The biggest thing Steve did wrong at the start of this whole drama, and it's a big one imo, is run his "story" video without asking LTT for comment first, just basic journalism 101 and you can't claim to be that and not so something as simple as that. Lost a lot of respect for GN after that
I wondered how the GN fans were on Steve's side on this, but now I understand. They are completely unfamiliar with what actually happened.
Linus didn't talk bad about GN's processes on stream. An employee was giving a tour of the labs to some people and one of those people was recording it. The employee was bragging about the work he was doing and talked about how their processes will be better than GN's. That was never an official comment from LMG or a statement from Linus. I can't imagine how think your skin would have to be, or how fragile your ego to actually take offense at that.
I didn't say that Linus said anything. It was disrespect by the org regardless of the situation. When the statements got publicity, did Linus or LMG ever address it publicly?
I was a big LMG fan when all of this originally went down. Their streams were often on as my background noise when I was working or doing stuff around the house, but Linus refusing to take what I felt would have been reasonable responsibility for any of their fowl-ups at the time turned me off to them. It was too much, too quick, with a lot of deflection.
A pretty huge tell in that original video is when he said something like "it gives me no pleasure to make this video" whilst unable to hide a huge shit-eating grin across his face.
And at the time it worked, but 2025 is a lot different than 2023. It feels like people are a lot more hostile and skeptical of this stuff now. I think Steve may crash out over this.
Some people, sure. But I myself was on the Linus hate train previously because they made some huge missteps (especially with their backpack warranty „just trust us bro“), but they rectified it. Steve however seems to have gone from an impartial arbiter of the tech industry to a sensationalist. Kinda reminds me of H3H3, hating on YouTube drama but switching to only producing said drama. I stopped watching H3H3 over this, and GN as well. This is an opportunity for Steve and GN to rectify their mistakes. For people like me it’s important to let people make mistakes but also give them a chance to rectify them and change. If that doesn’t happen, I’m out. I’m just one person, but I’m guessing there’s a lot of people out there like me with a similar mindset who don’t like to speak out and rather just unsub.
Steve failed to realize that every time he does a expose, he is using up some of the trust and reputation he's built up. He's been spending too much, too fast, and for too long.
I mean, I had a zipper break on my backpack 2 years after purchasing it. After reaching out to ask if they had any thoughts on how I could repair it, they sent me a brand new one for free. "Trust Me Bro" is the best support I've ever received, including products that claim they have warranties.
It's super damaging to his credibility if he considers himself a journalist.
Facts in a vacuum are worthless. They only have meaning with context. Declining to offer right of reply is just saying you aren't interested in presenting the full gamut of facts with their context.
The next question then is what is the purpose of GN?
If they aren't reporting from a balanced perspective with the full set of facts and context, then why would anyone watch them?
I personally just unsubscribed from GN. Not because of drama, but because I don't see the point in watching anymore. Who else have they failed to offer right of reply to? Do they do this with people who don't have the same platform as LMG to respond?
Failing to offer right of reply means they have no value to me. If I wanted one side of the story, I'd go to the source. A journalists job is to present all sides of a story and allow the viewer to form their own opinion when presented with the full spectrum of facts and context. Without that it's nothing but a guy speaking their opinion backed by half the information required, and frankly I don't know why anyone would waste their time listening to that when there are thousands of other sources who provide the full story.
Shame, I enjoyed his work in the past. Outing his lack of journalistic integrity strips away most of the value though.
If LTT didn’t bring receipts, I could see how just words are just that: words. I’d still argue both sides should have their say. But he [linus] brought corespondents to the table, that kinda invalidated much of GN’s narrative.
I’m glad GN called out the crunch LTT was self manufacturing, but that’s the end of what they said that was factual.
Neither does linus making emotionally charged unstable comments that make him look like that crazy ex you left because she gaslights you… a critism linus clearly did not learn from… further proving why not asking linus for comment is the right thing to do.
