I knew trolls existed. I’d seen them with my own eyes in the comments threads of the YouTube channels I regularly watched.
From afar, it always struck me that they were nothing more than unhappy idiots. Dissatisfied with their own lot and immensely jealous of those at whom they hurled their keyboard warrior vitriol, these were sad people. To be pitied, even.
Sometimes, though, the comments are literally unbelievable.
I promise nothing you’re about to read is made up.
I’m now on the side of the fence that receives such flack, and, mostly, it’s very easy to brush off. People hate the fact I’m a fan of Apple products. People hate the fact I’m a fan of Samsung products. People cannot stand it when I say something negative about a pair of Sony headphones. If I dare to provide an opinion about the battery performance of a laptop without eighteen weeks of intensive testing to back it up, they let me know how untrustworthy I am.
The list goes on, and on, but the ‘hide user from channel forever’ button is always just a single satisfying click away.
Sometimes, though, these fools are so weird and provide such odd commentary on my content that I have to share it. Equally, it’s a timely reminder for anyone who wants to get into this game that you will have to deal with these eejits yourself at some stage.
Today, I’d like to reveal the actions for which I’ve been told off by certain members of my audience. The list is as long as it is bizarre, but I’ve picked out my favourites.
I’ve been told off for driving and filming at the same time, despite both hands being on the wheel and my eyes firmly fixed on the road - only to dart occasionally at the camera itself. You know, like talking to a mate in the passenger seat. I think we’ve all done that, haven’t we?
I’ve been told off for wearing sportswear while undertaking a tech review. No, really. This only happened once, but the guy was so angry about my appearance that he demanded I immediately explain who on earth said it was okay to do such a thing. I’m still not sure whose permission I was supposed to seek.
I regularly get told to stop waving around the smartphones I’m reviewing. Using my arms to express myself while holding said devices is, apparently, very distracting and I should go away and learn how to be a YouTuber before making any more videos.
I used a plastic water bottle during a recent hiking video in the Lake District. That was naughty too, apparently; one viewer wanted to know why I had chosen it over a reusable bottle. I should know better, obviously - and I can only assume that he has a creepy, in-depth knowledge of my drinking habits.
One of my favourite tellings off ever was when someone told me to stop using autofocus on my Sony camera. You see, autofocus systems automatically rack the focus backwards and forward as you move around the frame. If you’re paying attention to it as a viewer, you’ll notice the background moving minutely in and out of focus in small, incremental steps. Of course, if you’re actually watching the video properly like a normal human being you won’t notice it. Ever. Regardless, I should stop it immediately, apparently.
Oh, and how can I forget the guy who exclaimed, “WHY have you got no hair?!”. That one threw me, I’ll be honest; I ended up explaining that it was most likely hereditary, but to this day, I can’t quite work out why he was so surprised and disproving of my follically-challenged bonce.
These are all true stories - I promise I haven’t made any of them up. I don’t think you could make them up, to be honest. As noted earlier, though, they reveal the kind of people you’ll encounter as a content creator. They are utterly bizarre, unintentionally hilarious, and curiously obsessed with the way in which you produce your content. They’ve also, without exception, never made a YouTube video themselves. I’m pretty sure a few of them have never even set foot outside their house.
There’s no real purpose behind sharing these tales with you today - I just find them fascinating and I hope they brighten up your morning. Equally, I think these kinds of interactions (and yes, I often reply to these people - usually because I’m so baffled by their comments and need answers) are rarely brought to light by other creators. My peers, understandably, tend to ignore such commentary - but Solo Club is all about opening the doors and revealing every dirty nook and cranny of this fascinating industry.
Oh, and if you’re wondering - no, I will never stop wearing sports gear during my tech review videos.