Mastodawn

GN spends the first segment of their GN News to responding to Linus's comments, and reveals that Linus mislead people on the Billet compensation.

https://lemmy.ml/post/3376890

GN spends the first segment of their GN News to responding to Linus's comments, and reveals that Linus mislead people on the Billet compensation. - Lemmy

According to Billet themselves, they heard nothing about compensation or payback until about 3 hours after the original GN video went live… Which Billet hadnt even replied to before Linus made his post saying they’ve already made the deal on compensation.

Puzzle_Sluts_4Ever Aug 15, 2023

Yeah…

Before I was generally on the side of “ask for comment even if you don’t have to”

LMG/Linus have shown exactly why it is sometimes better to be “unprofessional” considering that they apparently sent a quick email to Billet saying they would pay them right before hitting submit on the forum post so that it sounds like GN were negligent.

Dubious_Fart Aug 15, 2023

its not unprofessional to give the subject of a story that is doing active harm a heads up so they can use their position to pressure you into silence, or try to come up with some last minute hooplah to try to discredit the reporting rather than addressing the core issues in their own company.

Thats like telling a company that is actively dumping toxic waste into a river that you know they are doing it, and you would like comment before they report on scene next week. All you do is give them time to stop the dumping, clean up the obvious signs, and put out an undercutting statement to try and discredit/dismiss the legitimacy of the story.

Puzzle_Sluts_4Ever Aug 15, 2023

See, that is somewhere that I very much disagree with GN on

Using your toxic waste excuse: if it gets the company to stop dumping toxic waste a week sooner then… that is a week less of making three eyed fish and killing kids.

That said: I do agree that timing and pressure are a problem. GN likely already know what the fallout of this will be and went in eyes open. So LMG pressuring them is not the issue. And even in terms of leadup: It is “kind of shitty”, but timing an email to be sent after WAN show on Friday and then posting Tuesday would leave minimal room for the obvious hit pieces.

Like I said, I don’t think GN had to. But in terms of outcome: most people aren’t going to watch the follow up so it will just be LMG’s gaslighting response that makes GN look unprofessional.

Dubious_Fart Aug 15, 2023

That has got to be the most corrupted take that could be possible taken from that.

You know what serves the public good? Reporting on it, So people can see what the company is doing, So they don’t get away with turning off the valve for a couple days… So they get held accountable for having the valve at all, and the exposure forcing them to spend their money on cleanup and decontamination, while the public outcry gets so bad that government steps in with regulation, and legislation, and oversight.

You know what doesnt serve the public good? Letting the corpo hide its shit and get away with everything, because you think theres some insignificant, nonexistent benefit to letting it do so.

Puzzle_Sluts_4Ever Aug 15, 2023

You still report. You don’t stop reporting.

But what is the difference here? GN made a video. LMG made a gaslighting response. Maybe a fraction of the people who cared are going to watch the GN HW News update and see that get refuted.

Versus: GN made a video. A day before it launched, LMG tried to do some bullshit. GN calls out that bullshit with receipts. The audience of the original video see everything

JimmyMcGill Aug 15, 2023

Using your toxic waste excuse: if it gets the company to stop dumping toxic waste a week sooner then… that is a week less of making three eyed fish and killing kids.

And then they resume the dumping next week, maybe at a different location and long term nothing changes.

Dubious_Fart Aug 15, 2023

Exactly.

Not every story requires input/comment from the subject.

Its not unprofessional or hitjobbing to not get one.

Especially when the subject has a public forum (WAN, Twitter, His own Website, Youtube, etc) where he has explicitly made his statements and stances known.

Cosmic Cleric Aug 15, 2023

Then you go after them, again. And again. And again.

fluxion Aug 15, 2023

Surprised Linus did make them sign an NDA with how shady he played that.

So fucking sad to see. I want nothing more than Linus and LTT to continue to be massively successful but FFS he needs to pull his head out of his ass and accept a bit a constructive criticism now and then. Even LTT’s own staff agreed on a number of Steve’s points but Linus keeps putting his ego ahead of everything else.

JimmyMcGill Aug 15, 2023

GN absolutely destroys Linus in this video. I mean Linus gave him all the ammo by repeatedly lying and not owning up his mistakes, but still. He’s calling like it is, without any sugarcoating.

