Safe?

One was my fault, the other, well ... that one was my fault, too.  But not as much.

Yesterday I wrote the blog about religion and should have spent a little more time explaining how I view religion and faith as being separate entities.  I should have also spent more time explaining my fundamental criticism of religion--that being the requirement to nod and say yes to everything it presents you, thereby encouraging a person to never question their surroundings.

All said, I think I did an okay job presenting my views and providing a starting point for the discussion that followed.  Minus Obsquatch (I'm sure he'll catch up with us eventually, unless he's intentionally absent for this discussion) there was an interesting cross-section of opinions offered.

Before I tell you where I'm at now, I need to tell about the other thing that went down yesterday which helped me get here.  Victor posted a video (I was actually a bit late in getting to it, so probably already watched it yourself) wherein he invites open criticism of the performances in the last episode of Talking Heads: The Christopher Mast Story.  (Check out the playlist for the miniseries here.)

It was a good video (any video that has anything even remotely to do about me is good :) but it caught me off guard.  I don't disapprove of it or disagree with the motives behind it ... it just caught me off guard.

A little while ago, towards the end of the old jordancg youtube account, I was watching another one of Blunty3000's video where he bitched incessantly about how much he hated the people on youtube for flagging one of his videos.  Previously, I had stopped watching Blunty because it seemed like all he ever did was bitch and moan ... and that just got tiresome.

That evening I decided to post a video response which would invariably change everything.  For the first time ever, here's everything that transpired after I posted my video response and why, ultimately, I don't like Blunty3000:

1) He actually allowed the video response on his video (he reviews all the video responses and is notorious for not allowing many ... which is fine, his discretion ... but with the amount of bitching he does about youtube and the youtube users, you'd think he'd work to set a better example, right?) so he allows the video response
2) he actually clicks into my channel per my request.  he sorts by "most viewed" and selects one the nonsensical madness videos:


Blunty3000 (1 hour ago) Show Hide
Dude, is this one of your videos you claim are so much better than mine? fucking TEDIOUS drivel! couldn't make it though the whole thing.

jordancg (1 hour ago) Show Hide
Jump to the bottom of the bin, why don't you? I told you to watch one of the newer videos, was that really so difficult? No, you had to dig to the bottom, huh?

Blunty3000 (1 hour ago) Show Hide
Bottom of the bin? I selected this as one of your most viewed.

jordancg (1 hour ago) Show Hide
Yeah, and my whole argument is that I have no audience. My quality productions have no viewers compared to ANY of your videos. Fuck if I know why this is one of my most viewed--it's a shit video.

Blunty3000 (1 hour ago) Show Hide
And it's just not possible you have "no audience" because your vids aren't as well made or appealing as you think they are?

3) Next up is Zaphod Zombie:

Blunty3000 (1 hour ago) Show Hide
You asked me to look at something recent from you so here I am. You claimed "high production values" No. Here I find Terrible, distorted audio. Nonsensical amateurish and distracting editing. and frankly an uninspired gimmick I've seen done before, and better.

jordancg (54 minutes ago) Show Hide
Color me impressed, sir. I certainly cannot knock you for your opinion.

However, based on these brief conversations I've had with you just now, it is clear to see that you truly are a bitter and angry individual ... I imagine if you left youtube well enough alone, you're blood pressure might thank you.

At any rate, thank you for at least checking out the vids and reaffirming why I stay away from your channel in the first place.

Until next time ;)

Blunty3000 (48 minutes ago) Show Hide
Actually, I'm quite content and happy, blood pressure is fine and I'm bitter about little in life. What you see as "bitter" and "angry" is just the fact I don't sugar coat shit, I call it like I see it, I'm blunt. You called me out claiming that your content was high production value, deserves the exposure I get, and I'm telling you, your production values aren't anywhere near what you seem to think they are. If you can't take constructive criticism why'd you ask me to look?

jordancg (42 minutes ago) Show Hide
I can take constructive criticism just fine. Please alert me when you have some.

