Taking a step away from WoW for this one, talking about the effects of these relationships from both the viewer's and creator's perspective in the context of vtubing ✅Become a channel member for perks, such as early access to most of my videos(and ad-free): th-cam.com/channels/Ovz3kkYZtCTeXKdiuMG8eg.htmljoin ✅Follow next video progress on Twitter: twitter.com/madseason_ ✅Watch me stream at twitch.tv/madseasonshow
it is really nice you always do video about WoW or other games and i always appreciated and your voice is always is so nice. you are so nice streamer and YTer and i am so glad i left WoW for one and half year.
Dude this was awful in a handful of ways. Because he was so loved by the WoW community and beyond, Jesse Cox, Wowcrendor, they all took that hit too because they were irl friends with the fella.
Had to honor to raid with TB (with his mage TotalHalibut) a couple of times. At that time, he was recording some vids about gold farming, which I still look up now and then. Great guy, was shocked to hear about his passing.
Is it really parasocial to mourn someone who has passed? Even if it is the one sided relationship of they provide for you and never receive your direct feedback?
No joke same here. Except i has the video playing on my phone was literally looking in the mirror at how shit my hairline looks as I'm about to go get a haircut in an hour lol
I just want to say, you’ve taken really well to the react format and I think the footage/edits you throw in while you’re giving your take are top tier. Keep up the good work! 👍
I feel like you're someone who I could sit on the front porch and have a genuine conversation with. But you're 100% right I don't know you, nor should I, nor should you, me. You're just the funny content man in the magic entertainment box.
I may burn a Madseason candle at my altar each night before tucking in my Madseason plushie in his own little bed, but I'm no weirdo. i know it's one sided and I know Madseason truly loves me but isn't allowed to show it. So I keep my distance and admire from afar .... usually about 2000 meters through a telephoto lens that I've modified so it I can use it one handed.
That bastard sneaking I really want to stay at your house giving me those edgerunner feels was not what i was expecting from this video. Great react and original video. TB was the most I had connected with a content creator and I found out during a lunch break at work and I couldn't continue to work that day I was so incredibly shaken I still remember it to this day!
The Christina Grimmie one hit hard for me at the time, it was crazy to to see someone I watched constantly while I was growing up and while TH-cam was still relatively young go from finally getting her break by doing well on The Voice and gaining even more publicity and fans to suddenly being gone just like that all because of one insane parasocial freak.
I'd also add how crucial face to face interaction is needed for people crying their heart out. I've had too many experiences people overreacting over a bad situation and being aware of it. Body language just reveals A LOT.
"Post nut clarity saves lives." Yep. I've had a roller coaster of emotions in the past 11 years of my life. Left school, felt lonely, wanted girlfriends, but wasn't able to so I formed a strong relationship with my hobbies and interests. One of which happened to be shipping wars, specifically in the Sonic series which noteably lacks love interests or any sort of romance, and for the better. But I was so invested I literally developed anxiety and depression from it. I eventually got a girlfriend which made me forget about it, but after the breakup I went back to it. Then I said that it's probably time to let go of my relationships and start fresh as it was becoming way too unhealthy. It was also around that time I discovered I was bisexual (later pansexual). Which put me at ease to an extent. I was directionless for a few years after that, unsure what to do. I moved house, had anguish over being a virgin and lonely. It was only until recently with some help of medication that I was able to redirect my thoughts and focus on what really mattered, which was my hobbies and interests all along. I don't feel obsessed over them, but it's still a lot better than what I was feeling years ago. That and I just think I'm a recipe for disaster in a relationship. Not many people admit that, I wish they would.
Madseason, I hear the wedding bells ringing. Or maybe I am just going insane on how interesting this video was. I honestly never thought our culture around twitch or youtube has gotten that extreme, but I guess there is extremes to everything. Thank you for another good video. Your last couple makes you really think.
This reminds me of the early days of video blogging when websites like Stickam let you stream using a webcam. Then they all moved to TH-cam and the vlogging era began...
people always use to ask me why I'd call myself just a box of text whenever I chat with them over stream or discord. This is why. friendships can, and do blossom from all corners of the world. But friendships that blossom from streaming coming from the most dry soil I've seen. It's weak and frail foundation, and you have to be careful who you let in. I'm a box of text because at the end of the day. You see words on a device, or sounds from a headset. It can be easy to think you know exactly who they are. until you get duped.
Agreed. I get real uncomfortable when people start talking about their personal issues on their channel. I need somewhat of a personal relationship with you for that. I understand if it’s an update to clarify other things, like a hiatus or a journey marker, but to just suddenly start gushing about that stuff creeps me out.
