back to article Tired of despairing of Trump and Brexit? Why not despair about YouTube stars instead?

It's a reality of life that some people have a lot of money and some very little. But sometimes that disparity feels less like an unfortunate but ultimately inconsequential side effect of capitalism and more like a tasteless joke inflicted on society by some omnipotent prankster. The existence of YouTube stars and their …

  1. Anonymous Coward
    Facepalm

    Oooowwwww my balls!

    Once again Mike Judge got there first.

    1. Black Rat
      Devil

      Re: Oooowwwww my balls!

      Bring back Climbing For Dollars!

      1. This post has been deleted by its author

        1. This post has been deleted by its author

    2. John Smith 19 Gold badge
      WTF?

      "Once again Mike Judge got there first."

      Hehehehehehehehehe.

      Coool.

    3. Starace
      Flame

      Re: Oooowwwww my balls!

      I'd pay to watch that show if some of the YouTubers were on it getting kicked hard.

      Or just that obnoxious arse 'Shmee' getting kicked would be enough.

      Feel free to substitute something else unpleasant happening to Tim, it'd still be worth a channel subscription for whoever put it up. He really is an arsehole, and actually worse than his crappy videos could ever imply.

    4. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Oooowwwww my balls!

      Ironically, el-reg featured story (and most commented) is about the YouTube cretin that got his head stuck in a microwave. Essentially EL-REG are no better than YouTube stars, just peddling crap stories like that and bullshite android FUD...

      Same shite different medium, but its all about ad clicks at the end of the day.

  2. Sgt_Oddball

    Occasionally..

    I too want to scream incoherently into the void, I just feel self consious enough to not want to film it.

    On the plus side. This means ganam style had crashed out and cat videos ain't pulling the numbers they used to. Silver linings and all that.

    1. Haku

      Re: Occasionally..

      Gangnam Style got close to making YouTube throw a wobbly, they had to upgrade it to 64bit to cope with the viewcount.

      A shame really, I'd have liked to have seen what happens when the viewcount goes over 2,147,483,647 views on a 32bit counting system.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        @Haku

        "A shame really, I'd have liked to have seen what happens when the viewcount goes over 2,147,483,647 views on a 32bit counting system."

        Simple: when properly programmed: absolutely nothing. You can easily try this for yourself by firing up Excel 2010 (32bit), entering this number and then adding =A1+1 into B1, and the result shown will be 2147483648. On a 32bit environment, how amazing (not) :P

        1. the Jim bloke

          Re: @Haku

          Can we get a youtube of this ?

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      I too want to scream incoherently into the void...

      Trouble is, those screams are misdirected.

      Whilst I have some sympathy with Kieran's point of view, I think he's badly missed the most important point: whilst, on the face of it, Kieren is complaining about individuals who offend his sensibilities, what he's really complaining about, without quite realising it, is Human Nature, as expressed via that proportion of the Human Race who like what those individuals do - if a lot of people didn't like what those individuals do then we wouldn't even know about them.

      Ultimately, there is no absolute Right or Wrong; there's just consensus and, historically, consensus has proved to be rather unreliable.

      A bit like Democracy though, consensus will have to serve until we evolve into a more rational species.

      1. ecofeco Silver badge

        Re: I too want to scream incoherently into the void...

        If one cannot discriminate about and against mindless crap, one should not be telling others how to think.

        Shit by another name is still fucking shit.

        These very wealthy nobodies produce and contribute artless nothing. The are literally wankers.

        1. Hans 1

          Re: I too want to scream incoherently into the void...

          These very wealthy nobodies produce and contribute artless nothing. The are literally wankers.

          The thing is, there hundreds of thousands of youtubers out there, some that do great stuff, others, the vast majority, do garbage. the best at doing garbage somehow climb the ranks ... They must have something to attract all the viewers, like a face, a voice, a style ... no I, for one, am not jealous of them ... they get away with trash, good for them ... ;-) It is not like "you HAVE to watch" ...

        2. Kiwi

          Re: I too want to scream incoherently into the void...

          These very wealthy nobodies produce and contribute artless nothing.

          So that's where I've been going wrong!

          Here I am trying to contribute stuff of value to society any way I can, and I have nothing to show for it.

          These guys contribute nothing of value, and yet they're bloody rich! Any one of them is better off than all of my family, my friends, and my friend's families combined!

          Mebbe I should stop contributing value and start filming a lump of shit in the toilet or something. Or is even that too artsy?

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: I too want to scream incoherently into the void...

            A colleague and myself joked a few years ago about starting a site "Instadump - Pictures of poo what I have done". Starting to think we should have done it for real.

            1. Simon Harris
              Coat

              Re: I too want to scream incoherently into the void...

              "Instadump"

              Surely PooTube.

              Mine's the one with the Domestos in the pocket ---->

            2. Kiwi
              Trollface

              Re: I too want to scream incoherently into the void...

              A colleague and myself joked a few years ago about starting a site "Instadump - Pictures of poo what I have done". Starting to think we should have done it for real.

              Well, if farcebork didn't go ya for some sort of copyright/patent etc, I'm quite sure crApple would've claimed that jobs invented defecating when he was thinking of the next icopyphone, and they would've been suing you for copying their look and feel. (can you imagine challenging their lawyers to prove that they actually did check for "feel"? )

          2. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: I too want to scream incoherently into the void...

            Here I am trying to contribute stuff of value to society any way I can, and I have nothing to show for it.

            Ditto. You had your chance society , you didnt want my help with Engineering , and later with I.T so fuck you . Next chance I get to suck large amounts of money out of the system whilst contributing nothing , I'm taking it. Might open a payday loan shop , or a casino. .... with blackjack and hookers ...

          3. Sgt_Oddball

            Re: I too want to scream incoherently into the void...

            That's been done already... (search YouTube for How2basic you'll be both horrified and bemused in equal measure... then possibly really, really creeped out).

  3. gr00001000
    WTF?

    Nathan Barley. Idiocracy.

    Teenagers taking out loans to invest in bitcoin.

    Idiots bragging materialistic slap stick brainless twaddle on Youtube.

    These things will pass.

    1. Kiwi
      Headmaster

      These things will pass.

      However, like severe constipation, not soon enough and perhaps with far more pain than you'd like.

      -->He looks like he's full of....

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      "These things will pass."

      Well - there was "Tulip Mania" in 1637 - and the "South Sea Bubble" in 1720 - possibly UK railways in the 19th century - and latterly the "DotCom Bubble" circa 2001. Not to mention the various "Ponzi" schemes.

      Someone will always promote a lazy "get rich" scheme - and gullible people will buy into it. The only people who win will ride the bubble and get out before the crash - usually the promoters of the scheme.

      1. ecofeco Silver badge

        The various Madoffs.

        Ponzi is so last century.

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Some day Doctorish Matt from Demolition Ranch will be up there!!

  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    If you think that is stupid

    Go to You Tube and look up...

    binaural ASMR whisper

    1. frank ly

      Re: If you think that is stupid

      Oh my, that is weird.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: If you think that is stupid

      No don't. Just ignore it. I have never seen anything by the "stars" in the article so I'm most pleaded that I have contributed nothing to their earnings.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        "'m most pleaded that I have contributed nothing to their earnings"

        Poll:

        How many readers watched those videos?

        I understand El Reg pointing out how you can make a lot of money today out of plain stupidity - just remember they are planning to introduce video games at Olympic Games... just because of the money involved.

        But why not let finding the videos as an exercise to the reader? Linking will just risk to let them make even more money.

        Soon people won't say "you're not clever enough to become rich" - they'll say "you're not stupid enough to become rich!" <G>

    3. handleoclast

      Re: If you think that is stupid

      ASMR isn't quite as stupid as you make out.

      Technically, ASMR refers to the shivers you feel in the back of your neck and/or spine when you hear certain sounds. Some people find that pleasurable.

      These days ASMR videos seem to be mainly about inducing a mild hypnotic state (although most of them don't really know what they're doing, so do it badly). Some people find that pleasurable.

      I found the first few I watched mildly interesting, but rapidly became bored with it. But if you find ASMR enjoyable then go for it.

      What really astounded me is that makeup/beauty tutorials were not in the top 10. Just about anything I search for on youtube gets at least one makeup/beauty tutorial in the first 10 results.