Perhaps I spoke out of term in referring to "production value" but what speak of is creative production value. Throughout youtube you have endless amounts of videos that have no point and achieve nothing. I write stories and original content ... exemplified best by my series. I work with what I have (what EVERYONE has) to show people that they don't have to make pointless vlogs all the time.

jordancg (39 minutes ago) Show Hide
You should watch episode 24 of Talking Heads and tell me if I'm the one who should leave youtube alone.

4) and then Talking Heads 24 (The One That Starts with the Dark Knight)

Blunty3000 (34 minutes ago) Show Hide
Because you held this out as an example, here I am. Oh Jee whizz. a Joker parody. Never seen that before on youtube. I'm still waiting for you to live up to your claims of high production values and high creativity. I've given you more than a fair chance to justify the claims you made. You've wasted my time again and again with uninspired content, rubbish editing and frankly, pretty clear jealousy. I'm done. Good luck improving while ignoring constructive criticism.

jordancg (25 minutes ago) Show Hide
:D

Thank you, sir! I've always believed that I was a giant ass, so it's rather comforting to personally meet an ass monumentally bigger than me.

How to make friends and influence people (on youtube): at least watch the whole video before you comment ;)

Blunty3000 (11 minutes ago) Show Hide
Yes, you are an ass. You ASKED me to look at this and give you my thoughts on it. Instead because I didn't love it, and told you so plainly without sugar coating, you get defensive and dismissive. You're acting like a six year old.

5) okay ... so basically I'm getting into it with a youtube partner and I'm getting wholly riled up.  You know how it goes.  It's the internet.  At any rate, he can say whatever he wants, but if my stuff had the exposure his had, I'd be rocking the same amount of subscribers and views ... probably even better.  But ... whatever.  So here's the last of it in form of emails with him:

FROM ME:

where's the love??
It's a question of raising the bar. The majority of youtubers setup the camera and talk about nothing--the very least I want to see is for them to write a script. From there it can go anyplace.

I feel, in doing my productions, I can set an example as to what quality the everyday youtuber can possibly achieve.

Hey, I can appreciate if you don't dig the videos--I don't like many of yours--but creatively we do have similar point of views.

FROM HIM:

Re: where's the love??
The problem here is your arrogance is blinding you. You've shown me no real creativity, innovative thought, or anything you claim to have "high production values" on. There is nothing you're doing that stands out from hundreds of other "wannabe stars", but you think you're pushing envelopes and are being some kind of creative powerhouse, that's your problem.

your second problem is you ASKED me to look at your stuff but you utterly refuse to take on board the criticism I've been giving you so you can address the issues you have.

I too use the same equipment most "everyday youtubers" use. the VAST majority of my vids are webcamed, or filmed with a miniDV cam (the cheapest model). But I have dedicated a large portion of my recent years to learning the craft of video production, whatever equipment I'm using I know how to push the best quality from it, not that I always choose to based on the content I'm creating and if it needs to be at 100% technical quality.

the creativity, which you so loudly have been vaunting is only a part of the whole. You MAY INDEED have some great ideas, but you seem, so far, incapable of realizing them in interesting, well produced and compelling ways.

Hell even the most basic self marketing things like having an interesting video title are utterly escaping you. Why would anyone looking for interesting content click on a vid called "CW04" ? seriously.

Now I've expended a good deal of my time trying to help you here, and you're throwing it back at me in arrogance.
Am I wasting my time? or do you genuinely want help becoming BETTER so you can have a chance at teaching more of the audience here?

FROM ME:

Re: where's the love??
Wow. Two arrogant bastards trying to have a conversation. Like that will ever end well.

I'm stopping this now because I don't have the patience for this ... this is what you wrote which is the root of our mutual contention:

"You MAY INDEED have some great ideas, but you seem, so far, incapable of realizing them in interesting, well produced and compelling ways."

