I keep to a pretty strict policy about not responding to comments (for my sanity) especially when the comment is deeply stupid (and engaging with it is the equivalent of throwing my time in the trash). But I slip up now and again because it's 🤬 when people run their mouths despite 1) not watching to the end of the video 2) completely missing the point or 3) say something that is so temptingly easy to dismantle (I see a dumb comment and I'm a lion spotting a wounded zebra--I think of something so evil that would decimate the person and I have to use every oz of willpower to not say it because I will get canceled for being a bully.)

This video (The Biggest Lie College Counselors Tell) isn't "private" in the sense of "exclusive content"-- it's just in IG trial mode to keep it from distracting from my book promo content. I broke my policy to respond to someone who commented "ridiculous fear mongering" with this other (trial aka unlisted) video: "Don't Trust Your College Counselor".

I concede the titles/headlines are clickbait-y, but ... this is what you came for. Like, to accuse someone of making clickbait or fear mongering or being sensational on social media is like telling people on Ozempic they're doing it to be skinny, not for diabetes. Um? No shit.

It blows my mind that people complain about content "just trying to get views". In the same vein, complaining about "influencers who sell out":

Why do you think [now-Gucci'd-out influencer] started making content other than to make a career of it and make money? It comes back to the parasocial thing and how dumb people think they know the people they follow on the internet and that their criticisms/judgment matter.

I'm getting off topic--I didn't need to respond to the "ridiculous fear mongering" comment. Much worse things have been said in my comments. But besides the headline, my original video was not meant to be outrage bait-- and to call it such reminds me of the weaponization of therapy speak. Just because you don't want to hear an unpleasant truth about the college admission game (which is one of the most widely acknowledged rackets) doesn't make it fear mongering. You can't just dismiss facts that are inconvenient for your world view (that's how we got to where we are).

I'm reading a terrifying book (Trust Me I'm Lying by Ryan Holiday) about media manipulation and I can't recommend it enough. But be warned, it'll make you not want to read news (or consume media) ever again. The way I want to make this required reading for every single person in the world-- it should be a prerequisite for owning a smart phone.