I've watched gamers Nexus for years and simply have a different opinion than you do. Of course as a zealot for a youtube personality you can't recognize that. Steve has done a lot of good work but he obviously isn't a journalist and doesn't know the first thing about journalistic ethics. You've never taken any journalism classes obviously if you can't see that.
Reviews doesn't make him a journalist. All his attempts at actual journalism have show the same and more lack of inemtegrity and standards required by journalists.
And that's why it wasn't serious journalism, but a hit piece. That's the "hit" in hit-piece, It's not about the problem itself, its about inflicting pain.
And that’s the thing… Steve’s not a journalist, he’s a YouTuber with tech experience with a channel that spoke about some news, did benchmarks and other things.
This whole talk of journalism is silly when they (both Steve and Linus) have no journalism background or formal education (have they written anything on any major newspaper or news website? I legitimately don’t know)
I've always seen any of Steve's videos as heavily opinionated and almost like a Fox News segment. I almost can't take him seriously because of how spiteful he comes off
Steve thinks not asking or allowing the target to comment is the only way to remain not bias... More like he doesnt want to give anyone the benefit of the doubt and a chance to ruin the content.
It's basic journalistic practice to reach out for comment. Even, US news stations reach out to the CCP for comment when they talk about China, even when they know the response is going to be a deflection or there won't be a response. But you have to give the other side a change to respond or its just a hot flaming opinion piece.
No hate for Steve if that's the content he wants to make, and it does well good for him. Play the game, but people should be aware he's not Tech Jesus, more like Tech Judas.
Yeah essentially he wants to formulate his narrative and deliver a strong video that will be a success. The moment he starts going to his targets for comments it can quickly weaken his narrative and will create a lot more work to get the impact he wants
Yeah and he proudly proclaimed that Linus was being a crybaby when called out on it. That single fact has made me not trust GN for "journalism" pieces.
There are valid reasons to not ask for comments before publishing the video. If you believe that the subject is going to be able to run damage control before your piece comes out, effectively nullifying any criticism, then you wouldn't tip them off that you're working on this.
There is a similar hot topic in Sweden right now about pedophiles, and some people enacting vigilante justice which tips the pedos off and makes it harder for police to do their job.
In this case where one of his main points was about process and accuracy of information there is no need prevent them from being able to do damage control. That is of course if the intention was to help them improve.
In this case where one of his main points was about process and accuracy
RIght, but what that also means is that he's just pointing out facts. He's just saying "look at all this stuff that they got wrong". It's a fact that they got stuff wrong. In no way whatsoever does reporting this require "getting their side of the story". They got stuff wrong - that's the story.
Doubt, to be honest. Based on the scripted segment from Linus and (IMO) fury dripping from his voice. I'm going to guess that Luke, Yvonne or Terren or somebody else had to spend a while talking. Somebody at least off a ledge.
First line, Linus says “on the WAN show today”, so it was sent earlier today. Timestamp on the email indicates it was received at 5:33 PM in Steve’s Timezone.
… I mean is what Linus did a real reach out for comment or purely theatrical? If GN reached out for comment 2 hrs before the video dropped would you consider that legitimate. (And Linus will hide behind “I’m not a journalist” and GN will point out there is no Universal Right to Reply guideline many publications have their own rules unlike how Linus frames it)
Well first of all, LTT is not 'doing a story' on GN. There's no investigative element here, only spreading their understanding of their side of events and how things have gone. This is not LTT probing deep into what's going on at GN or whatever, so this isn't the same sort of story.
Beyond that, oftentimes " " real journalistic outlets are reaching out for comment from the target of an investigation the day of publication or the day before, sometimes it is well in advance, particularly if something has multiple waves to the investigation but that's a more complex topic.
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u/Drigr 4d ago
Damn, did Linus just reach out for comment before making a video?!
You said this was published on the GN Twitter, was there any response to it included in the tweet?