Is sensationalism turning the hobby into a joke

I've touched on this very briefly in the past Is Sensationalism Turning The Hobby Into A Joke? what do I mean by this, people are using more and more ridiculous click-bait bullshit to get people to watch their videos. When I decided to start making videos it wasn't because I'd just got into the hobby and wanted to be a quirky metal detecting character or an instant expert. I got my first detector back in the 80's. I've explained enough times in the past why I do what I do, I don't make videos for attention, or a desperate need for validation or to see what I can get for free. I haven't purchased subscribers to make me look more popular than what I really am and I don't use bullshit click bait titles to con people into watching my shit videos.

I use the term "shit videos" because, in the scheme of things that's exactly what they are, how many fucking times do you want to watch me covering a coin in iron? How many times do you really want to watch me digging junk on the river? I'll be the first one to say that it's all rather dull and boring but I'm creating videos for what I call "the process", it's the art of doing. I like to keep everything real and a true representation of what metal detecting is. Unfortunately a huge percentage of guys on YouTube making metal detecting videos seen to have a different idea, many seem to use the whole clickbait bullshit to desperately try to get as many likes, views and subscribers as possible. It actually comes across that all of this is far more important than actual metal detecting itself. 

Social media is oversaturated with people trying to sensationalise everything that they're doing, I hate to break it to you but most peoples lives are boring and no amount of posturing is going to change that. Another point to highlight here is, metal detecting will never be a super trendy and cool thing to do. But like everything on social media nowadays we're subjected to overblown toss. It's very clear to me that companies have seen how they can use attention seeking narcissists to their advantage when it comes to free promotion. Almost everyone will drop their pants for a free product or a "slice of the pie". As long as you've got desperate wannabes making metal detecting videos, there's always going to be a huge amount of misinformation and bullshit to contend with.

Lets look at it in the most primitive way possible, you're not going to attract any views with a title like "Another Boring Day Digging Rubbish" so a slight click-bait approach will need to be used, what about "Extreme Metal Detecting With The Beast Manticore Digging Unreal Deep Targets". That obviously has a better "ring" to it and most gullible people will click to watch it. Lets use another example, you're sponsored by Minelab and they send you a free 15' inch coil, titling a video "I Don't Think The New Minelab 15' Inch Coil Goes Deeper", is not really going to do you a lot good. But . . changing it to "Digging Super Deep Targets With The New Manticore 15' Inch Coil" is going to attract a lot more attention. Even though you're digging targets 5' inches deep, hell ..... that doesn't matter just as long as people click on your video ... right?

I stopped watching metal detecting videos on YouTube ages ago because it actually made my depression worse. I limit my time online nowadays, the online world with all its social media platforms is a form of mental illness and they really do bring out the worst in the human condition. Literally every normal fuck-wit now has a podium to spout their bullshit. The world was always screwed but social media has and is fucking up the human race even more than it already is. Moving on .. one thing that I do remember when I was still watching YouTube was a video uploaded by a well known guy who was with another bloke who was also well known in YouTube land. There was this scene where they were driving in the car and they were having a conversation and one of them mentioned "views and subscribers". The other guy responded with "that's what it's all about"  so it's not about the metal detecting for this specific individual, it's about the superficial bullshit that comes with having a YouTube channel.

I hate to judge but I think the above example and the priorities that the guy displayed is the same for a vast majority of people out there. Don't get me wrong here, people can do what the hell they want but the least someone can do is be honest about their intentions, are you going to produce good honest content or simply jump on the band wagon to see how much you can get out of something under the guise of someone who likes metal detecting. How Many Of These People Would Be Metal Detecting If Social Media Didn't Exist?

Whats The Problem With Click Bait?

The answer to the above question is pretty simple, one click-bait title then pushes everyone else into doing the same thing, this in turn starts a trend and over time video titles get more and more sensationalised. Then what we have here is a load of videos that sound 'unreal' when in fact it's some twat digging a pull tab at 4' inches or planting their finds. The knock on effect of all of this is damaging to the hobby and especially newcomers or the naive because you're getting such an unrealistic example of what the hobby is about. Metal detecting on YouTube is plagued with complete and utter bollocks and misleading dross, everything comes across as painfully desperate. Despite what many on the platform say, they're clearly obsessed with likes and subscribers and they're clearly willing to come out with whatever gob-shite is needed to garner attention. The best thing I did was quit watching any metal detecting on social media, it keeps the mind quiet and allows me to enjoy my own metal detecting for what it is.