Lmao I never expected to see a DSP cameo in one of your vids. He’s WILIN’ these days. Amazing vid Mad! Thanks for being a real life best friend of mine /s
I really thought this stuff didn't affect me. But when Jerma announced that he is going into retirement, I felt legitimate grief. It's not rational, I don't know him, and he isn't even going away permanently, but part of me was so accustomed to watching his content, it really felt like being told you won't get to see a friend anymore. I'm lucky enough to have good social health, but I can see how deeply this would affect someone who is already socially challenged. Nobody is immune to this, it's just that some people are more vulnerable than others.
thanks a lot madseason, such a nice deep dive into the topic of parasocialism, enjoyed the orig. video n your thoughts on the matter, take care now, peace! ✌🏼
parasocial relationships confuse me, but this video helped me understand why some people fall into it. I think the reason why I can't understand it on an emotional level is because for me to form any kind of attachment there needs to be reciprocity, which is non existent in parasocial relationships
I'd love to hear more about why madseason doesn't have a facecam, but I'm guessing that would be too personal and run contrary to his whole point. Great video - super interesting 😊
Didn't know about Christina Grimmie until now. Man that is so sad. Just checked her wrecking ball appearance on The voice and goddamn she singed great.
Yanno one important thing got left out of the original and react, and it would pertain to both TH-camrs: Originally successful streamers and TH-camrs fell into a narrow groove because only audience size mattered. Twitch didn't add direct donations until 2016 and TH-cam was so late to the party that it's still competing with Patreon. This is in large part why the overly excited TH-cam "voice" was so dominant for so long. Easiest way to get the largest audience possible is to appeal to kids. So back when a certain TH-camr was being told they'll never make it without this voice, those making money had the safest audience. Kids can form problematic parasocial relationships as well, but they can't really act upon them in ways the streamer would really feel. Nowadays, and especially because of the adpocalypse, folks are becoming successful by carving out niches among adults, and it's like Russian roulette as to whether or not one gets a crazy.
There’s a whole thing about boy bands and girls. Seems like it’s a safe way to kinda develop your sexuality without the danger. So it’s been that way for a while. But it swapped a little from boy bands to fictional characters, I’d say tumblr/Harry Potter time.
Would point to PirateSoftware as the "healthiest" Parasocialism in streamer form because the only goal is obvious: "Make Stuff but also get comfortable with failing"
This stuff is fascinating. A little scary, but fascinating none-the-less. I think there is another aspect of this to consider though as well and that is the illusion of authority that having a platform gives you. Because a streamer or a youtuber might have thousands or even millions of followers and they exist on a platform, they are idolized to a degree and a part of that is the illusion of authority. "I watched a youtube video on it" is a thing not that uncommon to hear somebody say when they are handing out de facto information. This is why a lot of false information can be easily spread through podcasts, radio shows, and viral videos. I think as a result of this illusion of authority, people get even more drawn in. You aren't just some WoW video maker, you are THE MadSeason. The only one. The absolute authority on classic WoW. This can draw people in for a few reasons. For starters, there is the feeling that somebody might want to buddy up to you because they can say they are friends with somebody who has a large following, much like saying they are friends with a celebrity. The second thing that draws people in could be admiration. Keep in mind that these feelings could form whether the content creator is or is not an expert on the content they create. I have watched quite a few of your videos and find that a good number of them are quite opinion based, but even just stating your opinion on a large platform is enough to convince some people that what you are saying is absolute fact. That's enough to build an agenda that could do anything from shift public opinion on a topic to full blown near mind control a population into subservience. There are examples of both in real life. This is all psychology and I personally find psychology fascinating. On the other hand, your video made me go back and analyze any interactions I can remember with content creators. I guess the answer I came up with is: Save for a few people I actually spend time with off their platform I.E. playing games with them or even working with them, in a weird way, content creators including yourself never really come to mind for me until something like a video reminds me they exist. Not sure if that's normal or a sign of something worse, but hey, thanks for that thought.
I don't think having a visceral, strong reaction to an emotional or horrific scene in a book, movie or TV series like Game of Thrones has anything to do with parasocial relationships per se. AFAIK, it's just your empathy (however strong it might be) feeling the emotions that are supposed to be conveyed by the scene or felt by the characters you're watching. Afterwards, you calm down and are like "damn, that was a thing" and go on with your life, perhaps thinking about it from time to time, because it was impactful. Hell, One Piece makes me cry all the time, even when I watch reactions of it. It's just that well-made. Killing yourself over your favorite Naruto character dying is quite a different thing xD
@madseasonshow adding some thoughtful editing to your reaction is a good improvement to the generic “pause video and give half assed take on the last 15 seconds of the video” reaction meta. Well done.
Me and MadSeason go way back chat, we're special like that. You wouldn't understand. I have a special badge in his chat AND I bought the plushie. We're basically best friends.
Don’t worry, it’s only a matter of time before everything comes crashing down. The financial system can’t sustain this nonsense much longer. Eventually, the weight of all this instability will cause the whole structure to collapse, and when it does, it will force a reset that’s been a long time coming.
