Well, J3, here's my perspective, though I know you will not agree. You have never agreed with me about anything and I don't much expect that to change.

Let's say that someone here who plays guitar, whichever guy you want to pic (or gal), gets Gibson's new model guitar that sells for $10,000. Gibson sends that guitar to that person free, with a letter that is carefully worded to say something like "We here at Gibson are happy to provide you with this guitar for no charge. We hope you enjoy the sound and the way it plays, and hope that you will share your opinion in a video review with your 25,000 youtube viewers."

That is payola. And all the big time youtubers do this. In my case, as I view RV channels as research, I see it for RV communication equipment the most. Wifi repeaters, cell phone boosters, load balancing routers, all that kind of stuff. Knowing that they have already been paid with products, I do not feel not compelled to pay them again, particularly when, having been employed by a newspaper briefly and received items to review (and I returned every one of them), I find payola to be unethical and disgusting at the utmost level. If this guitar player example wants to keep that new guitar, the proper, ethical thing to do would be to send Gibson $10,000.

THOSE are the channels I am referring to. I don't give a half a toss about someone posting their little vacation videos and making $40 a month from their viewers. The guy I mentioned in my initial reply that makes $72,000 is one of those who accept payola and has absolutely no conscience at all about doing it. If he really wants the widget he was given at no charge as payola in exchange for a positive review (no matter how bad the widget might be) he should pay for it.

I have a youtube channel. It is private. It is mainly for me to rant and vent about how sad the world has become. It will never get anywhere near the minimum user count (is it still 1000?) to be monetized. And I don't care. I don't need charity. No free GoPro cams, no free solar equipment, no free anything. If I want a new GoPro camera, I will buy it. These e-beggars get away with this because they are willing to sell their dignity for free stuff. If they can sleep at night, god bless them. I want nothing free from anybody. This entitled generation who believe the world owes them a living while they do nothing to earn it makes me happy I am old and near the end of the ride.

I'm out of this discussion now.



Last edited by eddie1261; 04/05/18 09:34 AM.