I did change my sub from LTT to GN.

Dubious_Fart Aug 15, 2023

Nah.

GN didnt destroy Linus.

GN just assembled everything into a easily digestable package.

It was Linus’s Ego that destroyed Linus.

clegko Aug 15, 2023

45 minutes of Steve talking isn't an easily digestible package, sorry.

AtomicPurple Aug 15, 2023

Compared to sifting though God knows how many hours of LMG content to find this information yourself, it sure is. I was aware of perhaps two of the data accuracy issues Steve presents, prior to the GN video. And I had no idea about the Billet Labs thing, or that an LTX charity auction even happened.
That's what good reporting does. It takes complex issues with disparate data points, then makes connections and filters out the noise to make it digestible to a wide audience. It may be a long video, but having watched the whole thing, I'd say at least 90% of it necessary to make the points being conveyed.

Dubious_Fart Aug 15, 2023

Yeah yeah, and if it was a 30 second tiktok like you wanted, you’d handwave it away as “Well he has no real proof, why should i care”

7heo Aug 15, 2023

With that god awful automated dubbing voice, or an ultra pretentious early-20s hipster voice from California. Keel me nao.

Tau Aug 16, 2023

and subtitles that go word per word flashing on the screen with thousands of effects

Default_Defect Aug 16, 2023

Oh no, oh no, oh no no no no no.

phillaholic Aug 15, 2023

Incredible how true this is

HellAwaits Aug 16, 2023

For people who can’t follow along with a very simple video, sure.

OtakuAltair Aug 15, 2023

…Yeah that’s enough.

Blatantly, and knowingly, lying (let’s not pretend that wasn’t the intention) about his compensation to billet is too much. No excuses for that.

traveler Aug 15, 2023

Also found odd that suddenly they already had things settled.

Puzzle_Sluts_4Ever Aug 15, 2023

I mean, it sounds like this was known-ish and Billet had been reaching out to them repeatedly. It is not at all strange that a cock-up of this magnitude would have been solved some time in the two or three weeks since LTX.

Which is why it is even more wild that only the published video got LMG to respond to an industry contact asking for their shit back.

traveler Aug 15, 2023

If I was a smaller brand I’d avoid to send shit to LMG now. This was a massive fuck up and would never happen with ASUS or Noctua.

Puzzle_Sluts_4Ever Aug 15, 2023

The thing is: You basically can’t. LMG is still a massive tech media outlet with insane reach. If you ignore them then you are actively hurting your company.

And that especially goes for the tiny outlets like Billet where they are already looking at low volume boutique products. I doubt anyone would have expected that LMG would have made what seems like a focused effort to fuck the company over at every step. But even if the outcome had been “Uhm… I guess it works? Not sure why you would want it, but it works” that is MASSIVE advertisement. And the various enthusiasts who do want a product like this will then know it exists and so forth.

People very much underestimate just how little power smaller companies have.

traveler Aug 15, 2023

If they fuck you anyway why send the products at all? Better save the money and the company and just keep with smaller YouTubers no?

Puzzle_Sluts_4Ever Aug 15, 2023

Because smaller youtubers have almost no reach. Especially because, Dipshit Tech Tips is right: This is not something that anyone should buy. But the custom loop community are delightful sickos who don’t let that stop them. But they are very much a small percentage of any audience.

Getting it to a specialized channel like jaystwocents would increase the number of eyes on it. But folk there likely also are already ride or die with EK or whichever company they like.

And what LMG did is pretty much unheard of. The usual response to this would be, even if it was a mediocre cooler, “In our testing, the thermals were in this range which is comparable to these other products. We would probably go with the AIO or even the stock cooler but, depending on your workload and aesthetics, this could be a good buy”. Rather than “We are too stupid to follow basic instructions, maliciously threw away the card they gave us, and are now going to shit on this company for weeks on end”

And… the dirty open secret of water cooling is that even AIOs are probably overkill for most consumer builds. That is WHY outlets like j2c tend to do the complete torture tests and then talk about how no gaming workload will ever be anything like that.