Sometimes I also feel like TH-camrs have a parasocial relationship with me (the viewer). Whenever I hear "Thank you for all the support, it means a lot to me" I'm just sitting there awkwardly thinking "entertain me slave"
Just like how some people start drinking to overcome smoking, Vtubers helped me quit my WoW addiction and replace it with an autistic anime girl addiction.
the thumbnail :-D Honestly if someone told me that there are things called "whirlpool-Streams" i would have laughed at them. Until i actually saw it on twitch myself. This generation is going down the drain so fast
The part of parasocial relationships that I particularly dislike, is how it makes people susceptible to misinformation and radicalization. A particular WoW youtuber platforms a lot of things that lead their audience in a particular political direction because they trust him.
I can really only give my own account of things, and not speak for anyone else on a broader level. Do I watch vtubers? Yes Do I donate/sub/cheer with bits? No Do I watch every stream and every VOD for every streamer like some tiresome obsessive? No, I'll generally tune out of a stream if the subject matter is boring (and the streamer doesn't manage to make it fun) Do I have affectionate feelings for the vtubers I watch? Sure, in the same way I do for any other member of the human race, admittedly mixed with a bit of the mere-exposure psychological effect Am I their therapist? No Are they mine? Also no I also keep very much in mind, whenever I watch any vtuber, that they're a person with their own fears, worries, troubles and a heart beating in their chest, and try to in that light, treat them with acceptable human-to-human kindness - a compliment if they pull of something cool, or sing well during karaoke, that kind of thing. I have a reasonable enough social life, but other people around me will often tend to shut themselves off and opt to rot on the couch instead of doing something with friends - something I've noticed is more common with nerdy stuff becoming more popular, and nerd culture becoming accepted. So, my own enjoyment of vtubers usually comes down to a substitute when actual friends aren't available, I think, a lot of the time. But also, I've watched every anime on my list, and TV/movies don't appeal to me (and certainly not reality TV/celeb culture - which is the boomer/normie version of parasocial relationships I realize), and channel-flipping vtubers is a lot more tempting than sitting alone and watching the newest Netflix slop. Something about the community and direct interaction really makes it a lot more interesting. I tend towards independent vtubers, and they do tend to be less idol-esque than corpos, generally speaking, and often have tighter-knit, more sane communities that *in general* seem to respect boundaries fairly well, and a lot of them interact directly with chat in what I would tend to consider a healthy way. Obviously there are people who sub bomb and simp, and they don't have much of a choice but to be positive about that, but at least they make it deeply clear that there's no expectation or need for such grand gestures, which is about what they can do. Is it perfect? Probably not Do I think I've fallen off the deep end? Not even close, if I'm contrasting with others. Is this whole post a cope? I suppose that's up to whoever reads it.
Austic and technically should be lonely so always careful to maintain boundaries on soical media, and remember TH-camrs are doing a job there are usually personas, not interested in being freinds with 1000s of people
hmm, I watched all of your videos back in classic and even now I watch about 70% of your content. I don't understand why this video wasn't recommended to me at all (I scroll yt like 8h /day) and I might not be the only one it seems like
Think this is just the logical progression celebrity culture has tried leading to for decades now. More direct link - more influence over individuals - more opportunity to convince people not to follow their own best interests.
I've started recently watching a few Vtubers that I find amusing (Dizzy, Pippa and Kirsche, for the record) and I've noticed that some fans are like me, just along for the ride and enjoying the content for what it is. Maybe throw them 2 or 5 dollars every so often, but nothing crazy. But I've started noticing that some of the dudes take this a bit too far, in their devotion (and sometimes over-the-top horniness) towards these young women that are just doing their job. It is interesting to watch, but kind of concerning at the same time....
UK is just little America, everything the US does gets passed on very easily to the UK because of the shared language. Brits are always the first to spout American buzzwords in Europe
Now imagine something worse than a tattoo on one idiot's forehead. In the UK, people have been elected who will illegally/totalitarianly lock up those who oppose the actions of their government they are not allowed to talk about it or share recordings from public places that harm the neo-Soviet narrative of their regime. Ignorance is strength, war is peace.
An example of a parasocial relationship is watching someone react to a video because they're the content creator you like when you can just watch the video and get the exact same information in a shorter amount of time. That's a completely neutral one, not good or bad.
I wonder how parasocial relationships and religion fit in together. In my mind would that not be the most basic and original form of one? Just food for thought
I think in order to "donate" money to anyone online, you should have to present proof of income/wealth before hand. Often times the people who give the most, have the least and only do it because they are addicted. If you have a shit load of money, you aren't generally going to go out gambling or buy lottery tickets. They are instead very desperate and hoping for a statistically very slim chance of an outcome to actually occur. I also think the same should be done for literally any form of online gambling whether it's buying loot boxes in overwatch or what the fuck ever. The ability to just empty your bank account online to a person or company ruins lives, both individuals and of families.
