Feel bad about not liking, rating, subscribing? I recommend a Tech Guilt Day.

Opinion: It never ends, but you can triage and help out your favorite creators.

See full article...

 

[thearcher]

Don't feel guilty at all. Don't create the account needed to like/subscribe, which makes it that much easier to be tracked. (Unless you actually trust the site.)

 

[DovePig]

I am giving this article a like.

 

[selimnairb]

…People without kids be like

 

[mikebikeswa]

I feel that subscribing, liking, and otherwise providing platforms with information is valuable to them and the platform is not compensating me for this benefit.

 

[WereCatf]

When you've got some time to yourself coming up, mark the Tech Guilt Absolution Day (or just Tech Guilt Day, if you realize it never ends) on your calendar.

Nnnaaahh. I think I'll just add this to the list of things I feel guilty about, but do nothing about.

 

[Drum]

Don't feel guilty at all. Don't create the account needed to like/subscribe, which makes it that much easier to be tracked. (Unless you actually trust the site.)

Everybody, creators included, have to make a living. Given the amount of tracking that websites these days try to put in, avoiding account making and/or subscribing/liking/what have you is a reasonable stance, but there are plenty of creators that I enjoy (from historical podcasts to hobby podcasts to small youtube channels to smaller twitch channels) that live somewhat more off the beaten path than the $11.99/month that goes to netflix.

I don't really regret giving money directly to the people who produce the content I'm most interested in - it's probably the entertainment dollars that have the biggest impact to the people most responsible for providing me entertainment. Most of them do quite well with a dollar or two here and there, and can grow pretty successfully from the interest/loyalty of their subscribers. They're certainly more appreciative of small dollar subscriptions from patreon members than netflix would ever be of the $22 you could send their way every month.

Edit: I suppose I should make a caveat here and point out the benefit of subscribing directly to the content creators you care about. I don't think the point of the article is "don't forget to put a like on House of the Dragon so you can be fed more shows like it" but rather pointed more directly at the independent channels giving you entertainment. That's how I take it anyways. I get a lot more personal enjoyment out of people like Prozd or Mike Duncan than I do out of Netflix, and I don't mind supporting them directly if I can.

 

[NameRedacted]

I feel that subscribing, liking, and otherwise providing platforms with information is valuable to them and the platform is not compensating me for this benefit.

Have you considered not subscribing, liking, or providing information to platforms and creators that you don’t find useful?

 

[ERIFNOMI]

I don't feel guilty at all. "Liking" a video on YouTube, for example, puts it in an automatic "liked" playlist. I don't want that cluttered with every video I didn't hate. I watch a lot of YouTube...

Subscriptions are for channels I want to watch regularly. I'm subbed to tons of channels because I want to know when they release new content.

I pay for YouTube premium, so my views translate to compensation for creators. It's not my job to game the algorithm for them.

 

[ArsMetaluna]

Oh - you mentioned Libby. Let me tell you all about Library Extension!

Library Extension - The popular web browser extension that lets see books that your library has as you browse

The #1 Browser Extension that lets you instantly see book and eBook availability from your local library

www.libraryextension.com

This is a browser extension which works with Firefox, Chrome & Edge. What it does is, when you look up an item on Amazon or any of the other big stores, Library Extension will automatically search your local library to tell you if the item has a copy. It will also search the Hoopla Library. Then it will let you order a copy or place a hold. It works for both physical and digital items, including Audible books. It can be set up to work with your library's Overdrive connection or directly with Libby. It will save you so much money!

There's my Tech Guilt sorted.

 

[strohminator]

I thought this column was going to be about letting go of subscriptions you signed up for. Sure, it's "less than a cup of coffee a week" but once you sign up for a few Patreons, the spending can become significant quickly.

 

[thrillgore]

Remember to like and subscribe and to ring the bell!

 

[Hoptimist]

I'll take your suggestion and apply it to some software devs that have supported their products over the long haul with my one time purchase and have not (yet) fallen into the subscription rathole. Usually smaller apps like Little Snitch and Super Duper.

 

[Fatesrider]

Everybody, creators included, have to make a living. Given the amount of tracking that websites these days try to put in, avoiding account making and/or subscribing/liking/what have you is a reasonable stance, but there are plenty of creators that I enjoy (from historical podcasts to hobby podcasts to small youtube channels to smaller twitch channels) that live somewhat more off the beaten path than the $11.99/month that goes to netflix.

