Are Reckless Vlogger Becoming A Problem?

[Drobium77]

I'm sort of getting the feeling now that a dangerous trend/fashion is creeping into biking which is going to cause alot of injury, criminality and maybe even deaths amongst newer bikers, namely 'Reckless vloggers'.
Ok, so don't get me wrong, I've broken the law before whether it be speeding, wheelies or whatever, but I draw the line at posting highly illegal material online for thousands of people to see, just to get the most views (and I understand why it gets the most views).

When I started riding 18 years ago, the whole biking scene was totally different, the majority of bikers were quite well behaved in certain situations and there was a code of not speeding through villages or in the town centre and stuff like that.
Of course you will always get the odd few who go mental whatever the situation, but now it seems to be becoming the norm to ride recklessly and aggressively all the time.

I think that us motovloggers have a certain amount of responsibility for this as, some of the bigger name vloggers tend to be the worst behaved and younger riders or less experienced riders look up to these people as a guide to 'how to ride'.
But the sheer amount of new vloggers that follow the 'squid' pathway is becoming quite shocking.
It's glamourising really bad riding and making it 'cool'.
And once you strap a camera to your lid, all the bad riders will start showing off and it's being picked up on by the general media, which is a threat to all biker's liberties.

I just wanted to know what other vloggers think of this trend and whether it's going to lead to more situations like the Range Rover gang a few weeks ago?


Here's my vlog on the matter anyway

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk1kQMHFPEY

 

[MrFalloffalot]

One day im buying a new Cam, then i can post that idea and many others ive had,

Well, i started ridin 25yrs ago, and yes, I aggree that the 'Scene' has changed, im not going to say too much, coz i may offend, BUT, ifu look at the curve of X+Y generation, of course youll get more idiots in cars and Bikes doin stupid shite. Coz the parents havnt put the fear of death in their kids to respect people, laws, etc.

On the other hand - Its still the same percentage, but you see it more coz it stands out and their is YouTube, where their wasnt back then. So instead of just hearing that bike in the distance doin stuff, the police are watchin it and your seeing it on the News via Utube.
Their is also campaigns around some countries (like Aust) that Motorcyclists are deemed 'Hoons', and increased penalties apply.
CAREFULLY look at ANY study that is released by Police/Gov't, If you look at the apparent increasing Roadtoll over here, youll see that the Police focus heavilly on the numbers, BUT, when you convert the numbers to percentage youll see that the numbers have gone down, compared to pop. growth etc.
Obviously its all about money, a Biker is more prone to more hurt than a cager, so the liability to the Gov't for traffic injuries is HUGE for a motorcyclist, even though cars are responsible for 84% of the bike accidents. You NEVER see the car being 'taken over the coals' in a court for hitting/killing a biker.

So before you say "more and more people are....", watch whos campaign your helping, cause your falling into the Police trap of most/all motorcyclists being 'Hoons + Reckless'.
Statistically their are MORE cars out their doin worst things and killin/knocking off riders, and they dont get the focus we do, cause we stand-out more!!

Another HUGE thing is, im now 43 and ALOT more responsible for my actions than when i was 18-26 Dumb and Full of cum, like all those ppl your seeing doing that stuff!!

I could keep going, but ill just do a vlogg ona later date.
My 3+1/2cents
>

 

[Drobium77]

I suppose the main point I was trying to make is 'are we drawing too much attention to the scene and biking in general?'.

I realise my attitudes have changed now i'm older and (wiser??) so maybe it's the old fogey thing kicking in, I don't know lol :-D

Thank for the feed back matey.

 

[OoxTruExoO]

Every time I am asked about my camera on my helmet, the question is usually phrased as "is that for recording wheelies and speeding?" because that's what most people see on YouTube in relation to motorcycles now. I've gotten sick of it and am on the verge of giving up motovlogging altogether. I'd rather not be grouped in with that sort of thing. Aggressive and stupid riding gets more views than a normal motovlog. And then they appear as related videos more commonly. Some people that call themselves motovloggers, and post here on motovlog, hardly even vlog. They just use this forum as a way to spread their videos.

