didn't see anyone posting this so figured i'd share
When I was the union rep for Kotaku, we often talked about the difference between cathartic actions and strategic actions. It is cathartic to point and laugh at Somerton, and cathartic release has its place. But as we move forward, we have to think about how we can change the material conditions that led to a James Somerton existing, or else it will happen over and over again.
We should be wary of focusing too much of our attention on James Somerton, the individual YouTube plagiarist, instead of the system that enables and incentivizes grifters like him. It is indeed very cathartic to point and laugh, I'm certainly guilty of this, but real systemic change will take a lot more work.
