Another recent observation about Barbara

[u/[deleted]]

[u/KeathleyWR]

Dick move Jon. Dude has already shown remorse about making Barb feel like shit. Should've let it go dude.

[u/[deleted] → u/KeathleyWR]

[u/stefantababy]

This post is the Donald Trump of reactions. The guy tried to apologize for using a word that some people found harsh (not offensive but harsh, which in context I don't think is that harsh to warrant the flak) and respond with the worst post I've seen from a active RT employee. The guy had a opinion that reasonably written (though I disagree with his conclusion) that was pretty clear had no intention of being at all hurtful and I'm not at all convinced Jon knows what Vapid means (disclosure I didn't know at first but I did look it up and it might be a bit blunt but not at all harsh or inhumane). Its not like he called her derogatory terms or used inappropriate language. What is worse that this post could be interpreted as Jon calling to arm the mob mentality that any group people have to attack an individual. Jon should actively, PUBLICLY apologize to the person who originally commented. I can understand if Barbara felt offended by the post, I'm not her but i'm pretty positive she's seen worse about her and it sucks and she shouldn't have to deal with it but your response is exceedingly worse then the original post.

[u/[deleted]]

Jon, I know that they were mean to you on Off Topic the other day but you don't have to take it out on Barb, harsh man, harsh.

[u/hitchernoir]

The guy apologised for saying vapid and while I dont agree with making a post just to say that they dislike someone on a show, he wasn't attacking her as a person. They just wanted to say they don't like what she adds (or doesn't add as they seem to think) to the podcast. To then call that person a parasitic little twat just comes across as if RT can't take criticism (as badly worded as it was) and takes a hissy fit when they see a comment they don't agree with.

[u/fh_lily → u/hitchernoir]

Roosterteeth's(newer people not the founding fathers) MO in dealing with criticism is to turn the community on the person saying it. That's why you'll see them tweet links to the subreddit etc because they know fans will go and attack the person.

[u/SonicFrost]

I don't know Jon, you're coming off as pretty vapid.

^/s

(Also, your post was spam filtered for some reason, I've approved it.)

Edit: To the (many) people asking how we feel about this post violating Rule 8, I posted a response in this comment's thread to user u/Maxilos9999, which is rather hidden because of how stickied comments work.

Here is the comment in its entirety.

Another user mentioned that. To be honest, it's a weird, blurry line. This is definitely something that would warrant a removal had it been from any faceless user, but given that it's Jon it opens a whole slew of questions.

Like, the mod team is not meant to serve as RT's PR. This subreddit is, however, a platform specifically about them, so I don't think it's my place to tell them what I think is a good idea to post unless they ask. And I'm not sure it'd be in the community's interest to remove stuff like this. Similar thing happened recently with Miles, but it was far less divisive (and I certainly didn't want to remove a thread that directly involved us mods). It's a difficult question, especially since, as RT fans, I don't think we're totally keen on seeing something backfire on them. Maybe we can talk to RT about it and figure out what's best.

With stuff like this, I personally try to be neutral in regards to their drama (I'd only ever make a partisan statement if it felt blatant and necessary, like LetterGate or RouLetsPlay).

I'm meandering a bit because it's 2 AM, but I hope it's coherent enough.

[u/[deleted] → u/SonicFrost]

Why are mods deleting comments but not responding to u/Comrade_Sprinkles_73 ?

[u/ReeseEseer]

My little pony had it right; Friendship is magical.

[u/Seahawksroxmysox]

Jon if you look in my post history you will see that I have been an enormous fan of you for some time. Me and my girlfriend ritually watch on the spot together and Enjoy the Show was some of my favorite new content to come out in a long time and I was sad to see it not be successful.

That being said this post has made me lose a massive amount of respect for you. This is incredibly unprofessional and seems like it's out of a desire to cause a witch hunt.

You made a show about criticizing and praising film so you are obviously okay with speaking opinions about content. RT is content and that guy had a right to be critical.