I didn't think that being parasocial was that much of a thing until I literally started having dreams of covering for Asmongold on his stream while he went to go get fast food with his dad and then another where he went to go check on a close friend. I think it's really weird and creepy and i stopped watching his videos for a while after it happened With that statement I am not a superfan and Im not invested in his life more than I am anyone elses. I dont watch his streams, I don't watch his gameplay videos, I literally ONLY listen to stuff on TH-cam while im at work. I don't even think about him unless he is mentioned. It was such a weird experience. I think the reason it happened is that i listen to his content so much at work that my subconcious brain thinks were friends or something.
Now I almost want to start a streaming career just to regularly remind people that we're not friends and they should go out and touch grass instead of watching weirdos talking shit on the internet XD
I thought the whole streaming culture was degenerated enough. Now i hear of v-tubing.. god damnit, im so glad im no teen in theese times. For clarification: I don't think streaming games in general is a bad thing. But i consider it dangerous if people form their opionions based on their favorite reaction streamer
So glad you made this video! It is something that really needs to be addressed. Social Media is not the same as human interaction. When we are lonely it is easy to project fantasies onto others because there is no rejection or realization of that fantasy. As hard as rejection is, it is a necessary part of life. Men are far more likely to isolate as they get older. I have experienced the positives of parasocialism and TH-cam is the only social media I consume. I watched Bob Ross and Mr Rogers as a kid and I wrote them both letters and got responses in the form of a signed photo. Recognized, but clearly limited in scope. Text only relationships are a fraction of a real relationship. You can learn about a person building a “curated” relationship where you are only sharing what you want and motives can be easily obfuscated. No matter the intention, it is never going to be the same as platonic, human to human, interaction. Everyone gets lonely, ask for help, and it will get better. It is harder for men to ask for help, but we need it just as much as everyone else. Thanks again Season, your recent content has been next level in my opinion!
Taking a step away from WoW for this one, talking about the effects of these relationships from both the viewer's and creator's perspective in the context of vtubing
✅Become a channel member for perks, such as early access to most of my videos(and ad-free): th-cam.com/channels/Ovz3kkYZtCTeXKdiuMG8eg.htmljoin
✅Follow next video progress on Twitter: twitter.com/madseason_
✅Watch me stream at twitch.tv/madseasonshow
Solid video, Mr. Show. Have you been able to enjoy SoD recently? Personally I am having a blast.
That's why want to destroy families, because if you're lonely you will pay these people money
Why won’t you love me? 😆
it is really nice you always do video about WoW or other games and i always appreciated and your voice is always is so nice. you are so nice streamer and YTer and i am so glad i left WoW for one and half year.
the sad thing is that parasocial relationships are not only found in the internet :(
I don't wanna wear Madseason's skin. Just his helmet.
In your mouth
that is the skin
“The weight of such a burden…”
"... it must be mine, for there is no other..."
“It puts the oil on the helmet or else I told you so again…”
at 18:08 i hovered my mouse in the bottom right where madseasons mouse was and i felt we had a connection
I remember when TotalBiscuit died, made me so sad for days. Still watch a video now and then
Dude this was awful in a handful of ways. Because he was so loved by the WoW community and beyond, Jesse Cox, Wowcrendor, they all took that hit too because they were irl friends with the fella.
Had to honor to raid with TB (with his mage TotalHalibut) a couple of times. At that time, he was recording some vids about gold farming, which I still look up now and then. Great guy, was shocked to hear about his passing.
Me too he was so special 😢
spit, he was a toxic loser , told someone to get cancer and die
Is it really parasocial to mourn someone who has passed? Even if it is the one sided relationship of they provide for you and never receive your direct feedback?
My jaw dropped a little when he chose Kyle as an example, of all the possible names.
... I'm gonna go fix my hair now
Imagine if MadSeason were named Kenny, and a Kyle is stanning him at this very moment,
I'm just glad he didn't pick Edy
No joke same here. Except i has the video playing on my phone was literally looking in the mirror at how shit my hairline looks as I'm about to go get a haircut in an hour lol
OMG I can't wait to get married to Madseason
Same brother!
@@beridledodopidop4822 Get in line losers!
I was so excited to hear!😂
I can't believe Madseason would put out a video like this after everything we've been through together. I really thought we had something special.
I just want to say, you’ve taken really well to the react format and I think the footage/edits you throw in while you’re giving your take are top tier. Keep up the good work! 👍
Asmon and I have been really good frience since WoD, I just hope he notices me one day
Not with spelling like that
hope you like sharing food with Cockroaches
Yeah... same
This isn't again exclusive to social media it's existed forever and it is extremely applicable to celebrities
Yes this is brought up in the video. Parasocial relationships doesn't just mean social media. But in the context of this video that's more the focus.
