I'm just curious as to why T gets flack for her merch and affiliate links, and posts suggesting she should take a leaf out of someone elses book when that person is doing the same thing, but is more experienced at it.
I think this is an interesting question, you've made me think about my own feelings.
Admittedly, I've not followed closely anyone else, only read or watched some after they've been mentioned here. I see your point that Jessica and Tiffany both have monetising streams attached. I might have not noticed other similarities if there are.
For me, I feel Tiffany has taken me for a ride that now colours how I view her methods. I feel she's dragged things out and been so evasive to frustrate me to no end just trying to understand the basics of her condition and treatment.
1. She dramatises her videos, the closeups of the coffee mug filling, music, different camera angles. Much more "produced" videos. Really, the music and close ups are only there to create a certain warm, cosy sense of togetherness. I think it makes it all the more callous to string viewers along with such critical gaps in the narrative and timeline. I was not watching to follow a fictionalised story that is long past and missing pieces.
2. Not sure about the Krocks or others, but T celebrates viewer milestones like it's a gauge of successful entertainment, not that people are concerned and want to support her along in her journey. To see gifts and balloons for reaching 50k followers and a new stated goal of 100k followers feels crass, as is her line, "if you LIKE my videos, please subscribe". I was not watching to "like" them, I came to care about her, I watched because I wanted her to know she was surrounded by a supportive group who wanted the best for her. Her construing the # of followers in terms of an accomplishment feels crass to me. It cheapens my purpose for participating and reduces me to a mere number. I feel used.
3. I understand many subs ask her for the names of the items she uses. I looked through Jessica's list, hers seems more relevant to her experiences of both cancer and vegan food as opposed to what seems arbitrary items that T adds. She's not a chef, the affiliated links or promos to the air fryer or food delivery, for example, really feel pushed for HER financial benefit instead of a benefit to her audience, as
@LeonorG mentioned.
4. I also noticed that JJ Simpleton who just began selling tshirts priced them a couple dollars cheaper than T. That is representative to me of how T is just trying to squeeze every last p of profit out of her audience. Her PO box, the same. Her never being up front about any need for funds or change in circumstances doesn't elicit any understanding or empathy. It is not obvious and Matt and family buy her expensive gifts as she continues to shop a lot a lot for herself of fluff purchases, many of which she ends up returning. She lives in a very materialistic world. They dine out a lot, money does not seem to be an issue. Her audience is not big spenders when I see many subs acknowledge their own hardships (whether true or not). She does not give a percentage of tshirt sales to a cancer charity. That should have been the least of it, no matter that she made a donation at the RM tree event.
I only realised her 'influencer' tricks after joining Tattle, ie, asking questions to increase viewer engagement, etc. The repetitive We Got This push became tiresome, like many, I was starting to copy her sentence "the link is at the bottom...". She's like a one trick pony that grated on me after awhile, it made me desire a more honest, clear "diary" than hers that had become so repetitive.
Of course, I don't think any of the monetary measures would have mattered if I'd not felt so toyed with by her evasiveness and her refusal to explicate the details of her diagnosis, treatment plan and why the doctors were proceeding this way. Her cagey responses when pressed only increased my suspicion and scepticism. I think if other 'influencers' were less than straightforward and began delaying any updates at all for weeks on end or were vague on the details, I'd probably feel the same way about them. I am not invested in them at this point, though, so, I probably would not feel like I'd been taken for a ride.
Seeing her tricks and money schemes in the cold light of day puts a harsher spin on them. Every time she adds another one, it only adds to my opinion of her manipulations. Her persistent refusal to be up front regarding the details only serves to confirm my sense of distrust in her and view that this is primarily a financial endeavour to her. Her finally feeling pressed to admit some of the inadequacies, omissions and delays at least clears the air about what she's been putting out all along and the falsity in her pretence of this being a "family" or her telling us "everything". All I know is that she had some operation under the umbrella of "pe" more than a month ago and she is now back at home. I wish her a successful healing and prognosis, but I'm not waiting around for her to tell us about it nor am I engaging myself in her journey. I simply no longer trust her motives in what she reveals and I refuse to be another pawn to her.