      1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

        Re: If you think that is stupid

        about inducing a mild hypnotic state .....I found the first few I watched mildly interesting

        Anyone know the code word that will cause all these millions of youtube viewers to kill the president ?

        1. Version 1.0 Silver badge

          Re: If you think that is stupid

          The code word is "Queen of Diamonds"

          1. Swarthy
            Terminator

            Re: If you think that is stupid

            The code word is "Queen of Diamonds"

            There are three flowers in a vase....

            1. B*stardTintedGlasses

              Re: If you think that is stupid

              Have an upvote for the Dollhouse reference. :D

        2. Kiwi
          Coat

          Re: If you think that is stupid

          about inducing a mild hypnotic state .....I found the first few I watched mildly interesting

          Anyone know the code word that will cause all these millions of youtube viewers to kill the president ?

          You might have to be a bit more specific about that.

          Unless of course you don't care which president...

          1. P. Lee
            Big Brother

            Re: If you think that is stupid

            >Unless of course you don't care which president...

            Of course not dude, I'm with Antifa. Bring on the revolution and lets party like its 100 years ago! We'll keep the Red (and Black) flag flying here!

            I despair less over Trump than I do over the opposition politics which made him seem attractive.

            Brexit? In shock news, sovereign nation keeps sovereignty! How dare they indeed! Give your legislative capability over to the so much more efficient Germans, French, Greeks and Italians right now!

    4. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: If you think that is stupid

      Good ASMR can help if you have trouble sleeping. More sensible then some of the other rubbish.

      1. Chris G

        Re: If you think that is stupid

        Without having read all of the (Currently 85) comments, I think it's clear that in an effort to simultaneously improve the 'Tubes quality and make some money at the same time, El Reg needs to begin Vlogging.

        Of course you may have to dumb it down a bit and show the Reg journos doing stupid things in the office but think of the money.

        I was thinking of making some videos to upload, showing me screaming at and insulting different vegetables each day ( I don't like veg'). The videos would finish with me murdering vegetables with a hammer.

        Do you think it could catch on?

        1. bombastic bob Silver badge
          Facepalm

          Re: If you think that is stupid

          "Of course you may have to dumb it down a bit and show the Reg journos doing stupid things in the office but think of the money."

          I think this sort of thing was tried with 'Salmon Days' - which (unfortunately) wasn't funny enough to survive. I still like the BOFH vs Clippy, uh, "clip". There are lots of other examples (not just 'Salmon Days') of what COULD have been uproariously gut-busting laugh-a-second material, which ended up being *yawn* *lame* .

          (it's also why I don't watch sit-coms)

          Anyway, GOOD humor/satire is based on truth. 'pander to the perception' stuff is lame. Too much of the latter these days. And it seems youtube has too many people trying to be 'Gumbies' (and doing it wrong) and getting money for it, anyway.

          /me plays 'Money for Nothing' by Dire Straits

          icon, because, facepalm

        2. Mark 85

          Re: If you think that is stupid

          The videos would finish with me murdering vegetables with a hammer.

          Do you think it could catch on?

          Been done.... look up Gallagher.

        3. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: If you think that is stupid

          "I was thinking of making some videos to upload, showing me screaming at and insulting different vegetables each day ( I don't like veg'). The videos would finish with me murdering vegetables with a hammer. Do you think it could catch on?"

          Someone already thought of that. Behold "Annoying Orange." Too bad you didn't think of it first -- you could have gotten your own TV show on Cartoon Network.

  6. Haku

    Yes, it's mad mad world.

    About 5 years ago I uploaded 5 minute video to YouTube of a larger than normal sized balloon being filled with water in a bath, and its inevitble pop which caused a big enough wave to splash some out over the side.

    View count to date: over 900,000.

    As for the comments, it's funny reading the arguments they get into as too many of them have brains with a self preservation mode; it switches off as soon as they visit YouTube.

    1. Kiwi
      Thumb Up

      Re: Yes, it's mad mad world.

      As for the comments, it's funny reading the arguments they get into as too many of them have brains with a self preservation mode; it switches off as soon as they visit YouTube.

      I've seen and experienced some terrible stuff in life. I've made mistakes that have me cringing at their memory over 30 years later (some before I was even 10 years old).

      I don't think any of them tops reading a thread on Youtube. I've seen more stupidity in a single thread on YT than I've seen anywhere else in my life (except maybe on TV)

      1. To Mars in Man Bras!
        Facepalm

        Re: Yes, it's mad mad world.

        >>I've seen more stupidity in a single thread on YT than I've seen anywhere else in my life...

        For a long time, I was of the same opinion. But, believe it or not, the comments on news items on rt.com are even more moronic.

    2. Jason Bloomberg Silver badge

      Re: Yes, it's mad mad world.

      View count to date: over 900,000.

      I can understand that. People often idly wonder "what would happen if...?", knowing it's likely going to get messy, see someone has done it, go check it out, to save them from having to do it themselves.

      I can even understand people watching idiots put firecrackers up their backsides and the like -- we can imagine, but might as well see it, tell all our mates about what idiots are out there.

      I would like a multi-million dollar income, I enjoy my occasional 15 minutes of fame as much as the next man, but I'd rather retain some dignity than have the money. But, if people are happy to give it up, who am I to say they are wrong?

      I just let others watch them, and get on with my own life. There are better things to get annoyed about.

    3. CrazyOldCatMan Silver badge

      Re: Yes, it's mad mad world.

      View count to date: over 900,000.

      I've got a (rather shaky[1]) video of a Morris Minor odometer going over 99,999 and back to 00000 again - I wonder if I should post it and become the next YooToobe millionaire?

      [1] You try keeping a phone steady in a Morris Minor doing (roughly) 40mph! The engine vibration alone makes it blurry, let alone the agricultural suspension..

      1. Kiwi

        Re: Yes, it's mad mad world.

        I've got a (rather shaky[1]) video of a Morris Minor odometer going over 99,999 and back to 00000 again - I wonder if I should post it and become the next YooToobe millionaire?

        I have a few of those, and one coming up soon.

        Perhaps we can both put them up.

        Then find someone takes them, combines them into a pile of other clips, and makes money where we don't. (like much of the cat vids and crash vids and whatever else gets put into such things, I doubt the original posters get anything)

  7. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    'If you are still with us'

    ...."and haven't passed out from banging your head repeatedly against a desk or wall, we have two left of the top ten."....

    The things you've witnessed as a journalist Kieran, no human should ever have to endure. Its just cruel! If a God or deity does exist, its probably Deist.

    1. AJ MacLeod

      Re: 'If you are still with us'

      "..."and haven't passed out from banging your head repeatedly against a desk or wall..."

      I've cemented mine into a microwave oven, I saw it done somewhere and thought it would be a good way to avoid having to watch idiots doing idiotic things on youtube...

  8. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Despair over Brexit and Trump?

    Might be the prevailing sentiment of El Reg staff or Situation Publishing, but trust me, many of us think they are the two best things to have happened in 2016.

    Handy tip: less snarky opining about politics that you disagree with, and more tech stuff on a tech blog. Granted, sometimes the two overlap, but usually like in this case, it does not.

    1. Lysenko

      Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

      Handy tip: just because many people are deeply attached to Benson & Hedges, that doesn't mean one should give equal time and credence to cigarette smoking being a good idea.

    2. Haku
      Facepalm

      Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

      Transcript of one of Trump's speeches:

      "... you look at the nuclear deal, the thing that really bothers me, it would have been so easy, and it's not - as important as these lives are - nuclear is so powerful. My uncle explained that to me many, many years ago, the power, and that was 35 years ago, he would explain the power of what's going to happen and he was right. Who would have thought? But when you look at what's going on with the four prisoners - now it used to be three, now it's four - but when it was three and even now, I would have said it's all in the messenger. Fellas, and it is fellas because, you know, they don't, they haven't figured that the women are smarter right now than the men, so, you know, it's going to take them about another 150 years - but the Persians are great negotiators, the Iranians are great negotiators. So, and they, they just killed, they just killed us."

      And people actually voted for him on purpose??