I remember when (I sound old saying that) I started motovlogging, there was a great community. Some of the more popular people had great topics to vlog about, and they'd ask for video responses or viewer challenges. And you'd be amazed that they had like 5000 subscribers or something. And some of them are still around, but don't post very much if at all. And they've been surpassed in subscriber count by what I call RYS'ers. (Recording Your Stupidity).

Some channels are built on near-miss compilations, and I have no problem with them. The more people that see them, the better. They're filmed whilst the rider is riding within the law, and within their limits, and serve as educational videos for people. They highlight how you need to plan ahead and be prepared. I think every new rider should learn from them.

As it was said, we're not all angels, myself included. But I wouldn't be stupid enough to post anything incriminating, nor would I want to for fear that it'd influence some inexperienced rider to try to emulate it. As an example, I think it's well known that I have a dislike of a particular motovlogger. The guy worked in emergency services taking calls, some probably dealing with motorcycle accidents and deaths, and then goes out and wheelies in traffic, and "holds the line" and rides around like a knob. That goes to show a complete lack of maturity, and it worries me that he's even allowed to hold a licence. And then newer channels sprung up copying that riding style on seeing how his channel got so popular so fast.

And it's not about the subscriber count. Don't get me wrong. I have no jealousy over that. I'm not going to give up a day job to become a full time motovlogger, or go stunting on a bike. It's about the fact that those subscribers are probably going to be influenced by that riding... I don't want to call it a riding "skill" because it's luck more than skill... it's about that they're going to go out there and probably end up in a wheelchair or a coffin because they're trying to get good footage.

Personally, I wouldn't want to have that on my conscience.

 

[theluisvlogs]

Why do some people/vloggers/young silly riders think it's cool if you have a crash????
Its not a good thing to happen but it's almost looked upon as the golden ticket to get subs and attention??

 

[timtom123]

Why do some people/vloggers/young silly riders think it's cool if you have a crash????
Its not a good thing to happen but it's almost looked upon as the golden ticket to get subs and attention??

Since i crashed a lot of people have asked "Did you have your drift on?" And when i answer no they reply, "Shame, could have got a lot of money off of that." Its like no shit, because i will bet one of the top things searched for on youtube is "Motorcycle crash"

 

[janx101]

to the rest of the world thats 20+ years younger than me!!..

"ahh the 'young generation' being absolutely convinced they invented everything, are the coolest, the funniest, the most 'with it' , the fastest/bestest, the most tech savvy (this one might be true!) and the all round most knowledgeable!! .... you people are recycling so much that came before, that you dont even realise what it is you dont know!!!" :roll: :lol:

now .. I dont always approve of reckless stuff i see IRL or on the Y-toob! .. some of it just looks way too expensive to fix or recover from!! .. but would i stop the fools doing it? .. probably not!! .. sooner or later they will feel severe physical pain from their own actions/stupidity .. and pain is natures way of teaching people they shouldnt do some stuff!! .. but social media's speed of 'recognition' is a brain frying drug which dulls personal regard for safety!!

I get some funny looks certainly, as i ride around with the camera on the top of my helmet .. and while i have my 'silly and questionable in the eyes of the law' moments .. for the most part i ride within the rules... cos theres more undercover police cars around these days and i cant afford fines!! ..

i got asked a few weeks back during a coffee stop.. 'what type of recordings do you do' ? ... "Tourism recordings mate!, showing people what awesome things to look at there are around here!... its boosting the local economy!" .. which is not a falsehood! , i just dont get paid by anyone to do it.. :roll:

im hoping to get asked by a younger rebel snotnose type also... for that (if I remember) .. it will be "im actually a freelance investigator and am in the area recording questionable behaviour for review by 'higher ups' later.. btw is that your car/bike over there?!?" :twisted:

if one day i can find a nice quiet area and actually manage to do a wheelie on my roadbike .. i'll record it!.. just so people actually believe i did one! .. probably same for a dirtbike (when i get one again) on a field....

