Uniqueness - Metaphor Alert!

Nolan Westmore

I take up space
Freedom! Member
Jul 29, 2014
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I'm pretty sure the original post where I wrote this was deleted, good thing I keep a record of all my long rifs.

The question posed was on the topic of being unique in the YouTube content creation scene, the creator asking was a gamer.

[Warning: Thematic metaphorical sandwiches]
There is almost nothing truly unique left to be had. You might find a crumb of the sandwich somewhere in these years after it was eaten, but it's still mostly gone. It's our job as the YouTubers of this era of content creation to find and culture these crumbs.

Some of us, might be able to share crumbs and bring ourselves up to a new era of the old. But one must tread very lightly, for many gulls are fighting over the same crumb. Gaming is a chunk of the sandwich, mostly gobbled up. There are a few crumbs left behind but everyone is fighting for those few crumbs, and more are joining the fight every single day. Which in turn makes it harder for those already fighting to keep on doing so. The more that are fighting, the more distraction comes from those who were fighting before. Consider the following...

For the purpose of this experimental thought, we're going to assume the content quality and the exposure of each person is the same.

One person invents a brand new kind of video and thus has 100% market share, he has all of the necessary components to be the leader of that type of video. In doing so, he attracts someone else to do the same, now the pair have 50% market share assuming identical exposure and quality of content.

But (like gaming did long ago) another person joins. 1/3 market share for all.

Then a fourth, then a fifth, then a sixth. And now, a 3,353,248th person. The difference is realistically, is that the market share continually degrades per person instead of growing.

The equation 3350000(99.65/100)^x explains this perfectly. As more channels get made and start producing content, the less market share the new person has. While the biggest get the most because they are the biggest, the smallest fight to try to get what they can, but they fight a war they cannot win. We can say without a doubt that there is at least 1000 moderately successful gaming channels (successful being 100k+), this doesn't make any exceptions for the new, for the path is taken on by but not meant for the meek.

People think about why I'm so sadistic about the chances of getting big in gaming on YouTube, and this is why. My graphing calculator doesn't even zoom far enough in to give me a decimal place that quantifies anything other than absolute 0 once we get to the 3,350,000 mark.

This isn't to say that your minor successes don't mean anything though. There are holes in this floor that can be poked, it's just made out of hardwood and most people are trying to peck at it with a toothpick. Wood vs. Wood doesn't do much damage, but once people get the ideology and methodology of YouTube nailed down, then they'll be able to hit the wood with a hammer. Everyone knows that the hammer is around somewhere, yet so few people actually find it because they're looking in all the wrong places.

On YouTube, the hammer is never where you left it.
 

Phil Kidd

Human Person
Freedom! Member
Dec 10, 2014
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YouTube
So how does my gaming channel factor in to your dismal metaphor? Am I a really hungry gull?

I think you forget that the crumbs also move toward the gulls they like better. They don't just sit there.
 

Nolan Westmore

I take up space
Freedom! Member
Jul 29, 2014
2,168
875
27
Canada
Actxr
So how does my gaming channel factor in to your dismal metaphor? Am I a really hungry gull?

I think you forget that the crumbs also move toward the gulls they like better. They don't just sit there.
How many hands can sit on a table before there is no room left for another?[DOUBLEPOST=1453146787][/DOUBLEPOST]Remember that the object of this post is uniquity and it's connection to potential success on the platform.
 

Hail Kira

Game Show Host
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Feb 5, 2014
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I've seen so many channels come and go that I don't think there is any floor left... just a pile of dead gulls to run around on...

But hey... at least we got unlimited free storage for our videos...
 
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Phil Kidd

Human Person
Freedom! Member
Dec 10, 2014
1,285
637
Ottawa
YouTube
How many hands can sit on a table before there is no room left for another?[DOUBLEPOST=1453146787][/DOUBLEPOST]Remember that the object of this post is uniquity and it's connection to potential success on the platform.
Many if leaves keep getting added to the table.