Internet Aristocrat's "final response to #GamerGate".
TL;DR: Jim can kill Internet Aristocrat, but he cannot kill his popularity. He spoke to you in his videos, which is what made him unique. He lost the hobby he loved to expectation. When he comes back, as Internet Aristocrat or another persona, he will be back because he has found again his love for his hobby.
Many notable people have voiced their responses to Internet Aristocrat's final statement to #GamerGate. I've listened to it a couple of times, reviewed the responses to him, and have drawn my own conclusions. Let's start on a couple important points about Jim.
Jim likes to make videos. He considers it a hobby. On at least one earlier "lazy stream", Jim stated that he had several previous YouTube accounts that he made videos with, but later deleted, only to go on to make other accounts. Jim's Internet Aristocrat persona was merely his latest. I never followed Jim on any of his previous accounts, but I did come across his account after his first video on gangstalking. More on him as a person later, but I wanted to layout Jim's pattern of behavior thus far.
Jim's Internet Aristocrat persona had its big jump following his series called the "Hugbox Chronicles". In these videos, posted 10 months before the "Gamers are Over" articles, Jim was already critical of the hugbox mentality and corruption among games journalists. In his "Mighty Number Nope" article, Jim lambastes games journalists and the social justice warrior movement for allowing blatant nepotism to take place. While most of us understand that nepotism is a poor business practice, many of us also understand that it--like many, many other human behaviors--is impossible to entirely stamp out. For me, this was the first instance of seeing Jim's adherence to a purest mindset. Nay I say, evidence that he too is an ideologue.
There's really not much to what Jim said in his final response. First, he recognizes his #GamerGate videos, particularly the first of the series titled Five Guys, brought him much of his fame. We all remember how ruthless he was towards the people who had an obligation to be ethical--not to the moral shortcomings of the woman involved. Second, Jim criticized the movement for allowing pro-#GamerGate people to make money off of videos and articles related to #GamerGate. Third, he opines that the weakening of #GamerGate is due to too many moderates and people unwilling to just stay in flat out attack mode. Fourth, he states his intentions to keep his accounts down and to avoid becoming popular again in the future.
Sargon of Akkad's response was as expected: a more moderate position that challenges Jim in two areas: fanaticism (although, Sargon never uses that word) and capitalism. Contrasting what Sargon said with what Jim said helps clarify what Jim's position really is: he wants rabid, Adderall focused, hate driven, anarchists to not just "attack" but to obliterate. Anything that can possibly take away from such hyper focused destruction will snowball and dismantle the entire swarm. Jim blames monetization because it takes away from the righteousness of the crusade. Moreover, his targeting of the moderates can be viewed as the softening of the extremes, which results in diminished vitriolic pressure. It is almost as if he condones any tactic that it takes to bring down the corruption; in other words, if it can't be persuaded to change, then it must be purged, something Sargon points out in his response.
Jim has no desire to be popular. He knew he was the ultimate front man. He was interviewed on a live radio program early in #GamerGate and admitted he "lost his spaghetti." He made several videos on #GamerGate that helped clarify his position and the direction of where to attack. His relationship with Jayd3Fox only elevated his stature, as Jayd3 created the boycott goal of the day. Jim hosted several "lazy streams" where he discussed #GamerGate happenings via questions posed on Ask.fm, Twitter, and the Google Hangouts chat. He could pull in over 6,000 viewers to a mid-afternoon Tuesday stream. He was everything he never wanted to be: the front man. As such, this brought expectation on himself. People sought his advice on what to do next, to which he always responded with something along the lines of "keep on the offensive, do not get distracted with anything but the goal". Unfortunately, that wasn't enough for many of the minions. These minions needed it spelled out. They also wanted the next in the Hugbox Chronicles, the next Tumblrisms, the next #GamerGate video.
This brings us to his choice to kill Internet Aristocrat. The pressure was on Jim to lead and create. He was only a man who had a hobby and an opinion. That's all he wanted to be. Some guy on the internet who made videos that made people laugh and think (well, kind of think). The thing about hobbies is that they lose the luster when they start to feel like work. Jim has a job (I believe he works at an architecture firm in Minnesota). His hobby was destroyed by his popularity, and he already knew this was possible, as it had already happened to him.
He wants his hobby back, though, which is why he alluded to coming back with a new account in a couple of months. Which he will, and the internet will be better for it. Why? Jim's style was unique. Unlike many other people who post on YouTube, who give the sense they are talking to a camera, Jim had a way of making it feel like he was talking to you. That's the main reason why his streams were so popular--even though you were never talking to him, it felt like he was talking to you. His popularity from #GamerGate, Tumblrisms, and Hugbox Chronicles will stay with his mind and his voice. The next time he posts a new video, even if it is a 4 hour long love poem for Zoe Quinn, his popularity will return. The internet does not forget.
My final thoughts, and the essential words I would like Jim to read if he ever comes across this: Internet Aristocrat was a fantastic persona, but he was only a persona. Jim is the passionate hobby man behind it. Jim's popularity will not die. For this reason, Jim should resurrect Internet Aristocrat. Not for #GamerGate or for his fans, but because it shows he understands that inevitable outcome of his contribution and impact. He needs to learn to block out the noise of demands, the shitposts, and the nobodies with opinions, simply because they will follow him where ever he ends up. Nevertheless, I raise a glass to Jim as I mourn the loss of Internet Aristocrat. Here's to the next attempt, Jim, and may you take back the hobby you so clearly love.
(Post script: the @internet_arlsocrat Twitter account is not Jim. I think it might be @blackfacekermit.)
This has been an unedited rant. @nrokchi
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