On Yahtzee.

[SonicWaffle]

He got me thinking, can one man be such a complete and utter misanthrope and still live a functional, productive life? Is Ben Croshaw like this in real life or is his "Yahtzee" persona used only for situations like this?

Well, it's currently fashionable to be bitter and cynical about everything. I'm sure Yahtzee exhibits these traits, but plays them up for comic effect and because internet nerds always respond to things they relate to - "OMG! I like to pretend I'm a a weary jaded gamer too! This guy really gets me!"

Admittedly, most of them won't admit that they're putting on the act (look at how many posters we get here who insists that all modern games are terrible and that the industry totally sold out, or that humans are all shit and need to be wiped out) but they still relate to someone else doing it.

 

[Scarecrow]

I always thought it was a (brilliant) character, and i'd like to hope he's normal in real life.

I don't know why Rebecca Mayes didn't understand that. It's like getting offended at the actor in a play because you don't like thier character.

What was the deal with them? Did he offend her or somthing?

 

[Varrdy]

Yeah it's pretty much an act. I have seen footage of him being interviewed and he was a million miles from the angry man who makes me laugh every wednesday.

I believe at the end of one of the ZP videos there was mention of "come to... [insert game convention / event name here because I can't remember it] and see my stuttering, unscripted and un-funny real self" or words to that effect.

2 Gryphon is no different. In his rants and videos you'd think he'd rip your face off if you so much as said hello to him but I have firsthand experience of the man and he's not bad.

Besides, if YZ really was such a huge misanthrope, why would he go into a project to open a series of bars?

Wardy

 

[TailstheHedgehog]

He's not misogynistic, I've never heard him once seriously marginilise a female, and I highly doubt the Escapist would have him he was. One review he very nearly said a word beginning with 'n' that I'm not even sure I'm allowed to write, but that's just Yahtzee. He's like the Chasers, he pushes the boundaries, but it's just too funny for us to care. Mayes is just saying all that because it's funny to see the man with sweet hat and chip on his shoulder get shot down for once.

I always thought it was a (brilliant) character, and i'd like to hope he's normal in real life.

I don't know why Rebecca Mayes didn't understand that. It's like getting offended at the actor in a play because you don't like thier character.

What was the deal with them? Did he offend her or somthing?

She did that 'cause Yahtzee puts down EVERYONE and EVERYTHING. Somebody had to tell him, just to make sure he knew he wasn't the only person on the planet with the nerve and wit to be both intelligent and damn awesome.
For the record, Mayes' hate-filled love song is probably my favourite ever Escapist video. =)

 

[RobfromtheGulag]

Similar to meeting Jon Stewart or Brad Pitt in person, I doubt he acts the same way in a social setting.

-Either way, in case you hadn't noticed, he's [partially] catering to the masses in order to get/remain popular. Thus you can conclude that 'people' enjoy misogynist pompous diction.

 

[TailstheHedgehog]

Similar to meeting Jon Stewart or Brad Pitt in person, I doubt he acts the same way in a social setting.

-Either way, in case you hadn't noticed, he's [partially] catering to the masses in order to get/remain popular. Thus you can conclude that 'people' enjoy misogynist pompous diction.

He's not mysogynist!
The dictionary defines mysogyny as: hatred, dislike or mistrust of women.
Perhaps with the few possible exceptions of irony or satire, Yahtzee has never displayed any of these attributes.

 

[Palademon]

You can still have a normal life. I think he just acts the way he does to show free expression. On the internet you can act however you like. I am misanthropic, and I would enjoy having the confidence to freely say whateever I want in real life.

 

[Queen Michael]

It's just for fun. He lets his negative side take over completely.

 

[kintaris]

So I have been puttering around on the escapist for a little while now and have watched quite a few videos. Of all of the creators of all of the shows on this site Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw intrigues me the most. He got me thinking, can one man be such a complete and utter misanthrope and still live a functional, productive life? Is Ben Croshaw like this in real life or is his "Yahtzee" persona used only for situations like this? Was Rebecca Mayes correct in her assertion that he is a misogynist pig or is his hate more generalized then that? So I turn it to you gentle readers, who is the man behind the moniker?

I have loads of friends like Yahtzee who are completely normal and regular people until you get them onto a subject they feel passionately about, to which their response is often full of bile, hate and a good dash of humorous self-mockery or mockery of your audience.

I think people should be careful not to confuse someone's sense of humour with their actual personality, though the two obviously feed each other.

 

[Nickisimo]

Some entertainers are close to their on-screen personas but for the most part, it's just entertainment and I wouldn't take it too seriously. The same holds true for all the political pundits on TV. It's just an act to get ratings and sell books. Most of them couldn't care less who's President and what Party is in power.

 

[Daveman]

I don't know. I hate things almost as much as he does. I function. Just about.

And about the misogyny, name one comedian who HASN'T made a sexist joke. It's fine so long as you find them funny.

 

[Kermi]

People I know who've met him say he comes off as a bit of an arrogant jerk. Then again, so do a lot of British people as far as Australians are concerned. My father has lived in Australia for 55 years and people who meet him once still usually think he's a bit of a prick.

 

[Sixties Spidey]

Look back at his website and watch some ZP reviews. Some of his jokes on ZP are from some his older works on FullyRamblomatic.

 

[bojac6]

I always thought it was a (brilliant) character, and i'd like to hope he's normal in real life.

I don't know why Rebecca Mayes didn't understand that. It's like getting offended at the actor in a play because you don't like thier character.

Dude, it was a joke. A comedy music video about a comedy game reviewer. Of course she knows it's a character. It was fun and well done.

 

[Adzma]

Just because someone is a misanthrope doesn't mean they behave strangely IRL. If you met me I'm sure you'd be none the wiser.

 

[BlumiereBleck]

No, Yahtzee isn't like how he is when he reviews games. When you read reviews and hear him on podcasts and stuff he comes off *shock horror* quite normal.

are you sure I've heard plenty of podcasts where he sounds similar to himself on Zero Punctuation... case in point... though it is sort of weird hearing him play off of other people...

I too don't like josh whedon....

 

[Space Spoons]

I always thought it was mostly for show. I don't doubt that on some level, he means most of what he says, but he takes it to ridiculous extremes for entertainment value.

 

[maddawg IAJI]

You're probably not the first and not the last person to question Yahtzee's lifestyle outside of Zero Punctuation and you will be met with the same answer as everyone else.

No. He does not act like that in reality. Moving on now.

 

[Viking Incognito]

I believe that it is just an overly exaggerated version of his personality that he uses for comedy.