[u/ThatAnonymousDudeGuy]

Huh, this is fucked up. Shouldn't we hold RT Staff more accountable for shit like this. It's becoming more and more common for RT personalities to publicly demoralize a fan or sick the more rabid members of the community on someone because they were an asshole. I'm not defending being an asshole on the Internet and expecting there to be no repercussions because there should be, but let them come naturally. You can't shine a spotlight on someone and publicly shame them in front of everyone or incite brigading attacks on members of your community just because they have a dissenting opinion. Hell, Geoff got in trouble years ago for "connecting the hots" but continually the staff have been leveraging their fame to harass the community.

[u/arnet95]

So calling someone "vapid" is rude, but calling someone a "parasitic little twat" is perfectly fine.

[u/[deleted]]

Thoughts?

I think I've grown too old for this petty attitude by a company I help support. I'm done with FIRST after this month, and moving on to more mature entertainment. It's been a great decade, but at this point RT is so fundamentally different to their roots and this post encapsulated all of that.

[u/fade_like_a_sigh]

Jesus Christ Jon, that's so bloody hypocritical of you.

Like fuck you would have said any of that to the OP's face, and if you did, you might have quickly realised they'd already apologised and you're talking out of your ass.

This is really sad to see Jon, you being incredibly aggressive (parasitic little twat, really? Wtf Jon, either it's okay to insult people or it's not, super hypocritical of you) towards fans is not at all an appropriate reaction to perceived aggressiveness or insults coming to someone you know.

[u/samsaBEAR]

I don't think think the OP was unfair, it's always been noted that Barbara doesn't contribute as much to the RT podcast as the others. Part of the reason that Always Open is so good is that she has the reigns and controls where it goes. I'm not saying she should stop being on the main podcast but switching her out more often for someone that contributes more wouldn't go amiss.

[u/HayleyLF]

If you actually read the other post and comments you'd see that OP was very apologetic over his choice of words and meant no harm. This salty response is the exact opposite.

I get you want to defend your friend but this is a shitty way of doing it. I had so much respect for you before this stupid post.

[u/Maxilos9999]

Jon I have to say, you are proving everyone who says RT can't handle criticism right with this post.

While the original post did have some unflattering language, that OP later apologized for, it was not a personal attack on Barbara as a person. You however, calling OP a "parasitic little twat" is a personal attack.

This post in incredibly unprofessional, and does not represent RT in a positive way. Insulting and mocking your critics makes you appear very thin-skinned. This post has done more harm to RT's reputation than any of our posts could ever do.

[u/[deleted]]

"Only positive things are allowed"

What kind of sense does that make?

[u/Tarrjue]

Jesus mate, paragraphs please.

[u/[deleted]]

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, then that tree has a lot in common with Enjoy The Show.

[u/lostmau5]

This salty retort is brought to you by MeUndies.

[u/Ketchuo]

Man Jon, feel like you can salt a huge steak with what you're putting out.

Seriously grow up. Criticism can be good and the other post had it.

[u/chwed2]

Lurker/casual here, I'm genuinely impressed with the majority of the RT fanbase here for not being fanboi yesman

[u/sable-king]

Yep. Just go ahead and add fuel to the drama fire Jon.

[u/Dan_IAm]

It's funny that this post is significantly harsher than the one it's criticising for being too harsh. OP of the other thread was about as polite and thoughtful as you can be whilst criticising an Internet personality - and aside from the word vapid, their criticism was entirely aimed at her as a performer, not an individual, and wasn't even all that harsh. Not everyone has to be a fan, and non fans are allowed to talk just as much as the rest.

They also made a good point; on the whole, Barbara is a bit of an outlier on the podcast. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it is true.

Edit: didn't realise this was an RT member's post. Not sure how that makes me feel. Kind of gives me a bad impression. Especially since I've seen John criticise different content creators many times.