I think it might be that the nature of building a keyboard goes fairly well with streaming. When I work on a board I usually listen to music or watch a movie. But if I had a streaming setup, I think it would be just as easy to put on some music and stream the build.
I find it odd, however, that I generally don’t enjoy watching other people work on keyboards. Maybe it’s that I get enough of that on the daily that I don’t want to see any more when I’m chilling.
Free stuff and pre-release prototyped if you get popular enough. The chance to build boards you could never afford yourself or spend your own money on, etc.
I’ve often thought the same thing but I think @rpiguy9907 summed it up pretty succinctly here,
Same, all the KB streamers I watch is because of their personality. Not to say I haven’t picked up some tips & tricks from watching KB building streams, but I very rarely watch for the build itself unless it contains something I am interested in buying.
Also thinking of how many people run build services & get a decent amount of work from them blows my mind TBH. I guess you could call it a unusual KB pet peeve of mine that it bothers me that there is a growing amount of people in the hobby that have no interest in building themselves. To me that would be sacrilege at this point since I’ve really started to hone in on my preferences. Also building the boards is the heart if the hobby IMHO. I mean yeah I could see why someone would be into collecting boards, caps, etc. & not be into building boards. Although I really do believe they are doing themselves a big disservice. I don’t care how good someone is at building keebs, they are not gonna be able to build one to perfectly fit someone. While if you do it yourself, it might take a few boards to hone in what you really like, but you’ll get a much better feeling board to yourself after you do.
I only enjoy learning new techniques but these channels don’t offer anything new, just soldering and meaningless chat.
It’s not that I don’t like some of the ones that exist, it’s just, we don’t need any more. If you’re gonna start a keyboard youtube channel, do something that brings something new to the community.
But YouTube channels do offer something new to the people doing it. They may find that they suck at it or hate doing it later but it’s a new continent experience wise. If they want to try, they should.
Yeah I think some people are proud of their hobby and enjoy sharing it and obviously people watch. For some it is a social function not a utilitarian one.
We have all struggled with varying degrees of isolation throughout the pandemic and I am sure this has helped people.
Sometimes I’ll take a peek at a TaeHa stream just to see what dizzyingly-premium thing he’s building, or to see what he and “the chat” think of X new product (like NK Silks or the P.02 prototype) - but I don’t think I could sit through a whole build stream if I tried.
As for those who do enjoy that kind of thing - I saw a neat video on “parasocial relationships” that shone a little light on a world I otherwise understand little about.
Awesome video, thanks for sharing!
Honestly I only really enjoy watching keyboard streams when I am also working on keyboard stuff like lubing switches. Then its kinda like building together with fellow community members and kinda takes the dullness away from lubing the same thing over and over again.
I can’t unsee this now. Never realized that, but yeah, weird Tetris all the way.
yes, I know this was like 2 months ago but was readig through this thread and tried flipping my spacebar. YIKES. At first it seems more comfortable but i cant rest my thumb without it slipping off. I don’t get how people can do that.
also i do go kinda 50/50 with pressing my spacebar with my right index finger and left thumb so might be weirder for me
I am literally using this keyboard right now. And yet, when I see it on eBay I start drooling and want to buy it. WTH is wrong with me!?
Why does stuff always look better on the screen? This happens to me all the time with keysets, HHKBs, model Ms and Fs and all kinds of boards I already have.
Part of me maturing in the hobby is learning when to say no. Decisiveness is key when walking that fine line between being a collector and becoming a hoarder.
There are times that yeah, I should get that new set or try that new switch because it will bring something unique to my collection or offer a new typing experience. But often I let FOMO get the better of me.
What I’m starting to learn is FOMO is an illusion (most of the time). The great sets usually come back around and the rare keyboards will come up for sale again.
If I add too much random crap to my hoard, it will ultimately dilute the quality of my collection.
So be a curator not a hoarder. Make your collection a 10/10 that excites YOU.
Happy hunting.
Sage advice right here, that’s about where I’ve landed in the last year or so, I’ve actually sold some and been planning to sell a few more because they don’t bring me joy.
Insightful post. Glad to see others share the same feelings and that I’m not crazy 
The problem I have with some of the stuff I’ve acquired is this: I don’t have any sentimental issues parting with it; however, I dread having to list it, reply to people, pack it up, and ship it. I’d rather just tuck it away and see if it comes in handy some other day. Is that hoarding or just laziness… or both?
Haha I deal with the same issue. It’s easier just to hold on to them. Also sometimes my preferences wax and wane.
But I’m learning to say no… which is probably healthy.
This one has been getting to me lately.
Desk mats. Can we get an opt-out for desk mats? Can we somehow put it off in a niche corner like novelties? I have a hard time getting excited over cloth covered rubber that costs $2 to make and I can get in a week from 100 other Chinese vendors online. Thanks.
If you could see how far my eyes roll into the back of my head when vendors send out hype emails about DESKMATS BEING IN STOCK!! OMG OMG OMG.
I hear you, and I agree. I actually prefer the sound (and look) and on just a solid wood desk. But I also use a trackball, so it’s not like I need the desk mat to accomodate a mouse.
+1 I feel like I’ve been saying some variation of this for years at this point
The deskmat hype has been a weird thing to me too. I get it’s nice to have a deskmat that matches a certain keycap set or board you’re excited about, but to get hyped over just an overpriced deskmat does make me wonder about the community. Worst part about it is if you really like a design it is so easy to just get the picture & send it off to China for the same or better quality deskmat at less than half the price! Then I’ve been hearing about TKC pumping out cheaper 3mm pads at price above all other 4mm pads sold by community oriented vendors 
.
For me it’s missing a GMK keyset because I am not always in the keybard hype and find it afterwards on the mechmarket for double of the price … Seriously, speculation around the hobby makes me crazy !
