An open letter to YouTube commenters

The incredibly fabulous Susi Weaser is the editor of our sister site, Shiny Shiny, where she regularly reviews various bits of technology and gadgets such as that phone from Apple everyone's been talking about lately. These videos appear on this website called YouTube (you may have heard of it) where people from all over the world can comment and tell Susi how brilliant she is. However, people seem to just go nuts when they see a woman speaking intelligently about technology. The smart ones think this is the greatest thing ever while the not-so-smart ones get their panties in a twist and turn into sexist, violent, internet Trolls. So, Susi has written a brilliant open letter to her commenters, letting them know that telling her that she should get "raped by an orangutan" isn't cool.

Dear YouTube commenter,

YouTube's great, isn't it? The way you can watch so much great stuff, all for free? And the feedback you can give! It's the perfect opportunity to let the people that make the videos know exactly what you think of them. However, I thought I should clarify a few things:

-You've posted the first comment? Great

- I'm not interested in your "hot teen sluts". Nope, not even the ones in college

- I don't want to review any part of your anatomy

- Yes, I'm a woman. Yes, I'm talking about technology. Women can do that too. And with an attitude like yours, no, I don't think you'll ever get laid

- In real life, you wouldn't threaten to shoot someone you disagreed with, would you? No. That would be viewed as somewhat of an over reaction. So, why not try applying that reasoning to YouTube commenting?

- Comments regarding animals and sex acts are impolite. What would your mother say?

- If someone likes a product from say, Apple, that doesn't mean that they hate, say, Microsoft. Some people can have balanced views, and like products on merit, rather than some blind following based on previous emotional technology experiences. No fan girls here, I'm afraid

- Spell check. It helps poeple take you mor seriuosly.

- I don't know why this video was featured on the home page. YouTube make this decision, not me

-Yes. I will delete your offensive comment. It's my right not to have to look at that. Sucks to be you

In short, dear YouTube commenter, I find it astounding the kind of reactions that videos provoke. Such strong feelings about someone you've never met seems odd, particularly when they're not talking about anything of real importance - no views on prejudice, injustice or politics here, just some reviews of technology.

Don't get me wrong - feedback is great, and it's a fact of life that not everyone is going to agree with you always. But, and this is a big but, there's no reason that that feedback should take the form of "I hope you get raped by an orangutan". Not only is this extremely puzzling, it's pretty disgusting. And we don't like that.

Susi

Susi Weaser is the editor of Shiny Shiny, where this column originally appeared, and thanks you for the marriage proposal, but she's washing her hair...

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