I DO think outlets are going to be increasingly wary of working with LMG since one of their recurring bits is “Linus hates company X and rants about it for a month”. But the benefit of having Jake hold it up in front of a camera and maybe convince a few other people they should spend money are still probably going to be worth it.

4am Aug 15, 2023

You know what really sucks? Owning their stuff. I got the screwdriver (it’s pretty nice). I’m drinking from one of the water bottles right now (it’s also pretty nice).

How am I supposed to go on using that shit? I can’t do it in front of anyone who knows. “Oh you like that LTT stuff? You know what they did right?”

All that goodwill flushed because of ego. All that cost, sunk. And the worst part is that this discourages me from buying merch from anyone else again, lest I get burned again someday when it comes out they too are the opposite of the image they portray for money.

I guess there truly is no ethical consumption under capitalism.

JBloodthorn Aug 15, 2023

I would dremel the logo off.

lichtmetzger Aug 15, 2023

Just keep the L to sgow everyone what you really think about Linus.

OonTaaKissa Aug 15, 2023

I bought a couple of hoodies from them on sale, so I'm in a similar situation. Luckily most of their merch is pretty stealthy so the only people who would recognise them are other ltt viewers. I just hope that Linus can get his head out of his ass and give a proper apology and make things right

OonTaaKissa Aug 15, 2023

I bought a couple of hoodies from them on sale, so I'm in a similar situation. Luckily most of their merch is pretty stealthy so the only people who would recognise them are other ltt viewers. I just hope that Linus can get his head out of his ass and give a proper apology and make things right

clegko Aug 15, 2023

Or.... just don't give a fuck and reply with "Bought it before the shennanigans, bro. Not gonna toss it."

Kecessa Aug 15, 2023

But what will people think? 😱

True answer: They won’t give a fuck

4am Aug 15, 2023

Yeah, I suppose I’m not going to actually give a shit. Still feels bad, man.

BlueSquid0741 Aug 15, 2023

I used a Tek Syndicate mug up until a few months ago from way back when Logan was still cool. It was a sweet mug regardless.

Default_Defect Aug 16, 2023

That logo rules.

keylogthis Aug 15, 2023

You can lightly sand the water bottle and repaint over it.

Altima NEO Aug 15, 2023

Well at least you don’t have the ltt underpants

4am Aug 16, 2023

….uhhhhh

(Lol nah thankfully I never went that far)

MrFunnyMoustache Aug 15, 2023

I’ve been eyeing their screwdriver for a while, but I don’t want to give Linus my money after seeing this… Wanna sell it to me? I don’t care if it has any minor damage from regular use.

Puzzle_Sluts_4Ever Aug 16, 2023

Unless you absolutely need a magnetized bit holder, the LTT screwdriver is literally a Megapro with “improved” bit storage in the base. And trust me, you don’t actually want a magnetized bit holder. Because that is how you get screws stuck inside. Bit storage in the base is arguable but I’ve personally never found a need. Either I am powering through an ungodly amount of phillips heads or I am switching my bit so often that it is easier to just have a small baggy or 3d printed holder off to the side.

The Project Farm video is ALWAYS referenced and… it is a really good video. That nerd doesn’t miss. But if you actually look at the criteria and how he weighted things, it is a weird hybrid “ratcheting screwdriver” and “automotive screwdriver, but not really” middle ground. And considering what the LMG fanbase has done to other youtubers who crossed Linus, I don’t blame him for skewing the conclusion. Because if you actually care about his videos, it doesn’t matter what his conclusions are. What matters are which tests matter to you and so forth.

Personally? I use an ifixit kit for computer and “tech” work. Build quality is solid, I should not need to tighten anything hard enough to need a strong shaft (hee hee) and a ratchet, and I prefer the mako (?) case since it comes with a cover that lets me organize screws. And for house work I literally use a cheap ass Kobalt that I have a love/hate relationship with. I might grab a wera or a megapro some day but… it isn’t a priority. Because if I am really dealing with THAT many screws? I get them started with my screwdriver and then grab the drill or impact driver to finish it off.

MrFunnyMoustache Aug 16, 2023

Since I don’t own a car or anything that requires high torque, I really don’t need an automotive grade screwdriver. I keep losing screws because the magnets are not strong enough in the bits I have. 90% of my screwdriver usage are PCs and other tech.

