Everyone here is talking about fandoms they left because the fans were toxic, but the worst fandom I’ve been in is that because I can’t even think about it anymore without cringing: Channel Awesome. Just knowing what was going on behind the scenes makes me I wish I could refund the hours I spent watching the Nostalgia Critic.
Channel Awesome was run by a guy named Mike Michaud, who was a really shit boss. Pretty much anything you expect HR to do is something he neglects. Harassment was rampant, contributors were scripted into situations that they weren’t comfortable with, nobody was notified about massive changes to the site, the works. Some stayed quiet because they feared retribution from man child Mike, others were either fired or quit in protest. This all bubbled up for years until a 70 Google doc detailing every single instance of neglect and hostility that went on behind the scenes was published, at which point CA collapsed like cheap cardboard. The document is freely available online, but since you’re looking for a short version, I’ll just summarize thusly:
Mike Michaud is a parasite that feeds on content creators and gives nothing in return. Also, his stench attracts roaches.
I hadn’t thought about fandom’s based around people rather than properties (ex. Movie/game series). I imagine a lot of people feel that way about late Rooster Teeth.
Everyone here is talking about fandoms they left because the fans were toxic, but the worst fandom I’ve been in is that because I can’t even think about it anymore without cringing: Channel Awesome. Just knowing what was going on behind the scenes makes me I wish I could refund the hours I spent watching the Nostalgia Critic.
Do you have a tl;Dr?
Channel Awesome was run by a guy named Mike Michaud, who was a really shit boss. Pretty much anything you expect HR to do is something he neglects. Harassment was rampant, contributors were scripted into situations that they weren’t comfortable with, nobody was notified about massive changes to the site, the works. Some stayed quiet because they feared retribution from man child Mike, others were either fired or quit in protest. This all bubbled up for years until a 70 Google doc detailing every single instance of neglect and hostility that went on behind the scenes was published, at which point CA collapsed like cheap cardboard. The document is freely available online, but since you’re looking for a short version, I’ll just summarize thusly:
I hadn’t thought about fandom’s based around people rather than properties (ex. Movie/game series). I imagine a lot of people feel that way about late Rooster Teeth.
Don’t worry. He remembers it, so you don’t have to.