3 ms·

Obviously, pewdiepie isn't the epitome of intellectual achievement, but he's not _that_ bad either. I like him because (i) he's Swedish and about my age and (ii

Obviously, pewdiepie isn't the epitome of intellectual achievement, but he's not _that_ bad either. I like him because (i) he's Swedish and about my age and (ii) his insane success is a very interesting and relatively new phenomenon. Have a look at some stats, his subscribers and views skyrocketed organically like nothing seen before.

izzydata 12y ago
I'd rather not become part of the problem. Being popular for being popular in my opinion is not something that holds much merit. Watching other people play games in particular is really silly to me when I can just play them myself. It's just one of those weird fads that isn't for me.
- ansimionescu 12y ago
  That's interesting, I'm actually the other way around. I see games as a work of art instead of a pastime, so I enjoy watching people play rather than doing it myself. It feels like I'm saving time this way. :) It might have something to do with the fact that having a family has turned my interests system around.
  - izzydata 12y ago
    Those things aren't mutually exclusive. A game can be a work of art and an enjoyable pastime. In fact the idea of putting some unfunny weirdo's face and voice over the game's story really destroys a lot of the artistic value.
Houshalter 12y ago
There is an interesting theory on how that happened: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgMqhEMhVV8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgMqhEMhVV8 Basically Google changed their algorithm to recommend videos based on time watched instead of just views. Which massively favored let's plays because they are so long. They also promote channels based on geographical location. Pewdiepie had an advantage somehow because he had a fanbase in Sweden and moved to Italy. This might also explain parent comment's problem (recommendations favoring let's plays because they are longer.)

3 ms·

Obviously, pewdiepie isn't the epitome of intellectual achievement, but he's not _that_ bad either. I like him because (i) he's Swedish and about my age and (ii

by ansimionescu 12y ago

izzydata 12y ago
I'd rather not become part of the problem. Being popular for being popular in my opinion is not something that holds much merit. Watching other people play games in particular is really silly to me when I can just play them myself. It's just one of those weird fads that isn't for me.
- ansimionescu 12y ago
  That's interesting, I'm actually the other way around. I see games as a work of art instead of a pastime, so I enjoy watching people play rather than doing it myself. It feels like I'm saving time this way. :) It might have something to do with the fact that having a family has turned my interests system around.
  - izzydata 12y ago
    Those things aren't mutually exclusive. A game can be a work of art and an enjoyable pastime. In fact the idea of putting some unfunny weirdo's face and voice over the game's story really destroys a lot of the artistic value.
Houshalter 12y ago
There is an interesting theory on how that happened: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgMqhEMhVV8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgMqhEMhVV8 Basically Google changed their algorithm to recommend videos based on time watched instead of just views. Which massively favored let's plays because they are so long. They also promote channels based on geographical location. Pewdiepie had an advantage somehow because he had a fanbase in Sweden and moved to Italy. This might also explain parent comment's problem (recommendations favoring let's plays because they are longer.)