      1. Boris the Cockroach Silver badge
        Unhappy

        Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

        Aiiiieiee my mind

        Why did you have to post that speech.... you've caused irrerepairable damage to my precious brain cells.....

        1. CrazyOldCatMan Silver badge

          Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

          you've caused irrerepairable damage to my precious brain cells

          I hear that the damage can be repaired by the application of fine single malts. And no, I'm not offering to supply them.

      2. handleoclast

        Re: And people actually voted for him on purpose??

        God bless the United Shersh.

        1. Lars Silver badge
          Coat

          Re: And people actually voted for him on purpose??

          @ handleoclast

          For those few who did perhaps not understand the "Shersh" I believe it's here:

          http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-medical-exam-slurred-speech-public-results-health-concerns-white-house-a8098716.html

          (and elsewhere)

          So what is it with him. Is it cocaine, (with his nose), not original teeth running loose, or well, I had an uncle, (nice guy, but died) and he started to sound like that when Alzheimer struck him.

          Perhaps just drunk, (first glass of wine ever). Is Pence looking worried.

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: And people actually voted for him on purpose??

            Perhaps just drunk, (first glass of wine ever). Is Pence looking worried.

            No, delighted. He wants HIS turn to play with the train set.

      3. c1ue

        Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

        I didn't vote for him, but I understand why.

        A big f*** you to the American political machines on both sides of the aisle.

        If you consider history to repeat 2nd time as a farce, consider Trump and Reagan.

      4. hplasm
        Facepalm

        Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

        "And people actually voted for him on purpose??"

        They heard him say the quote above, and decided that he was much smarter than they were.

      5. Chris G

        Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

        @ Haku. Transcript of one of Trump's speeches

        Do think Google Translate could do anything with that to help me see the wisdom of the man?

        1. Kiwi
          Coat

          Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

          @ Haku. Transcript of one of Trump's speeches

          Do think Google Translate could do anything with that to help me see the wisdom of the man?

          I don't think it would help. This is one area where Mr Trump is truly transparent!

        2. Sherrie Ludwig

          Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

          @ Haku. Transcript of one of Trump's speeches

          Do think Google Translate could do anything with that to help me see the wisdom of the man?

          Google does not currently translate into "Psychotic", so, no.

      6. Anonymous Coward
        Terminator

        Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

        > And people actually voted for him on purpose??

        Yes.

        The same people - on a smaller scale - are about to elect an accused child molester into the US Senate. I'm talking about Roy Moore and this coming week's special election in Alabama. Trump threw his unconditional support behind Roy Moore.

        1. Kiwi
          Trollface

          Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

          ...an accused child molester....Trump...unconditional support...

          What's the saying about birds with similar types of plumage?

        2. Lars Silver badge

          Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

          "I'm talking about Roy Moore and this coming week's special election in Alabama. Trump threw his unconditional support behind Roy Moore.".

          Farage and Bannon are also there, I don't know if I am surprised or not.

        3. bombastic bob Silver badge
          Childcatcher

          Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

          "are about to elect an accused child molester into the US Senate."

          If I accuse YOU of child molesting, with no evidence to support my claims, should THAT make a difference as to whether or not YOU get hired?

          Exactly. It should NOT. Accusations are just that - accusations.

          I say this: if he's GUILTY, then INDICT. Otherwise, STFU. It's most likely NOT true, on that basis alone, I say.

          besides - 16 is "age of consent" in many U.S. states, LIKE Alabama, and NOT "child molestation". [that would imply actual pedophilia, which is recognized as an attraction to PRE-pubescent children, not teenagers - that would be different - though certainly illegal if sexual contact is made]

          Also, in at least one high profile case, the claims against Judge Moore includes a FORGED MESSAGE (and signature) in a yearbook. INfamous attorney Gloria Allred won't release it for forensic analysis, either. Suspicious, much? Does THAT not point to the "fake claim" nature of the situation?

          Yeah, liberals and lefties *LOVE* to use emotion-bombs 30 days out from an election to sway people's votes. It's "matter of course" for these *MANIPULATIVE* *BASTARDS*.

          All of these "new moralists" and SJW's and the hypocritical fake-concern about "the children" makes me reach for the pink liquid again...

          Icon, as appropriate.

          1. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

            Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

            "Exactly. It should NOT. Accusations are just that - accusations."

            I was going to upvote you but then you went on a one sided political rant, as if all sides don't use the same bag of dirty tricks whenever the opportunity arises.

          2. Kiwi
            Pint

            Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

            Yeah, liberals and lefties *LOVE* to use emotion-bombs 30 days out from an election to sway people's votes. It's "matter of course" for these *MANIPULATIVE* *BASTARDS*.

            I know. All these nasty people chanting "lock him up!" just days out from an election, when repeated FBI etc investigations have already come out proving him to be innocent (or at least "no evidence in this case).

            Glad CMIC et al never used emotive props during the orange-utan's presidential campaign, because if they did that'd make your post kinda hypocritical :)

            Have a cold one and relax Bob. Either he'll go to trial and be found guilty, or the complanants will disappear/back down due to threats (a la chump) and he'll not be tried at all. And if he is found guilty, I'm sure his bestest chum would give him a presidential pardon.

            (FTR, I also hope Weinstein or whatever his name is (and the others in recent cases) gets found not guilty - not because I like or support (or had even heard of) the man but because I hate the way all sorts groups are barring him/stopping their films/replacing their characters on the basis of mere accusation - while an accusation should make a hirer pause and think (in case the person gets the job then gets prison), but it should not be grounds for firing or stopping someone doing something they already do (unless there is a reasonable concern about risk - eg you wouldn't want someone accused of child molesting to remain at a crèche (without decent supervision at least) while the case is investigated) - basically unless there is damned good reason treat people as if they're innocent until convicted)

      7. Fat_Tony

        Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

        That's an incredible quote, it's like Abe Simpson has come to life!

        Transcript of one of Trump's speeches:

        "... you look at the nuclear deal, the thing that really bothers me, it would have been so easy, and it's not - as important as these lives are - nuclear is so powerful. My uncle explained that to me many, many years ago, the power, and that was 35 years ago, he would explain the power of what's going to happen and he was right. Who would have thought? But when you look at what's going on with the four prisoners - now it used to be three, now it's four - but when it was three and even now, I would have said it's all in the messenger. Fellas, and it is fellas because, you know, they don't, they haven't figured that the women are smarter right now than the men, so, you know, it's going to take them about another 150 years - but the Persians are great negotiators, the Iranians are great negotiators. So, and they, they just killed, they just killed us."

    3. Sorry that handle is already taken. Silver badge
      Facepalm

      Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

      Two con jobs. The best things to happen in 2016.

      Okay then!

    4. This post has been deleted by its author

    5. Sceptic Tank Silver badge
      Devil

      Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

      Despite all the leftist media propaganda, I think the Americans decided to vote for the better one of two very bad candidates. Mike Pence is probably just biding his time, waiting to take over the presidency.

      1. Rich 11 Silver badge

        Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

        I think the Americans decided to vote for the better one of two very bad candidates.

        The lesser of two evils is still evil.

        Mike Pence is probably just biding his time, waiting to take over the presidency.

        And this hate-filled religio-smurf is just as capable of evil.

        1. handleoclast

          Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

          And this hate-filled religio-smurf is just as capable of evil.

          Coming soon to a country near you! A Handmaid's Tale. Reality version.

        2. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

          "The lesser of two evils is still evil, and this hate-filled religio-smurf is just as capable of evil."

          With Clinton we all die in WW3

          With Trump we all die of laughter

          Sanders would have been a better choice, but it wasn't available

          1. Teiwaz

            Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

            With Clinton we all die in WW3

            You must be in denial of liking trump if you think that was at all likely, unless Putin kicked up a fuss as he didn't manage to get the US to play its' joker' in the this worldwide game of it's a knockout....

            Clinton was just another career stump-up for the endless round of global political chess. She was the latest in a run of likely pawns that got to the far edge of the board and got the chance to be 'queen' or in this case, president.

            Just like the Earth, 'Mostly Harmless'

            Might have been nice for the US to get over the first black president and first woman president during the opening decades of the 21st Century, get it over with.

            Instead, the US has ended with 'screaming Lord' Snapcase.