That scene where Dora the Explorer was murdered by the Lannisters really got to me, too
I feel like you're someone who I could sit on the front porch and have a genuine conversation with. But you're 100% right I don't know you, nor should I, nor should you, me. You're just the funny content man in the magic entertainment box.
Love your analysis.
Also, i couldn't help but chuckle at 15:10, the tonal shift, and the LttP music was a perfect match 😂👍🏻👌🏼👌🏼
Oh boy, I can't believe we're gonna get married soon?! I knew my parasocial relationship would pay off someday!
I'm impressed how you turn react videos into original and interesting videos (high quality production, extra value/content...).
I may burn a Madseason candle at my altar each night before tucking in my Madseason plushie in his own little bed, but I'm no weirdo. i know it's one sided and I know Madseason truly loves me but isn't allowed to show it. So I keep my distance and admire from afar .... usually about 2000 meters through a telephoto lens that I've modified so it I can use it one handed.
One of my fav things about your channel is that you dont overshare.
That bastard sneaking I really want to stay at your house giving me those edgerunner feels was not what i was expecting from this video. Great react and original video. TB was the most I had connected with a content creator and I found out during a lunch break at work and I couldn't continue to work that day I was so incredibly shaken I still remember it to this day!
my best friend madseason uploaded again. hurray!
The Christina Grimmie one hit hard for me at the time, it was crazy to to see someone I watched constantly while I was growing up and while TH-cam was still relatively young go from finally getting her break by doing well on The Voice and gaining even more publicity and fans to suddenly being gone just like that all because of one insane parasocial freak.
I watched some of Mad's videos a few weeks ago. I always knew he was my best friend! Hopefully he never leaves me like all the others!
Your content has been getting better and better, thank you for creating it!
I'd also add how crucial face to face interaction is needed for people crying their heart out. I've had too many experiences people overreacting over a bad situation and being aware of it. Body language just reveals A LOT.
I think I love Bob Ross videos for the same reason I love your channel - it's just so calming
Oh boy. I know a lot of people are gonna be uncomfortable hearing this and seeing themselves in it lol.
"Post nut clarity saves lives." Yep.
I've had a roller coaster of emotions in the past 11 years of my life. Left school, felt lonely, wanted girlfriends, but wasn't able to so I formed a strong relationship with my hobbies and interests. One of which happened to be shipping wars, specifically in the Sonic series which noteably lacks love interests or any sort of romance, and for the better. But I was so invested I literally developed anxiety and depression from it. I eventually got a girlfriend which made me forget about it, but after the breakup I went back to it.
Then I said that it's probably time to let go of my relationships and start fresh as it was becoming way too unhealthy.
It was also around that time I discovered I was bisexual (later pansexual). Which put me at ease to an extent. I was directionless for a few years after that, unsure what to do. I moved house, had anguish over being a virgin and lonely. It was only until recently with some help of medication that I was able to redirect my thoughts and focus on what really mattered, which was my hobbies and interests all along. I don't feel obsessed over them, but it's still a lot better than what I was feeling years ago. That and I just think I'm a recipe for disaster in a relationship. Not many people admit that, I wish they would.
Always good when MY BEST FRIEND IN THE WORLD MADSEASON makes a new video just for me.
Madseason, I hear the wedding bells ringing. Or maybe I am just going insane on how interesting this video was. I honestly never thought our culture around twitch or youtube has gotten that extreme, but I guess there is extremes to everything. Thank you for another good video. Your last couple makes you really think.
This reminds me of the early days of video blogging when websites like Stickam let you stream using a webcam. Then they all moved to TH-cam and the vlogging era began...
A great video overall! Cool to see some deviation from wow as well while still conveying a message.
people always use to ask me why I'd call myself just a box of text whenever I chat with them over stream or discord. This is why. friendships can, and do blossom from all corners of the world. But friendships that blossom from streaming coming from the most dry soil I've seen. It's weak and frail foundation, and you have to be careful who you let in. I'm a box of text because at the end of the day. You see words on a device, or sounds from a headset. It can be easy to think you know exactly who they are. until you get duped.
I’m glad madseason doesn’t know me. Imagine if he knew how often I watched his videos while taking a fat dump.
I stopped watching people who use personal info for content and i never watch people who i am attracted to
Agreed. I get real uncomfortable when people start talking about their personal issues on their channel. I need somewhat of a personal relationship with you for that. I understand if it’s an update to clarify other things, like a hiatus or a journey marker, but to just suddenly start gushing about that stuff creeps me out.
Lmao I never expected to see a DSP cameo in one of your vids. He’s WILIN’ these days. Amazing vid Mad! Thanks for being a real life best friend of mine /s
Watched him during his rise during the 2010s actually. It's been an....interesting ride to say the least lol *snort*
@@madseasonshow his disaster stream he’s doing as I type this with kino has been an absolute shit show lol
Never watched him but folks seem to think he's a douche so avoid him
Never stop the OG FFVII music. The original and the best!
