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Comment by smarf | Hacker News Reader

> The skill of being a “creator” is not about maximizing views, retention, etc. It’s about finding creative ways to share stories, teach concepts, explore ideas, etc. Views, retention, etc. are all downstream of that.

this seems wildly naive

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That's exactly what the focus should be. It may be naive in a modern context where everyone is addicted to "number go up," but it's the only way to get an authentic, not manufactured culture.

Hardly. If the top ranked ones were always the most creative, honest and there-for-the-art creators and artists, we wouldn’t have the Taylor Swifts of the world along with the tidal wave of fast-food content diarrhoea we currently have to suffer through just by opening a web browser.

Truth is: “number go up” is the only valid strategy for growing because that’s what favours the platforms the most.

Unfortunate. Depressing.

It might be a valid strategy for "growing", but "growing" is not necessarily the goal of all creators in any medium, certainly not in the sense that you mean it.

Yeah.. Marques makes good content and puts a lot of effort into it. There are a number of Youtubers like that..

But the vast majority are engaged in attention baiting; outrage, grievance, conspiracy, FOMO.. Take your pick.

Even some oldies like GN are churning out grievance and drama.

It’s also ironic because he’s a slop producer

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