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I'd be extremely disappointed if I had kids and their dream was to become a YouTuber, Twitch-er, TikTok-er, or any other kind of "influencer." Luckily, I don't

I'd be extremely disappointed if I had kids and their dream was to become a YouTuber, Twitch-er, TikTok-er, or any other kind of "influencer." Luckily, I don't plan to.

TheFreim 3y ago
It doesn't seem to be much different than a child wanting to be an actor.
- jutrewag 3y ago
  I disagree. Being an actor is intensely social, physical and plays perfectly into what is traditionally, and correctly, considered a well lived life.
  - TheFreim 3y ago
    That's a good point, you may be right.
    - kiba 3y ago
      As an actor, I love performing on stage! I don't imagine that I will ever be famous though.
  - fauxpause_ 3y ago
    Being an influencer isn’t intensely social?
    - npunt 3y ago
      I imagine influencers are far more parasocial than social. Acting involves attunement with fellow actors and being part of a larger creative process and work. It's a lot of showing up in person and figuring out how to work with others. Influencers need only stay at home, work a camera, and manage parasocial fan conversations. There's no inherent in-person physicality of relationships and all the socializing that entails, nor even the need for peer relationships or any connection to a larger work that the influencer is a part of. At its core it's only a streamer and some people they probably don't know watching.
      - hammyhavoc 3y ago
        Depends on the kind of influencer. I see plenty of influencers travelling the world and mingling with plenty of people on corporate dime. I think it's important to make the distinction between people who stream video games versus professional influencers. Disclaimer: I don't rate either.
        jutrewag 3y ago
        It does depend on the influencer, but the vast majority of twitch and TikTok influencers are pretty home bound.
tmpz22 3y ago
> I'd be extremely disappointed if I had kids and their dream was to become a YouTuber, Twitch-er, TikTok-er, or any other kind of "influencer." Luckily, I don't plan to. "I don't plan to have my kid dream to become a influencer" Yeah man control your kids dreams that'll work.
- Wowfunhappy 3y ago
  I read the GP's post as "I don't plan to have kids," since obviously dreams can't be controlled.
  - isk517 3y ago
    I would be more than happy to offer my services as a behavioral therapist for theoretical children in hypothetical situations.
- jutrewag 3y ago
  Of course it works. It always works unless you have have a segment of society actively telling your kids they don’t have to listen to their parents and to be hyper individualistic. How do you think most of Asia, South America, Africa, and the vast majority of rural America function? Following your dreams may work out in a small sliver of cases but for the vast majority advice from well meaning and reasonable parents helps guide them towards fulfilling, high percentage of success lives.
akomtu 3y ago
A modest youtuber can do more good than a thousand "well-adjusted" office workers. For example, this youtuber could travel the world and film on his phone the rapid changes of the climate: drying up seas, growing mountains of trash, poisoned rivers and so on.
- postalrat 3y ago
  Do good by making people feel good?
  - rowanG077 3y ago
    Not only. There are a ton of influencer who have done large scale charity events. Mr Beasts Team trees, CdawgVAs cyclothon and Z event are some examples.
- hammyhavoc 3y ago
  The two things are not the same. If those 1,000 office workers actually provide benefit for humanity, it's a no-brainer that they do more "good" than a YouTuber. Not every YouTuber does what you describe. A good chunk of them are just talking heads, doing unboxings, reviews, streaming games, and just generally not doing anything that tangibly benefits humanity. Same goes for office workers. Exceptions in every demographic though, right?

I'd be extremely disappointed if I had kids and their dream was to become a YouTuber, Twitch-er, TikTok-er, or any other kind of "influencer." Luckily, I don't plan to.

TheFreim 3y ago

It doesn't seem to be much different than a child wanting to be an actor.

jutrewag 3y ago
I disagree. Being an actor is intensely social, physical and plays perfectly into what is traditionally, and correctly, considered a well lived life.
- TheFreim 3y ago
  That's a good point, you may be right.
  - kiba 3y ago
    As an actor, I love performing on stage! I don't imagine that I will ever be famous though.
- fauxpause_ 3y ago
  Being an influencer isn’t intensely social?
  - npunt 3y ago
    I imagine influencers are far more parasocial than social. Acting involves attunement with fellow actors and being part of a larger creative process and work. It's a lot of showing up in person and figuring out how to work with others. Influencers need only stay at home, work a camera, and manage parasocial fan conversations. There's no inherent in-person physicality of relationships and all the socializing that entails, nor even the need for peer relationships or any connection to a larger work that the influencer is a part of. At its core it's only a streamer and some people they probably don't know watching.
    - hammyhavoc 3y ago
      Depends on the kind of influencer. I see plenty of influencers travelling the world and mingling with plenty of people on corporate dime. I think it's important to make the distinction between people who stream video games versus professional influencers. Disclaimer: I don't rate either.
      - jutrewag 3y ago
        It does depend on the influencer, but the vast majority of twitch and TikTok influencers are pretty home bound.

tmpz22 3y ago

> I'd be extremely disappointed if I had kids and their dream was to become a YouTuber, Twitch-er, TikTok-er, or any other kind of "influencer." Luckily, I don't plan to. "I don't plan to have my kid dream to become a influencer" Yeah man control your kids dreams that'll work.

Wowfunhappy 3y ago
I read the GP's post as "I don't plan to have kids," since obviously dreams can't be controlled.
- isk517 3y ago
  I would be more than happy to offer my services as a behavioral therapist for theoretical children in hypothetical situations.
jutrewag 3y ago
Of course it works. It always works unless you have have a segment of society actively telling your kids they don’t have to listen to their parents and to be hyper individualistic. How do you think most of Asia, South America, Africa, and the vast majority of rural America function? Following your dreams may work out in a small sliver of cases but for the vast majority advice from well meaning and reasonable parents helps guide them towards fulfilling, high percentage of success lives.

akomtu 3y ago

A modest youtuber can do more good than a thousand "well-adjusted" office workers. For example, this youtuber could travel the world and film on his phone the rapid changes of the climate: drying up seas, growing mountains of trash, poisoned rivers and so on.

postalrat 3y ago
Do good by making people feel good?
- rowanG077 3y ago
  Not only. There are a ton of influencer who have done large scale charity events. Mr Beasts Team trees, CdawgVAs cyclothon and Z event are some examples.
hammyhavoc 3y ago
The two things are not the same. If those 1,000 office workers actually provide benefit for humanity, it's a no-brainer that they do more "good" than a YouTuber. Not every YouTuber does what you describe. A good chunk of them are just talking heads, doing unboxings, reviews, streaming games, and just generally not doing anything that tangibly benefits humanity. Same goes for office workers. Exceptions in every demographic though, right?