, though that is just my speculative take based on skimming. He has a Patreon which surprises absolutely nobody, since that's where all the Internet Critics of the past 6-8 years go once their original port of calling has ousted them.
Given the Escapist's recent hemorraging of content producers, I can't imagine the reason for his departure was pleasant at all. I always figured they needed his traffic.
Huh. We'll see..
I used to enjoy a lot more of MovieBob's content. After #GamerGate, he just went ideologically nuts, and his worked suffered. Very few of his latest content was actually good, and even then it was just kinda meh.
The "subhuman" comment, alone, would make anyone get fired on any serious outlet. Much less than that, actually.
The "subhuman" comment, alone, would make anyone get fired on any serious outlet. Much less than that, actually.
I don't remember who said that social media produces lots of conflict and trash because it provides a straight pipeline from people's brain to the world and therefore ideas and comments are not fermented in such a way that their raw emotional spite content is reduced, resulting in lots of emotionally driven trash. The alternative is also to not post whatever passes through your mind.Delance said:
I guess when you're in a sacred crusade against whichever enemy you want, and that methods don't matter, only targets, it makes things worse.
What's the qualifier for being a "gamer"?Silvanus said:
Do the "dudebros" play video games? Yes
Do "gamers" play video games? Yes
Then I'm tempted to say they're gamers and there's nothing wrong with what they do. What is wrong is how the gaming community shuts out certain franchises as being inherently bad, regardless of overall quality. They do the same thing with people, and frankly it's bordering on fascism. Everyone must march in lock step against Call of Duty and Madden, because that's exclusively the domain of the subhuman bastards.
Well, time to throw my hat into this... whatever it is.
I used to really like Bob. After Yahtzee (who I have liked religiously since '08) he was my go to contributor. And yet, I disagreed with him on quite a bit despite that. In fact the first video I saw of his was the "You are all wrong about Suckerpunch" which I still disagree with to this day. But what had me keep coming back was his analyses, which I always appreciated even if some of them were opinions in disagreed with. Then I dug into his archive and some points stuck with me, but in the wrong way. Some of his argument struck me as self-aggrandizing or rather "dickish". But I passed them off as unimportant, as I still enjoyed his content and his smarminess never got in the way of the content like it did with Bill Maher. Until Gamergate happened...
I have quite a few issues with Gamergate as a group (tendency to delve into conspiracy theory territory, lack of real cohesion, etc.) but deep down I still sympathize with them. I never really got past moderate. But my God... so much of what he said was just atrocious and would get someone less important fired. Even discussing Gamergate made you a target, worthy of the same treatment that he decried as barbarous. He saw things in only a black/white dichotomy, simplifying a rather complex issue into an "us vs them" situation. His smugness kept running and running, leaving the likes of Maher in the dust. And because of all this, I could not watch any of his content. I didn't care how interesting his previous stuff was, it just felt... tainted.
Actually, I did come back once, only for him to take a quick swipe at Gamergate and reiterate my distaste for him.
In short: Thanks for the ride Bob, but please don't come back.
I used to really like Bob. After Yahtzee (who I have liked religiously since '08) he was my go to contributor. And yet, I disagreed with him on quite a bit despite that. In fact the first video I saw of his was the "You are all wrong about Suckerpunch" which I still disagree with to this day. But what had me keep coming back was his analyses, which I always appreciated even if some of them were opinions in disagreed with. Then I dug into his archive and some points stuck with me, but in the wrong way. Some of his argument struck me as self-aggrandizing or rather "dickish". But I passed them off as unimportant, as I still enjoyed his content and his smarminess never got in the way of the content like it did with Bill Maher. Until Gamergate happened...
