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Original poster

Getting upset for my friend thinking I'm crazy for watching Alex Jones/David Icke?

152 replies

zenithfreedom · 19/08/2021 08:39

So I have a very 'unique' YouTube history. I watch all sorts of random stuff. Doesn't mean I believe most of it but it's interesting nonetheless. From 9/11 conspiracies to prank calls to documentaries, and commonly conspiratorial figures like Alex Jones, David Icke, Max Keiser

I gave my friend who has been staying with me since lockdown my tablet to watch something since hers died and she couldn't find the charger. She saw David Icke and thought I was a bit insane and was worried about my mental health.

I said it's just entertainment but I also took a bit of offense to the fact that she thinks I'm mentally unstable for watching these guys. What do you think?

OP posts:
DreamingofTimbuktu · 19/08/2021 12:44

Had to google Alex Jones as I was wondering what the lady from the One show had said that was even remotely interesting….
I am also with your friend- viewing gives them money

cariadlet · 19/08/2021 12:47

@DreamingofTimbuktu

Had to google Alex Jones as I was wondering what the lady from the One show had said that was even remotely interesting…. I am also with your friend- viewing gives them money

@DreamingofTimbuktu. I first came across Alex Jones a couple of years ago while listening to American podcasts. My mind went straight to the One Show as well. It was very confusing for a while.

ElliottSmithsfingers · 19/08/2021 12:53

I'm with your friend too.

Iloveginger · 19/08/2021 13:07

[quote cariadlet]@Iloveginger If you've never heard of Alex Jones (fair enough, he's not particularly well known in the UK) then I really think you should RTFT and you'll see why people are dating not to give him the views that he craves.

There are plenty of legitimate YouTube channels, websites and newspapers that people can visit or buy in order to engage with a wide range of views. [/quote]
I have read the full thread thanks. I think people are free to listen to others that hold differing views and form their own opinions, not be told what they should be by the likes of you and other ‘legitimate’ sources, whatever that might mean.
These people make their money from their fan base and sponsors, not a minority of curious viewers.

Tuscancat · 19/08/2021 13:12

I agree with @Iloveginger
I also think it is a sign of a healthy society that we don't censor offensive or mad views. The other side of the coin is that a decent education which prioritises critical thinking and healthy debate needs to be provided. That doesn't seem to be happening, especially in the US and that is a big problem.

Ancientcistern · 19/08/2021 13:17

I have read the full thread thanks. I think people are free to listen to others that hold differing views and form their own opinions, not be told what they should be by the likes of you and other ‘legitimate’ sources, whatever that might mean.
These people make their money from their fan base and sponsors, not a minority of curious viewers.

People like Alex Jones do make money from advertising on tbeir videos. And buy legitimate sources, they probably mean ones that don't repeatedly lie, try to sell snake oil, promote racism and homophobia and encourage their viewers to harass people.

Iloveginger · 19/08/2021 13:27

People like Alex Jones do make money from advertising on tbeir videos. And buy legitimate sources, they probably mean ones that don't repeatedly lie, try to sell snake oil, promote racism and homophobia and encourage their viewers to harass people
It will be a small amount in comparison to the money they are making from their fanbase and sponsors.
I have no desire to sit through enough videos to make either of these two any money, but being told not to is sure making me want to.

Ancientcistern · 19/08/2021 13:34

@Iloveginger

People like Alex Jones do make money from advertising on tbeir videos. And buy legitimate sources, they probably mean ones that don't repeatedly lie, try to sell snake oil, promote racism and homophobia and encourage their viewers to harass people It will be a small amount in comparison to the money they are making from their fanbase and sponsors. I have no desire to sit through enough videos to make either of these two any money, but being told not to is sure making me want to.
It's still giving them money.

No one is saying the OP can't watch them. She has every right to. And others have the right to think it's a shite thing to do and that people don't have to be friends with her.

Although I wonder if others going out and watching these videos is exactly what the OP wanted.

MotherofPoodles · 19/08/2021 13:35

My search history is no one else's business. I love falling down the rabbit holes of YouTube and people fascinate me. I think watching this kind of stuff is like people watching. I watch all kinds of stuff, currently I'm watching psychopathy documentaries. It's interesting to see how people think, that's all surely?

Iloveginger · 19/08/2021 13:44

It's still giving them money.
Well lets hope that all your clothes and food is ethically sourced, in case your friends find out you are propping up child labour and other exploitative practises.
Any friend that decided to end a friendship because I had watched a David Icke video, should probably go and get some help for themselves, before telling others they have MH issues.

cariadlet · 19/08/2021 14:13

@MotherofPoodles

My search history is no one else's business. I love falling down the rabbit holes of YouTube and people fascinate me. I think watching this kind of stuff is like people watching. I watch all kinds of stuff, currently I'm watching psychopathy documentaries. It's interesting to see how people think, that's all surely?

@MotherofPoodles I think that there's a huge difference between watching documentaries about conspiracy theorists, psychopaths, racists or anti-semites and actually watching their own channels or clicking onto their websites.

Ancientcistern · 19/08/2021 14:27

@Iloveginger

It's still giving them money. Well lets hope that all your clothes and food is ethically sourced, in case your friends find out you are propping up child labour and other exploitative practises. Any friend that decided to end a friendship because I had watched a David Icke video, should probably go and get some help for themselves, before telling others they have MH issues.
There's a difference between watching a single AJ video, and watching hours of sexist, homophobic, anti-Semetic shite.