i have a video (actually first motovlog i ever posted) .. where i was being a complete tosser and nearly came off by getting speedwobbles towards a gutter/kerb .. when i edited it i made it clear (i think) that i scared myself and knew i acted foolishly! .. its a crap vid really and i dont expect hordes of young folk to make it go viral and tell me how cool i was! .. i put it up mostly to show how quick stuff can go wrong!! .. or i think i did anyway!

we older riders .. and independant of actual experience (because im 'older' at 42 and riding road legal for nearly 4 years only?) .. will naturally see the younger wilder types of rider and call foul!! .. just as the older riders did to us when we were young and full of stupid!! .. its a generational thing .. like music, lifestyle, culture, clothing etc...

and no matter what .. the young will see us as being past our use by date! ..

overall in answer to the titled question .. the reckless Vloggers have always been here!! .. just before they didnt have cameras and YT .. they were us! ... i wouldnt ever withdraw from the scene because i feared being labelled as 'one of them' .. we can comment on the truly stupid 'darwin award' candidates .. without going postal about it!! .. we can vlog-ment? about the behaviour also ... ??

if the 'hoon rabble' types comment back on our channels and comments to them... then its spreading our word too.... yeah?

enough soapbox for me today! .. my knees hurt! .. help me down willya? .. theres a good chap!

 

[kryten]

It's about the fact that those subscribers are probably going to be influenced by that riding

I stopped vlogging for quite a while and still haven't gotten back into it like I was in the beginning because of an incident that happened. One of my subscribers told me the reason he started riding was because of my videos. He bought a bike and started riding and he even vlogged a few times. Since he told me I influenced his decision to ride and vlog I felt obligated to subscribe to him.

After about a month of uploading a few times a week he just disappeared. A few months later he uploaded a new video telling everyone where he had been. He crashed his bike and was in the hospital. He was a paraplegic. He seemed to have a really good attitude about the whole thing but it really bothered me. I still loved riding but it was hard to get on the bike after that. It was even harder to vlog because I didn't want anyone else to rush into riding and vlogging and get hurt.

These young guys that do wheelies and act like they're fucking celebrities kinda piss me off but if I had started riding and vlogging at their age I probably would have done the same thing. It's hard not to go a bit overboard when people are encouraging you and treating you like a star. The thing is those same people won't give a shit about you when you crash and cripple yourself or worse.

I've had people complain that I don't ride fast enough in my videos. I've had people that know me personally ask why I ride fast with them but don't record and upload videos when we ride. It's because I don't want to influence anyone else to get in over their heads trying to be cool for their subs.

 

[ariderslife]

. As an example, I think it's well known that I have a dislike of a particular motovlogger. The guy worked in emergency services taking calls, some probably dealing with motorcycle accidents and deaths, and then goes out and wheelies in traffic, and "holds the line" and rides around like a knob. That goes to show a complete lack of maturity, and it worries me that he's even allowed to hold a licence. And then newer channels sprung up copying that riding style on seeing how his channel got so popular so fast.

-- I'm not going to give up a day job to become a full time motovlogger, or go stunting on a bike.

-- I don't want to call it a riding "skill" because it's luck more than skill...

.

:lol: you're always hating. Give this guy a cookie he's having another hissy fit again.

When i am in UK i will give you a hug and tell you that its alright to be envious.

 

[Nerb]

overall in answer to the titled question .. the reckless Vloggers have always been here!! .. just before they didnt have cameras and YT .. they were us! ...

You're right Janx, and part of us growing up is remembering that no mater what people told us, we still rode like idiots (not everyone, but a lot). So there is no point getting angry about it. I think that human kind in general is a pretty f'ed up species with wars and slavery and murder and abuse, but I dont hate people because they are human.

