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Original poster

Boyfriend acts like he’s YouTube-famous

136 replies

Icycloud · 18/08/2023 07:59

And not as a joke. He has had A YouTube channel for a couple of years and it has a few hundred subscribers. I’m supportive of him and wouldn’t tell him but he’s not actually that good at it. Hardly anyone watches his videos. There’s nothing particularly distinctive about his videos to draw an audience. He is just a random man talking about things he isn’t really qualified to talk about, and why would someone listen to his opinion? I don’t think he has really gone and done much research, and I can’t see why anyone would actually be interested in the videos. He acts like he’s famous, many people have made fun of him. it’s embarrassing. I feel like he’s too old to be acting like this.

OP posts:
Yalta · 18/08/2023 11:39

Tbh he would be better making videos on how to fix small things on a car or buying a non running, beaten up old car and making videos on how he renovated it and gets it back on the road and then showing what he spent and what he got for it when it was sold rather than talking about stuff he knows nothing about.

His videos might not go viral overnight but they will slowly buildup views and he won’t have people laughing at him

deydododatdodontdeydo · 18/08/2023 11:49

Branding doesn't have to cost a fortune. I know a few people who do podcasts and they have merch on Redbubble which is only printed when needed so they don't own a ton of stock.
However, if he's in his 30s and "going to be" a mechanic, what has he been doing up to now?

itsmyp4rty · 18/08/2023 11:53

I'm baffled as to why you're still with him.

Backtothe90splease · 18/08/2023 12:09

The problem is not necessarily that he posts on YouTube. It's not my thing, but it's harmless enough in and of itself. The problem is this:

There’s nothing particularly distinctive about his videos to draw an audience. He is just a random man talking about things he isn’t really qualified to talk about, and why would someone listen to his opinion? I don’t think he has really gone and done much research, and I can’t see why anyone would actually be interested in the videos. He acts like he’s famous

He's just spouting off about random crap, no research, no qualifications to talk about it, nothing, and thinks it makes him special and famous.

That's the bit that is embarrassingly awful and would make me lose any respect for him.

Someone who does needlefelt, or is really knowledgeable about caravans, or brilliant at amateur watercolours and wants to share that with other interested enthusiasts is absolutely fine. My dad loves a YouTube boat building video, and particularly enjoys a video about various sailing knots. But they are talented/knowledgeable people making the videos.

porridgeisbae · 18/08/2023 12:38

@Backtothe90splease There's nothing wrong with someone saying their own stuff (unless it's medically dangerous advice.)

I had a channel about men and just talked about my experiences with men and what women should count as a binnable offence etc.

It can give you a sense of achievement to express your creativity in this way. Most people I follow about various subjects are not experts but still have valid/interesting things to say.

But the problem is his excessive delusions of grandeur about it.

Signef · 18/08/2023 14:04

JFDIYOLO · 18/08/2023 11:18

Everyone who ever built a business, created a brand, grew a YouTube channel began with tiny stumbling often rubbish attempts and kept on going and learning in the face of negativity and scorn. If you have ambition you have to keep it alive even if those closest to you dismiss it.

Agreed

Bapbap45 · 18/08/2023 19:49

JFDIYOLO · 18/08/2023 11:18

Everyone who ever built a business, created a brand, grew a YouTube channel began with tiny stumbling often rubbish attempts and kept on going and learning in the face of negativity and scorn. If you have ambition you have to keep it alive even if those closest to you dismiss it.

Are you the OPs boyfriend?

Whiskerson · 18/08/2023 22:23

I'm going to go against the grain...

... it's his hobby.

Leave him to it, be glad he has a little project.

He likes to talk, and a few hundred people like to listen to him. You're not one of them - so what?

I don't see the problem. If the worst he's done is knock up a bit of branding and use "official" in his handles, well, so what? That's just part of the hobby. I can't really see where he's actually being a twat about it.

If you're simply embarrassed by it, then it sounds like you guys shouldn't be together. You do you and let him do him. Someone who loved him would support and encourage him in his weird hobbies, or at least happily leave him to it.

whynotwhatknot · 18/08/2023 22:41

he thiniks hes going to be a famous footballer-how? is he in a league anywhere or does he just kickabout on weekend

the youtube thing wouldnt really bother me but he does sound deluded

Hereforaglance · 20/08/2023 11:15

U must like him a lot to be still with him do u have a proper job or r u one of these self entitled so called influencers u r the one staying with him therefore in his mind encouraging him to sit at home all the live long day on utube u both need to grow uo

SupremeCommanderTrinityRhino · 20/08/2023 11:23

It's a bit weird. He can work as hard as he likes to try and build his YouTube channel but acting odd about it is too much.
Noone in my real life really knows I have twitch followers cause its not something that comes up in real life.

aboutbloodytime123 · 20/08/2023 12:04

I think good for him! It only takes one viral video and bam, your account explodes. Would your opinion change if he actually was a successful YouTuber?

EmmaM84 · 20/08/2023 12:18

My first reaction was ridicule when you said he was in his 30s. That still stands re the football thing but it'd be good to know what he's vlogging about. Manifesting and law of attraction encourage living like you already have what you want. Is that maybe what he's doing?