I don't really regret giving money directly to the people who produce the content I'm most interested in - it's probably the entertainment dollars that have the biggest impact to the people most responsible for providing me entertainment. Most of them do quite well with a dollar or two here and there, and can grow pretty successfully from the interest/loyalty of their subscribers. They're certainly more appreciative of small dollar subscriptions from patreon members than netflix would ever be of the $22 you could send their way every month.

Edit: I suppose I should make a caveat here and point out the benefit of subscribing directly to the content creators you care about. I don't think the point of the article is "don't forget to put a like on House of the Dragon so you can be fed more shows like it" but rather pointed more directly at the independent channels giving you entertainment. That's how I take it anyways. I get a lot more personal enjoyment out of people like Prozd or Mike Duncan than I do out of Netflix, and I don't mind supporting them directly if I can.

I'm fine with paying for content I like.

And I'm fairly free with both likes and dislikes.

What never happens with me is feeling guilt, shame or any other negative emotion about either of those. If I think it's worth paying for, I do. If not, I don't. I'll up-vote/down-vote/ignore as I please.

But content creators need to do more than just create content to earn my eyeballs, let alone my dollars. A lot of "content creators" out there create shit for content. By "shit for content" I don't mean it's necessarily bad or unimaginative. It's just ephemeral, forgettable, brain-diabetes-inducing fluff that, much like sugary shit, doesn't satisfy any cravings and doesn't really take any actual talent to do.

As a maker, I respect talent. Talentless hacks who have a "cute" idea? I really have no shits to give about them or their ability to make a living doing that. They're the internet version of street performers, nothing more. Give them a tip if you feel like it. Ignore them if you don't. Report them if they're endangering themselves and others.

But don't feel bad because you don't keep up with the petting and the praise.

 

[fenncruz]

I thought this column was going to be about letting go of subscriptions you signed up for. Sure, it's "less than a cup of coffee a week" but once you sign up for a few Patreons, the spending can become significant quickly.

Best financial planning I did this year was just to make a list of all my subscriptions (don't forgot all those yearly ones as well). Then realise how much I was spending and decided which ones to keep/stop.

 

[Drum]

I'm fine with paying for content I like.

And I'm fairly free with both likes and dislikes.

What never happens with me is feeling guilt, shame or any other negative emotion about either of those. If I think it's worth paying for, I do. If not, I don't. I'll up-vote/down-vote/ignore as I please.

But content creators need to do more than just create content to earn my eyeballs, let alone my dollars. A lot of "content creators" out there create shit for content. By "shit for content" I don't mean it's necessarily bad or unimaginative. It's just ephemeral, forgettable, brain-diabetes-inducing fluff that, much like sugary shit, doesn't satisfy any cravings and doesn't really take any actual talent to do.

As a maker, I respect talent. Talentless hacks who have a "cute" idea? I really have no shits to give about them or their ability to make a living doing that. They're the internet version of street performers, nothing more. Give them a tip if you feel like it. Ignore them if you don't. Report them if they're endangering themselves and others.

But don't feel bad because you don't keep up with the petting and the praise.

I don't think the article was advocating that people give likes out for ephemeral brain fluff that they barely enjoy -

Poll your brain about the little phone, computer, and email things you like and, without even looking, know could use a little boost. This could be a one-time donation, a Patreon or newsletter subscription, writing out a couple nice sentiments about something more people should know about, or taking the 30 seconds to log in and rate something thumbs-up or five stars.

Sure, the wording of the headline and some of the article might sound like a "guilt trip" but it seems to me that it's more a call to be aware of the things you actually like. I.e. exactly what you identified as things you "think [are worth paying for]".

I doubt you'd identify the brain fluff as something "more people should know about" - but I imagine there are plenty of other things we all consume that fit in that bill. Either telling other people about them, or remembering that you enjoy them yourself, both seem like decently worthwhile endeavors.

The frustrating part (I imagine, for many on both sides), is that it's easier for "brain fluff" to accumulate those likes and subscribes because being flashy and attention-grabbing makes for great algorithm management, but not necessarily great content. I think the entire point is that sometimes it's useful to go and make sure that the things that are actually great content, and not just great flash, get their recommendation too. "The algorithm" certainly isn't going to promote them.

 

[OlfactoriusRex]

Nnnaaahh. I think I'll just add this to the list of things I feel guilty about, but do nothing about.

Raised Catholic, too, eh?

 

[WereCatf]

Raised Catholic, too, eh?

No, just your basic Finnish upbringing and apathy.

 

[DukeOfGeeks]

I gotta say... nope.