And I don't try ethically source what I buy although it's not always possible. But people need food and clothes.

If you had a friend who spent all their time watching and reading white supremacists neo nazi material would you be totally okay with that? Would you not even be a little bit worried?

JoborPlay · 19/08/2021 17:29

All of you people who think these people are awful- how do you know if you don't watch it? Are you taking others words for it? or snippets taken out of context? I like to go to the source before I make up my mind.

knittingaddict · 19/08/2021 17:35

By all means go ahead (if you haven't already).

Yes I've seen/heard some of AJ's rants on other podcasts and know enough about DI to keep well away. What part of "The Royal Family are lizard people" would you find acceptable?

DewDew83 · 19/08/2021 17:37

All of you people who think these people are awful- how do you know if you don't watch it? Are you taking others words for it? or snippets taken out of context? I like to go to the source before I make up my mind.
I've seen plenty of 'out of context' snippets of Alex Jones and the only way in which the context would excuse the snippets to even the smallest degree is if, immediately prior to the snippet, someone dared him to be as offensive, weird and creepy as possible.

I've also seem his opinions via Twitter, before he was banned, and am aware of various legal proceedings against him.

Bryonyshcmyony · 19/08/2021 17:41

My mum watches all this bollocks. She tries to talk to me about it but I don't want to listen. If I'm being honest I do think the people who find this stuff "interesting" are the less intelligent, but that's my own bias.

DewDew83 · 19/08/2021 17:44

If there was a thread on here, where someone had started dating a guy, happened upon his YouTube history and discovered it was full of misogynistic and/or incel type videos (which he said he just found entertaining), I think everyone would tell them to run for the hills.

I don't think regularly watching Alex Jones is much different.

Geamhradh · 19/08/2021 18:12

@JoborPlay

All of you people who think these people are awful- how do you know if you don't watch it? Are you taking others words for it? or snippets taken out of context? I like to go to the source before I make up my mind.
I'm old enough to remember David Icke (for example) before he became a lizard man and started yogic flying. So yeah, been there, seen it, run away laughing.
Ancientcistern · 19/08/2021 18:56

@JoborPlay

All of you people who think these people are awful- how do you know if you don't watch it? Are you taking others words for it? or snippets taken out of context? I like to go to the source before I make up my mind.
You're right, I've never watched an Alex Jones video, only seen quotes and snippets. So if the context in which he ranted about the Jewish Mafia, claimed gay people were recruiting and killing kids and claiming a school shooting was fake is perfectly innocent, then my bad.
DismantledKing · 19/08/2021 18:56

@JoborPlay

All of you people who think these people are awful- how do you know if you don't watch it? Are you taking others words for it? or snippets taken out of context? I like to go to the source before I make up my mind.
I know the sun is hot without touching it. I don’t need to watch racists and arseholes to know what they are.
donquixotedelamancha · 19/08/2021 19:15

All of you people who think these people are awful- how do you know if you don't watch it?

The views of both are quite famous. They have both been consistent in their (often internally inconsistent) views.

I've watched a bit of both but can't stomach much because both are so aggressively dumb and highly repetitive.

SoundBar · 19/08/2021 19:19

I think people watching Love Island are more mentally at risk than you OP.

I love to go into a crazy internet rabbit hole from time to time and find out different ways people view the world. It's fascinating what people will come up with to try and explain what they see around them.

At the moment it seems like it's forbidden to find out about anything, as if critical thought didn't exist and by reading something an adult will instantly believe every word Confused

Iloveginger · 19/08/2021 19:24

*There's a difference between watching a single AJ video, and watching hours of sexist, homophobic, anti-Semetic shite.

And I don't try ethically source what I buy although it's not always possible. But people need food and clothes.

If you had a friend who spent all their time watching and reading white supremacists neo nazi material would you be totally okay with that? Would you not even be a little bit worried?*

The op has said she watches a wide range of stuff, not exclusively videos videos by David Ike and Alex Jones.

Its also none of my business what my friends choose to watch in the privacy of their own homes, providing its not illegal.

If its starts spilling into real life and having an impact on the friendship, then I would talk to them, but who am I to challenge people on their internet browsing history. Would you be ok with me policing yours ?

Ancientcistern · 19/08/2021 19:54

@Iloveginger

*There's a difference between watching a single AJ video, and watching hours of sexist, homophobic, anti-Semetic shite.

And I don't try ethically source what I buy although it's not always possible. But people need food and clothes.

If you had a friend who spent all their time watching and reading white supremacists neo nazi material would you be totally okay with that? Would you not even be a little bit worried?*

The op has said she watches a wide range of stuff, not exclusively videos videos by David Ike and Alex Jones.

Its also none of my business what my friends choose to watch in the privacy of their own homes, providing its not illegal.

If its starts spilling into real life and having an impact on the friendship, then I would talk to them, but who am I to challenge people on their internet browsing history. Would you be ok with me policing yours ?

So you'd not have any concern and be totally fine if your friend spend all their time watching neo-nazi propaganda or something.

And not wanting to be friends with someone is not policing them.

ilikecheesecake · 19/08/2021 20:07

I used to love watching conspiracy's ect. doesn't mean I believe in them (all). I just found it a relaxing way to unwind. I don't watch much of it these days as two busy and I discovered mumsnet Smile which is how I now unwind.