So grateful that this situation could never happen between me and my best friend Nick Mullen.
I really thought this stuff didn't affect me. But when Jerma announced that he is going into retirement, I felt legitimate grief. It's not rational, I don't know him, and he isn't even going away permanently, but part of me was so accustomed to watching his content, it really felt like being told you won't get to see a friend anymore. I'm lucky enough to have good social health, but I can see how deeply this would affect someone who is already socially challenged. Nobody is immune to this, it's just that some people are more vulnerable than others.
I remember when Hayven Games passed away, hit real hard
thanks a lot madseason, such a nice deep dive into the topic of parasocialism, enjoyed the orig. video n your thoughts on the matter, take care now, peace! ✌🏼
parasocial relationships confuse me, but this video helped me understand why some people fall into it. I think the reason why I can't understand it on an emotional level is because for me to form any kind of attachment there needs to be reciprocity, which is non existent in parasocial relationships
I'd love to hear more about why madseason doesn't have a facecam, but I'm guessing that would be too personal and run contrary to his whole point.
Great video - super interesting 😊
I can feel your presence in my room as I'm drifting off to sleep
Didn't know about Christina Grimmie until now. Man that is so sad. Just checked her wrecking ball appearance on The voice and goddamn she singed great.
Yanno one important thing got left out of the original and react, and it would pertain to both TH-camrs: Originally successful streamers and TH-camrs fell into a narrow groove because only audience size mattered. Twitch didn't add direct donations until 2016 and TH-cam was so late to the party that it's still competing with Patreon.
This is in large part why the overly excited TH-cam "voice" was so dominant for so long. Easiest way to get the largest audience possible is to appeal to kids.
So back when a certain TH-camr was being told they'll never make it without this voice, those making money had the safest audience. Kids can form problematic parasocial relationships as well, but they can't really act upon them in ways the streamer would really feel.
Nowadays, and especially because of the adpocalypse, folks are becoming successful by carving out niches among adults, and it's like Russian roulette as to whether or not one gets a crazy.
There’s a whole thing about boy bands and girls. Seems like it’s a safe way to kinda develop your sexuality without the danger. So it’s been that way for a while. But it swapped a little from boy bands to fictional characters, I’d say tumblr/Harry Potter time.
That's an interesting observation!
Would point to PirateSoftware as the "healthiest" Parasocialism in streamer form because the only goal is obvious: "Make Stuff but also get comfortable with failing"
This stuff is fascinating. A little scary, but fascinating none-the-less. I think there is another aspect of this to consider though as well and that is the illusion of authority that having a platform gives you. Because a streamer or a youtuber might have thousands or even millions of followers and they exist on a platform, they are idolized to a degree and a part of that is the illusion of authority. "I watched a youtube video on it" is a thing not that uncommon to hear somebody say when they are handing out de facto information. This is why a lot of false information can be easily spread through podcasts, radio shows, and viral videos. I think as a result of this illusion of authority, people get even more drawn in. You aren't just some WoW video maker, you are THE MadSeason. The only one. The absolute authority on classic WoW. This can draw people in for a few reasons. For starters, there is the feeling that somebody might want to buddy up to you because they can say they are friends with somebody who has a large following, much like saying they are friends with a celebrity. The second thing that draws people in could be admiration.
Keep in mind that these feelings could form whether the content creator is or is not an expert on the content they create. I have watched quite a few of your videos and find that a good number of them are quite opinion based, but even just stating your opinion on a large platform is enough to convince some people that what you are saying is absolute fact. That's enough to build an agenda that could do anything from shift public opinion on a topic to full blown near mind control a population into subservience. There are examples of both in real life.
This is all psychology and I personally find psychology fascinating. On the other hand, your video made me go back and analyze any interactions I can remember with content creators. I guess the answer I came up with is: Save for a few people I actually spend time with off their platform I.E. playing games with them or even working with them, in a weird way, content creators including yourself never really come to mind for me until something like a video reminds me they exist. Not sure if that's normal or a sign of something worse, but hey, thanks for that thought.
Loop hero sound track goes hard!
I don't think having a visceral, strong reaction to an emotional or horrific scene in a book, movie or TV series like Game of Thrones has anything to do with parasocial relationships per se. AFAIK, it's just your empathy (however strong it might be) feeling the emotions that are supposed to be conveyed by the scene or felt by the characters you're watching. Afterwards, you calm down and are like "damn, that was a thing" and go on with your life, perhaps thinking about it from time to time, because it was impactful. Hell, One Piece makes me cry all the time, even when I watch reactions of it. It's just that well-made. Killing yourself over your favorite Naruto character dying is quite a different thing xD
Love ya madseason.... just need your address and make it official. I kid. Great video and look forward to seeing what else you create.
@madseasonshow adding some thoughtful editing to your reaction is a good improvement to the generic “pause video and give half assed take on the last 15 seconds of the video” reaction meta. Well done.
