Dialogue
A Whole Lot of BS: Part 4
Since its introduction in 2005, YouTube was a site where we could post anything and express ourselves freely without the fear of being censored. They celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2025 and since then, it's gotten worse. YouTube is owned by Google, which makes saying and doing whatever you want even more difficult. I've noticed this change about 10 years ago when some YouTubers started to censor certain words in the titles of their videos. Also, they censor certain words or use toned down versions of them in the thumbnails of their own videos. Now, they have to use soft language and euphemisms while talking about certain topics to avoid having their videos being demonetized. If you have to walk the fence and dance around certain words and topics in order to keep your channel up, then you don't deserve to be on YouTube. We live in a world where everyone has to be coddled because certain words have to be toned down. If you're going to run a channel where you discuss serious topics, such as sexual assault, substance abuse, and mental health, honest and important information are important. That involves saying the actual words, not by using euphemisms to appease sponsors or your audience. Difficult topics should be told based on facts, not protecting people's feelings. The late comedian George Carlin discussed in one of his comedy specials that he disliked euphemisms, because they hid the truth. Whenever I write stories about mental health, I use honest and direct language. I refuse to sugarcoat or tone down terminology to make people comfortable. Honest language is the best way, while soft language doesn't spread awareness about the aforementioned topics. I won't and will never coddle my audience on here, because I speak the truth. If you're a YouTuber and are more concerned about your sponsors because you refuse to say certain words, then I'd suggest you find something else to do. That sounds more like a you problem. Last time I checked, we're all adults. We can handle learning about difficult topics. Also, we don't need to be babied. Get off your high horse, say the actual words, and stop coddling everyone. We're not five years old anymore. Words like rape, sex, sexual assault, and OnlyFans are not bad words. Stop using toned down versions and abbreviations of these words. Also, stop spelling out words like these. We're not five-year-olds that need to be coddled.
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