      2. Martin an gof Silver badge

        Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

        I think the Americans decided to vote for the better one of two very bad candidates

        What they really need over there is some kind of third or fourth party. I think what they also need is a way to reduce the influence of "big money" on who is actually chosen as candidates.

        I realise that in the UK we aren't perfect, our third and fourth (and fifth, sixth etc.) parties are never likely to gain power at Westminster by themselves (the voting system is a whole other argument) but they do hold a lot of influence and give people a genuine alternative at the voting booth on a constituency-by-constituency basis. Something like 11½% of the current UK parliament is made up of MPs who are not in one of the two main parties.

        M.

        1. Teiwaz

          Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

          What they really need over there is some kind of third or fourth party. I think what they also need is a way to reduce the influence of "big money" on who is actually chosen as candidates.

          What every country needs is more than a binary choice. And governments that realistically represent the breakdown of the voting.

          It would stimulate debate to more than name-calling their opposite number. Make it harder and more expensive for special interest groups to buy the result they wanted, prevent poorly thought out and half-assed or downright illegal legislation and probably a few other advantages.

          The only downside is a goverment that can't reach decisions quickly - all to the good IMO for that amount of quickly rushed through nonsense in the last couple of decades.

          Non-party MPs often give much need breadth of opinion, but they are rarely given any offices within the government, and often voted in on one particular bug-bear issue in their constituency.

          Unfortunately humans are intensely tribal, and will often latch onto one group of the other over some issue, decision or merely out of boredom, and most just don't have the interest to delve very deeply into politics and prefer nice simple decisions.

          1. Lars Silver badge
            Coat

            Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

            "What every country needs is more than a binary choice.".

            Came to think about it, are there any other, in practice, two party countries but the UK and the USA. The damn thing is that it creates a one party government, and I would hate that to happen where I live and that goes for "my parties" too.

        2. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

          "[...] and give people a genuine alternative at the voting booth on a constituency-by-constituency basis. "

          Without Proportional Representation then all those votes are to no avail. With First Past The Post voting a major party candidate often gets elected with less than 50% of the vote. Recent governments have been winning power with substantially less than half the votes that were cast overall.

          1. Neil Barnes Silver badge

            Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

            >>Without proportional representation...

            You have to pick your PR method carefully to avoid the twin risks of both decoupling the candidate from the locale and accidentally voting (in a transfer method) for someone you really don't want.

            I offer instead 'none of the above'; if none of the above win, the post is left vacant. And voters who can but don't vote automatically vote none of the above...

            1. Kiwi

              Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

              And voters who can but don't vote automatically vote none of the above...

              Why should my vote be cast for me by default?

              It is my choice whether I vote or not, and if I chose not to vote then that is my choice - not "none of the above" (which, BTW, is a choice I'd love to see on the ballot papers)

              And before anyone says otherwise, I did vote in this year's general election.

            2. Sherrie Ludwig
              Thumb Up

              Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

              @Neil Barnes: I regret have but one upvote to give to a person who believes as I have for several decades....

          2. Martin an gof Silver badge

            Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

            Without Proportional Representation then all those votes are to no avail.

            Which is why I also said "the voting system is a whole other argument". I wouldn't agree that the votes are always to no avail because there are numerous examples of individual MPs being kicked out against the normal run of events, though living in an ex-industrial solidly-Labour area it does feel a bit pointless voting for any of the other candidates sometimes.

            But the fact that there are other candidates - and at the last General Election there were six with us - can go some way to keeping the victorious candidate on his or her toes.

            And of course the Assembly elections in "the nations" do have varied forms of proportional representation, as do (did) European elections.

            A fully proportional system however, leading to constantly hung parliaments and coalitions (as seen in some European nations) may not be ideal either.

            M.

      3. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        "vote for the better one of two very bad candidates.

        There are serious concerns that while HR Clinton could have been a very bad president as well, the damage Trump & C. are doing and can do can have very long lasting ramifications and effects. Probably that would have not happened with a bad president who wasn't willingly to cripple the very principles US was built upon. There were bad president, but no one tried to re-shape US along a mix of business anarco-libertarianism and religious extremisms like now. They really think they can reshape society to mirror their ideology.

        1. c1ue

          Re: "vote for the better one of two very bad candidates.

          Uh, no. Trump isn't doing anything different than the deregulators both donkey and elephant in the past 30 years.

          I actually would have loved to see H Clinton win.

          What a victory for democracy to have *both* a father/son and a husband/wife in the span of less than a generation.

          Banana republics have only managed to accomplish one or the other.

          1. bombastic bob Silver badge
            Megaphone

            Re: "vote for the better one of two very bad candidates.

            "Banana republics have only managed to accomplish one or the other."

            yeah, the idea of Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obaka, Clinton, Obaka, Clinton is rather FRIGHTENING, that's for sure...

            None of these people are conservative, small government, nor libertarian-minded, they're ALL "globalists", and were willing to sacrifice the USA's strength for whatever global agenda they (or their puppeteers) had in mind.

            NOTE: the above sequence is what *they* wanted: Bush I, Bill Clinton, Bush II, Barack O., Mrs. Clinton, Michelle O., Chelsea Clinton - do NOT doubt me, this IS what *they* wanted! And the grandmaster puppeteers remain safely behind the scenes, safely out of the public eye, and outside of the possibility of scrutiny or any kind of negative impact on their personal lives...

            the thing about a banana republic is that their "dear leader" often _IS_ the puppeteer. But not always. I wonder, sometimes, about N. Korea, if someone else is pulling Kim Jong "Fatass" "Cartman" Un's strings.

      4. hplasm
        Trollface

        Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

        You had me up to : "Despite all the leftist media propaganda".

    6. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

      I know why you think it's the best thing since sliced bread and that's because you are probably anti-establishment and see these two action as a pie in the face to "the man".

      Well I hate to burst your bubble but these are two actions that "the man" wanted.

      Suck that up or maybe you could explain as many others have avoided how brexit and trump are going to or have helped the common man.

      It must be nice being different and all that,

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

        I doubt many people believed in what they voted for in the referendum. Brexiters hid behind a lot of fallacious rhetoric and remainers hid behinds a lot of fallacious rhetoric.

        Remember the argument that if you're not a racist then you'll vote to prioritise immigration from a bunch of white-majority countries? Or the argument that if we leave the EU they'll all beg to join us instead?

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

          "Remember the argument that if you're not a racist then you'll vote to prioritise immigration from a bunch of white-majority countries?"

          A caller to a recent radio programme explained that one of the reasons he voted to leave the EU was because there were too many non-white people in his UK town.

          He has obviously failed to listen to the Indian government's insistence on a relaxation of UK immigration controls as part of a post-BREXIT trade deal with the UK.

          Government minister Priti Patel even campaigned for "Leave" on the explicit promise of replacing EU immigrants with more from the Indian subcontinent. She argued the latter were entitled by history.

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

            @AC

            And yet you still get remainers saying that brexiters are all racists because of the same essential argument. "You voted to give everybody of all nations an equal chance of getting into the UK? You racist."

    7. Lars Silver badge
      Happy

      Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

      Never has so many been fooled by so few.

    8. smudge
      Holmes

      Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

      ...sometimes the two overlap, but usually like in this case, it does not.

      People making millions on YouTube is not relevant to a tech blog?

    9. Florida1920

      Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

      many of us think they are the two best things to have happened in 2016
      Not many around here, it seems. Maybe you could make a YouTube video about lying politicians in the UK and US. That should keep you busy for a few years.

    10. KeepCalm

      Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

      Oh how people forget so quickly.

      The Brexit vote had nothing to do with the EU to many people, as illogical as it sounds.

      It is the first time in an entire generation that people can practice true democracy - one vote counts. So people use the vote to protest about practically anything, some of it legitimate, some of it completely unrelated.

      The system is broken, and has been for a long time. Politicians and BBC media shouldn't get upset when people find a way to game the system (and unfortunately vote for something ridiculous), when that same system has been used to game the people for so long.

      It's the same with Trump. Many people simply wanted something different to happen. They dont know the details, or even care, but just want someone different incharge, just to try it out and see what happens.

      Hate them if you want, but a continual refusal by mainstream media to acknowledge the way real people think and act, is what got us into this situation in the first place.

