What Geek Media Do You Refuse To Partake In?

Never underestimate the elite's ability to pathologize what are actually pretty normal reactions to horrifying oppression.

Ruin Explorer said:

I am always interested in excessively long YouTube video essay recommendations! This one has appeared in my YouTube recs before but I ignored it because of the title, but with your recommendation I'll add it to my to-watch.

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I really love her work, which is almost exclusively about media I am not interested in.

Actual Play. Hits my ADHD wrong in multiple ways. First, people talk far too slow. It's really hard to keep my attention listening to people talking (and me not participating) unless it's a deeply technical teaching presentation. That's why I love to read (fast reader) but can't stand audiobooks or podcasts. Second, audio processing issues makes it all worse, and I just keep CC on even for shows in English. Third, the format is just too long, same reason why I get antsy watching a whole movie, but often even longer.

I've forced myself to watch or listen to some Actual Play when learning a new system that had a different GMing style and expectations, I really do not bond well with that type of geek media.

Blue said:

Actual Play. Hits my ADHD wrong in multiple ways. First, people talk far too slow. It's really hard to keep my attention listening to people talking (and me not participating) unless it's a deeply technical teaching presentation. That's why I love to read (fast reader) but can't stand audiobooks or podcasts. Second, audio processing issues makes it all worse, and I just keep CC on even for shows in English. Third, the format is just too long, same reason why I get antsy watching a whole movie, but often even longer.

I've forced myself to watch or listen to some Actual Play when learning a new system that had a different GMing style and expectations, I really do not bond well with that type of geek media.

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This reminds me that I lose interest in a lot of content that I might otherwise be interested in because people feel the need to post it on youtube. Like: "Here's 5 things that might help you become a better DM, let's go over them in my 15 minute video." I'd much rather skim a write-up.

cbwjm said:

This reminds me that I lose interest in a lot of content that I might otherwise be interested in because people feel the need to post it on youtube. Like: "Here's 5 things that might help you become a better DM, let's go over them in my 15 minute video." I'd much rather skim a write-up.

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See, as long as they balance length with actually having something to say, I like YT because I can work, game prep or do other thing while listening to such stuff. I can't read an article and do anything else with that time.

Reynard said:

See, as long as they balance length with actually having something to say, I like YT because I can work, game prep or do other thing while listening to such stuff. I can't read an article and do anything else with that time.

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If I'm working or doing game prep, I've found that anything I'm listening too isn't really being paid enough attention for me to recall it anyway, I just can't split my attention enough to make it worthwhile.

Blue said:

Actual Play. Hits my ADHD wrong in multiple ways. First, people talk far too slow. It's really hard to keep my attention listening to people talking (and me not participating) unless it's a deeply technical teaching presentation. That's why I love to read (fast reader) but can't stand audiobooks or podcasts. Second, audio processing issues makes it all worse, and I just keep CC on even for shows in English. Third, the format is just too long, same reason why I get antsy watching a whole movie, but often even longer.

I've forced myself to watch or listen to some Actual Play when learning a new system that had a different GMing style and expectations, I really do not bond well with that type of geek media.

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I also have severe inattentive ADHD (with some impulsivity) and dislike Actual Plays, but not quite for the same reasons - I've never had difficulty sitting through a movie or listening to a podcast, so long as I'm entertained.

But that's the thing. So long as I'm entertained.

And that's where almost every Actual Play I've listened to has fallen down. They're, for me, fundamentally not entertaining. There are a lot of podcasts I listen to regularly, but those are entertaining. If one isn't, I switch it off within minutes usually, same for movies, if they're dull I usually pause them and then never come back. I did listen to one which was much closer to being entertaining but that was because it was more improv by some very funny people and less game, and didn't have any characters who just made me want to turn off every time they were being played.

Thomas Shey said:

The ones in the show have an odd effect; some of them are really obnoxious but still somehow grow on your (at least they did with me, my wife, and some of her coworkers she exposed them to) over time. And oddly, they don't become less obnoxious in that process, its just they become like that friend who is really kind of a jerk but you've come to understand has a heart and other virtues underneath it.

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Agree re: The Magicians TV show characters for sure. Especially Penny and Alice who irritated me a ton at first. Quentin though never ceased being fist-clenchingly annoying!

I find watching people play D&D like watching people play sport. Doing it is fun, but I don’t see the point in just watching.

Ruin Explorer said:

Agree re: The Magicians TV show characters for sure. Especially Penny and Alice who irritated me a ton at first. Quentin though never ceased being fist-clenchingly annoying!

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I was thinking more of Eliot and Margo, though I can see how Alice could get on someone's nerves. For whatever reason, Quentin never bothered me.