Thunderf00t

[Trotskylvania]

I was wondering if anyone has been following the drama on Youtube with regards to Thunderf00t's recent behavior. If so, what are your thoughts on the matter.

As a quick primer for everyone else to get you up to speed, Thunderf00t is a longtime Youtube community member, who has produced literally hundreds of generally thoughtful videos on science, evolution, free speech on Youtube and political discourse. He's been a vocal atheist, challenging Creationists and generally been successful at that.

However, recently, it seems his ego's gotten the better of him, and for lack of a better term, he's become little better than a troll. He's become increasingly defense and abusive to his critics, engaging in straw man arguments, quote mining, etc.: the very things he had for so long criticized in others. He's been making ad hominem criticisms of his opponents, ignoring thoughtful responses and generally defaming everyone who criticizes him, espescially fellow atheists and former comrades.

It's been rather depressing to me, to the point where I am seriously considering getting off my ass and making a youtube video response to Thunderf00t's latest debacle.

[Hydesland]

Example vids?

[Izandai]

Do it.

[Ifreann]

I wonder if, in some corner of YouTube, there are people discussing the decline of their favourite NSG poster(probably not me, I'm as wonderful as I've ever been), and maybe considering starting a thread about it.

[Trotskylvania]

Example vids?

Thunderf00t's latest vid
This one was particularly depressing
This one was at the start of the downhill slide

In the last video, a lot of his fellow secularists criticized him for it, and he ended up ignoring much of their criticisms and lashing out in the manner I described.

For example

[Olthar]

Oh, totally. I used to love Tunderf00t. His "Why Do People Laugh at Creationists?" series was fucking awesome, and all his other videos were great, too. In the past few months, though...not so much. In fact, I groan whenever I see a video by him in my subscription box. The latest video he made was even the first one that I didn't watch all the way through. It was so pitiful that I just stopped midway. He's also lost a lot of my trust. Back in the day, if he said anything, I'd pretty much completely believe it. Nowadays, I'm skeptical of everything he says. It's really quite a depressing story of the downfall of a formerly great man.

[Person012345]

I wonder if, in some corner of YouTube, there are people discussing the decline of their favourite NSG poster(probably not me, I'm as wonderful as I've ever been), and maybe considering starting a thread about it.

Probably in soviet russia.

[Hydesland]

Example vids?

Thunderf00t's latest vid
This one was particularly depressing
This one was at the start of the downhill slide

In the last video, a lot of his fellow secularists criticized him for it, and he ended up ignoring much of their criticisms and lashing out in the manner I described.

For example

Heh, I swear, apart from The Amazing Atheist, every single atheist advocate I see on youtube is a fellow Brit. When you add this with Dawkins, Hitchens et al and the recent Pope visit drama, people are going to start thinking that Britain is some sort of atheist heathen bastion.

[Numerika]

Thunderf00t's latest vid
This one was particularly depressing
This one was at the start of the downhill slide

In the last video, a lot of his fellow secularists criticized him for it, and he ended up ignoring much of their criticisms and lashing out in the manner I described.

For example

Heh, I swear, apart from The Amazing Atheist, every single atheist advocate I see on youtube is a fellow Brit. When you add this with Dawkins, Hitchens et al and the recent Pope visit drama, people are going to start thinking that Britain is some sort of atheist heathen bastion.

The Americans are not so serious, there is DarkMatter2525 and TheThinkingAtheist. They've been making cartoons that are kind of funny. I laughed my ass off at this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgN9wFNOV_g

As far as the hardcore atheists like thunderf00t, apart from anything else, they get kind of tedious. I enjoy a good mockery of religion, but it seems some of these folks obsess about it to the point of being redundant and boring. They seem to put on blinders to the point that atheism is their sole reason for existing. Religion sucks but it's hardly the only problem out there or the biggest. Also, I think this tunderf00t guy is a global warming denier.

[Aethyopea]

Why would you bother replying to him if he isn't gonna listen?