And considering this, True, its time you grew up. We all "hate" people, but as adults we shouldnt feel the need to rag on them with every sentence. I havn't even seen a post from you since joining this forum that wasnt arguing or trying to start an arguement with ARL. You are doing yourself more harm than good. But, I know my words wont change you, just like you should know yours wont change him... Woah, double oxymoron?

Kryten, that is a shitty thing to happen. I couldnt say anything that will make you feel better about that. I guess I feel justified in not encouraging people to ride. If they start, they should do it after thinking long and hard.

As for the OP, when I was at primary school, there was a kid that always stapled his arms and cut himself with razorblades. I'd say it was some sort of attention seeking at the expense of self harm. It happens, its always happened, we cant stop it.... so just do your part in encouraging safety, and live happily knowing your family will be well educated. We cant do much more.

 

[thunderous71]

Glad someone brought this topic up, been thinking the same for a long while.

With the advent of cheap and easy to use cameras more and more people are recording their antics on their bikes, as with most things on the internet "car crash" tv is always a instant hit.
Everyone has heard of bla bla who uploaded a video and made bla bla amount of money and got bla bla number of subscribers over night. Too many new riders are attempting the same route with, extream (stupid) riding. These people know what they are doing and why so its more their own fault when they get hurt.
The second category are the new riders who have seen bla bla doing some stupid riding and thinks, 'Yea that's for me!' and follows bad examples of riding online and ends up seriously hurt.

Now no one gets on a motorbike thinking they are going to get hurt, the sensible ones dress for the crash but so many do not. We were all young once, made of rubber and magic and had the sense and experience of a gnat.

But and this is where it starts to effect us all, once the authorities start to take more notice and they will now after the Land Rover incident new laws will be passed banning attachments to helmets etc under the banner of safety. Next up will be laws on the seize of recording equipment that is 'suspected' to contain a recording of a crime etc.
You get my drift.

Its the very few that are bringing this about and that's the shame of it all.

 

[OoxTruExoO]

I havn't even seen a post from you since joining this forum that wasnt arguing or trying to start an arguement with ARL

You want to read more then mate. While you're at it, read Kryten's post above again. How you can defend riding like ARL after reading that is beyond me. Pointing out that bad riders were around before YouTube is imbecilic. Of course there were. But kids weren't out on the roads watching them everyday, were they? I grew up with bikes, both my parents rode them. And from afar, they looked dangerous, but they looked fun. And every time I was on the back of one, my parents rode safely. Would you do a wheelie on your bike with your own kid on the back looking over your shoulder? Would you "hold the line"? Why do it with someone else's?

I used ARL as an example. No need to be all defensive about it. It's what comes with "fame". People will start to reference you. Which is exactly my point. Kids will reference him when they start out on a bike.

If they start, they should do it after thinking long and hard.

You really think that one line sentence on a forum where they don't frequent is going to be your sole influence on newer riders? Not the footage you upload? Really?

When i am in UK i will give you a hug and tell you that its alright to be envious.

I was wrong. My mistake. His maturity is a shining light. While you're here Pete. Have you any actual response to this topic? You must get a lot of comments asking to recommend bikes for 16 or 18 year olds. Or comments saying "I can't wait to get my licence." Does any of that bother you? I know you've since left your job in emergency services, coincidentally after being caught doing a wheelie in traffic, but did it ever affect you receiving calls about motorcycle accidents?

 

[janx101]

Hang on .. I pointed out that there were stupid riders before utube ... Anyway... I don't consider it imbecilic to point it out ..

Back pre social media .. A lot of kids would see stupid fast riding and idolise it.... Of course not instantly like today ... But so many things have changed also ..

Imagine/remember? the collective horror of polite society back when Easy Rider ... or Stone .. Arrived on the scene?

Krusty Demons? ....

And the euro Ghostrider chap must be public enemy #1 ?