Me and MadSeason go way back chat, we're special like that. You wouldn't understand. I have a special badge in his chat AND I bought the plushie. We're basically best friends.
Don’t worry, it’s only a matter of time before everything comes crashing down. The financial system can’t sustain this nonsense much longer. Eventually, the weight of all this instability will cause the whole structure to collapse, and when it does, it will force a reset that’s been a long time coming.
Accelerate!
But it runs on belief anon. If everyone just keeps believing it just keeps working. Its like the inverse of a dollar being worth 0 of itself.
The great reset. New world order. AC will sit in the rebuilt temple and claim he is God
Sometimes I also feel like TH-camrs have a parasocial relationship with me (the viewer). Whenever I hear "Thank you for all the support, it means a lot to me" I'm just sitting there awkwardly thinking "entertain me slave"
"loneliness has followed me my whole life... In twitch chats....in discord... everywhere. I'm the internet's lonely man...
Yet another channel that I used to love and get excited for has turned into a react meta content generator
Just like how some people start drinking to overcome smoking, Vtubers helped me quit my WoW addiction and replace it with an autistic anime girl addiction.
the thumbnail :-D
Honestly if someone told me that there are things called "whirlpool-Streams" i would have laughed at them. Until i actually saw it on twitch myself. This generation is going down the drain so fast
In this video my best friend MadSeason tries to convince me we’re not best friends. Funny stuff! That’s why you’re my best friend!!1
I would say that the streamers are often the most lonely of them all.
i've been stalking mads for years but only because i'm trynna get that hamburger pie recipe
Doesn't help that lonliness is being profitted by both sides. Lonley men will simp and buy, lonely women will buy buy buy.
ff10 cloister of trials ost spotted
I never thought I'd here the day when the Monotone Madness said "Post-nut clarity certainly saves lives" lol
Madseason is definitely my favorite vtuber
The part of parasocial relationships that I particularly dislike, is how it makes people susceptible to misinformation and radicalization. A particular WoW youtuber platforms a lot of things that lead their audience in a particular political direction because they trust him.
To a liberal extremist, everything they disagree with is right wing fascism.
music was BOMB!
I can really only give my own account of things, and not speak for anyone else on a broader level.
Do I watch vtubers? Yes
Do I donate/sub/cheer with bits? No
Do I watch every stream and every VOD for every streamer like some tiresome obsessive? No, I'll generally tune out of a stream if the subject matter is boring (and the streamer doesn't manage to make it fun)
Do I have affectionate feelings for the vtubers I watch? Sure, in the same way I do for any other member of the human race, admittedly mixed with a bit of the mere-exposure psychological effect
Am I their therapist? No
Are they mine? Also no
I also keep very much in mind, whenever I watch any vtuber, that they're a person with their own fears, worries, troubles and a heart beating in their chest, and try to in that light, treat them with acceptable human-to-human kindness - a compliment if they pull of something cool, or sing well during karaoke, that kind of thing.
I have a reasonable enough social life, but other people around me will often tend to shut themselves off and opt to rot on the couch instead of doing something with friends - something I've noticed is more common with nerdy stuff becoming more popular, and nerd culture becoming accepted.
So, my own enjoyment of vtubers usually comes down to a substitute when actual friends aren't available, I think, a lot of the time.
But also, I've watched every anime on my list, and TV/movies don't appeal to me (and certainly not reality TV/celeb culture - which is the boomer/normie version of parasocial relationships I realize), and channel-flipping vtubers is a lot more tempting than sitting alone and watching the newest Netflix slop. Something about the community and direct interaction really makes it a lot more interesting.
I tend towards independent vtubers, and they do tend to be less idol-esque than corpos, generally speaking, and often have tighter-knit, more sane communities that *in general* seem to respect boundaries fairly well, and a lot of them interact directly with chat in what I would tend to consider a healthy way. Obviously there are people who sub bomb and simp, and they don't have much of a choice but to be positive about that, but at least they make it deeply clear that there's no expectation or need for such grand gestures, which is about what they can do.
Is it perfect? Probably not
Do I think I've fallen off the deep end? Not even close, if I'm contrasting with others.
Is this whole post a cope?
I suppose that's up to whoever reads it.
Madseason rules!!!
I have an unhealthy parasocial relationship with Madseason’s tabard.
I liked the RuneScape Sounds
Austic and technically should be lonely so always careful to maintain boundaries on soical media, and remember TH-camrs are doing a job there are usually personas, not interested in being freinds with 1000s of people
I swear you did a video on this like a month or two ago and I watched it, is this a re-upload?
So youre saying we arent gonna fall in love and live in a cabin on the country side?
