RaWarrior
Well-Known Member
This has unfolded into frankly a pretty interesting situation, figured I'd share it here and see what everyone thinks.
If you don't know, the Youtube channel "Davidsfarm" is the #5 Canadian channel in views and subscribers(formerly #1), with over 100mil video views. His videos are mostly about his self declared redneck garbage-picker lifestyle and his 100 acre "farm". He has loads of junker cars that they make crazy modifications to, joyride, race, and do stunts with. Other videos are how-to's about small engines, appliance, and automotive repair. The star/proprietor of the channel, David Rock, claims he started the channel to make himself famous so his "stolen" sons could find him. He welcomed guests from youtube to visit his farm, and was practically a god of the "redneck life" to a lot of people.
Recently a Canadian news show (16:9) did an interview due to increasing stir over Rock's past, specifically rumors that he was a convicted pedophile and using his farm as a lure to attract victims. The interview can be seen here, parts 2 and 3 are also on this channel, here is a news article about it. It essentially proves that Rock was a convicted pedophile in the early 90's and served a year in jail, watch the interview for the details of it. He claims he was tested for pedophile tendencies and was declared negative, and that he has been "clean" for 20 years.
Following this interview airing, Youtube suspended Rock's account and his channel became pretty much the biggest controversy ever seen on Youtube. There are dozens of "response channels" run by haters portraying him as a filthy, dangerous offender, and Rock's channel is being constantly spammed by people against him. There are websites and petitions(with surprising support) trying to get the "farm" shut down and Rock arrested. Some people came forward and claimed they saw "questionable behavior", others deny this, and some have issued statements, then later denied and retracted them.
After about 2 weeks, Youtube re-activated the account, albeit now without any ads due to some advertiser complaints, and a couple new videos have been posted. His "vlog" channel, where he posted petitions to his sons and the mothers that "stole" them, was suspended, then deleted from youtube entirely.
So...should someone with a criminal past not be allowed to use sites such as Youtube? Sites like myspace and facebook can run checks on members, and block accounts of convicted pedophiles, but currently Youtube(run by Google) does not do this. They say as long as the video content abides by their regulations, there is no reason to ban the account. Some of his early videos were taken down (such as him butchering a BBQ pig with a chainsaw and making quite a show of it), but otherwise he has had no policy violations.
Many of his supporters say he had a troubled past, paid his debt to society, reformed, and is now a help to hundreds of thousands of people with his instructional videos and technical know-how. Haters say he is still very much a pedophile, and created the "Neverland farm" as a way to attract victims under the guise of a redneck stuntman.
Currently Rock is facing lawsuits, loss of income, and his reputation is obviously irreparably destroyed with the general public.
So....say your favorite actor, or author, race driver, whatever suddenly revealed they had a pedophile past. Someone you like, but don't actually know. Would you still support them?
If you don't know, the Youtube channel "Davidsfarm" is the #5 Canadian channel in views and subscribers(formerly #1), with over 100mil video views. His videos are mostly about his self declared redneck garbage-picker lifestyle and his 100 acre "farm". He has loads of junker cars that they make crazy modifications to, joyride, race, and do stunts with. Other videos are how-to's about small engines, appliance, and automotive repair. The star/proprietor of the channel, David Rock, claims he started the channel to make himself famous so his "stolen" sons could find him. He welcomed guests from youtube to visit his farm, and was practically a god of the "redneck life" to a lot of people.
Recently a Canadian news show (16:9) did an interview due to increasing stir over Rock's past, specifically rumors that he was a convicted pedophile and using his farm as a lure to attract victims. The interview can be seen here, parts 2 and 3 are also on this channel, here is a news article about it. It essentially proves that Rock was a convicted pedophile in the early 90's and served a year in jail, watch the interview for the details of it. He claims he was tested for pedophile tendencies and was declared negative, and that he has been "clean" for 20 years.
Following this interview airing, Youtube suspended Rock's account and his channel became pretty much the biggest controversy ever seen on Youtube. There are dozens of "response channels" run by haters portraying him as a filthy, dangerous offender, and Rock's channel is being constantly spammed by people against him. There are websites and petitions(with surprising support) trying to get the "farm" shut down and Rock arrested. Some people came forward and claimed they saw "questionable behavior", others deny this, and some have issued statements, then later denied and retracted them.
After about 2 weeks, Youtube re-activated the account, albeit now without any ads due to some advertiser complaints, and a couple new videos have been posted. His "vlog" channel, where he posted petitions to his sons and the mothers that "stole" them, was suspended, then deleted from youtube entirely.
So...should someone with a criminal past not be allowed to use sites such as Youtube? Sites like myspace and facebook can run checks on members, and block accounts of convicted pedophiles, but currently Youtube(run by Google) does not do this. They say as long as the video content abides by their regulations, there is no reason to ban the account. Some of his early videos were taken down (such as him butchering a BBQ pig with a chainsaw and making quite a show of it), but otherwise he has had no policy violations.
Many of his supporters say he had a troubled past, paid his debt to society, reformed, and is now a help to hundreds of thousands of people with his instructional videos and technical know-how. Haters say he is still very much a pedophile, and created the "Neverland farm" as a way to attract victims under the guise of a redneck stuntman.
Currently Rock is facing lawsuits, loss of income, and his reputation is obviously irreparably destroyed with the general public.
So....say your favorite actor, or author, race driver, whatever suddenly revealed they had a pedophile past. Someone you like, but don't actually know. Would you still support them?
