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The Problem with Linus Tech Tips [video]

95 points by Readerium 3y ago

Readerium 3y ago
The video is not monetized. It covers serious concerns regarding the data accuracy of Linus Media Group, including Linus Tech Tips, ShortCircuit, and TechQuickie, particularly as it relates to rushing content out the door to favor -- by staff's own admission -- quantity over quality. As the company continues to expand into its LTT Labs direction, the importance of accurate data increases; however, even as 'only' entertainment, there are still certain responsibilities to the consumer and the manufacturers to report fairly (and to have defined corrections processes in place). The video tries to approach this as objectively as possible and hope that viewers are able to listen to the evidence presented, particularly as it relates to significant and frequent data errors that now present in nearly every technical review video.
Night_Thastus 3y ago
A well-made, but unfortunate video. It's a shame that things like this had to be said about LTT. I hope one day they do better. More (good) information to consumers is a great goal!
BonoboIO 3y ago
The BilletLabs story is soul crushing. If Linus does not claim responsibility, is not better than any other hypocrite he criticized.
- lrae 3y ago
  He showed that in the past already. Being pro unions... unless it is in his own companies. Warranty on products... unless it's his own products. His employees are seemingly pretty underpaid too and that while having some of the strictest rules around letting them build their own online presence of "youtube / new media companies" out there. Tbf, on the last point, I'm not sure if he ever criticized other companies for underpaying their employees in the past.
  - jonwest 3y ago
    That last point is pretty rough if true, given that LTT was born out of him being an employee of a relatively small retailer who he ended up making videos for.
    - lrae 3y ago
      I don't know if there were ever any concrete numbers out there, but I think not even Linus would deny that he isn't paying great. Employees are also not allowed to discuss their salaries with each other, their employee handbook was leaked earlier this year by a disgruntled ex employee and is out there. Them being strict about stopping employees from "competing" is also something they talked about openly in the past. (And there were also some shots fired by ex employees.)
    - dagw 3y ago
      If anyone understands the 'risks' of giving an employee a platform to promote themselves, it would be Linus.
      - lrae 3y ago
        Sure, don't disagree. But then you should at least pay (and treat) them fairly.
  - FireBeyond 3y ago
    Some of the behind the scene videos (of LTT employees talking about their processes) GN shows are pretty scathing. If this is the stuff they are willing to go on camera and say, imagine what else lurks under the hood. "I wish we could make better quality videos" - you can, the company just chooses not to. "There's no videos we've made that I'm really actually proud of" - just ouch.
    - padjo 3y ago
      I can’t believe this was in a video they published themselves! Is their company culture so awful that employees saying their product is garbage isn’t seen as a problem?
- guax 3y ago
  He did not. Doubled down on his response on the forum. The crux seems to be in him not realising that he not liking a product is not enough to make it the only point and everything moot. They misplaced the card they received to test with. Decided to not wait and reshoot and made a terribly unprofessional video justifying that the product premisse was already bad. The product is fine, its expensive but its niche and unique, it would be totally ok for them to conclude with something like: "I cant recommend this to replace any block in the market, there are cheaper and equally performant alternatives. But, none looks like this or work like this, so some of you might be interested in knowing that you get what its advertised for a very steep price." He of all people, building a pool water cooling and other insanity should know that people might like to spend more money to have something fun, different or unique.
  - preisschild 3y ago
    Not only did he double down, he lied about it. He said that they already started refunding Billet before GNs video, but GN asked Billet, and it turns out they did ghost them until after GN released the video.
  - yndoendo 3y ago
    This is like reviewing a P2 screw driver while testing it on P1 screws only while demanding that the P2 sucks. There is now way I can respect the work Linux Tech Tips does anymore. To be fair, I only used them occasionally to keep up to date on new hardware.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
brucethemoose2 3y ago
I am not suprised. I dont want GN much and I watch LTT even less, but the later feels more unprofessional, hyped and "influencery" than the oldschool text hardware reviewers. May they rest in peace.
themacguffinman 3y ago
For extra context, Linus' response to this so far: https://linustechtips.com/topic/1526180-gamers-nexus-alleges-lmg-has-insufficient-ethics-and-integrity/page/16/#comment-16078641 https://linustechtips.com/topic/1526180-gamers-nexus-alleges...
- popey 3y ago
  That fails to load for me, but the internet archive has it. https://web.archive.org/web/20230815095019/https://linustechtips.com/topic/1526180-gamers-nexus-alleges-lmg-has-insufficient-ethics-and-integrity/page/16/ https://web.archive.org/web/20230815095019/https://linustech... - 6 comments down.
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
PrivateButts 3y ago
Follow up from Steve about Linus' response: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3byz3txpso https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3byz3txpso Looks like Steve was right to not contact LTT before publishing, as Linus misrepresented his handling of the Billet Labs situation in his statement.
- refracture 3y ago
  Yeah, there really isn't any other way to get to the real feelings about the matter publicly unless you do what Steve did.. and unfortunately I believe Steve is correct that there is nothing Linus can say or do that will quickly fix this. He had his shot to show he cared and he blew it.

