CONCLUSION: I will stop watching them since all of these alligations and “false?” hardware testing makes me not wanna support them. Even if most of them aren’t true, i don’t want to risk it

ive heard some mixed things about ltt so i want to know if theyre actually bad or not

and im not watching them for linux help, i just like the content, but i also dont want to support a bad person

  • flamingo_pinyata@sopuli.xyz
    110·
    14 days ago

    “Quality clickbait” is the best description I have.

    It’s an entertaining channel, prone to reviewing flashy stuff, rather than useful tips as the name might suggest. But not completely stupid, those guys have some knowledge and skills to back it up.

    I can’t say how it changed over time, I’ve only watched them occasionally over the last 2-3 years.

    • Katherine1@midwest.socialEnglish
      30·
      14 days ago

      That about sums then up. They have been on a streak promoting Linux, which is pretty great since they are a bigger channel. Are they perfect? No, but they are helping get new users into Linux.

  • bier@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    73·
    14 days ago

    He hate unions. Doesn’t pay his workers fairly. Drives a porsche. Has a private jet. Knew that honey was scamming him with the last click affiliate links switcheroo and instead of exposing them he quietly ended there sponsorship with them.

    Also the 2 - 3 sponsor breaks plus the “at ltt store dot com” self promotion every 5 minutes really makes the videos unbearable to watch even with sponsor block.

    Let alone all the non compete shit with his workers as well as the working atmosphere that was reported by some of the workers.

    • TBi@lemmy.world
      10·
      13 days ago

      [citation needed]

      For unions he has said he is pro union, just that he would count it as a personal failing if his team felt they needed to unionize.

      For your last point there are over 100 people working there. You will inevitably meet oddballs who are not happy with anything. Also non compete is (unfortunately) standard legalise these days.

    • Chewy@discuss.tchncs.de
      1·
      12 days ago

      LTT was not the only ones ditching honey at the time, long before the 2024 honey scandal.

      The only real news was that honey was/is only showing/setting their own worse coupons, even if another coupon would provide a better deal.

    • LincolnsDogFido@lemmy.zip
      18·
      14 days ago

      This is such a tired take. He gets people enthusiastic about exciting or fun things in tech. Not every tech channel or influencer needs to deep dive analytics or details. Even so, they sometimes do exactly that.

      Like him/them or not, they have advanced repairablity, spotlighted unethical behavior, and made useful guides for things like ad-blocking and piracy.

  • bad1080@piefed.socialEnglish
    59·
    14 days ago

    watch the video of linus buying a private jet and see if that’s the kind of guy you wanna support

  • pr0927@lemmy.world
    41·
    13 days ago

    Most of the comments here are very wrong, assuming the worst, or deliberately have their head in the sand about some of the controversies and the reality of those situations.

    LTT is casual-ish tech - not as mainstream casual as MKBHD ot UrAvgConsumer, but way more casual than say, Craft Computing.

    I consume a ludicrous amount (and wide range) of TechTube and have seen plenty of controversies and have ditched plenty of channels due to scandals. GamersNexus used to be a favorite. Emphasis on past tense. They did a lot of deliberate hit pieces on LTT and it’s rather well documented - Zip Tie Tuning/Tech by Alex has a fantastic video shedding light on the misbehavior of GamersNexus - plenty of other folks also covered their motivations and unfair approach. Linus is a character - and definitely can be emotional - but his dialogue attempts with Steve were commendable - Steve just decided to be a whiny baby instead. Self-stylized “journalist” one might say.

    Controversies fanned by GN are what rendered a lot of people anti-LTT, and unable to rectify their views once the attacks impacted. LTT had plenty to criticize (and I do), but the GN attack topics were not them.

    I almost ditched LTT and boycotted them after all those attacks. But once the smoke cleared and reality made itself known, I was pleasantly surprised to have not knee-jerk reacted.

    LTT like all channels is beholden to nonsense algorithmic marketing that all channels suffer, so I’ve noted more clickbaity behavior in recent videos.

    I’m a far-left, pro-union, Linux-loving, Windows-hating, Apple-hating, Big Tech-hating, anti-sexual assault, anti-billionaire, pro-little guy type of person.

    I consider LTT to be edutainment with more good impact than bad. They’ll suffer some of the pitfalls of capitalism with some aggressive marketing. They’ll naturally need to compete in the YT space. But the characters running the show seem to have their heads screwed on right and their morals in a good place. They will make mistakes. The WAN show sheds light on it - including at times Linus’ difficulty in handling blame. But he also often comes around - and all things considered I’m not too mad about that as his primary negative trait.

    I don’t love the private plane purchase but there’s so much more nuance to that with an intended sell of it than others give allowance to understand.

    Also I’d be remiss if I didn’t highlight Linus’ pro-trans (and broadly, LGBTQ+) approach - his support/ready defense of Emily when she came out was great to see.

    • TBi@lemmy.world
      7·
      13 days ago

      Thanks for the nuanced take. I got downvoted recently for saying I don’t get the hate for LTT. I like watching it and learning.

