The Cost of Attacking Wendigoon

Summary

In this video, the host discusses an online controversy where a YouTuber named 'In Praise of Shadows' criticized fellow YouTuber 'Wendon' and others, accusing them of promoting harmful ideologies. The critique backfired, as it led to increased views and revenue for the criticized creators. The host reflects on the irony of the situation, the dangers of resentment, and the importance of standing by one's beliefs against the pressure of the online mob.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video discusses an internet controversy involving a YouTuber named In Praise of Shadows, who made a long video criticizing another YouTuber, Wendon.
• 🤔 In Praise of Shadows is described as a 'bread tuber,' someone from the left side of the political spectrum, who focuses on the means of production.
• 🔍 The video criticizes Wendon for associating with certain YouTubers and labels him as not belonging in the horror community based on guilt by association.
• 📈 The controversy inadvertently led to increased views and revenue for the criticized YouTubers, demonstrating the ironic outcome of the initial attack.
• 💥 In Praise of Shadows removed the segment about Wendon and eventually took down the entire video, which no longer exists for monetization but is preserved online by others.
• 📊 The reaction videos to In Praise of Shadows' video generated significant views and potential ad revenue, highlighting the power of controversy in driving online engagement.
• 👎 The video script criticizes In Praise of Shadows for making broad, negative statements about Appalachia and for mislabeling other YouTubers, showing a lack of research.
• 🤷‍♂️ The speaker reflects on the importance of recognizing bad actors online and the negative impact of false allegations and character assassination attempts.
• 🌐 The script emphasizes the volatile nature of the internet, where trivial matters can escalate and have real-world consequences, advising against living solely within online spaces.
• 💔 It discusses the poisonous effects of hate and resentment, suggesting that In Praise of Shadows acted out of these negative emotions with detrimental outcomes.
• 🚫 The video concludes with a lesson on not being governed by the mob and standing by one's beliefs, even in the face of public backlash or criticism.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the video script?

The main topic discussed in the video script is an internet controversy involving a YouTuber named In Praise of Shadows, who made a video criticizing another YouTuber named Wendon and several others, using guilt by association.

What does the term 'bread tuber' refer to in the context of the script?

In the script, 'bread tuber' refers to someone from the left side of the political spectrum, such as a socialist or communist, who is concerned about the means of production.

Why did In Praise of Shadows dedicate a significant portion of his video to attacking Wendon?

In Praise of Shadows attacked Wendon and other YouTubers by using guilt by association, attempting to label Wendon as a bad influence due to his interactions with certain individuals on Twitter and Reddit.

What is the 'Trap of Hate' mentioned in the script?

The 'Trap of Hate' refers to the negative emotions of resentment and hate that one may harbor and act upon, which can lead to destructive consequences, as seen in the actions of In Praise of Shadows.

What was the ironic outcome of In Praise of Shadows' video according to the script?

The ironic outcome was that In Praise of Shadows' video, which criticized others and complained about his own lack of earnings, inadvertently generated a significant amount of views and revenue for the YouTubers he criticized through their reaction content.

How much revenue was generated by the reaction content to In Praise of Shadows' video, according to the script?

The reaction content to In Praise of Shadows' video generated approximately 3,776,000 views, which could potentially translate to between $5,000 to $133,000 of revenue from AdSense alone.

What did In Praise of Shadows do with his video after the controversy?

In Praise of Shadows removed the segment on Wendon and eventually took down the entire video, which no longer exists for him to monetize.

What life lesson does the script suggest can be learned from this controversy?

The script suggests that harboring and acting on negative emotions like hate and resentment can be poisonous to one's well-being and can lead to undesirable outcomes, as demonstrated by In Praise of Shadows' experience.

What is the importance of recognizing bad actors according to the script?

Recognizing bad actors is important because it helps to distinguish between genuine criticism and false allegations, and it prevents the spread of misinformation and unjust attacks on individuals.

What is the script's advice on dealing with negative public opinion or 'the mob'?

The script advises not to be governed by the mob and to stand by one's beliefs if they are truly held and are right, regardless of external pressure or criticism.