The reason MKBHD (Marques Brownlee) has 18 million followers is because people respect and trust his insight into tech products, and know after years of reviews that he calls it as he sees it.
I watched the review — the title is a 100% fair summary of his actual sentiment.
MKBHD has no obligation to any company/startup to soft-pedal his criticisms. What I see here is him knowing who his audience is and fulfilling his role with integrity.
I think part of the problem isn't just the entitlement but Daniel doesn't seem to know who MKBHD is or WHY he has such a huge following.
I think he incorrectly clocked him as an online "influencer" the kind who will do "reviews" that are more like ads. Rather than a really savvy and observant critic of design and technology.
It's like if Stephen King said your horror movie didn't work, explained why and instead of licking your wounds and doing better you huffed about it.
Basically if I were designing tech products I'd WANT to know what this guy thinks. That's why he gets his hands on so much tech before it's released they want him to explain what's wrong with it so they can fix it.
@futurebird@jeff I didn't actually watch Brownlee's review because Engadget's review was already so brutal I didn't feel like I needed to spend any more time on this product. Funny that we're not seeing Engadget hate on the socials....
@futurebird@miclgael@jeff he’s engagement farming/posturing for other VCs or founders I imagine. And as people are calling him out for his BS he retcons his argument to be about the title specifically. Just weaseling his way into VC favor.
@futurebird@jeff Besides, as far as I can tell, his assessment is pretty much the consensus of everyone who's tried this device. When I saw his video I was actually impressed by some of the capabilities of the device-- it seems like there's tech with real potential here. It just isn't a usable product.
You’re giving a generous benefit of the doubt to this Daniel dingus.
His tweet could be cynically motivated (it has gotten a lot of attention) or (my guess) he’s a True Believer in AI and tech, and MKBHD committed heresy.
I guess I'm a little grouchy about this response because MKBHD isn't inflammatory or inconsiderate to companies. In fact, he's often too trusting and deferential for my tastes. He doesn't engage with the political and social aspects of tech, sticking to reviewing products and products.
And you know that's fine. That's what it says on the tin.
If we are going to talk about people w/ large followings being "irresponsible" hoo boy. My God. This isn't it. There are people spreading misinformation & disinformation to millions.
We are in a media environment where there are bad actors w/ huge followings repeating lies that could get people hurt, that could make people sick. LIES. And this tech bro pops up & complains MKBHD is "irresponsible" for being...too honest (?) about a gadget (?)
Yeah. I think I understand why that post needled me so much. It's this thing where people point out a real problem using certain language. "use platforms responsibly" ... and then you see that language which is about a serious issue being used in a self-serving way in a context where it doesn't belong.
I'm so sick of that "move."
Anyone who says something I don't like is "using their platform irresponsibly" -- it's watering down a real issue and just... wrong.
MKBHD gets a constant stream of obvious racism in his comments and all over the place like every black person on the internet. Then there are those who say he's "not qualified" to talk about tech, questioning his credentials a bit too much.
It's impossible to pinpoint but prominent, competent, knowledgeable black people seem to have targets on them as of late.
If MKBHD makes a tiny real mistake they will try to take him down. How fun.
And the maddening part is he's not "political" not even a little. He's just good at what he does and consistent.
It sucks that this extra nastiness is going to be hovering around.
"I mean when you see a black person flying a plane what do you really think?" is a conversation that is being had in the open like it makes any damn sense.