It made me think about James Smith. A personal trainer who set up SM in his mid 20s and worked his butt off to get a good following and set up the James Smith Academy. He's also now got 3 published books out about diet, life coaching and building confidence with followers in the millions. He started off with very few but made a point of sharing content daily to boost followers. He doesn't have degrees in these subjects but he's worked his arse off and seems to have been a classic case of 'fake it til you make it' rather than being top of his field academically. Maybe ask him what his plan is and get a feel for where he's at. If no plan and just general narcissism and bravado then I'd be wondering why you're with him.

Kittensat36 · 20/08/2023 13:37

Elieza · 18/08/2023 08:13

Be interesting to see his response if you mentioned you know someone whose a housewife that gets paid for her site/blog/whatever it’s called (I don’t look/know about such things) and also gets free stuff from companies to test and report back to her followers in the hope they’ll buy it. She has thousands of followers. It’s a cleaning blog.

She’s a relative so I know it’s true. She never brags, it’s her mum that tells me. She no longer works due to it. Good for her.

Sling that into the convo and ask when he’s intending to ramp things up to that level as at the moment he’s like someone bragging about having a driving licence or something I’d take for granted by his age…..

If it's Remi Clog, then she's good - shows real mums V housework and has helped me a lot with my unbelievable messiness.

I have a friend like this - if there's a disaster, he was there, or lost someone in it. He likes to come over all Sir Lancelot. I just roll my eyes when he starts. But if I had to live with it, that would be a bit wearing.

ElfieLea · 20/08/2023 14:53

Icycloud · 18/08/2023 08:37

He’s going to be a mechanic but he wants to be a famous footballer 🤣

How bad is he? I have a family member, 30s who got a following on YT talking about football and now makes a decent amount food blogging on Insta. Maybe he could do similar with some guidance if it's his dream. Does he have any charisma or is he pure cringe?

Dolores87 · 20/08/2023 15:29

If i am honest I think all the comments are incredibly harsh verging on bullying Does he have a job and contribute to the household? (cant see a reply saying he doesn't I think it was said he is a mechanic or going to he so is he training as a mechanic?) If so what is the harm in him having a You Tube channel as a hobby even if he is rubbish at it? If he doesnt contribute to the household he needs to do that but theres no harm in him having a bad You Tube channel as a hobby.

Dolores87 · 20/08/2023 15:33

Honestly how hurtful would it be to have your partner be laughing at you in a public forum over your hobby 😕

Firefighter22 · 20/08/2023 16:26

Dolores87. I don’t think it’s so much the fact that OP’s partner has a YT channel or that it’s a bit crap, that’s the problem. It’s more that he’s behaving like he’s got a zillion subscribers and is famous, and OP finds that really cringy and embarrassing. And I can’t say I blame her. There also seems to be a great deal of delusion involved in his other plans - ie being a famous footballer in his 30s. I mean that’s just ridiculous and off-putting and totally out of touch with reality.

AndrewJ4321 · 21/08/2023 08:30

Why are you with him?

AndrewJ4321 · 21/08/2023 08:39

Beat me to it. Also baffled why someone would want to talk about them like this while mainaining the relationship.

DontGoJasonWaterfalls · 21/08/2023 08:44

I'm struggling to understand why the branding is such an issue, or "official" in the username. Branding is part of building your channel, it isn't something you do once you've built it up. Without a recognisable brand you'll struggle to build it (this is assuming we're talking a logo and channel header and not like merch etc, he's jumping the gun on merch a little bit).

Same with having "official". If he one day gets a fairly big following (and it only takes one video hitting the right spot on the algorithm), there may be people impersonating him for various reasons. Having "official" isn't necessary, but it isn't daft if he's hoping to build his following.

Very few people will reach the conventional idea of YouTube success (household name, millions of pounds etc) but there are so many people making a decent passive income from YouTube and getting a few brand deals to boot, I don't think having branding and a username are specific reasons to mock someone if they're aiming for that.

Thecrippledpsychotherapist · 21/08/2023 09:07

What it comes down to is what you would like to happen moving forward. If your happy generally making all life's important decisions by yourself then you could maybe be happy with this guy. However if you are wanting to settle with a life partner and get a house ..children etc then it certainly sounds like the guy is not mature or grounded enough to join you in that. If you try changing him he could start to resent that and ultimately blame you for his lack of success. The fact he has no insight for a man in his 30's frankly is a huge red marker and in my opinion you can clearly see that.

AndrewJ4321 · 21/08/2023 09:26

...and drawing people in to make judgements about a situation that only the OP has the power to do anything about, yet by their own admission can't bring themselves to. It comes across as very weak-minded.

Father1 · 21/08/2023 12:58

YouTube aside

How is he not already a mechanic if he's in his 30s, kids come out at 20 with those qualifications, blokes a bum

Heb1996 · 21/08/2023 18:46

@Icycloud 😭😭😭 sorry. I shouldn’t laugh but really!! 30s???? Is he having a laugh??? 🤣🤣🤣. I’d say, Don’t be ridiculous and get a proper job. 🤪🤪

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