95 points by Readerium 3y ago

The video is not monetized. It covers serious concerns regarding the data accuracy of Linus Media Group, including Linus Tech Tips, ShortCircuit, and TechQuickie, particularly as it relates to rushing content out the door to favor -- by staff's own admission -- quantity over quality. As the company continues to expand into its LTT Labs direction, the importance of accurate data increases; however, even as 'only' entertainment, there are still certain responsibilities to the consumer and the manufacturers to report fairly (and to have defined corrections processes in place). The video tries to approach this as objectively as possible and hope that viewers are able to listen to the evidence presented, particularly as it relates to significant and frequent data errors that now present in nearly every technical review video.

Night_Thastus 3y ago

A well-made, but unfortunate video. It's a shame that things like this had to be said about LTT. I hope one day they do better. More (good) information to consumers is a great goal!

BonoboIO 3y ago

The BilletLabs story is soul crushing. If Linus does not claim responsibility, is not better than any other hypocrite he criticized.

lrae 3y ago
He showed that in the past already. Being pro unions... unless it is in his own companies. Warranty on products... unless it's his own products. His employees are seemingly pretty underpaid too and that while having some of the strictest rules around letting them build their own online presence of "youtube / new media companies" out there. Tbf, on the last point, I'm not sure if he ever criticized other companies for underpaying their employees in the past.
- jonwest 3y ago
  That last point is pretty rough if true, given that LTT was born out of him being an employee of a relatively small retailer who he ended up making videos for.
  - lrae 3y ago
    I don't know if there were ever any concrete numbers out there, but I think not even Linus would deny that he isn't paying great. Employees are also not allowed to discuss their salaries with each other, their employee handbook was leaked earlier this year by a disgruntled ex employee and is out there. Them being strict about stopping employees from "competing" is also something they talked about openly in the past. (And there were also some shots fired by ex employees.)
  - dagw 3y ago
    If anyone understands the 'risks' of giving an employee a platform to promote themselves, it would be Linus.
    - lrae 3y ago
      Sure, don't disagree. But then you should at least pay (and treat) them fairly.
- FireBeyond 3y ago
  Some of the behind the scene videos (of LTT employees talking about their processes) GN shows are pretty scathing. If this is the stuff they are willing to go on camera and say, imagine what else lurks under the hood. "I wish we could make better quality videos" - you can, the company just chooses not to. "There's no videos we've made that I'm really actually proud of" - just ouch.
  - padjo 3y ago
    I can’t believe this was in a video they published themselves! Is their company culture so awful that employees saying their product is garbage isn’t seen as a problem?
guax 3y ago
He did not. Doubled down on his response on the forum. The crux seems to be in him not realising that he not liking a product is not enough to make it the only point and everything moot. They misplaced the card they received to test with. Decided to not wait and reshoot and made a terribly unprofessional video justifying that the product premisse was already bad. The product is fine, its expensive but its niche and unique, it would be totally ok for them to conclude with something like: "I cant recommend this to replace any block in the market, there are cheaper and equally performant alternatives. But, none looks like this or work like this, so some of you might be interested in knowing that you get what its advertised for a very steep price." He of all people, building a pool water cooling and other insanity should know that people might like to spend more money to have something fun, different or unique.
- preisschild 3y ago
  Not only did he double down, he lied about it. He said that they already started refunding Billet before GNs video, but GN asked Billet, and it turns out they did ghost them until after GN released the video.
- yndoendo 3y ago
  This is like reviewing a P2 screw driver while testing it on P1 screws only while demanding that the P2 sucks. There is now way I can respect the work Linux Tech Tips does anymore. To be fair, I only used them occasionally to keep up to date on new hardware.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]

brucethemoose2 3y ago

I am not suprised. I dont want GN much and I watch LTT even less, but the later feels more unprofessional, hyped and "influencery" than the oldschool text hardware reviewers. May they rest in peace.

themacguffinman 3y ago

For extra context, Linus' response to this so far: https://linustechtips.com/topic/1526180-gamers-nexus-alleges-lmg-has-insufficient-ethics-and-integrity/page/16/#comment-16078641 https://linustechtips.com/topic/1526180-gamers-nexus-alleges...

popey 3y ago
That fails to load for me, but the internet archive has it. https://web.archive.org/web/20230815095019/https://linustechtips.com/topic/1526180-gamers-nexus-alleges-lmg-has-insufficient-ethics-and-integrity/page/16/ https://web.archive.org/web/20230815095019/https://linustech... - 6 comments down.

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

PrivateButts 3y ago

Follow up from Steve about Linus' response: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3byz3txpso https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3byz3txpso Looks like Steve was right to not contact LTT before publishing, as Linus misrepresented his handling of the Billet Labs situation in his statement.

refracture 3y ago
Yeah, there really isn't any other way to get to the real feelings about the matter publicly unless you do what Steve did.. and unfortunately I believe Steve is correct that there is nothing Linus can say or do that will quickly fix this. He had his shot to show he cared and he blew it.