Any one of us can't really count themselves as 'the sole cause' of a foolish new rider getting hurt... That would be almost hubris .. Everyone STILL has a free choice to ride safe or not ..

Krytens example is tragic in that a new rider got severely and irreparably injured ... But Krytens 'fault' ?? ... You think that kid would have NOT gone riding just because in another dimension Kryten DIDNT post a vid? ... Sure seeing the vid may have influenced him to some degree ... But he never watched anyone else? .. Wanted a bike anyway? ...

What about in that other dimension /situation ....... The Bus!! .... What bus? .... Well because he never saw Krytens vid .. The kid never wanted a bike , he caught the bus everyday to work instead... On the bus there was a bomb that armed once it went above 50mph .... And a slightly nugget-headed cop .... :roll:

Look over the tube enough and there are LOTS of comments scattered about .. 'You are so cool! , you are the reason I got into Blah Blah' ...

Think the kid says every day to himself ... I blame that guy Kryten on YT? ... Or does he accept that his own choice to do whatever he did to have the accident was the cause? ... His family chasing anyone down?

I guess this seems at odds with my previous post ... But the point is that no matter who does what vid of themselves behaving or misbehaving on a bike ... The subs are their own person , with their own choices and actions .. We can try or not try to influence them one way or another and they will still make their own mistakes ...

I put a vid up the other day ... No hooning in it ... But I carried some ice cream in my tank bag for about a mile to a nice view place nearby ... So if anyone thinks .. 'Thats a good idea, I'll carry my ice cream to the beach too!' ... And they make a decision to ride there faster than I did so it doesn't melt and make a mess ... Like mine did .... So they crash ... My fault for carrying ice cream?... Or theirs for riding fast? ... Free choice is everywhere ... Beating oneself up about "what ifs" is unnecessary!

Now ... Bloody 2 soapboxes in one day ... And my usual rambling no defined path of logic either ... Oh well :roll:

 

[MrCods]

Don't ride stupid, only had 1 crash in 35 years. That was when I was 17 and learnt my lesson, just to prove I don't ride stupid have a look at my subs. 13 last count. If I rode stupid I would have 1000's


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[theluisvlogs]

At the end if the day guys it's going to continue and more than likely it is going to get worse!

So if these big youtubers feel that it's necessary to break the law pulling wheelies and disregarding the conduct on the road, LET THEM nothing is going to effect you behind your computer screen, they are the ones who have to deal with the injuries the sustain from "showing of to the camera" ! On a plus side apparently crashing is cool so despite smashing your body in to a tree and ruining future life, You're gonna get loads of subscribers and attention!!

If people are stupid enough to watch a video of someone breaking the law and then feel the need to copy sed action watched in the video with 100,000 likes (457 dislikes lol) let them pay the price that's the only way they will learn!

 

[Drobium77]

It sort of got me thinking when I had an accident last year and after getting around 300 views per video, suddenly I had over 4000 views for the crash video.

Then a few weeks later I almost got knocked off again (although it look less close than it actually was) and the amount of stick and dislikes I got because I DIDN'T crash, was just ridiculous!


I'm getting alot of stick and dislikes for this vlog and subject too, but it needs to be addressed, as sooner or later those vloggers are going to get vlogging banned or worse still biking.

If you have 40-50k people watching you videos, you are responsible for the easily lead 'sheeple' that 'will' copy you and hang on you every word and that responsibility is the cost for your 'popularity' and money.

Most of my subs I actually know and speak to quite often, but I find is hard to get over the 400 sub mark, but I refuse to 'not be me' just for the sake of selling my soul to the devil for subs.

I think it's just an age thing too with me. I'm 36 now and have been riding for 18 years and have seen many riders and friends hurt or killed by their own acts, but in those days you only heard about them through hearsay or in the paper.
Now the nutters are right5 at the apex of motorcycling in the public's eye and they are bringing the whole of biking down with them.
And who knows how long it'll be before the police start trawling through all our videos to try to find little bits of law breaking, just so they can label us all as reckless squids?