      1. Teiwaz

        Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

        Politicians and BBC media shouldn't get upset when people find a way to game the system (and unfortunately vote for something ridiculous), when that same system has been used to game the people for so long.

        Oh, please...

        If the masses thought they'd be offered something 'someone' at the top doesn't want they are even more deluded.

        I despair that the voting public has that much awareness. History in the UK since the 70's has been Red to blue to red and back to blue, with a blue yellow, the blue. Incomprehensibly the yellow was blamed for that governments failures, when they were the minor partners, and blue was chosen again...

        I'm channeling Prof. Farnsworth at this point...

    11. bombastic bob Silver badge
      Facepalm

      Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

      "many of us think they are the two best things to have happened in 2016"

      AC - my sentiments as well. Nobody's seemed to notice that the world is actually improving at the moment... because we're deluged by Trump-hate reports (except on Fox News and Rush's radio show, things like that).

      And when the USA does well, so does the rest of the world, "rising tide lifts all boats" and all of that kind of thing. People in the UK should be _happy_ about that.

      I personally favor Brexit, because the UK shouldn't have to live with some of the stupid-stuff coming out of Brussels, so I was happy to see the Brexit vote.

      But for some reason El Reg has a _LOT_ of VERY vocal people on the OPPOSITE side of the fence on these kinds of issues (readers AND authors), and like howler monkeys, they gang up on you, out-shout you, and sling poo, often in the form of massive down votes... [it makes their numbers look a LOT larger, and that's why they do it]

      Personally I would have preferred it if the article had not even MENTIONED Trump nor Brexit. But it's in there, in the article and the title. It was kinda funny in the title, though, as it compares "desparing" about Trump/Brexit with "desparing" over youtube video producer incomes.

      But then the article had to say: "Still, it has to be better than following Trump's Twitter feed."

      Seriously? Saying that Trump's twitter followers are dumber than those who watch youtube videos of people screaming profanities while playing a video game?

      That kind of statement is sort of like a fart in an elevator, lingering on and creating discomfort way after it "passes". And it wasn't funny. It was "pandering to the perception". [if it HAD been funny I would have laughed]

      Now, here's a fix:

      "Still, it has to be better than following despairing over Trump's Twitter feed."

      Now, THAT's COMEDY!

      (there are no 'get your digs in' with THAT version, which is why it IS funny!)

      I'm surprised the editors missed the opportunity to make it thematically similar to the title, and funnier at the same time.

      'facepalm icon' again

    12. beast666

      Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

      Well said.

      The post-modern neomarxists that inhabit the comments here can now be heard REEEEEEEing as far away as Jerusalem and the DPRK.

      And another thing! I really wish they would use the correct term of GEOM instead of the old-fashioned Obama era term POTUS.

    13. Afernie
      Facepalm

      Re: Despair over Brexit and Trump?

      "Despair over Brexit and Trump?

      Might be the prevailing sentiment of El Reg staff or Situation Publishing, but trust me, many of us think they are the two best things to have happened in 2016."

      The tedious orange tool may yet prove to be the last thing to happen in or to 2018, given his manifest mental illness and his apparent belief that first use might be fun.

  9. bitten

    So?

    There are people on television earning similar amounts for reading auto use.

    1. This post has been deleted by its author

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: So?

        @Def

        "popular culture"

        How would one define such a thing? Does something being "popular" give it an approval based on the fact that lots of people watch it? Could you not argue that it's only popular because there is nothing else or that other popular things aren't reported in the same way? If I was to hazard a guess I would probably say that there are websites on math that have had a lot more views than all these put together based on people learning however they aren't on this list because they don't contain someone cementing their head in a microwave. It's funny when I think about it because voting trump or brexit is exactly like cementing your head in a microwave because you refuse to see what everyone else sees and also refuse to give an opinion on what these two actions have actually done for you.

        So lets have it then, what has or will Trump or Brexit do to make your life better?

        Imho,

        Trump the hornets nest kicker in the far east and middle east.

        Brexit the bend over backwards fun that never ends.

        Please feel free to add to this otherwise stfu.

      2. FuzzyWuzzys
        Facepalm

        Re: So?

        "Jealous, middle aged reporter fails to understand popular culture."

        And you know what? I'm bloody glad I'm a sad old git with no idea about what "da yoof" are into if this is how they pass their time. I'm glad these people are making videos and making money, it passes the time and you might even give them a smidgen of credence for finding a way to part fools and money with something that requires very little effort. Sadly though the real losers are the ones who sit there hour after hour watching this endless shit parade.

        What it says to me is that nothing matters more than money. They will look back at their careers in 30 years time and know they achieved nothing of worth but they made a ton of cash and that's all that matters to a lot of today's youth.

    2. BongoJoe

      Re: So?

      ...and getting knighthoods for just Reading Out Aloud!

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: So?

        Let's not forget what Jeremy Clarkson made a career out of.

        Essentially being an obnoxious dick that you wanted to see get injured, then doing dangerous stuff on telly that sometimes got him injured.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: So?

          Sorry, downvoters, let me rephrase that.

          acting like an obnoxious dick.

          Of course it's a professional persona.

        2. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: So?

          Let's not forget what Jeremy Clarkson made a career out of.

          However with Clarkson it is an act. Some of his other programs such as the documentaries he did on Brunel, and especially the Victoria Cross, were well written, well presented, and well received. At the end of the day Clarkson Hammand and May are just car themed journalists who have to make a living like anyone else and do so in a way that is mostly harmless and has proved fairly successful and just naughty enough to interest the kids (who love to see adults behaving like that). Anything that keeps the kids from slavishly following complete and sometimes dangerous lunatics on YouTube is worth it.

          1. Lars Silver badge
            Coat

            Re: So?

            "However with Clarkson it is an act.". What ever but he is also a hell of a spin doctor. If a Brit can spot the spin is an other question. The car part is OK with me though.

            1. I ain't Spartacus Gold badge

              Re: So?

              Clarkson punched Piers Morgan. He can't be all bad...

      2. bombastic bob Silver badge
        Trollface

        Re: So?

        "...and getting knighthoods for just Reading Out Aloud!"

        Or a Nobel Peace Prize for "just being there"

  10. Dan 55 Silver badge

    Or if you've got a good face for radio you could look at it as a technical challenge

    Find your perfect non-discerning audience, game YouTube's algorithms, generate thousands of videos, everybody's in on it and nobody gives a toss except some primary caregivers who don't matter because in the end it's all about upholding the pretence that that advertising is useful in some way and there's money in that, damn it.

    Weird Kids' Videos and Gaming the Algorithm

  11. Sceptic Tank Silver badge
    Paris Hilton

    Eish!

    Wot? No Piper doing stuff without a bra and no Apollo moon mission hoax theory contributions on that list?

    1. Hans 1
      Paris Hilton

      Re: Eish!

      @ Sceptic Tank

      I was expecting flat earth to come up ...

      1. Kiwi
        Black Helicopters

        Re: Eish!

        I was expecting flat earth to come up ...

        How could it come up if it's flat hmm?

        YOU'RE PART OF THE NASA FUNDED NSA CONSPIRACY BY THE CIA ON BEHALF OF THE FBI UNDER THE INSTRUCTION OF THE TEA PARTY TO MAKE US BELIEVE THE EARTH ISN'T .000001mm THICK!!!!!!!11!!!!!!!111!!11!11!!!11111111!!!!!1!!1 YOU POST IS IRREFUTABLE PROOF THE LIZARD PEOPLE FROM THE DARK SIDE OF MARS ARE ALL BEHIND IT!!!!1!!1111!!111!!!11!!1!!11!1!11!1 AND MY SHIFT KEY NOT STAYING DOWN PROVES THAT ALIENS ARE BEHIND IT ALL!!!1!!!111111!!!!!!!1!1

  12. Chris Miller

    'Twas ever thus

    No one in this world, so far as I know—and I have researched the records for years, and employed agents to help me—has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.

    'Notes On Journalism' in the Chicago Tribune (1926), Henry Louis Mencken

  13. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    It's just evolution.

    Like porn has moved on from lithographs of ladies ankles true idiocy has also evolved into it's current manifestation.

