In the USA, a conflict has been brewing for some time between influencers on YouTube and Twitch and the more “traditional” gaming press. The conflict recently surfaced in a clash between authors from the US site Kotaku and Twitch streamer Dr Disrespect on Twitter.
Who shot first? This time, Kotaku fired the first shots. In an article about the apology from Guy Beahm, the man behind Dr Disrespect, Kotaku author Nathan Grayson said Beahm uses the character of the Twitch streamer “Dr Disrespect” as a shield against criticism.
Dr Disrespect and Twitch “not authentic”
This is the attack: Beahm said he did this to be authentic. But Grayson questions that authenticity. On Twitch, everything is a performance. No one here is authentic, least of all when they play a role.
People make calculated decisions on how they want to present themselves on Twitch.
It would have been truly authentic if Beahm had taken responsibility for the mistake himself instead of blaming the “brand Dr Disrespect”. (via kotaku)
Kotaku no longer relevant
This is how the Doctor reacts: Dr Disrespect reportedly reacted a bit sensitively. He said, “The curve of Kotaku’s growth is going down faster than Jason Schreier’s hairline.”
There is no need to worry, no one in the “community” knows these guys.
Furthermore, the Twitch streamer pokes fun at both authors a bit by tweeting from their perspective:
Grayson would be a “hot shot” reporter at the mighty site Kotaku. He has written so many cool things in his life, but nothing was as great as the coverage of the 2009 mobile tournament at Angry Birds for $100. He even won that.
Regarding Schreier, it is said that Kotaku’s tweets are on the rise. Instead of getting 1-3 likes like a year ago, they now get 3-5. Furthermore, Schreier has written a book about video games, and that is popular in the office. Then Dr Disrespect posted another picture of Schreier’s rather long forehead.
This alludes to the book “Blood, Sweat and Pixels” that Schreier wrote and frequently promotes.
Hey man like I said, I’d be happy to chat any time – if it makes you feel more comfortable I can Skype from the bathroom
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) July 2, 2019
This is how Schreier responded: Schreier is a well-known gaming reporter who works investigatively and is responsible for some “exposés” in recent months.
He replied, “Hey, we can talk anytime – If you feel more comfortable, I can Skype from my bathroom.”
For the remark, Schreier received a lot of applause on Twitter. He is referencing the bathroom stream from Dr Disrespect for which he was banned.
How authentic is the other side?
This is what it is about: Apart from the jokes about hair: What seems like a playful exchange here actually has a serious background. It concerns the dominance in gaming interpretation.
In the USA, it is noticeable that tensions between influencers on Twitch and YouTube and the established gaming press are escalating. This also has economic reasons.
Certain YouTubers attack gaming outlets by emphasizing their own authenticity and questioning that of the US sites. Opinion leaders on US sites like Kotaku or Polygon increasingly target influencers: They also question authenticity.
Dr Disrespect emphasizes his own relevance, especially on social media. He cites his reach and suggests that gaming sites are on the decline. In doing so, he also challenges sites like Kotaku over the interpretation of what is happening in the world of gaming.
