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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

116 replies

Cheeseandlobster · 26/08/2020 07:05

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?

OP posts:
TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 26/08/2020 09:07

Is it more effort to write? Surely for stuff like bank accounts they have to write a script first then go to the trouble of filming it?

ClinkyMonkey · 26/08/2020 09:11

I agree wholeheartedly. A video close up of someone demonstrating a crochet stitch or how to fix the seal of my washing machine door is great. But I hate the ones where people waffle on about the biggest load of irrelevant nonsense. They just love the sound of their own voices and want to maximise their screen time.

CatBatCat · 26/08/2020 09:13

Use Youtube Vanced to avoid the adverts and playback on double speed on mute with the captions on.

BelfastSmile · 26/08/2020 09:18

I like a video if it's demonstrating a technique (like folding in flour), and if it gets straight to the point and is short enough to download quickly. Otherwise, forget it. If I want to learn something I'd rather read about it, and be able to flick back and forth as much as I need to.

FallonsTeaRoom · 26/08/2020 09:24

I've seen videos on YouTube of someone narrating Reddit posts. Hmm

And then exmansplaining what the post or the joke was.

StealthPolarBear · 26/08/2020 09:25

" I don't need your life story Bill, tell me how to unclip the damn plastic case!"
This made me laugh, it's so true!
I also agree with the pp who said they're offended by the assumption we all have the attention span of an amoeba, that's exactly how I feel when I get another important work document in sodding info graphic form.

ThinkAboutItTomorrow · 26/08/2020 09:26

I hate the default to video. Especially during home schooling. Teachers did videos of 'how to choose a reading book'. It was them doing a PowerPoint presentation that if it had just been written would be 5 bullet points, 20 second skim read. But no we had a 6 minute bloody video.

Writing is a skill, so is presenting. Often different people have different levels at each. Likewise different people have different ways of taking on information. And as said different information is suited to different tools.

But OP YANBU.

CaptainMyCaptain · 26/08/2020 09:29

I get a lot of information on sewing and knitting fro. YouTube but have to fast forward all the chat. The American ones are the worst.

110APiccadilly · 26/08/2020 09:32

I'm not that old, but I am a fast reader - I wonder whether reading speed and fluency is the key divide rather than age.

I actually preferred as a child to read books rather than watch films because films moved too slowly for me!

AmberShadesofGold · 26/08/2020 09:33

@Aweebawbee

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.
Yep. More so because they are always bleating on about cuts and not having enough money. Surely a video is more expensive to produce than a page of text?
mangocoveredlamb · 26/08/2020 09:36

They’ve even started doing Vlogs at my work. Every single time one is posted I comment “can we have the transcript please”
a) I hate them
b) non-vivid I work in an open plan office so would have to dig my headphones out etc
JUST LET ME READ.

StealthPolarBear · 26/08/2020 09:39

I was going to comment that we're the luddites of our generation but I think that would only work if watching a video was faster. Which it isn't.

happystory · 26/08/2020 09:48

The phone and computer ones do my head in. They usually start 'first switch on your device ...' well no shit Sherlock...

Bibidy · 26/08/2020 09:57

OMG agree!! Also I'm not always in a position where I can watch a video, I might be laying in bed next to sleeping OH or in the car with no headphones etc. Just let me read, dammit!

Boireannachlaidir · 26/08/2020 10:02

Wow I thought I was alone in this! Cheers OP. My sentiments exactly.

startalovetrain · 26/08/2020 10:03

If it's any help, I'm a recipe copywriter and the ridiculous length before the recipe is to do with google search engine optimisation, you have to have a minimum word count for their algorithm to pick it up so that's why you get so much waffling before the recipe!

Also many of them are free to use and make a small amount of money from ads, so by scrolling down you inadvertently see an ad for 2 seconds but it helps support the person who wrote it.

Hope it helps with why there's so much waffling Grin

poorbuthappy · 26/08/2020 10:06

Everything is about the bloody back story as well these days,
I blame Pop Idol etc for that.

InfiniteSheldon · 26/08/2020 10:11

Same here! I get tagged in videos all the time on work FB pages. Firstly don't use FB to communicate work stuff. Secondly I'm not looking up your nostrils for 5 minutes when I can read it in 1. I write underneath can you give me

merrytombombadil · 26/08/2020 10:15

I agree! Videos are so slow when you're trying to read something - and pretty much impossible when you're trying to follow instructions. A numbered list works so much better. At work I get told all the time to stick to infographics when conveying information as 'they' won't read it if I dare to use actual words to describe something.

minicat · 26/08/2020 10:16

YANBU! I don’t want to watch a video, just tell me the info already!

TenDays · 26/08/2020 10:17

This annoys me too but there are ways round it.

On YouTube you can block the ads and also change the payback speed up to twice the regular rate.

You can move the cursor backwards and forwards along the progress bar to the bits you want to see. This is good when there is text onscreen because you can freeze the video to read it.

All this is OK if you have time to look at the video and interact with it.
Just reading is easier!

minicat · 26/08/2020 10:17

I use Paprika for recipes. It’s amazing.

minicat · 26/08/2020 10:20

@TenDays

This annoys me too but there are ways round it.

On YouTube you can block the ads and also change the payback speed up to twice the regular rate.

You can move the cursor backwards and forwards along the progress bar to the bits you want to see. This is good when there is text onscreen because you can freeze the video to read it.

All this is OK if you have time to look at the video and interact with it.
Just reading is easier!

We had to watch some videos at work - required thing that told us nothing new - and you couldn’t change window or fast forward.

The worst part was the 30-minute video about fire extinguishers that didn’t make sense.
L

PuppyMonkey · 26/08/2020 10:23

I was going to post a comment on this thread but I’m off to film a video of my opinion instead. Will add it later...Wink

ThickFast · 26/08/2020 10:26

puppymonkey 😂