    Think it's bad now wait till they forget about Darwin or is that good? I'm unsure but once you ignore the simple laws of science in the name of entertainment it'll balance itself off quite nicely. If that Microwave cementing f*ck nugget is anything to go by it's already started as we have concrete proof.

    1. Colin_Welwyn

      Have an up vote for f*ck nugget!

    2. ecofeco Silver badge

      Concrete proof.

      Have an upvote!

  14. Spindreams

    If YT paid creators based a viewers ability to buy the products being advertised then none of these guys would get a look in as their viewers are 3-9 year olds. There is plenty of good, informative, interesting and worthwhile content on YT, advertisers think viewer numbers are what counts, maybe one day they will learn.

    1. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

      "If YT paid creators based a viewers ability to buy the products being advertised then none of these guys would get a look in as their viewers are 3-9 year olds."

      3-9 yos don't need to handle the money themselves. The advertisers will rely on pester power, just as they always have with products aimed at that age group.

  15. Dr Scrum Master

    Adverts?

    Adverts on YouTube? I seem to remember those...

    1. Neil Barnes Silver badge

      Re: Adverts?

      Adverts on Youtube? Who knew?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Adverts?

        I've never seen an ad on YouTube. I don't understand how these people get paid. Please explain.

        1. bombastic bob Silver badge
          Devil

          Re: Adverts?

          I think "youtube-dl" skips them (so I don't see them, either)

  16. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    "Ten Ordinary People Paid HUGE Amounts For Entertaining Others"

    "Number eight will blow your mind!"

    I come here for tech news, but all i get these days is this bollocks.

    At least pewds is a mindless sort of funny.

    And the jesus guy's thing is that he says anything you ask. He's a jewish guy making fun of people who put their own prejudices in jesus' mouth by literally putting words in jesus' mouth. Thats the entire joke.

    Enough of this recycling youtube drama. Bring back real news and I'll consider turning off ad block here.

    1. Kiwi
      Go

      Re: "Ten Ordinary People Paid HUGE Amounts For Entertaining Others"

      Bring back real news and I'll consider turning off ad block here.

      If you want news of a quality that's appropriate for you, then there is a site where you'll really feel at home! Just click here for your chance at total news BLISS!!!

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: "Ten Ordinary People Paid HUGE Amounts For Entertaining Others"

        In response to a demand for less clickbait and personality drama, you link me to even more clickbait and personality drama.

        It's like you didn't even read what I wrote.

    2. ecofeco Silver badge

      Re: "Ten Ordinary People Paid HUGE Amounts For Entertaining Others"

      Are you saying YouTube has nothing to do with computers or the interwebs or markets?

      What color is the sky in your world?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: "Ten Ordinary People Paid HUGE Amounts For Entertaining Others"

        I'm saying, if you'll actually read my post rather than the strawman you've evidently concocted, that the reg needs to drop all this clickbait celebrity rubbish and stick to actual news.

        1. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

          Re: "Ten Ordinary People Paid HUGE Amounts For Entertaining Others"

          "drop all this clickbait celebrity rubbish"

          Considering the good stuff that can be found on Youtube (if you try really, really hard) and the possible benefits Youtube could bring the world, don't you think that reporting that the highest YT earners are bunch of vacuous dickheads rather than people producing decent and useful stuff?

        2. Kiwi
          Headmaster

          Re: "Ten Ordinary People Paid HUGE Amounts For Entertaining Others"

          the reg needs to drop all this clickbait celebrity rubbish and stick to actual news.

          I thought El Reg was staffed by professional journalists. Wouldn't reporting actual news cost them that distinction? They'd be hounded out of journalism for unprofessional conduct!

          Reporting real news. Whatever will these kids think of next? AND GET OFF MY LAWORRN!

  17. el kabong

    Somewhere in the article it reads

    (...)"sits in between Public Access Television and real television"(...)

    I'm wodering, what the fug is "real television" supposed to mean? I mean, come on, be real, TV, ALL TV, is as hot steaming pile of manure.

    Just like youtube, television is pure garbage.

    PERIOD!

    1. Kiwi
      Coat

      Just like youtube, television is pure garbage.

      Afraid you'll have to explain yourself better. What sort of garbage are we talking here?

      A cardashian would consider clothes they wore last week as pure garbage, but others would kill to just touch such a garment, who knows what they'd do to own something like that - you can be sure that this piece of "garbage" would be displayed in a very prideful location.

      Or take the refuse that comes out of restaurants - it goes to feed pigs or gardens. Same with some sewerage treatment plants, solid waste gets sold to place on, well, plants.

      Even radioactive waste, the thing many governments hate so dearly - why I bet those fine fellows over at ISIS would be only too happy to take it away for free!

      Even the most polluted shit has an odd level of value - just look at the streams of crap that come from the mouths of politicians, yet people pay hundreds or even thousands of $$$ just to be able to sit at a table in the same building as them!

      "garbage" is a very poorly defined word I'm afraid.

      1. Mark 85

        "garbage" is a very poorly defined word I'm afraid.

        To paraphrase an old saying: "One man's garbage, is another man's treasure". Lately Youtube and politics pretty much prove it.

      2. CrazyOldCatMan Silver badge

        Or take the refuse that comes out of restaurants - it goes to feed pigs

        Not in this country it doesn't (and I suspect, ditto for the rest of the EU). Amazingly, feeding meat (especially anything containing brains and spinal cord) back to the same species causes undesirable effects!

        And, since there is no way you can be sure what is contained in 1 tonne of restaurant leftovers, it's banned from livestock feed.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          "It is banned" != "It is not done"

        2. Kiwi

          Or take the refuse that comes out of restaurants - it goes to feed pigs

          Not in this country it doesn't (and I suspect, ditto for the rest of the EU). Amazingly, feeding meat (especially anything containing brains and spinal cord) back to the same species causes undesirable effects!

          Assume it's still the same here today - I worked in a commercial kitchen for a while and we split our waste, anything plant based went into the pig bins, anything meat based went elsewhere

          (Usually to the staff for the meat based stuff if it was unsold leftovers).

          TBH I can't recall what was done with the meaty left overs (partially eaten portions etc) but I think it had a separate place (possibly to a cat shelter or something like that).

          But over here (at least back then ('93) we credited our restaurant staff with the intelligence to sort stuff. Also we've tended to frown on the idea of feeding meat-byproducts to sheep and cattle and other herbivorous animals.

  18. Neil Alexander

    I don't get it.

    Who really wants to spend time watching someone else playing games?!

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: I don't get it.

      Ask any sports channel, they'll tell you.

      1. Duffy Moon

        Re: I don't get it.

        "Ask any sports channel, they'll tell you."

        I don't get the appeal of watching people play sports either.

    2. el kabong

      Re: I don't get it.

      People with too much time on their hands and nothing of value to do with it. There are plenty of them actually, just look around.

    3. Nolveys

      Re: I don't get it.

      Who really wants to spend time watching someone else playing games?!

      I know, right. It's just a bunch of guys kicking a ball around.

    4. bombastic bob Silver badge
      Devil

      Re: I don't get it.

      some games are like interactive movies. It's almost entertaining (almost) to watch a good game player breeze through everything, almost (almost) like watching an action flick...

      just trying to explain - the word 'amuse' comes from 'a-' (not) and 'muse' (thinking/creating). So it's "amusing" i.e. entertaining without you having to do much thinking [or any at all, for that matter]

      reading/commenting El Reg articles, on the other hand...

      1. Mark 85

        Re: I don't get it.

        There's no snarky politics, no caps.... Who are you and what have you done with Bob? Have an upvote anyway.

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: I don't get it.

        Nice folk etymology, but it's completely wrong. Amuse if from the old french amuser, from the prefix a- ( indicating direction towards, a change in state or as an intensifier, from the late latin ad-) and muser (to think carefully about, attend to).

        It comes to us via the middle english amusen, which means to be astonished or to gaze upon.

        And before you suggest it, muser isn't taken from muse. In fact is the other way around; muse comes to us from muser via a similar route as amuse.

  19. JimC

    The reason for despair

    Is not so much the existence/activities of both, but the observation that almost everything published by either/both sides is so embellished with exaggeration, misdirection and outright invention that its nearly impossible for a dispassionate observer to gain some sense of the truth.