I subscribe to all that I want. Liking content, I do if its massively good, otherwise no. I have no illusions that 'creators' will get out of 'creating' if they can't make a living off it. So? My liking or subbing their content doesn't guarantee it will either continue to be good or even continue. My not liking it doesn't kill it off either.

I have no guilt or shame. I'm much more likely to review my few Patreons or subs and turn off $$$ not turn it on.

Hard pass on handling out more of my diminishing value $$$ based on 'guilt' about internet creators.

 

[Billiam29]

The whole frequency of asking for likes, shares and subscriptions, makes one big assumption that simply doesn't fit me: you're logged in.

I'm probably quite weird when compared to a vast majority of people. Basically, my M.O. for my online life is that I only log into a platform/service when I have an explicit need to do so. Even just now, I was reading these comments anonymously and only logged in to make this post.

My assumption where YouTube is concerned, is that sheer subscriber count might help catch the attention of the algorithms and maybe also factors into the ad revenue rate. That's really the only reason I give subs to channels I like. All my YouTube watching is done anonymously. The recommendation/feed aspect I get from being logged into YouTube really does nothing for me. I just "know" the YouTube channels I watch and simply go look at them when I want.

 

[lewax00]

Guilt? No. If I have some free time to go over my subscriptions, then I'm using it to prune out ones that I don't watch anymore.

I don't see how the rest is really helping anyone...YouTube's recommendations are utter crap most of the time, so I'm not convinced the likes will actually get the videos to people who would be interested in them. (My current streak of "why would you ever think I'd be interested in this?" is a flood of recommendations in Thai, a language I do not speak, nor have I displayed any interest in...despite clicking "not interested" on every single one, YouTube is sure I'll be interested in the next one...)

 

[EvolvedMonkey]

I’d be willing to do donations if there was some sort of micro-donation of say 2 cents enabled by a one click system on YouTube for a good video, but the idea I’ll pay $5 for someone every month just to make a few hours of video is ridiculous to me. The value proposition just isn’t there.

 

[Justin Credible]

When you've got some time to yourself coming up, mark the Tech Guilt Absolution Day (or just Tech Guilt Day, if you realize it never ends) on your calendar.

Tech Guilt Absolution Day? TGAF!

 

[UserOfTech]

“Artists and albums you often stream (on Bandcamp, perhaps)”.

I would add (professional) musicians on Twitch - the Music section - to the list. They are vastly outnumbered by gamers on Twitch as a whole, but there are still quite a few of them and a great variety. Many play requests suggested by chat, not even always paid. Some even broadcast their gigs live.

 

[smistephen]

Looking at these comments, some of y'all need to drop the bitterness and embrace things that bring you joy for once. It's Friday (at least in my time zone, haha).

Five Things I Like:

1. My Ars subscription! I just renewed, and treated myself to a 20th anniversary mug.
2. YouTube Premium: I watch so much YouTube, y'all. I won't make recommendations, you have your own favourite channels, but YouTube Premium has been a total value-add to my life.
3. Dropout: the anti-YouTube, this indie streamer (built from the ashes of CollegeHumor) has fun improv comedy shows like Game Changer and Breaking News.
4. The Economist - Second only to Ars, I can't recommend enough the value of subscribing to a news source and making them part of your daily routine. You might choose something else, like the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Bloomberg, Washington Post, 404Media, Mother Jones, Defector, Jacobin, just pick some news source you like and give them money.
5. Have I mentioned my Ars subscription? Yeah, this is a cheat, but it's Ars' house

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

 

[Meadian]

This feels like it's targeted at people who feel guilty for not tipping when requested by a fully automated checkout terminal.

 

[BigDXLT]

The fucking algorithms and the way they use "likes" to find more shit for me... just no. Make that a separate button. I want to like that video about history of the F-16, but I don't want my "recommendations" to be nothing but fucking planes for the next 3 months. It's bad enough that when I watch one 30 second simpsons clip, Youtube has to be like "HERE HAVE EVERY CLIP EVER". It's like ads - wanted to google that weird pimple on your foot and forgot to go into a different browser on a different IP address? Congrats, you get ads for pimple cream for the next 6 months! (Bless the blockers but those assholes still have that on your profile now.)

Why can't there just be a "show me more this kind of content" button for when I want more of that? And separate my rating of a specific video from what gets shoved down my throat.

God, this timeline for technology sucks so bad.

 

[DukeOfGeeks]

This feels like it's targeted at people who feel guilty for not tipping when requested by a fully automated checkout terminal.

Another thing to ignore.