Nothing wrong with the megapro though… I might get that one, though I would prefer getting the strongest magnet I can get my hands on.

WhiskyTangoFoxtrot Aug 16, 2023

What’s so special about their screwdriver? Can I fight off a Dalek invasion with it or something?

MrFunnyMoustache Aug 16, 2023

I just want it for the strong magnet and the megapro style bit holder.

CeeBee Aug 15, 2023

How am I supposed to go on using that shit?

Lmao. I keep forgetting they sell merch. I refuse to buy merch from those guys. They’ve come across like a bunch of Windows gamers who built a bunch of gaming PCs and then became self proclaimed tech experts and started a YouTube channel.

Yes, I know Linus worked at NCIX and has memorized a lot of product numbers, but that means nothing.

Where you see his true (lack) of expertise is in the storage server failure video and all the Linux stuff he did.

He got mad that Linux was outside of his Windows power-user comfort zone and crapped all over Linux to make himself feel better.

He’s a tool.

Default_Defect Aug 16, 2023

Just pretend that your specific money went into the pocket of one of the employees whose fault this isn’t.

GarbageShoot [he/him]Aug 16, 2023

Just put a sticker over the logo if you don’t want to sand it

steal_your_face Aug 15, 2023

What a joke. Linus’s response was horrible and I’m glad Steve is calling him out on it.

kadu Aug 15, 2023

I mean, GN in the video had confirmed they’ve talked to Billet - of course they knew about the updated situation. Linus implying otherwise was shady.

DarkThoughts Aug 15, 2023

What a way to dig himself in even deeper. Yikes.

OonTaaKissa Aug 15, 2023

This response has made me lose so much respect for LTT. Linus really needs to learn when to shut up and stop digging himself into these holes. He could have just apologized, compensated Billet properly and worked on fixing whatever communication issues his team has, but instead he wrote a long non-apology where he deflected blame, tripled down on the Billet situation and just straight up lied about compensating them. Very scummy behaviour from Linus.

Dubious_Fart Aug 15, 2023

Linus is a narcissist.

Narcissists have to prove how wrong everyone else was.

They have to control the narrative.

And when all else fails, they have to make themselves look like the victim, so they get all the positive attention.

Thats why he cant shut up, and always doubles down to make everything worse.

hemko Aug 15, 2023

While I don’t want to defend Linus here, I think calling him narcissistic is a bit of a stretch. It’s public information he has ADHD, and this sort of impulsive reaction and jumping into full defense just shows it.

Lazz45 Aug 15, 2023

I have battled ADHD since second grade, been medicated and in therapy many times. I’m a successful chemical engineer now and I can promise you, that’s not an excuse for this behavior. I’m also by chance friends with multiple people with diagnosed ADHD, and not a single one of them acts this way when someone points out they are wrong.

So I’m not really fine with ADHD being used to explain shitty behavior. It’s not an excuse, ever

Puzzle_Sluts_4Ever Aug 15, 2023

ADHD is the “tech world”'s equivalent of “oh, he was on sleeping pills” of justifying horrid behavior.

hemko Aug 15, 2023

I’m not blaming it on ADHD, like I wouldn’t blame my own bad behavior on it. I just said that the impulsivity is just part of it

steal_your_face Aug 15, 2023

Blaming it on adhd is an insult to people with adhd.

hemko Aug 15, 2023

I have diagnosed ADHD.

CeeBee Aug 15, 2023

So do I, and I find it insulting. Have I ever replied to someone with an emotionally driven impulse making things worse for myself? Absolutely, but that’s something I did when I was 18 or 19.

I’ve learned how not to be so reactive. If something really infuriates me, I give myself some time to connect my thoughts and reflect on the situation.

I’m almost the same age as Linus Sebastian (about a year and a half difference). He should have learned how to conduct himself a long time ago. Especially if he knows he has ADHD.

ADHD is not an excuse.

snor10 Aug 15, 2023

I am so sick of people using disabilities to deflect responsibility for shitty behavior.

So what if he has ADHD?

If that truly is the cause, he knows his disability and has a responsibility to make an effort to not let the effects of it have a negative impact on others.

An explanation is not an excuse.