...It's YouTube

Glitches + Stitches + Switches

The first email I read yesterday morning was from YouTube, issuing yet another bogus “Community Guidelines” strike and restricting me from the platform for two weeks.

The last email I read before bed was also from YouTube, this time agreeing that I didn’t violate shit and issuing a half-assed apology.

For the first time I can remember, they actually used the word “sorry.” Not that I believe anything YouTube’s bots or bot-like humans say or write.

Frankly, after the past six months of constant bullshit, it’s too little too late. So I’ve finally decided to take a little break from the platform.

YouTube seems to think it’s a pimp and content creators are its hos.

That kind of “partnership” might work for some, but abusive, one-sided relationships just aren’t my cup of tea.

It's not me...it's you, YouTube.

Real partnerships are built on respect, fairness, and trust—not arbitrary strikes, bot-driven decisions, and endless hoops to jump through to prove you’re playing by the rules to a “support” team that provides no meaningful support.

YouTube may thrive on exploiting creators, but I’m not here to be anyone’s doormat.

A DAY OF REASONING + RECKONING

Between YouTube’s first and last email, I spent much of yesterday cussing and discussing the sitch with a dear friend. I also doodled and noodled on the various ways the platform has made me bitch, glitch, and itch over the past six months.

YouTube has been a lopsided rollercoaster for me: A few highs and a lot of lows.

It’s triggered more anger, frustration, grief, and sadness than I care to admit.

YouTube is the corporate equivalent of a schoolyard bully to me.

Long story short: I hate bullies and rollercoasters.
Good guys and merry-go-rounds are more my speed.

PROJECT “HEAL THE PAIN”

So here’s what I’m doing to move myself forward:

1. Focusing on having more fun IRL and on Substack. Creating and curating is what I love doing. So doing my thing on a platform like Substack that respects me is important.

2. Switching Collide Press TV to Twitch. The “always-on” stream is now available—for free—on the popular platform. Wanna help me get monetized there? Please follow and watch the stream. Your help is greatly appreciated.

3. Taking a break from YouTube. Whether it’s two days, two weeks, or two months, I need some space and time away from the platform’s bullshit to heal and regroup.

Thanks for putting up with my bitching and glitching and supporting my work.

(As for the itching, let’s just say YouTube aggravates every part and pore of me.)

For better and worse, standing up to bullies seems to be part of my DNA. While I don’t enjoy fighting, rolling over and “taking it like a man” isn’t exactly my style either. I need to feel the love before there’s any pushing in my cushion. Ya dig?

I firmly believe in mutual respect. Those who treat me with it will get it back in spades. Those who don’t just might face my full fury and wrath. So I don’t recommend anyone fuck around and find out. Even I don’t enjoy being around me when I’m in a bad mood.

Instead, please stick around for what’s coming up….new and next.
Here’s to more good guys and more merry-go-rounds.

Thanks for reading and subscribing!
Clint

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TESTIMONIALS

I’m always grateful when paid subscribers choose to send/share kind messages when they upgrade. Here are just a few of my recent favorites:

Hope to include more words of encouragement in upcoming newsletters. Thanks! ❤️

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FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

• YouTube Change…Ruined Many Channels (penguinz0) 📺
  This video—from a year ago—illustrates how fucking ridiculous YouTube is.

• Twitter (And Threads) Have Made a Huge Mistake (hankschannel) 📺
  What the algorithm gods giveth, the algorithm gods often take away. Go, Bluesky!

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ON THIS DAY = DECEMBER 3

BIRTHDAYS

• 1830 = Frederic Leighton = British artist 🌈

• 1857 = Joseph Conrad = Polish-born British novelist

• 1927 = Andy Williams = American singer

• 1930 = Jean-Luc Godard = French-Swiss filmmaker

• 1948 = Ozzy Osbourne = English singer-songwriter

• 1955 = Michael Musto = American writer and culture critic 🌈

• 1957 = Del Shores = American writer and filmmaker 🌈

• 1960 = Julianne Moore = American actor

• 1968 = Brendan Fraser = American actor

• 1979 = Daniel Bedingfield = New Zealand-English singer-songwriter

• 1979 = Tiffany Haddish = American comedian and actor

• 1983 = Andy Grammer = American singer-songwriter

EVENTS

• National Day of Giving

EVENTS

• 1910 = Modern neon lighting is first demonstrated by Georges Claude.

• 1960 = The musical Camelot debuts at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway.

• 1967 = Christiaan Barnard carries out the first human heart transplant.

• 1968 = Elvis, Elvis Presley's “comeback special,” airs on NBC.

• 1968 = Troy Perry officiates at what is thought to be the first public same-sex union ceremony in the US at Metropolitan Community Church.

• 1984 = Wham! releases “Last Christmas” as a single.

• 1989 = Mikhail Gorbachev and George H. W. Bush release statements indicating the Cold War is over.

• 1994 = Sony releases the first PlayStation in Japan.

• 2000 = The US version of Queer as Folk premieres on Showtime.

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PHOTO + QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I guess darkness serves a purpose: to show us that there is redemption through chaos. I believe in that. I think that's the basis of Greek mythology.”
Brendan Fraser

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