I have quite a few issues with Gamergate as a group (tendency to delve into conspiracy theory territory, lack of real cohesion, etc.) but deep down I still sympathize with them. I never really got past moderate. But my God... so much of what he said was just atrocious and would get someone less important fired. Even discussing Gamergate made you a target, worthy of the same treatment that he decried as barbarous. He saw things in only a black/white dichotomy, simplifying a rather complex issue into an "us vs them" situation. His smugness kept running and running, leaving the likes of Maher in the dust. And because of all this, I could not watch any of his content. I didn't care how interesting his previous stuff was, it just felt... tainted.
Actually, I did come back once, only for him to take a quick swipe at Gamergate and reiterate my distaste for him.
In short: Thanks for the ride Bob, but please don't come back.
Don't ask for a permaban. Earn it.sky14kemea said:Go into "change password"Scorpid said:
Open a notepad and smash your head into your keyboard several times.
Copy and paste random mess into password and confirm password field.
Click "Okay".
You have successfully locked yourself out of your account!
(This next bit is aimed more at the general userbase, not you)
_______________________________________________________
Seriously, we cannot delete accounts.
I get PMed this maybe once a month.
[HEADING=2]We cannot delete your account![/HEADING]
Ask for a permaban or just delete the Escapist from your bookmarks.
Honestly, I'm not too worried.
For one, Bob will find another venue (probably YouTube) to host his shows. Sure, he'll probably make less money, but he'll endure. I know I'll continue supporting him wherever he goes. Bob is a smart, insightful dude, so it won't be long before he gets his feet under him again.
Secondly, while The Escapist is certainly diminished by his leaving, that doesn't mean it has to stay that way. There's all sorts of quality content creators out there who will contribute their work for peanuts just for the chance at the exposure a site like The Escapist can give them.
So all in all, as much as this transition period might be a little painful for some, it's far from the end for anybody. I'll stick it out until this place up and dies for good, I know that much.
For one, Bob will find another venue (probably YouTube) to host his shows. Sure, he'll probably make less money, but he'll endure. I know I'll continue supporting him wherever he goes. Bob is a smart, insightful dude, so it won't be long before he gets his feet under him again.
Secondly, while The Escapist is certainly diminished by his leaving, that doesn't mean it has to stay that way. There's all sorts of quality content creators out there who will contribute their work for peanuts just for the chance at the exposure a site like The Escapist can give them.
So all in all, as much as this transition period might be a little painful for some, it's far from the end for anybody. I'll stick it out until this place up and dies for good, I know that much.
Saw that coming.
The only people with audiences who are allowed to express strong opinions are comedians. Bob isn't one. He made a lot of enemies recently. The perception at the Escapist is that booting him will stop bad feelings against the site.
My personal impression is that this is a cowardly thing to do. I don't run a website, nor do I answer to advertisers, so I'm trying not to judge. The upshot is I have one less reason to come here.
The only people with audiences who are allowed to express strong opinions are comedians. Bob isn't one. He made a lot of enemies recently. The perception at the Escapist is that booting him will stop bad feelings against the site.
My personal impression is that this is a cowardly thing to do. I don't run a website, nor do I answer to advertisers, so I'm trying not to judge. The upshot is I have one less reason to come here.
*sigh* well that's a crying shame for the escapist
I can't say I always liked bobs content since he tended to get overzealous with his political views to the point of cannibalizing his own audience by insulting them, but when there wasn't a serious topic he had tons of interesting and weird stuff to tell me about, I may not agree with him on alot of stuff but still gonna wish him the best of luck...
yeesh yahtzee is about the only reason to even come here anymore, well except for critical miss and feed dump every once in awhile, but I'm worried about the future of the escapist...
I can't say I always liked bobs content since he tended to get overzealous with his political views to the point of cannibalizing his own audience by insulting them, but when there wasn't a serious topic he had tons of interesting and weird stuff to tell me about, I may not agree with him on alot of stuff but still gonna wish him the best of luck...
yeesh yahtzee is about the only reason to even come here anymore, well except for critical miss and feed dump every once in awhile, but I'm worried about the future of the escapist...