Even when the tipping is justified (a REAL LIVE person doing the work) I tip whats appropriate not whats on the screen. And if they make it to difficult to change... well you didn't want that tip anyway.

Tipping an automated process... nope, no way. Give a person that job and sure, if they do a good job at it, here is a tip. Or better yet... pay people enough $$$ to not need tips.

 

[Geoffrey42]

there is no guilt to be had.
i do not exist to click likes on every bad video so they can buy more whiskey.
i have done nothing wrong or unethical, so there is zero guilt.
shame on you OP.

Perhaps (re)read the article. At no point did OP recommend that you click "like" on every bad video so the creators can buy more whiskey.

Shame on OP? Shame on you.

 

[Crying Croc]

I hate subscriptions - even more than paying for parking. Aside from the absolute necessities (i.e. gas, electric, water, trash), I have no subscriptions. Rabbit ear TV (with digital converter box) serves me just fine for the few times I ever watch TV. I will make online contributions to support apps I like, but that's about it.

 

[Crying Croc]

there is no guilt to be had.
i do not exist to click likes on every bad video so they can buy more whiskey.
i have done nothing wrong or unethical, so there is zero guilt.
shame on you OP.

Is this an example of what people call a "strawman argument"? Put words in somebody's mouth (or article) just so you can attack it!?

 

[aikouka]

Talking about likes on online multimedia content, does anyone else just rarely use the like button? I don't ignore it as some sort of silent protest or anything like that... I just don't use it. Along those lines, I don't favorite posts on social media... unless it's part of a contest or something.

 

[DovePig]

Incidentally, if you go into Forum View for the comments ("View comments on forum"), you can give the article itself* an upvote or downvote. Let's see how it goes, let the fight commence! ;-)

*: well, technically just its JournalBot generated forum post with the link back

 

[HiroTheProtagonist]

Talking about likes on online multimedia content, does anyone else just rarely use the like button? I don't ignore it as some sort of silent protest or anything like that... I just don't use it. Along those lines, I don't favorite posts on social media... unless it's part of a contest or something.

I used to "like" videos on YouTube back when I first made an account, but I lost interest in "liking" a long time ago, and upon recent inspection the majority of my "liked" videos got taken down or the channel disbanded over a decade ago. Similarly, my Twitter account posts are 99% contest things from when I go to PAX and they offer raffle tickets for Twitter likes/follows.

 

[ERIFNOMI]

Looking at these comments, some of y'all need to drop the bitterness and embrace things that bring you joy for once. It's Friday (at least in my time zone, haha).

Five Things I Like:

1. My Ars subscription! I just renewed, and treated myself to a 20th anniversary mug.
2. YouTube Premium: I watch so much YouTube, y'all. I won't make recommendations, you have your own favourite channels, but YouTube Premium has been a total value-add to my life.
3. Dropout: the anti-YouTube, this indie streamer (built from the ashes of CollegeHumor) has fun improv comedy shows like Game Changer and Breaking News.
4. The Economist - Second only to Ars, I can't recommend enough the value of subscribing to a news source and making them part of your daily routine. You might choose something else, like the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Bloomberg, Washington Post, 404Media, Mother Jones, Defector, Jacobin, just pick some news source you like and give them money.
5. Have I mentioned my Ars subscription? Yeah, this is a cheat, but it's Ars' house

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Dropout is my second most valuable sub, right after YTM/YTPremium. $60 a year for that content? I watch it a hell of a lot more than I watch Max, and I pay a hell of a lot less for it.

 

[Justin Credible]

Talking about likes on online multimedia content, does anyone else just rarely use the like button? I don't ignore it as some sort of silent protest or anything like that... I just don't use it. Along those lines, I don't favorite posts on social media... unless it's part of a contest or something.

I'd give you an upvote, but i'm the same way.

 

[thismarty]

Talking about likes on online multimedia content, does anyone else just rarely use the like button? I don't ignore it as some sort of silent protest or anything like that... I just don't use it. Along those lines, I don't favorite posts on social media... unless it's part of a contest or something.

Amen to that. It's gets even better if you don't do social media, YouTube, software subscriptions, streaming, etc. at all ... save for subscribing to Ars, of course.

 

[TwoCirles]

for my favorite podcast about engineering disasters.

This sounds great, Kevin please share the name of it. Especially after the Brady Heywood podcast stopped publishing.

 

[aikouka]

I'd give you an upvote, but i'm the same way.

Haha... surprisingly, I have given out upvotes a few times on here. I usually do it for humorous posts. I'd like to think you're doing a good service if you can help make the day a bit brighter!