Pinkbike Poll: Words and Photos vs Video
Every now and then, between Candy Crush requests and those never funny e-cards that someone keeps making for every occasion, Facebook actually serves up some interesting reading. I came across such a nugget when I was scrolling through my feed last week, which consisted of an acquaintance asking people's opinions on whether they preferred old fashioned text and photos or videos when it comes to how they take in their internet content. Surely most people would rather watch a video than actually read something, right? Wrong. I admit that I was a bit taken aback when I scanned the replies and realized that the majority of the answers were in favour of wanting to read someone's thoughts while looking at photos rather than simply pressing play on an "edit" and sitting back to take it in.
Now, there are obviously types of content where a video makes the most sense, and there are a surprisingly large amount of great videos out there, but when it comes to in-depth articles, tech features such as reviews and product debuts, and especially stories that are truly worthy of having the word "epic" in their title, I'm of the opinion that nothing beats the written (or maybe it's typed?) word combined with some amazing photographs. I will concede that I'm obviously more than a little biased towards text, though, so maybe I don't exactly have my finger on the pulse of the internet.
Forget about the three minute videos of local senders risking life and limb for 100,000 pushes of the play button, and try to push that incredible World Cup footage to the back of your mind. Instead, I want to know how you would prefer to absorb the original content here on Pinkbike - do you still want to read bike reviews, product features and epic stories or bike adventures from around the world, or do you want to have all the highlights canned up in a three minute video that you can pause at will?
Now, there are obviously types of content where a video makes the most sense, and there are a surprisingly large amount of great videos out there, but when it comes to in-depth articles, tech features such as reviews and product debuts, and especially stories that are truly worthy of having the word "epic" in their title, I'm of the opinion that nothing beats the written (or maybe it's typed?) word combined with some amazing photographs. I will concede that I'm obviously more than a little biased towards text, though, so maybe I don't exactly have my finger on the pulse of the internet.
Forget about the three minute videos of local senders risking life and limb for 100,000 pushes of the play button, and try to push that incredible World Cup footage to the back of your mind. Instead, I want to know how you would prefer to absorb the original content here on Pinkbike - do you still want to read bike reviews, product features and epic stories or bike adventures from around the world, or do you want to have all the highlights canned up in a three minute video that you can pause at will?
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Problem is actually that people took my joke super cereal.
Though the value of a college education is actually quite a valid subject for debate. There's at least a few studies showing that the decreased earnings potential due to student debt & 4+ years of less of job experience, contributions to retirement funds, etc, don't balance out in favor of college. The skyrocketing costs of secondary education, at least in the US, skew the balance further every year.
In individual cases, it can be even worse, as you can't discharge student debt through bankruptcy in this country. You can end up destitute, with most of your earnings going to pay a debt that you gained no benefit from.
I hear what you're saying. However, this guy is already in school so the debate on whether or not to go to college doesn't really fit here. For those that are currently in school, the best thing to do is study hard, finish with school as soon as you can, then get a job in a location where you can shred as much as you want.
Videos - Bike Maintaining, Killer Edits, Interviews
Text - Product Reviews, User Generated, Etc.
I think the issue here is that, currently, there is too much video content and the vast majority is just not that great. When you watch the majority of the videos out there compared to Danny MacAskill's recent video, its like watching the real deal vs. a middle school AV class video. Obviously, Danny's talent on the bike is out of this world, but its more about having the production, imagery, music, etc. that matches his talent which sets it apart.
I think that PB and Vital's photo articles (both have a different style which I equally enjoy) are more line Danny's video in terms of quality. You tell a great story, and you have excellent photography, which I think comes from the fact that you probably take hundreds or thousands of photos and only select the best, which is why I come to this site - for the best content.
And don't go trying to start doing slide-shows! It's a terrible format!
I love epic trip stories and photo articles for that reason as the text usually plunges you much deeper into context than most videos do... But some videos like the rampage footage or all the macaskill/akrigg edits not only pushes me to ride but it pushes me to ride harder by redefining what's possible to do on a bike and not many epic story or photo can accomplish that.
Everything has its place.
Note to Pinkbike: please don't start buzzfeederizing your written articles
Whenever information (how to fix something, for example) is stuffed in a video I have to skip back and forward and pause a lot, which drives me nuts.
All that said, I love Fail Fridays and the 2013 Unofficial Whip Off Motley Crüe video, so so much.
I also like photo epics. But for christ sake, make the photos/words resize to fit the current browser size.
Why do I have to scroll left to right to see both sides of every picture and read the last part of every line?
If I want to read the words in a cascaded browser, make it fit. If I want to read the words on a cell phone, MAKE IT FIT.
When I have to maximize everything, my boss can see. And it confirms that your web designers are lazy.
The words and photos are what inspire me to take on new adventures ( can happily blame pinkbike for 'making me' go to Nepal this year after reading one of the articles that was on here.)