A rise in the antics of nuisance influencers in Japan, who are accused of duping train ticket collectors and pretending to be homeless to get cash, has caused consternation in the country as tourism number near their pre-pandemic levels. A railway company in Japan is investigating allegations that a group of four popular foreign YouTubers had travelled long distances by train without paying. One of the suspected fare dodgers, known online as Fidias, posted a video to his 2.38 million subscribers over the weekend showing him and three others evading rail staff and blagging free food. In one clip, he locks himself in the toilet of a bullet train and feigns illness when challenged by a ticket collector. The Cypriot YouTuber, whose real name is Fidias Panayiotou, then boards another train, promising to pull the same trick again. Another clip shows the self-described "professional mistake maker" pretending to be a hotel guest so he can eat breakfast there for free.
I just picked one article.Nuisance streamer Johnny Somali officially charged with a crime in Japan
American nuisance streamer Johnny Somali (real name: Ramsey Khalid Ismael), who traveled to Japan and filmed himself threatening to kill Japanese people with nuclear weapons, was formally charged with the…boingboing.net
In 2002, MTV aired "The Subway Monkey Hour" featuring comedian Tom Green. In it, Green uses his outlandish prank/nuisance style of comedy, of which he is considered a pioneer, to create uncomfortable situations for Japanese people. For example, one of the most outlandish parts of the special was when he visited a conveyor belt sushi shop and placed a sex toy, walkie-talkie and camcorder on a plate. As it revolved around the room, the camcorder recorded customers' reactions as the sex toy vibrated, and he said inappropriate things through the walkie-talkie. The customer reacted negatively, and the staff became angry and kicked him out. However, it was a big hit in America then and is still considered a great comedy special with an IMDb rating of 7.6 out of 10.
Prison time would be excessive but how about fining them and banning them from the country?An editorial on whether Johnny Somali and his ilk of "nuisance YouTubers" should get prison time in Japan.
Should YouTuber Johnny Somali get prison time in Japan?
YouTubers who make videos of themselves doing pranks or purposely trying to irritate others in public have gained popularity for years. Despite their popularity, some consider what they do a nuisance; thus, the term “nuisance YouTuber” spawned. One such YouTuber who gained considerable...japantoday.com
The article mentions "The Subway Monkey Hour". Has anyone seen this before?
Yeah, prison time for it might be a slippery slope. But I do agree, throw them out and put them on a Youtube channel of idiot YouTube influencers who have been thrown out of the country.Prison time would be excessive but how about fining them and banning them from the country?
At least the TV shows that do it compensate their victims (I assume).I'd think that the laws currently in place should be sufficient to keep these guys in check. Things like being filmed without consent, or using a location for filming without approval and then using that film for commercial purposes. I do think these guys are a new kind of nuisance, and maybe require a new kind of response. Going someplace with intent to cause disruption, filming that disruption, and then using that film to your monetary benefit, is just horrible.
seems like deplatforming them would be a good deterrentI'd think that the laws currently in place should be sufficient to keep these guys in check. Things like being filmed without consent, or using a location for filming without approval and then using that film for commercial purposes. I do think these guys are a new kind of nuisance, and maybe require a new kind of response. Going someplace with intent to cause disruption, filming that disruption, and then using that film to your monetary benefit, is just horrible.
Wouldn't that require the cooperation of the platforms? And platforms are usually quite happy to turn a blind eye to anything that generates clicks.seems like deplatforming them would be a good deterrent
oh yeah, they absolutely don't care, you'd have to hold them to account to spur them to any kind of action. I just meant that since the influencers do this for attention and clicks, if doing this kind of thing got them booted from the platform (and lost them all of their followers and revenue), they'd think twice before filming themselves committing crimes or being a nuisance.Wouldn't that require the cooperation of the platforms? And platforms are usually quite happy to turn a blind eye to anything that generates clicks.
Unfortunately these "fringe" people with unhinged views sometimes end up at the highest levels of government. It's truly mind boggling.I just read up on the sovereign citizens. Similar movements have been sprouting in Europe, too. Mind-boggling.
Most of this maelstrom of discussion topics you raised could be solved simply by applying "common sense" and a spoonful of utilitarism. There are many reasons to criticise groupthink and peer pressure in Japanese society, but what I appreciate about Japan is that the boundaries of what's acceptable aren't under the constant challenge of miscreants harbouring ulterior motives and hidden agendas.
The internet has evolved to reflect the true nature and desire of human beings and what they want to see, or what they're willing to put up withI guess the internet has just naturally evolved to reward bad behavior, as a result of it being set up as an attention-based economy.
Good riddance indeed, but that fine is far too low in my estimation. I would put it at least at 150-200% of whatever he made off his channel from the moment he started posting videos he filmed in Japan. It needs to be way more trouble than it's worth to pull this kind of crap, otherwise the fine is just a cost of doing "business"さよなら, Johnny Somali, and good riddance!
【速報】迷惑系アメリカ人配信者『ジョニー・ソマリ』に罰金20万円の判決 牛丼店で大音量ライブ配信 検察「迷惑行為をネット上配信行為が横行、相応処罰が必須」(MBSニュース) - Yahoo!ニュース
大阪・道頓堀の飲食店で、大音量で音楽を流しながら動画を撮影・配信したとして、威力業務妨害の罪に問われていたアメリカ国籍の男。 大阪地裁は1月10日午前、男に罰金20万円の有罪判決を言い渡しましnews.yahoo.co.jp
Hmm, while I wouldn't say it's our true nature or desire, I would agree that negativity and reactivity are innate behaviors (and powerful drivers of engagement), and the content out there that triggers those responses probably cause endorphins to release, which creates an addiction cycle of sorts.The internet has evolved to reflect the true nature and desire of human beings and what they want to see, or what they're willing to put up with
The problem is social media notoriety. Even if they get in trouble it is just more notoriety, and in turn it makes more people want to do stupid things to get notoriety.Seriously, how hard is it for people to respect the cultures they visit around the world? What if I suddenly started doing jumping jacks in a Chilean Catholic church during Sunday Mass or climbed on top of the pulpit? What is wrong with people? If you can't act respectful stay home!