    So instead of a culture trying to make the best of things for real people we are reduced to two gangs standing on opposite sides of the playground throwing stones at each other, whilst the main are of the playground is uninhabitable due to the objects falling short.

  20. Outer mongolian custard monster from outer space (honest)

    Sod clickbait gamers appealing to the masses, what I really hate is all the people who now view it as a legitimate way to make money.

    Suddenly what was a couple of years back a few posts on a forum that took 2 minutes to read and view a few static pictures which explained what the widget or special thing was about so you could reuse the idea and it was shared just because people had a common altriustic desire to share, is now elbowed aside for 30 minute rambling videos, pumped at every single site that might possibly be interested, and riddled with mistakes, where they get their friends to shrill how good it is because they used a expensive webcam, or a quality mic, while whatever they made is spinning on "precision" ebay "abec" bearings with a noticable wobble. Its turning the enthusiast sites outside the mainstream ad supported universe to shit slowly.

    If it involves me even having to go to youtube to get the gist of what someone is trying to convey I don't have anything to do with it on principle, and I am pretty sure I am not alone in this backlash.

    If I didnt need to film a youtube vid to build my own 5 axis cnc milling machine, or repair then program my wire edm after it had been written off economically by the previous owner, you dont need to film a 30 minute spam-athon to explain how you put a bearing on something so it could spin.

    1. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

      "Sod clickbait gamers appealing to the masses, what I really hate is all the people who now view it as a legitimate way to make money."

      To restore karma take a look at the series restoring a Xerox Alto. It's still hand-held camera and sometimes dubious sound but it involves people who know what they're doing. In some cases seriously what they're doing; big clue, remember where Ethernet was invented.

    2. Jason Bloomberg Silver badge

      what was a couple of years back a few posts on a forum that took 2 minutes to read and view a few static pictures which explained what the widget or special thing was ... is now elbowed aside for 30 minute rambling videos

      This. Last week I bought an electronic thingumajiggy and obviously had to take it apart; I couldn't and did not want to break it. I had to skip through hours of pointless video to get to the "you have to press here" secret.

  21. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

    Given the stupid sums paid to those who kick inflated bladders up and down fields I can't say I'm surprised at money paid for other useless activities.

  22. MOV r0,r0

    LD50

    Google owns the lab and designed the experiment, humanity are the lab rats and content providers supply the little bits of cheese.

    The design requires all types of cheese (including poisonous) and the avoidance of certain types is a valid outcome & worthwhile data. The vast majority of content creators make next to no dollar: the money is in the results, not in the supply of little bits of cheese which is why I am very, very suspicious about this article.

    The word is that YouTube has been 'de-monetising' for some time consequently the charm offensive they are on right now with their free food pop-up space events is probably necessary and any story, no matter how negative, about mega-earners just plays into their hands.

    Google still wants stats of viewer behaviour but there's less ad revenue to share to attract new content.

  23. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    I can understand people watching "lets plays"

    To me someone watching a "lets play" video on Youtube (= someone playing a video game) isn't that much different from someone watching sports on TV.

    Because in the end you're more or less watching the same thing: someone competing in order to try and gain a result. Either competing against others or competing against the system (the game). It's that competitive element which attracts and entertains certain people. Really nothing special there.

  24. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Idiots

    Only goes to show what percentage of the world consists of total morons who watch this stuff.

  25. The Vociferous Time Waster

    Microwave

    And this is why there are Brummie dumbasses prepared to cement their heads into a microwave to make some YouTube dollar.

  26. eldred

    Well Article'd

    Can't wait for the continuation to the series.

    Footballers.They earned how much?! For doing what?!

    News Presenters. They earned how much?! For doing what?!

    Facebook. They earned how much?! For doing what?!

    Ahh I'm sure you can think of a few better targets

    1. Martin

      Re: Well Article'd

      Though I am a football fan (or at least an Arsenal fan - sometimes I wonder if that's quite the same thing) I don't think I'm prepared to argue about footballers, and the amounts that the top players "earn". But I maintain that there is a significant difference between watching twenty two top athletes working as two teams with talent, determination and occasionally breathtaking skill, and watching an overweight guy on a video game swearing at the screen.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Well Article'd

        Why do you watch arsenal then?

        Sorry, couldn't resist that one.

        1. Martin

          Re: Well Article'd

          TBH, there are times (eg their performance against the Saints this lunchtime) when I wonder why I watch them too :{

      2. Hans 1

        Re: Well Article'd

        But I maintain that there is a significant difference between watching twenty two top athletes working as two teams with talent, determination and occasionally breathtaking skill, and watching an overweight guy on a video game swearing at the screen.

        I dunno about these guyz in the top 10, but my son watches youtubers to learn new tricks ... not like a football fan would 90 minutes ...

      3. Timmy B

        Re: Well Article'd

        "But I maintain that there is a significant difference between watching twenty two top athletes working as two teams with talent, determination and occasionally breathtaking skill"

        That would work if that's what football was. I only see a couple of dozen prima-donnas worried about their haircuts and how they look then falling over and crying foul when somebody goes too close to them. And that's from watching highlight programs to get the "best bits". It's like a fashion show where occasionally something almost like a sport accidently appears.

  27. Kiwi
    WTF?

    WTF is wrong with this world?

    There are people who show useful things that "useless" people (ie the inexperienced) can watch to see how something is done. Videos on changing oil or tyres, or lapping valves (for the slightly less useless among us), changing tap washers or other plumbing jobs, basic household maintenance jobs etc - things that can save you a fair bit of money for a little bit of work.

    These are the ones who should be rolling in it! Not these bloody clowns who should be winning darwin awards rather than massive monetary rewards (except maybe the kid - though I'm sure someone would pay to watch him put some batteries in wrong (esp lithium), or perhaps introduce his eyeball to the rotors on his new mini drone or something like that).

    What the hell is wrong with this world? Here I am learning to do useful things so I can save money, instead I should just be a complete bloody jerk and be able to pay people to do them for me!

    1. Mark 85

      Re: WTF is wrong with this world?

      Maybe it's time for the "best" (for some value of "best") worlds and maybe combine Youtube and the Darwin Awards? Hmm. I'm just thinking out loud and it might just work....

    2. Outer mongolian custard monster from outer space (honest)

      Re: WTF is wrong with this world?

      But Kiwi, this is exactly the issue. A few years ago, there would be a small thread in a forum or on a wiki etc, and you'd view it, and there'd be some photo's showing you what a good valve seat looks like, what a bad one is, how to check if a valve is pocketed, another couple of shots showing pencil marks or however your tracking contact on the seats and the process, maybe a bit about making a lapping tool so it gave the correct reciprocating motion, or at least where to get one of the nasty plastic versions that last a few heads.

      It was dead easy to grasp, because it was clear, concise and well, you could see.

      Now, hardly anyone bothers to make pages like that, if I make up a static page detailing how I built something, there's immediately some dick saying "where's the youtube of it?" because they want spoon feeding or maybe they just fancy spaffing half a hour of their life away.

      When in reality, what they were being given before was the pure information, and the chance to step up and learn a little, which when your doing simple stuff like lapping in a valve, will lead you to develop critical thinking, a eye for things and the ability to think a bit.

      Throw into that mix that a staggering amount of yt engineering has massive glaring errors (look at the amount of yt "honing" videos using ball hones to try and correct out of round cylinders because the person doesn't know better) and you have the perfect crap storm forming. I realized that a few years ago when I watched some guy trying to turn his pistons for his engine undersize to fit a different block. Not only did he attempt it on a mini lathe (and fair play, you can turn out good work on even a mini lathe) but then he used a 3 jaw to chuck it in, and didnt dial the piston in. Even if he'd dialed it in correct, pistons are oval anyway to allow fo expansion around skirt near the pin bosses. The guy had thousands of likes on his video, and people posting up "oh great, I'll that too", but when I tried to mention the above was called all sorts.

      so tl,dr; none of its curated, and its riddled with drivel, so you might pull off a complex job you couldnt tackle before, or you might fubar it up.

      This is not a pop at people learning stuff. Everyone starts somewhere and not being a simple consumer is to be lauded. I just despair a bit at big content moneytising the niche stuff and turning it to shit with their policies.