It might still happen bro. Keep holding out. 😜
If you guys are looking for relationship. We all need Jesus, he will be there for you always 🙂
hmm, I watched all of your videos back in classic and even now I watch about 70% of your content. I don't understand why this video wasn't recommended to me at all (I scroll yt like 8h /day) and I might not be the only one it seems like
Amouranth and her ilk should absolutely be outlawed. The damage being done to underage boys is completely criminal.
They're all peter files.
Fans are food, not friends!
Darkest Dungeon Estate Music 🤌
Good to hear, cuz I need to borrow the car.😃
DAMN IT, KYLE
Think this is just the logical progression celebrity culture has tried leading to for decades now. More direct link - more influence over individuals - more opportunity to convince people not to follow their own best interests.
I've started recently watching a few Vtubers that I find amusing (Dizzy, Pippa and Kirsche, for the record) and I've noticed that some fans are like me, just along for the ride and enjoying the content for what it is. Maybe throw them 2 or 5 dollars every so often, but nothing crazy. But I've started noticing that some of the dudes take this a bit too far, in their devotion (and sometimes over-the-top horniness) towards these young women that are just doing their job. It is interesting to watch, but kind of concerning at the same time....
Marry me mad season!! Na. Good vid though man, as always.
Y’all see the lady in the UK who got a “TRUMP” tattoo across her forehead?
UK is just little America, everything the US does gets passed on very easily to the UK because of the shared language. Brits are always the first to spout American buzzwords in Europe
@@pokemonduckExactly! She needs to be a prey animal for a few lifetimes before she’s even considered again for human form!
@@MattDamon69 That's one of the funniest burns i've ever seen in my life.
Now imagine something worse than a tattoo on one idiot's forehead. In the UK, people have been elected who will illegally/totalitarianly lock up those who oppose the actions of their government they are not allowed to talk about it or share recordings from public places that harm the neo-Soviet narrative of their regime. Ignorance is strength, war is peace.
@@pokemonduck No, it's not "little America", not even close.
An example of a parasocial relationship is watching someone react to a video because they're the content creator you like when you can just watch the video and get the exact same information in a shorter amount of time. That's a completely neutral one, not good or bad.
*3:39** KEKW*
I wonder how parasocial relationships and religion fit in together. In my mind would that not be the most basic and original form of one? Just food for thought
social media is pretty terrible overall
Holy shit, good video!
How’s he gonna call me out for watching Trash Taste podcast 😭😭
You need to buy me dinner first before we can be best friends and get married. But anyway keep up the good content.
I stream to see how many Parasocial relationships I can build! :)
I think in order to "donate" money to anyone online, you should have to present proof of income/wealth before hand. Often times the people who give the most, have the least and only do it because they are addicted. If you have a shit load of money, you aren't generally going to go out gambling or buy lottery tickets. They are instead very desperate and hoping for a statistically very slim chance of an outcome to actually occur.
I also think the same should be done for literally any form of online gambling whether it's buying loot boxes in overwatch or what the fuck ever. The ability to just empty your bank account online to a person or company ruins lives, both individuals and of families.
I didn't think that being parasocial was that much of a thing until I literally started having dreams of covering for Asmongold on his stream while he went to go get fast food with his dad and then another where he went to go check on a close friend. I think it's really weird and creepy and i stopped watching his videos for a while after it happened
With that statement I am not a superfan and Im not invested in his life more than I am anyone elses. I dont watch his streams, I don't watch his gameplay videos, I literally ONLY listen to stuff on TH-cam while im at work. I don't even think about him unless he is mentioned.
It was such a weird experience. I think the reason it happened is that i listen to his content so much at work that my subconcious brain thinks were friends or something.
Now I almost want to start a streaming career just to regularly remind people that we're not friends and they should go out and touch grass instead of watching weirdos talking shit on the internet XD
HEY, I talked to you once during classic 2019, I thought we were friends?! lmfao
yo what dont call me out like that
I thought the whole streaming culture was degenerated enough. Now i hear of v-tubing.. god damnit, im so glad im no teen in theese times.
For clarification: I don't think streaming games in general is a bad thing. But i consider it dangerous if people form their opionions based on their favorite reaction streamer
So glad you made this video!
It is something that really needs to be addressed. Social Media is not the same as human interaction.
When we are lonely it is easy to project fantasies onto others because there is no rejection or realization of that fantasy. As hard as rejection is, it is a necessary part of life. Men are far more likely to isolate as they get older. I have experienced the positives of parasocialism and TH-cam is the only social media I consume.
I watched Bob Ross and Mr Rogers as a kid and I wrote them both letters and got responses in the form of a signed photo. Recognized, but clearly limited in scope.
Text only relationships are a fraction of a real relationship.
You can learn about a person building a “curated” relationship where you are only sharing what you want and motives can be easily obfuscated. No matter the intention, it is never going to be the same as platonic, human to human, interaction.
Everyone gets lonely, ask for help, and it will get better.
It is harder for men to ask for help, but we need it just as much as everyone else.
Thanks again Season, your recent content has been next level in my opinion!