#Shane Madej

[artblogbyhailey]

[l0vedove]

Watcher google drive

i think the title is pretty self explanitory

Only ghost files on it atm but Mystery Files and Puppet History are next. Watcher has back pedalled on deleteing all their free content to lock it behind a pay wall but y'know what? maybe I just dont want to give them ad revenue anymore, which is evil but screw them. Also they may still back pedal on their back pedalling, which is to many pedals anyways.

[companyissuedbicpen]

Absolutely AMAZING response by Watcher imo.

They acknowledged that they made a mistake, made the wider context more clear, and addressed basically all of the criticisms brought forward by the community as far as I know.

Anyone who already subscribed to the streaming service who no longer wants it gets a refund.

Patrons get a free subscription to the streaming service.

The service now only offers early, ad-free episodes that will still be released on YouTube.

They acknowledged the insensitivity of the original pitch and how the price is not something that everyone can afford.

THIS is how you respond to backlash, especially this widespread. Take time to collect your thoughts, take the criticism into account, and change your actions going forward.

Great job Watcher 👏

[montessori-grad]

Watchergate: 4/19-4/22

[terriblepersongreatseamonster]

Just a few of the comments from YouTube that amused me.

[morkhan]

I am just. So weirdly tickled by this Watcher situation. Like yes, initially I was very disappointed and upset but honestly now I just think it's funny. I can't remember the last time a creator or group of creators misread the room this hard. Like they really thought they were cooking with this one. They had a countdown to this. They announced their paywalled streaming service with their whole chests and expected rapturous applause. Instead, there has been a non-stop chorus of boos and thrown tomatoes for days now. They would have probably gotten a better reaction if they had posted a video where they sprayed a dog in the eyes with soapy water.

It's all so pleasantly... low-stakes. The consequences are nonexistent. It's not like the Ned Fulmer situation, where a friend group is destroyed, real life relationships are ended, and young children are potentially subjected to the trauma of divorce. Nah, all that's happening here is three idiots will be making a lot less money than they wanted. Maybe they'll learn something, maybe they won't. Either way, they brought it entirely upon themselves, and that makes it okay to laugh at in my books. So I will!

[bluepuppethidinginafilingcabinet]

the watcher fandom rn

[heledd-art]

[myiliterallyhavenolifegoals]

look here's the thing:

"hey there demons, it's me, ya boi" "i've connected the dots/ you didn't connect shit" "rock n roll buckaroo!" "we're here for the cult stuff, we saw an ad on craigslist" "(wheeze)"

those Iconic Quotes? all from buzzfeed unsolved!! when has watcher/ghost files, with their stylized graphics and higher production value, ever churned out this kind of banter!!

[the-writing-bre]

Literally the 2nd time ever posting on here, but I’m just dumbfounded by the many different avenues they could’ve actually taken before coming to this!

[morsmoon]

the ex buzzfeed employee to 3 sad looking guys on a grey couch pipeline is absolutely hysterical

[emxritus]

I think two statements with this whole thing can cexist;

They listened. Apologized. Were very accountable. Fixed the issue. Admitted to how insensitive and tone deaf what they said and did was. Etc.

And.

They are still rich. The comments and stuff they did were very insensitive, tone deaf, and outright cruel and not okay at all, and many people will never trust them again as they once did, many won't even ever watch again. Many people, while being able to accept the apology, will still want nothing to do with them after that, especially for us who genuinely are struggling in life with money. It was highly insulting and it makes you look at people differently after that.

[atlantis-distillery]

Anyone who's saying "they remain silent during all this" with the watcher stuff have never been in a situation where everything is crumbling around you and there's intense pressure from some public audience. You are in flight or fight, you are panicking, and trying to figure out what to do. (Whether you're in the right or wrong). They're definitely planning next steps, and I don't think it's wrong to take time to do that vs addressing the situation fueled with emotions.

If you were them in this situation (remember , these are real people, not characters) you'd also be a mess. Not defending the choices they're making or anything, but after I went through something where there was pressure from the public and a group of people and I felt like my life was falling apart, I get it. It's hard. People fuck up, it happens, but I see some of y'all equating this to the try guys situation or Colleen ballinger and it's so not on that level

[paradoxon-3791]

“I hope you follow us one more time.”

Bestie this isn’t Lord of the Rings, you are not the fair and wise Aragorn. You are three YouTubers asking me to fund your trips to Europe and gold flaked meals.

[helshollowhalls]

This is a comment from the video on Watchers latest decision on Coffeezilla's side channel that just about sums up my opinion as well (video linked below the cut)

[annarowyn]

Just because I keep seeing people say “what do you want them to do? Lay people off?!” No. I think we’re saying that they shouldn’t have taken on more employees than they could responsibly afford. They’re responsible now for those peoples livelihood and those decisions should have been taken more seriously.