      I still watch yt, but for entertainment shows (roadkill etc). Yeah its just like switching on a tv, I know its going to be mindless scripted drivel but eyes wide open on that.

      1. Kiwi

        Re: WTF is wrong with this world?

        It was dead easy to grasp, because it was clear, concise and well, you could see.

        Now, hardly anyone bothers to make pages like that, if I make up a static page detailing how I built something, there's immediately some dick saying "where's the youtube of it?" because they want spoon feeding or maybe they just fancy spaffing half a hour of their life away.

        so tl,dr; none of its curated, and its riddled with drivel, so you might pull off a complex job you couldnt tackle before, or you might fubar it up.

        I have often much preferred the static pages. For a start, it's a hell of a lot easier to search for a small part you want to focus on when you know the rest of the job, often loads quicker etc, and of course you can leave the tab open, close and restart the browser, and a dozen tabs don't start screaming at you!

        I had also forgotten that there were a few vids on lapping that I looked at where I could tell you straight off that they were rubbish and dangerous, including one where a guy put a bit of rubbed tubing onto the end of the valve and hooked it into a high-speed drill and spun the drill up then pulled the thing hard back. Pretty sure 1) the grinding paste would've both been forced and spun out PDQ and 2) it'd quickly wear down the edge of the valve, leading to burning and scoring just about the instant you turn the engine over.

        The good video I saw had NO speaking in it. A few subtitles pointing things out, but no one speaking. Sounds of the job being done (seen this with a few other vids as well). Some of the speaking ones are done well, with a mix of informative and entertaining speech that isn't a load of waffle.

  28. Anonymous Coward
    Terminator

    The disintegration of western civilization

    The existence of YouTube stars and their resulting earnings is one such tasteless joke.”

    It's just one more example of the disintegration of western civilization. nothing to see here, moving on :]

  29. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Ryan....

    My son keeps clicking through auto suggested videos every two minutes on the iPad - inevitably making all these buffoons richer by a few cents each day.

    I blame myself for letting him watch it but Google does a worser job of suggesting even more filth, many a times inappropriate stuff for him to watch.

    1. Kiwi
      Joke

      Re: Ryan....

      I blame myself for letting him watch it but Google does a worser job of suggesting even more filth, many a times inappropriate stuff for him to watch.

      I hear they have a how-to video on YT to teach parents how to have much more control over what their kids see and do, with much less fuss.

      If you visit youtube.com and do a search for "cement head in microwave" you should find it...

  30. Timmy B

    @AC... "Grow up and stop being such a whiny fucking snowflake."

    Irony is that this is what I think when I read most of what Kieran writes.....

    1. JcRabbit

      @ Timmy B "Irony is that this is what I think when I read most of what Kieran writes....."

      Exactly!

      As someone who posted above said, who is he going to go after next? Footballers? Actors? Anyone else HE thinks does not deserve the money they make (as a so called 'journalist' he would be much better suited for that kind of money, I'm sure). That is not how the world works - if they make that kind of money, kudos for them - it means other people find whatever they produce interesting, regardless of how shallow (or not) it may be. Also, if he thinks producing videos on a consistent base with interesting content is easy and not much work at all, let him take a shot. :)

      This is NOT - nor is my reaction - about a clip making fun of Hitler and Nazi Germany, and Kieran knows that very well. That introduction was just a typical dirty PC tactic he used to try and shame the author of said clip and rally other people onto his side. No, it really is about envy. Specifically, Kieran's envy.

  31. Ph2tstor

    It’s about the kids

    Sincerely this article is from an adults point of view and hence I agree the stuff is rubbish. My kids though see it differently and love the vid games and useless hijinks. This is where the clicks come from and hence the revenue. My kids would watch more YouTube than tv if I let them. I’d rather tv that is governed by broadcasting and classification standards then editorial YouTube stuff. At least I know there is a framework as to what content is allowed. Also news reports have legal requirements to report on facts, not interpretive, editorial dialogs that YouTube stars execute. I believe this is the bigger issue here where young minds can discriminate between both due to the fact they don’t have traditional journalism (papers, radio, TV) to build their greater social awareness on. I limit Youtube, balance with active play and discuss these day to day issues with them as I feel that’s my responsibility as a parent and opportunity as someone they grew up in a traditional world of information having a general, relative greater integrity to what is now available.

    1. Kiwi
      Big Brother

      Re: It’s about the kids

      Also news reports have legal requirements to report on facts

      Must be nice living where you are, where murcoch@co haven't had enough of an influence!

      Here in NZ the TV news media make stuff up more than the worst tabloids, when they're even interested in reporting on something. Often if not entirely made up they'll fudge the details, like reporting something as "just discovered" or reporting the results of some study where El Reg reported the results of the study more than 6 months previously), and often they'll not report mitigating stuff or the other side of the story.

      And of course, a celebrity being up on charges makes a lot of big headlines - they report the facts. When the celebrity gets all charges dropped or found not guilty, well, there's little if any reporting on that. They may completely omit the article about a person having their charges dropped. Just another way they fudge the reporting.

      There's where they show a small bit of burning bush and say it's an out of control fire threatening thousands of homes when the fire has been out for hours...

      I could go on and on and on, but I'll stop here.

  32. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    he could get people to do extreme things for just a few dollars

    this must be a new discovery, never heard of that...

  33. 0laf Silver badge
    Mushroom

    When I was a kid the most boring thing around was waiting your turn to play a computer game with your mates. Now people are making millions from other people who are queuing up to do the thing the rest of us tried to avoid doing when growing up.

    I like you tube for a few things but not much. Old music videos and tracks that are hard to find. Funny dog and cat videos and idiots eating very hot chili peppers.

  34. Jimboom

    Sorry to take it there... but

    That Ryan kid opening toys and playing with them. You have to think statistically speaking a percentage, no matter how small, are peodophiles.

    So basically youtube and this kids parents are enabling peodo's to get their fix.

    Won't someone think of the children!!

    1. Simon Harris

      Re: Sorry to take it there... but

      "Won't someone think of the children!!"

      ...Won't someone think of the English language!!

    2. Kiwi
      Childcatcher

      Re: Sorry to take it there... but

      Won't someone think of the children!!

      Given the context of your post, don't you think that's a bit of a problem?

  35. Excellentsword

    IIRC it was "Hitler did nothing wrong", not "Death to all Jews".

  36. FuzzyWuzzys
    Facepalm

    Reminds me of.

    "Want to learn how to get rich on the internet and take money from idiots? Simply send £100 to me at the following Paypal account."

  37. russell 6

    My 3 favourite YouTube channels

    Alec Steele a young guy from Norfolk blacksmithing, often with damascus steel. DutchSinse who forecasts global earthquakes on a weekly basis with about 85% accuracy and finally PBS Space Time cuz I love learning about quantum physics.

  38. kys

    Seriously

    ._.

    Anyone else reading this thinking the world has become full of retards

    First, no one who actually watches and understands YouTube would take this article too seriously. It's just full of idiotic bias claims.

    Second, the reason these people are famous on YouTube is because (mainly) - now all the adults over 50 need to pay close attention now - people like these videos. You can't argue with this, it's true. People find it enjoyable to view these videos so why should they be deprived from the fame they've worked for.

    NO ONE SANE ON YOUTUBE LIKES JAKE OR LOGAN PAUL

    THIS REPORT IS BIAS, JUST LIKE THE WSJ (Wall street journal)

    The content on YouTube is interesting to people

    Stop taking the piss out of gaming videos, they:

    Are enjoyable because people like games

    Have a variety of different types and will of course become popular because of that

    They're just funny, stop being ignorant

    1. Kiwi
      WTF?

      Re: Seriously

      Are enjoyable because people like games

      I love games. I have lots of them on several devices, and I play some real-life games as well (from card games with friends to, well, all sorts of stuff)

      I've yet to watch more than a few seconds of footage of someone else playing one. Ok, I think I watched a little bit of a couple to see if the game might be any good, where the game's makers didn't have any video of game play online. Still only a few minutes.

      Why should I sit on my arse wasting away watching someone else play a game, when I can be sitting on my arse wasting away enjoying myself playing the game myself?

      They're just funny, stop being ignorant

      Somehow that reminds me of this Michael Jackson clip (youtube)..

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