Negative Expert
The internet is a wonderful place. Where else can you buy your neighbor’s garbage on Craigslist, order meat from Amazon, watch a cat video, research outer space, and post videos of yourself all day so you can watch yourself later on Snapchat? Thank you, Al Gore.1
The other thing the internet has made is experts. No, not those experts who have been involved in an industry, any industry, but the ones who can simply say that whatever just came out or is popular, isn’t good. It’s a shortcut to being popular. If you normally eat at Burger King, of course you are an expert on every other food experience on the planet. Why would we question that?2
But the one thing that Negative Experts do is make everything look like we shouldn’t do anything. RC is no different. It’s easy to pick out the flaw in a new kit, but to focus on that to try and be different is a weak way to become a legitimate source of knowledge.3 This has really gotten under my skin recently with Race Reports, and more so from drivers who post how they don’t like anything about the race, and make it seem like racing is a waste of time. But the only thing they do to make it better is to post how unhappy they are.4
We’re sorry you didn’t win, we’re sorry your car wasn’t good, and the track should be changed to suit you and needs to be dead nuts consistent. What have you done to change this? Similar to the big “take a knee” during the national anthem. We agree, and we support protesting to bring awareness, but don’t make that your only action. 5
We all complain about life, RC, cat videos, police, other countries, other people, the lack of double rainbows, how the track didn’t make me win, etc., but it just seems that the internet encourages too much complaining.6 Focus on making a difference, not just pointing out where they’re needed … because you know what, internet? We see that there is a lot of suck in the world. We get it, we’ve had the internet for a long time. Quit complaining, and do something. Become the POSITIVE expert.
1. If only people looked up the garbage posts they claim to be true … even after somebody calls them out.
2. If you have Yelped, or reviewed any fast food chain as deserving more than 3 stars for food … never post a review again. Thank you. 3. I love Taco Bell, but it’s not good.
4. There are amazing RC kits available. Perfect? No. Just like us.
5. It’s okay to be controversial, but antagonism isn’t always the best approach. Learn the difference.
6. Protest is supposed to make people uncomfortable, we get it. But make sure your action is more than just when people see you.
Nobody complains about cat videos … maybe there aren’t enough?
About the Author
