No, I don't know them and that's the entire point.
I'm trying to establish for you that disliking someone's work is not the same as disliking the person. This is entertainment. They're professionals. People are allowed to prefer one entertainer's work to another.
You're the one spouting nonsense theories about the fan base and drawing sketchy connections to societal change in an effort to hamfist topics close to your heart into a video game website. That is the epitome of "taking things too seriously".
Parts of audience saying "I think X is funnier than Y and wish for more content featuring X" is not "taking things too seriously", it's the natural feedback to any entertainment product.
This entire thread is predicated on someone calling Ben "a dick". Not making some reasoned, benign comment or criticism, just a straight up personal attack.
Don't jump in all holier-than-thou with this "oh, they were just commenting on this actor's performance, how dare you suggest they were besmirching his character" nonsense after the fact. Trying to retrospectively justify someone else's shitty behaviour is still shitty.
Go back and read the post you're referring to. Contrary to what you claim it does not call Ben a dick. It says Ben "tends to appear as a dick in all of [GB west content]". Big difference. That's commenting on his work. Something crucial you seem to miss time and time again.
I'm not saying "appears as a dick" is the perfect phrasing for this feedback but luckily others in the thread have already worded it better.
I’m generally ambivalent on Ben, but I don’t really enjoy him on these old game shows. He seems to only have two modes on these videos, bored or snark.
Agreed. Feel like that on Demo Derby too. I would rather Jan be on those. They are supposed to be fun little nostalgia trips but all he does on them is shit on the games when they are just a product of their time.
How Ben comments on games live on-air is his work. If parts of the audience feel Ben's snarky humor comes across as dickish that is perfectly valuable feedback. It is not an attack on his person. This is a competetive business, thousands of people try to get paid for playing video games. Customers have a right to comment on what is effectively the casting of the show.
Imagine the reaction if a TV show added a new character 7 seasons into the show and made half the episodes center around him. Then cast someone with no previous acting credits for the role. The reaction from the Giant Bomb audience has been pretty lenient when you put it into perspective.
Ben is still new to this job. Go watch GB content from 5+ years ago and compare that to the newer stuff. They've all gotten better at it over time. Critiquing the rough edges around the new guy's performance is neither a personal insult nor nostalgia.
@the_lord_fagan: It's an act. They perform for a living. Not being entertained by someone's shtick on-air doesn't mean you dislike them personally. It would serve you well in life to learn this fundamental distinction.
You speak with such authority, like you know them in real life.
I really appreciate you making my point that some people watching this site's content have lost perspective and cannot tolerate anyone pointing out that they are exactly the kind of "fan" who takes this all way more seriously than a normal person should, considering we're talking about a comedic video website of mostly young men recording themselves playing videogames.
Serve me well in life to learn this fundamental distinction...the fuck are you trying to accomplish with that nonsense?
No, I don't know them and that's the entire point.
I'm trying to establish for you that disliking someone's work is not the same as disliking the person. This is entertainment. They're professionals. People are allowed to prefer one entertainer's work to another.
You're the one spouting nonsense theories about the fan base and drawing sketchy connections to societal change in an effort to hamfist topics close to your heart into a video game website. That is the epitome of "taking things too seriously".
Parts of audience saying "I think X is funnier than Y and wish for more content featuring X" is not "taking things too seriously", it's the natural feedback to any entertainment product.
@the_lord_fagan: It's an act. They perform for a living. Not being entertained by someone's shtick on-air doesn't mean you dislike them personally. It would serve you well in life to learn this fundamental distinction.
Ben puts in the work, he practically lives in the studio & features in 95% of GB west content. Dude tends to appear as a dick in all of them. Badmouthing and the overflow of jokes makes his videos hard to watch. Baron Corbin of GB.
EDIT: "Permission to return fire, sir? Armor is taking hits."
Hi I'm really curious where you get the impression that I'm a dick? I'm not saying you're the first person to mention this, but there's a fraction of people who really feel this way and I can't figure out why. Does it have to do with the fact that some of my humor can be sarcastic? I really would like to clear this up because I get a lot of positive feedback saying people appreciate my positivity - which is what I'm trying to bring to the table. But I can't shake the impression on a certain section of our audience that thinks I'm a mean guy.
Like Patrick (hell, like the fucking move from the couch to the desk), you represent forward movement, movement away from that hallowed era that is more about nostalgia than actually being categorically better in a material way.
What an absolutely garbage post. Games journalism is a profession. Guys like Jeff, Vinny, Alex, Brad have worked a long time to be good at it. That's why they're liked. The audience having a mixed reception to a new face isn't about "nostalgia" going up against the "new guard". This is show business. Not every TV show makes it past the pilot. Not every actor gets cast after their first appearance.
I don't dislike Ben, but having a lisp and knowing less about video games than the other people around the table isn't the fated future of video games journalism us old timers just have to accept. Premium sites like Giant Bomb are built on on-camera personalities. Ben has one. It's pretty distinct, some will like it and some not. That's the nature of the business. It's nothing personal and has nothing to do with times changing. I'm sure Ben is a wonderful guy in real life.
It is fair to say though that many of the subscribers got onboard at a time when premium membership didn't mean paying for Ben Pack.
@null_subject: I mean I'm happy to see him too, but I can't say I really agree with him being the backbone of all content. Plenty good shows happen without Jeff.
The site would fall apart in 6 months without Jeff.
I hope they prerecorded a bunch of these game tapes for us to enjoy while he's busy with more important stuff. Shows like this and the old games show age in years not weeks.
Oatly is new in San Fransisco? Here in Helsinki Oatly is probably more common than cow milk in cafes, lunch restaurants etc. these days. Would've been Hot Top 10 material 5 years ago.
People still buy and drink cow milk (though a lot of people I know have switched to iKaffe) but I understand why oat milk is great for public places that serve a variety of people with a variety of possible dietary restrictions. It's close enough to the real thing with coffee but anyone can drink it so you don't need to stack up on a variety of milks.
e. Also Ben poured the Sugar Monster. You can tell by the black tab.
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