I can see it coming :-(

 

[O8ride]

Think mods and rockers, think Elvis, thnk Steve McQueen, think James Dean.

Bikes and bad/cool bikers have always made the headlines. And we all wanted to be like them when we were younger.

Up to the age of 22, I was a complete nutter on a 100cc. I'm surprised I'm still alive and never crashed other than hitting oil in the school car park and my front wheel flipping out. In front of a full school bus. Embarrassing!

And I'm pretty sure that if I had a much bigger bike, I could really kill myself, and a bike that can go faster and scarier than I can handle may be a dream, but I know it will end up a nightmare. If I'm not happy to go above 70mph on a bike, why would I need to buy a bike that easily can?

So I stick at my 50 subs, my little scooter, with videos that hardly anyone watches because they don't inlcudce crashes or wheelies or me driving like a maniac or talking interesting. Ho hum. I'd rather live and just enjoy recording it my way - at my age and with dependents, I can't afford otherwise.

 

[ham]

Hey guys,

I thought this was an interesting topic for sure, something that is quite meta for us motovloggers.

I think it is absolutely true is that a crash video or road rage video will get more views, this is no surprise. Have you ever slowed down to check out a crash on the road? On the other hand, there is also crash/rage videos on youtube that have 90% dislikes.

I don't think crash/wheelies/craziness directly equals views/subs/likes, I think generally the people with high sub counts and views have something else in common, such as nice editing, charisma, etc.

For example, off the top of my head: ARL, AB, Jake, RwT (in my opinion) are all fairly interesting peeps and their videos are well edited.

I guess my point is, low subs / low views does not mean you should do wheelies or ride outside your limits if you don't want to! Work on other aspects of your channel and figure out what else makes other YouTuber's successful.

For the record, I am probably younger than most of you, never popped a wheelie in my life (noob!) and am happy with how my channel is growing.

Edit:

Also I kinda didn't address the OP's topic:

There is definately something to be said for being a role model on YouTube, but that is where the uploader has to make a choice. The internet is not a self censored place and if someone wants to make a video on how it's cool to piss your pants (lol Billy Madison) then that's fine and maybe other people will agree with you and you can start a club.

In the end, my opinion is that ultimately the responsibility lies with the viewer to make the right decisions and their friends/family are there to help them. I like watching wheelie videos and people crashing but I know that I'm not going to wheelie accross the Harbour Bridge tomorrow.

 

[Nerb]

You want to read more then mate. While you're at it, read Kryten's post above again. How you can defend riding like ARL after reading that is beyond me. Pointing out that bad riders were around before YouTube is imbecilic. Of course there were. But kids weren't out on the roads watching them everyday, were they?

Yes, they were. TV, movies and the nightly news have been around for some time. I must have watched ghost rider a thousand times. I still dont think it was what made me ride a bike though, just like I dont think a kid will watch ARL's video of him wheelying, getting caught, paying a fine and loosing his license will make them buy a bike and give it a go.

I used ARL as an example. No need to be all defensive about it.

I wasnt being defensive, I just thought you may not realise how hostile you were.

It's what comes with "fame". People will start to reference you. Which is exactly my point. Kids will reference him when they start out on a bike.

Same kids that reference superman when they jump off the roof wearing a cape? Your ego is too big if you think everything you do will be copied. You will need to shut down media completely to achieve what you want to. There is no single influence making kids get on bikes and ride.

You really think that one line sentence on a forum where they don't frequent is going to be your sole influence on newer riders? Not the footage you upload? Really?

No, I dont expect to have any influence on people. That sentence was part of a larger paragraph explaining my thoughts. I think kids should have a think about anything they do. Thats how I raise my children. Do you expect yours to copy what they watch on youtube without thinking about it?

 

[ariderslife]

Why can't we be friends

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5OXON8vIaA