the fact that this 4 minute video has 11 chapters with linked timestamps has me absolutely reeling
It feels like the activity is partaking of me rather than the reverse
Thanks for giving me these words to describe the feeling so well. I don't feel interested and passionate... I feel consumed and dominated.
Now that I think about it, lots of words that describe focus have etymologies that feel appropriately sinister. Captivated, enthralled, enraptured, fascinated, bewitched, mesmerized, hooked - all related to being controlled against your will.
I get it. A well-tailored algorithm is a precious thing.
Well, I hear you. Here's my take. Sorry it's a bit long.
Chill Goblin tries to make his videos entertaining with comedy, and the satirically enshittified title is definitely part of that. He does make high-quality video essays, though. If you're using the phrase "conspiracy theory content" to mean content that uses specious reasoning to persuade the viewer to believe in paranoid fantasies, then this video doesn't qualify. It's not about persuading anyone that any particular conspiracy theory is true. I'd describe this video as Chill Goblin using the subject of JFK conspiracy theories to do two things:
-flex some solid information literacy skills with a pop conspiracy as stress test
-bridge the discussion towards real examples of US imperialism
Ultimately, he rejects all of the conspiracy theories that he examines, but he shows his work at how he got there, which I think is especially useful for any potentially paranoiac viewer who isn't familiar with what "doing your own research" actually means. He collected a range of sources from a variety of perspectives. He engaged with them critically and skeptically to judge whether they are authoritative. In the video description, he highlights which are primary sources and which aren't. He's transparent about his biases as the interpreter of these sources for the audience. He does make a lot of jokes, but it's not unusual even for professional educators to use charisma and entertainment to ensure that their students stay engaged with the topic.
To be transparent myself, I'm not a nutjob (to my knowledge). I believe that if you trace most conspiracy content back far enough, you're likely to discover a vast cesspit of fascism. However, I'm fascinated by the idea of conspiracy theories. In my job, I research researching (AKA information-seeking behavior for those in the biz), so I'm invested in thinking a lot about the thought-terminating nature of a paranoid conspiracy mindset and about how popular media engages with that. I'm also just generally interested in how CG uses comedy in his lecturing style.
On a more superficial level, as the person currently modding this lemmy community, I've been trying to make sure that there's always a lot of variety in what people can find here. I posted this video in particular because it has a jokier presentation style than lots of the posts so far and because we've had relatively few videos that focus on US history compared to media or culture. BTW I really appreciate how you've helped with that, too. Your posts so far have covered a big range of topics and styles.
Please make sure the title of the video, the creator's or channel's name, and the duration of the video are in your post title. Rule 2. You can have other info as long as those three things are also included. Thanks!
He's new to me but I like his channel so far! I heard his interview on the Majority Report the other day.
I watched this in pieces over the last few days. It instantly became one of my favorite videos! Thanks for introducing me to this channel.
People really couldn't get over that title huh? I'll post one with a more normal title later because people should give Chill Goblin a chance.
damn I actually remember seeing this when it was first posted to reddit
Please add the video duration to the post title. Rule 2. Thanks!
Local hospital claims the lives of thousands of patients. Will it strike again?
I will always upvote Technology Connections