The Culture: Network Effects Explains This Also

Last weekend, Iassc Young explained again why the Critical Drinkers, Geeks & Gamers, Doomcocks, etc. are worse than useless.

To be clear, I am well past the point of arguing YouTube critics should stop doing what they’re doing. It’s weak moral scolding that also sucks oxygen out of the room for independent creation. Also, the opportunity for boycotting Hollywood has long passed—had it ever been real to… https://t.co/cusUgYokaZ pic.twitter.com/Hl8wTZzuVo

— Isaac Young (@HariSel57511397) February 22, 2026

This is Network Effects in action.

You can't beat one from the outside, so you have to fight from within it; you also can't offer non-Brand alternatives so long as the Brand that generates the effect is active and functional.

Only Alt-Trek (e.g. The Orville and fanfilms & Old Trek (past series) threatens Current Trek.

Only Alt-D&D and Old D&D threatens Current D&D.

Only Alt-WOW (private servers) and Old D&D (Classic) threatens Current WOW.

The only one who's figured out how to make it work at all is Jon Del Arroz. He pitches in-category alternatives after catching attention by leveraging the Network Effect of a Brand Cult to get eyeballs and use that dissatisfaction to pitch his indie substitution. The least you can do is copy that formula; complain about Brand, then offer alternative to Brand.