I have the same opinion about you and your videos. We're not going to meet eye-to-eye on this and it's not because either one of us are incapable of taking constructive criticism but because neither one of us will ever place any value on the others opinion.

That said, I do appreciate the time you've spent watching bits of my videos and corresponding with me. While I don't agree with most of the things you say, I do have an appreciation for where they are coming from and do agree that there were valid points raised.

Good luck to you, sir!

AND FINALLY:

Re: where's the love??
Fine, okay you're completely and utterly unwilling to listen despite directly asking for my opinion?. No problem, next time I'll just ignore you alltogether.

It's worth noting I do not watch every vid someone asks me to "check out" and get my opinion and advice on. You have just proved why it's best I ignore these desperate pleas.
You people don't want an opinion or advice, you want affirmation of your own overinflated concepts of how "awesome" your work is to feel more secure and righteous in whining about how unfair it is you don't get views.

"You MAY INDEED have some great ideas, but you seem, so far, incapable of realizing them in interesting, well produced and compelling ways."

"I have the same opinion about you and your videos. "

Well one of us is wrong, because one of us has millions of video views the other does not. The evidence seems to point to the fact that the way I realize my creativity is indeed interesting compelling and well produced enough to grab the eyeballs who are ignoring your vids.

MORE FINAL:
Re: where's the love??
You know what's funny about your last message?


"You people don't want an opinion or advice, you want affirmation of your own overinflated concepts of how "awesome" your work is to feel more secure and righteous in whining about how unfair it is you don't get views."


1) I don't whine about how I don't get your views. You may infer whining from my love note to you, but watch again--I'm merely stating how annoying it is to hear your bitch moan about your views (the lack thereof due to unnecessary flagging) when other people (be it myself or others) are lucky to get 100 views on videos that are unequivocally better than yours. Talk being an about arrogant bastard. I know it was to prove a point, but who's time are wasting with that "Blinky/Chris Crocker" shit animation?!

2) I stopped watching your videos because every other one became a bitch fest about youtube. Talk about accepting some constructive criticism?? THE WHOLE FUCKING POINT OF MY VIDEO TO YOU IS THAT YOU WHINE TOO MUCH. The perceived quality and/or relevance of my own videos is ancillary. But I like how you so thoroughly spin it back around on me. That's talent, sir, and I respect you for that.

Love,
Jordan

*****

WHEW.  Long story, huh?

I share all of that not only because people have asked about it, but because prior to that whole exchange I tried to be bluntly honest with people about their creative efforts.  If a video or script is in need of improvement, shouldn't the creator know that?

What I realized was that, more important than "constructive criticism" (I put that in quotes because apparently the term has different meanings to different people) is encouragement.

And on youtube, you've already got enough people calling you a suckass fucktard, why can't I be the one person who actively encourages your creative endeavors?  After all, if you do something long enough, you're eventually going to get better at it, with or without the constructive criticism, yes?

I don't know, really, but that's where I was and that's what got me to where I am now.  I place a great deal more value on encouragement than on criticism.

When Victor posted his video, I flashed immediately to YouTube Rejects and how Heather didn't even finish the series because of the criticism she was receiving in the comments.  That's why Victor's video shocked me.  It's not that I myself can't handle the criticism of my performance, my editing, and my script, but that I do everything in my power to make the people who participate in these productions look good.  And although we've wrapped the production of CMS, I would be disappointed to find out that the legions of fucktard youtube haters might in some way influence and inhibit the cast of the upcoming episodes.

And again, you only need to look as far as Heather and YouTube Rejects to see why this came as a shock to me.

Which brings us all the way around to real point of this blog.  (Was it long enough for you??)  What is safe?  What is safe to talk about and what must be avoided at all cost?  In a single day I went from religion to some harsh criticism of the very lifeblood of my existence--my creative projects.  I would love to live in a world where anything is fair game to talk about, but maybe we have boundaries for a reason.  What are your thoughts?

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