[Alan S]

Upon actually seeing the videos, it turns out thunderf00t is mostly right. All the idiots criticizing him are just limp wristed dweebs. Why should islam get a special pass? That's the important question. Any answer leads to saying little more than "because there will be consequences". Hello, morons, is giving into an oppressive entity positive, then?

[Innsmothe]

Thunderf00t is a berk.

[Alan S]

Thunderf00t is a berk.

Is that goofball-talk for "correct"?

[Aethyopea]

Thunderf00t is a berk.

Is that goofball-talk for "correct"?

It's cockney slang for "cunt" according to the urban dictionary.

[Alan S]

Is that goofball-talk for "correct"?

It's cockney slang for "cunt" according to the urban dictionary.

Either way. He's still right (mostly). The reaction to him sticking to his ideals just shows the mentality of youtube. A bunch of inane 12 year olds.

[Aethyopea]

It's cockney slang for "cunt" according to the urban dictionary.

Either way. He's still right (mostly). The reaction to him sticking to his ideals just shows the mentality of youtube. A bunch of inane 12 year olds.

Thunderf00t is on youtube.

[Alan S]

Either way. He's still right (mostly). The reaction to him sticking to his ideals just shows the mentality of youtube. A bunch of inane 12 year olds.

Thunderf00t is on youtube.

Duh. I'm talking about the majority, the status quo, and typically the viewers, not the creators.

[Aethyopea]

Thunderf00t is on youtube.

Duh. I'm talking about the majority, the status quo, and typically the viewers, not the creators.

Relax! I'm just messing with ya! Sheesh, new guys can't even take a joke!
By the way, welcome to NSG.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

I've never followed YouTube in recent months. In my opinion YouTube in general has degenerated to a corporation vs. vlogs vs. whatever war or something... it's just that there are less videos that are of value.

[Alan Smithee]

Duh. I'm talking about the majority, the status quo, and typically the viewers, not the creators.

Relax! I'm just messing with ya! Sheesh, new guys can't even take a joke!
By the way, welcome to NSG.

I'm not new, I'm banned. *shhh*

[Alan Smithee]

I've never followed YouTube in recent months. In my opinion YouTube in general has degenerated to a corporation vs. vlogs vs. whatever war or something... it's just that there are less videos that are of value.

Not really. Corporations aren't bothered by anything that doesn't keep them from making money. Even vlogs generally can play in their playground with the ad stuff. It's all business now, and youtube is a false name at this point. They should call it huluzero, or something.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

I've never followed YouTube in recent months. In my opinion YouTube in general has degenerated to a corporation vs. vlogs vs. whatever war or something... it's just that there are less videos that are of value.

Not really. Corporations aren't bothered by anything that doesn't keep them from making money. Even vlogs generally can play in their playground with the ad stuff. It's all business now, and youtube is a false name at this point. They should call it huluzero, or something.

Some have suggested that YouTube is more of becoming HuluTube or something like that. It seems the only videos on the spotlight are those by partners, and not their critics.

[Alan Smithee]

Not really. Corporations aren't bothered by anything that doesn't keep them from making money. Even vlogs generally can play in their playground with the ad stuff. It's all business now, and youtube is a false name at this point. They should call it huluzero, or something.

Some have suggested that YouTube is more of becoming HuluTube or something like that. It seems the only videos on the spotlight are those by partners, and not their critics.

HuluTube or HuluZero. Poll time!

[Czardas]

Relax! I'm just messing with ya! Sheesh, new guys can't even take a joke! :p
By the way, welcome to NSG.

I'm not new, I'm banned. *shhh*

If you keep doing that, you won't be invited back after your one-day ban is up, you know.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

Moving on, I have indeed considered going the same route as Max Barry in self-hosting videos. I have only used YouTube for viewing videos recently. I have also observed the general attitude of the YouTube community as being quite tense in my opinion, but I must make it clear that there are some good users, but some of them, like me, keep a low profile.