To not want to watch a video about things all the time

[Cheeseandlobster]

I find it so annoying sometimes when I am looking for info on the internet but the only options are to watch videos on it instead. I don't want to sit through adverts and then a 10 min video full of waffle to find info when I could skim read about it in 1 minute.

Today I was reading a page on sleep routines and without warning it switched to a clip of the writer talking about it instead. So that's me put off then. Does anyone else get annoyed by this or am I a grumpy old cow?

OMG! Totally my people!

Not only are videos (and especially on important topics like news or other information) so excruciatingly slow in comparison to reading, like pp said, you can't have a quite slim read of the first few paras to see if it's of interest to you, whether it's at the right level or level of detail (you especially need this for medical stuff), you can't reread.

Garrr. I expect it for hobby stuff but for actual news? I hate it when a newspaper has only a video on a topic and no written info whatsoever. There are more people over the age of "I prefer to read than watch" than under, surely?

Ha ha I agree; I hate clicking on something interesting-sounding to find that it’s a video rather than text. I’m particularly put off if it features people whose voices I can’t stand, which is mainly certain politicians. I thought this might just be ‘me’.

@InvincibleInvisibility

Totally agree. Especially news stories when Im in a place that I can't listen to a video and just want to read on my phone.

The recipe thing REALLY annoys me too. It is in effect a life story about having tried many recipes for soft chocolate chip cookies but this is the most fantabulous recipe EVER. Then the actual tip is just to cook them less

All of this. I don’t usually have earphones with me & I don’t want to use up my data on videos. As for recipes, if I have to wade through a load of waffle I usually just go elsewhere.

The kids school has done this - made a bloody YouTube video to explain how and when and where we should drop and collect each child and what with and blah blah blah. Someone very kindly watched it, took notes and WhatsApped our class with a bulleted list. Which I imagine has now been forwarded to every other class WhatsApp group. It wasn't aimed at the kids at all, it was information for parents which should have been in a letter.

If we all hate them why are they everywhere? Especially the news- so often I’ll click on an interesting headline on something I really want to know about but it’s a sodding video and I remain uninformed.

It's not entirely an age thing. My 18yo hates videos as much as I do.

I don't think it's about attention span, it's more to do with multi-tasking. I've noticed that when I sit and watch TV with my family, I tend to be the only one that is not also looking at my phone, laptop or (DH) sending emails.

Maybe videos aren't designed to be watched with 100% attention, more like background noise. Reading, on the other hand, requires full commitment.

Re recipes, I use the Copy Me That app. It's really useful. It pulls the recipe out of the page and saves it so you can easily refer to it without all the nonsense.

I hate the trend for videos, especially if they aren’t on YouTube, as at least on YouTube you can watch on double speed and only slow it down for the useful bits.

Yep I rarely want information in video format. Perhaps if being shown how to do soekthjng diy that might be less clear otherwise? I am more likely to search for longer to find the information I want in written or picture format.

Great tip @Oysterbabe.

My MP does this. Generally I love her, but when all of the Brexit nonsense was going on she would issue update videos. I couldn't face watching any of them. I get that it's quicker for her but I just can't.

Could we at least lobby the BBC to reduce video content? I miss loads of interesting sounding stories because I'm not prepared to sit through a whole production.

Its so nice to see most people feel the same way as me. Yes bbc content in video form I just ignore i kostly browse at work and don't want to do a video! I feel like videos need more concentration than reading a Web page for me? Becusse watching and listening. With audio only i don't take information in very well so just listening in the background isn't a good solution. I'm starting to wonder is video content better for more men and yet another way the world is making life easier for men and ignoring women?

Agree OP
I read fast, I don't need 10 minutes of BS video

My niece wanted me to French plait her hair so I looked for some instructions on You Tube. I found some How To French plait demos which I thought would be perfect.

After ploughing through what felt like hours of American teens Hey Everyone welcome to my video blah blah, please subscribe, I love you all, then the adverts, the posturing, the waffle, no mention of a plait after 6 minutes, I gave up and put her hair in a ponytail.

What a load of crap.

Yes! I can read a list of bullet points so much faster than it takes someone to ramble on about the subject. When you're after information quickly it's incredibly frustrating.

Yes! I thought it was just me.

YABVVVR

I spent 20 minutes last night transcribing a video recipe so that I could (a) get the ingredients and (b) cook it without having to constantly pause and rewind a sodding video.

Yep. See also news. Just give me an article ffs! For other things I like to refer back so text is easier rather than that one tip 4.67 minutes in on a video.
Text is quicker!

Especially if people post videos without any summary.

A: I believe X!
B: posts a youtube video

No, fuck off, if you don't describe what exactly is this video supposed to prove, I'm not going to waste time opening links when there could be just a random nutcase rambling for 2 hours.

Yy to everything you’ve said!

I hate the creep of this into other areas of life too. It used to just be recipes, diy and news but it’s everywhere now.

We were recently going to visit a museum and had been sent a list of C19 reminders (basically wear a mask, wash your hands, social distance) but then I was sent a video that I had to watch. It was a 5 minute spoiler/gallery promo with reminders to - you guessed it - wear a mask, wash hands, social distance That’s 5 minutes of my life I’ll never get back.

Changing our mortgage also necessitated me having to watch a couple of random videos too. Not sure how that stands legally?

@Crylittlesister

Totally agree. Tried to change my existing bank account to a slightly different one. Been with the same bank for 28 years. He wanted me to watch a 10 minute video on my consumer rights and the banking code. I told him I would check my emails while it was on as if he could not give me written materials, I refused to gawp at a screen for that long, wasting my time. He refused to change my account as I had not 'engaged' with the information.

This is bonkers and utterly ridiculous. I have noticed as someone else pointed out, that spelling and grammar is so much worse now, even for teachers and journalists. Especially spelling. We are losing a key skill for dumbed down shite

Totally agree! Just let me read about it (quickly)! I have zero patience for videos.

More effort to write though, isn't it? The videos push the effort onto the consumer. Interesting that speaking and listening is worthless at gcse, yet more relevant than ever. Maybe it needs to be given more prominence, with a focus on modern media. Exam boards are always so slow to catch up (yes, write an informal letter to a friend about your holiday, I'm looking at you).