Sadly, the sociopath/idiotic formula does seem to resonate with the algorithms and/or the public. There is a local creator that I know to be a thoughtful, well-rounded person, yet they had to reduce themselves to a cartoon caricature in order to get traction. But that approach seems to have worked out for them, at least initially through Tik Tok and YouTube. Now I see them taking on increasingly sketchy sponsorships as their 15 minutes fades. And of course audience capture indisputably steers media makers into conspiratorial niches they can’t escape without sacrificing views/payout. Authenticity be damned.

Whoa. “Going to Hell in a handbasket” just got literal.

Just assumed he was incognito at a “wizards only fools” sort of place.

“and POTENTIALLY tell me to go fuck myself.”

Oooh. Catharsis.

If you are in the U.S. and have a Habitat for Humanity ReStore nearby, there are often lots of “dumb” flat screens to be had for a song. If you don’t mind a slightly older bit of hardware.