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Comment by epx | Hacker News Reader

I have an YouTube channel, mostly for personal stuff. I did some effort to record some videos about several subjects, none had more than a hundred viewers. Then, in a sudden, a very shaky and short video with a Mallet steam locomotive punctured the Algorithm Wall and had thousands of views per day... I was even making $20/mo off YouTube until the early 2018 changes took place.

And the fact is, divisive content is king these days. Nobody, humans or algorithms, are interested in balanced opinions these days.

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>these days.

Doubt they ever were.

How many of the Nazis and other super divisive youtubers do you think are faking it or hamming it up for clicks? I do sometimes wonder "do these people actually believe this crap?" Same goes for totally outlandish conspiracy theories.

Controversy has always sold, but never before has the feedback loop been so tight.

Not believing what you speak is a huge enthusiasm killer, and enthusiasm is most of what makes a good video. I'd guess almost all of the people with growing channels believe what they speak, and anyone on the fence might even subconsciously start believe what their audience wants.

Except I can fake enthusiasm easily. I don't because it's deceptive. I feel like I am lying to someone when I fake enthusiasm. Doesn't go over all that well in most settings, since most people do fake it.

I think OP means more personal enthusiasm, as in being driven to make videos at all. No benefit in being able to fake a smile if you never end up recording yourself in the first place.

...at the same time though, a ton of money and attention might be enough to get over making personally uninteresting content. I guess that's pretty much how careers are for most people.

But can you fake enthusiasm full-time for years as well as someone who is actually enthusiastic? Because otherwise you'll be outcompeted.

The best liars totally believe what they say in the moment they say it. They have the ability to fool themselves, which is essential to fool others.

It's probably an evolutionary trait.

This [1] is anecdotal only but I thought it was interesting:

"i know from some behind-the-scenes youtuber talk that a few of the softer antifem/rightwing channels don't like how extreme a lot of their audience have become, and are scared of putting anything out that causes them to get ditched. they have bills to pay, after all"

[1] https://curiouscat.me/Shaun_Jen/post/639484603?1536142106

I dont think it matters what they belive or dont. They are one person. What matters is that some portion of thier viewers do and take action upon those beliefs. Changing your vote because of some ranting youtube clip is one thing, picking up a gun and going to a pizza joint another. Infowars was a start, but youtube needs to get on top of this asap.

(Something changed for me last month. Youtube started suggesting very bad vids. I watched a series about german castles, some of which were used in WW2 by you know who. I guess that made me a skinhead according to youtubed robots. I deleted all those cookies asafp.)

There are nazi youtubers?

I won't lie im right wing but the only Nazi I can think of who manages to get around on youtube would be eric striker.

Conspiracy theories sure, plenty of those around but nazis? Maybe there are hundreds of accounts out there with 100s of views between them i've never seen before.

you can call it by the new buzzword if you want - "the alt-right".share the common trait with nazi that they believe/invent pseudo-science that PROVES that they are superior & moral/societal degeneration occurs as a result of the left's policies/actions. also some of them hate jews/minorities. intersectional nazi?

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