I’m definitely not a fan of reaction videos. Why the fuck do I care what some douche on the internet thinks of some other douche on the internet?
The worst thing is when I'm looking for the original content and have to sift through a dozen reaction videos just to find the actual original video.
Hey guys so before we get into my reaction to this reaction to this reaction dont forget to like and subscribe and smash that bell and blahblahblah
This is why I personally think that what they do IS fair use and transformative and not a substitute of the original product. I have to go and watch the original video to not have the goblin in the corner making inane comments and pausing it when I'm trying to take in the video.
Not all reaction channels are made the same. Some channels have at least interesting themes, like a classical music teacher who had never actually payed attention to rock, reacting to rock music classics. She is literally learning as she goes, and does some amazing and deep musical analysis of popular music, and you get to share her journey learning about the history of rock and the myriad of sub-genres, giving genuine appreciation to a genre I love.
Some streamers do movie reacts with Amazon Prime promotional tie-ins, so it's like sharing the couch with a group of comedians. If you already know the movie it enhances the experience with commentary and jokes.
Now, the particular brand of watching other YouTube channels, making dumb comments about them, stirring shit, causing drama and then doxxing other YouTubers. That whole scene is straight up trash and content theft.
I enjoy reactions to the movies I love because watching the reactors that are actually into the movies asking the right questions and having reactions to beloved moments provide me some small glimmer of the first time I watched them.
It's hard to recapture that at all.
That’s something I wish was on lemmy but can only really find on reddit. I don’t want to read reviews, I don’t want gimmicky or nitpicky YouTube rants, I just want to reminisce about the good time we all just had and collectively complain about the things we didn’t like.
React content is the lowest tier of entertainment, and then the streamers run ads or beg for subs as if they deserve anything beyond the brand deals they shill.
I'm rather confused by the react porn market. Why would I want to watch someone watching someone else getting raw dogged?
That's a thing?
Are the people you're watching at least doing anything interesting? Like I'll watch a girl get at it watching porn.. but that's just a "he likes to watch" thing.
Aww gross where did you find that so i can never see it, like what website specifically so i can blacklist it. Like where exactly???
Random Pornhub suggestions. I don't understand the why I just know I want big booties not react vids.
I enjoyed, for a very short stint, watching Americans react to Frankie Boyles stand up routines. It was a mixture of sheer confusion at his accent and shock and disgust at his jokes that tickled me. It got boring quick, I can't imagine watching people watch just standard average content, it would be mind numbing.
I do agree with this. Yet, for whatever reasons, I also find ERB reaction videos fun.
Go figure..
I don’t hate react content hypothetically. However the modern standpoint of watching something entertaining without proper credit or any transformative input is really dumb. At least actually provide critique, enhanced understanding, or deeper analysis to the work instead of spending the whole time going “yep. Cool. Wow.”
Sometimes I like to see different generations take on something. Sometimes you get thoughtful comments about what they think and how they view it, but far too often it's just "ooohhhh"
To me (anecdotally at least) it seems like the majority of the views reaction videos get are from existing fans of the content. I'm sure a portion won't be but for me I quote enjoy watching someone discover and enjoy the things I enjoy, it's a lesser version of watching your friend listen to the song you recommended and enjoying it.
I've watched a few "hip hop artist reacts to rock music" type channels over the years and it's mainly because I enjoy seeing someone be surprised by the things that surprised or excited me as a kid.
I've got no issue with react content myself, even if it doesnt take much skill to create. Shit TV and film has existed as long as TV and film and it's always had a place, is anyone surprised youtube has oodles of it too?
It's a modern day Siskel and Ebert without any of the intellect, movie knowledge, or articulation.
Content leeches. Always the shitest, lowest quality content around. There's at some some wiggle room, if they're actively participating / commenting on what's happening that's at least partially transformative, but way too many just sit and watch a whole vid and contribute nothing
The well made, expert reaction videos are fun. Like Legal Eagle reacting to videos to judge their legal accuracy. He also made a meta reaction video where he explained why some reaction channels were breaking the law and how to do it properly. Insider has a series of videos where they get an expert on a subject to react to movie clips (like a former bank robber reacting to heist movies or a marine biologist reacting to shark movies).
But I don't get the low quality stuff, where someone isn't an expert, doesn't provide meaningful commentary, etc. Some "reaction" videos are basically just stealing content and the only thing that seems interesting about them is the original content. The "reactor" adds nothing and just stole views from the original.
They're not "YouTubers" now, it's "content creators" now! Watching a video and laughing a little bit once a minute is valuable commentary.
There is one and ONLY one type of reaction video I watch. People discovering Devin Townsend for the first time. Specifically his EMGtv performance of Kingdom.
Ooooh yeah it's a thing. There are enough of them that some one created a compilation of their favorites. I think they left out some of the most entertaining but it's still great to watch people from all different walks of life get their brains exploded.
I use to hate it, but there are some guys that make great commentary on politics over videos not necessarily from YouTube. There are also a couple of channels that make very funny commentary on videos that I would never watch by myself.
I agree that not all reaction videos are bad. Sometimes the original video is just a video of the thing and as a lay person I need someone with more expertise to provide an analysis of the thing so I can understand it.
One example of the top of my head is "drummer reacts to Danny Carey" where he explains why the piece of music is so difficult but the original video is just Danny Carey performing the song. I dont know enough about drumming to understand the original video so it's nice to have someone break it down for me.
That would be commentary content, not reaction content. The key difference is that commentary content actually adds something of value or provides analysis, whereas reaction content does not
This is what separates channels like Knox Hill from all the basic music reactors
Oh I didn't realize there was a difference, well I guess I like commentary content!
And yet for some reason I can't stop watching reaction videos
It's like I get to enjoy the cool videos again but with someone else this time
Watching creators react to things parodying them is always top tier.
Except xqc watching the meatcanyon video.
I like watching the original content creators making reaction videos to the reaction videos. I guess in this comic's case the orange cat would then be fishing out of the black cat's mouth?
I've enjoyed efap's coverage of reaction videos and clashes between creators. I like that they managed to get a few react video makers on with them and show how much they don't understand the problem.
Reactions can be great. They add to the overall experience for me. Even with reactions to shows. Often I feel like "wow i didnt see this twist coming. I wonder what youtuber x would say there". They only are bad if people watch videos without saying anything. Only laughing at some moments but not adding anything.