    • offspec@lemmy.world
      4·
      13 days ago

      This hits the nail on the head for me as well.

      They’re becoming quite vocal about the feasibility of Linux on the desktop as of late too. Linus finally found a Linux machine that doesn’t explode the moment he touches it and appears to have left smitten.

      • pr0927@lemmy.world
        1·
        12 days ago

        Strongly agreed, yeah - very happy to see the boost to Linux use from their championing of it!

      • pr0927@lemmy.world
        1·
        12 days ago

        Hahaha, i"m kind of dumbfounded by the very poor takes in this entire thread and how little research everyone did - and the weird expectation many of them have that they would be privy to the details of a investigation about an HR matter regarding harassment accusations. That info…by the very nature of what it encompasses, was always going to stay out of the public sphere.

    • DPEWGF@sh.itjust.works
      2·
      13 days ago

      Any links? I’d rather watch GM because of the journalism content in the industry. I haven’t seen any videos with GM in a negative light. Right now, I don’t want to support Linus cuz of jet, lack of him & his wife’s payroll transparency with Linus media group(did not disclose distributions saying it was too complicated. It is not.), the jet, etc.

      • pr0927@lemmy.world
        1·
        12 days ago

        Sure, ignore the clickbait title here, but this sheds some light:

        https://youtu.be/m0GPnA9pW8k

        GamersNexus has been validly hit by many others online for their deliberately-disingenuous attacks on LTT - honestly it just got embarrassing at a point, and really pathetic. I used to love them. I even have one of their very handy anti-static workmats.

        Once they deliberately fanned the flames of false controversy enough times (oh the chances I gave them…), I unsubscribed and stopped following them. A shame too, because Steve seems like a pro-consumer rights type of guy. But that’s not good enough on its own to keep me a patron of anyone.

        I’m pretty sure LMG did release a shockingly-detailed video about how they make money and where that money goes, and how much to employees (the math can be done to provide the numbers). Do I think the funds for the jet purchase would have been better spent on employees? Sure. I don’t expect to agree with every decision made by content creators - I expect to disagree with many. This isn’t one that cancels them for me.

  • Rhonda Sandtits@lemmy.sdf.org
    37·
    14 days ago

    I’m pretty sure Linus doesn’t know how to use a computer.
    Hardware-wise, he knows how to put things together and modify it to suit his purpose but when it comes to installing and using software, he has no fucking idea what he’s doing.

    The two Linux challenges that he has participated in has made this clear for most of us Linux users…
    But it’s not just Linux he struggles with, he makes all the same fails with windows all the time.

    • brax@sh.itjust.works
      6·
      14 days ago

      Glad it’s not just me that feels this way. He’s always come off a somebody who doesn’t really know shit about fuck but caters to people who know even less so he can pretend on the Internet.

  • eremophila@lemmy.zip
    22·
    14 days ago

    A lot of people interested in tech end up watching at least one of his channels due to internet searches confusing ‘best’ with ‘biggest’.

    You will make your own mind up one way, or the other.

    Linus is a trashtuber.

      • eremophila@lemmy.zip
        1·
        13 days ago

        Watching his content should be enough to inform you of that.

        Otherwise it is a very simple search on youtube, there are multiple very well known issues.

        Spoon-fed opinions serve little purpose.

    • ISO@lemmy.zip
      1·
      14 days ago

      A lot of people interested in tech end up watching at least one of his channels

      I don’t watch YouTube at all outside of a couple of 70+ years old personalities who do some weekly commentary (not in English or tech related).

      Zero search/feed/side-bar “consooming”.

      Slop-sumption is not unavoidable. You just need to learn how to value your time, and develop a simple objectivity/knowledgeability filter.

  • thingsiplay@lemmy.ml
    22·
    14 days ago

    “The Problem with Linus Tech Tips: Accuracy, Ethics, & Responsibility” (44:14mins) by Gamers Nexus on August 14, 2023: YouTube or Invidious or Internet Archive

    This video is not monetized. This video covers our serious concerns regarding the data accuracy of Linus Media Group, including Linus Tech Tips, ShortCircuit, and TechQuickie, particularly as it relates to rushing content out the door to favor – by staff’s own admission – quantity over quality. As the company continues to expand into its LTT Labs direction, the importance of accurate data increases; however, even as ‘only’ entertainment, there are still certain responsibilities to the consumer and the manufacturers to report fairly (and to have defined corrections processes in place). We tried to approach this as objectively as possible and hope that viewers are able to listen to the evidence we present, particularly as it relates to significant and frequent data errors that now present in nearly every technical review video.

    TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - The Last 2 Weeks
01:40 - LMG is Rushing Too Much: Establishing the Premise
03:48 - LTT's Own Employees Agree
06:58 - This Isn't "Drama" & Risks
09:05 - Bad Data from Linus Tech Tips
10:12 - GPU Review Errors
15:02 - CPU Cooler Test Errors
19:09 - PSU Review Errors
19:53 - CPU Review Errors
22:39 - Asterisked Errors
26:15 - Ethical Concerns: Irresponsible Actions & Conflicts
28:21 - Ethical Concerns: The Review of Billet Labs
34:49 - Ethical Concerns: 'Not-Review' of Pwnage Mouse
36:53 - UNACCEPTABLE & The Community is Disturbing
39:22 - Unfair to Consumers, Manufacturers, & Reviewers

    New video after Linus Tech Tips responds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3byz3txpso (only from 00:48 to 12:57 part)

  • cRazi_man@europe.pub
    18·
    14 days ago

    I have a relatively positive view on LTT compared to others here.

    You can’t succeed on youtube without engaging in some of their clickbait bullshit thumbnails and titles. Although they’re relatively honest in actually covering what they say in the title… So over dramatic titles, but not quite click bait.

    No content can be all things to all people. LTT is relatively “casual techy”. If you’re techy enough to be able to manage Linux yourself, then it’s probably not for you. You don’t need then to show you how to put a PC together, or to break the news to you that self hosting or home network storage is a thing.

    The content also aimed at a certain audience. If you want more academic hardware testing and analysis, then there’s Gamers Nexus. If you want in depth gaming news/analysis then there are better channels for that too. These guys look at random tech at times too (car related or making craft art cushions or something). These guys are basically the “Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson” of tech.

    Things like the sexual harassment issue and things like that, I’m not as concerned about. If you work in big corporations then you know these problems exist everywhere, what matters is how you deal with them. The court of public opinion followed the drama and came to their own conclusions. This just plays out publically because they’re very public with their content.

    As for Linux specifically, they did some noob videos where uninitiated staff tried to jump into Linux and hit a bunch of roadbumps (which happens often in Windows transition, fine to be open about that, but it also isn’t a big deal for the first adoption to need troubleshooting). They labelled Linux as no good for regular use at that point which angered the internet. Since then I think they’ve realised:

    1. They were unfair to Linux
    2. They’ve made no allies anywhere by hating on Linux
    3. It’s a free win for them if they say some good things about Linux.

    So now they seem a lot more positive about Linux. But don’t go here looking for anything Linux related.

    I think you should just watch some of their videos from main LTT, short circuit, etc and see if you find it entertaining for yourself.

    • Tippy@sh.itjust.works
      15·
      14 days ago

      Sexual assault allegations not being a big deal to you is already a huge yikes. But you’re also blatantly ignoring all of the other issues over the years:

      • Stealing and auctioning prototype hardware from startups
      • Underpaying employees and turning their termination details into content
      • Making his employees renovate his mansion
      • Buying a private jet for private family use (already bad) and then trying to pass it off as a business expense
      • Repeatedly claiming Linux is garbage because he’s actually too dumb (or paid off) to follow basic instructions as a “tech expert” despite his basement gremlin assistant figuring it out fine
      • Been shown with hard facts to regularly misrepresent products and their specs due to poor reviewing and testing standards by actual professionals in the space (and claims its too expensive to do so anyways. Remember that jet?)
      • In response to all of this has acted like a whiny toddler caught at the cookie jar and cries that everyone else is worse (source needed). As far as I understand it, the podcast nowadays is essentially Linus claiming he’s a tech God among plebs while previously mentioned basement gremlin cackles and calls him a good master
    • fratermus@piefed.socialEnglish
      1·
      14 days ago

      You can’t succeed on youtube without engaging in some of their clickbait bullshit thumbnails and titles.

      I’d agree if we stipulate that succeed == make a living off a mass casual audience . For other definitions of succeed it’s quite possible to do without dumbing down. Soft White Underbelly, Forgotten Weapons, Hydraulic Press Channel off the top of my head.

  • brax@sh.itjust.works
    18·
    14 days ago

    LTT always seemed like somebody who doesn’t know wtf they’re talking about, but pretends to and appeals to people who know even less to make them feel smart. I can’t stand the dude.

    • mursejoy@lemmy.zip
      10·
      14 days ago

      Everyone knows someone like this. Opinions about everything, but talk to them for five minutes and it’s apparent they know nothing.

      LTT is the definition of a mile wide and an inch deep.

      • monkeyman512@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        13 days ago

        Linus has literally talked about that multiple times. He learns just enough to cover what is needed for the video, does the video, then forgets most of.

  • dieTasse@feddit.orgEnglish
    15·
    14 days ago

    Imho they are first and foremost entertainment. If you take it as such, it’s fun. Although as others mentioned it has a bit downward tendency. I think Linus, Luke and others are intelligent, reasonable people and that makes it easier to stick to watching them. True that Linus is sometimes impatient, we all saw his Linux challenges 😅 but they are ok

  • Solrac@lemmy.world
    14·
    14 days ago

    Thin education through entertainment, passing as tech and product reviews. Quality is subjective, but they are the bare minimum right after mkbhd/marques brownlee.