I also think that "obsession" is the wrong word. karatejoe is a lot more obsessed than probably most of us are.
Clotso never understands a basic fact of life, and YouTubers who don't learn this first are often lolcows.
YouTube video makers need to have content (like making stuff, real comedy, exciting adventures, niche hobbies, political stuff, unusual talent or something) Those YouTubers tend to get good comment sections.
It is when YouTubers themselves are the primary content (i.e. most lolcows at the 'farms), that comments get very personal. But they are personal because when the YouTuber is the content, then there is nothing else to comment about but the Youtuber. Those with talent are admired and appreciated, and assclowns get tomatoes thrown at them.
Chantal assumes we think of her 24/7. But she is simply part of the fabric of our social media experience, and it is human nature to want to share and discuss experiences with social media. Usually people do it in the comment sections, but for many obvious reasons, some prefer a forum like this.
For me, Clotso viewing is simply being drawn into a spectacle. She really did become famous as one of the grossest YouTubers even when she still only had 10K subscribers. Spectacles are entertaining, and I admit I got sucked in by the shock and awe and mondo bizarro qualities of this spectacle. But she isn't the only YouTuber I follow, let alone media I engage with. She flatters herself to think haydurs are obsessed with her. It's her fans she needs to worry about.
As soon as you unveil yourself in public as entertainment, then the public has the right to respond. That tradition is older than Babylon. All is as it should be.
