spoiler
The NELK Boys, popular for their wild pranks on YouTube, have stirred controversy with their recent escapade in Fiji. Teaming up with renowned outdoorsman Forrest Galante, the group set out to an island near Fiji where they encountered a tribe that had limited contact with the outside world.
During their visit, the influencers engaged in various activities with the tribe, which included distributing liquor, cigarettes, and vapes. The video capturing these interactions has amassed over 4 million views, but the response has been overwhelmingly negative.
While some viewers have questioned the tribe's isolation, many have criticized the NELK Boys for their actions, deeming the stunt irresponsible and disrespectful. Comments on the video range from disbelief to outrage, with numerous individuals questioning the ethics of introducing addictive substances to a community with little exposure to such products.
One viewer humorously commented, "Got them addicted to vapes and then bounced on them?" highlighting the perceived lack of accountability in the group's behavior. Another critic condemned the influencers for "corrupting those pure people," stressing the potential harm caused by their actions.
Despite facing mounting criticism, the NELK Boys have remained silent on the backlash surrounding their controversial video. This is not the first time the group has faced public outrage for their pranks, as a previous incident involving a fake food truck selling dog and cat meat led to police intervention.
The incident has sparked conversations about the responsibilities of content creators and the repercussions of their actions on vulnerable communities. While entertainment is a primary focus for many YouTubers, the line between harmless fun and harmful behavior can easily blur, especially when interacting with marginalized groups.
As social media influencers continue to push boundaries in pursuit of views and engagement, it is crucial to consider the potential impact of their actions. The NELK Boys' encounter with the remote tribe serves as a stark reminder of the significance of ethical conduct and cultural sensitivity in the digital era.
While the temptation of creating viral content may be strong, creators must prioritize respect and integrity in their interactions, particularly when engaging with communities unfamiliar with modern vices. The incident in Fiji underscores the necessity for greater awareness and accountability among online personalities, highlighting the influence they hold and the consequences of their choices.
Not gonna watch this but it is normal to bring gifts when you visit people. I'm sure they were shitheads about it but my Xenia brained take is "civilized" people have forgotten all hospitality and are infantilizing some society because they they're different.
One of the things I picked up from anthro is basically the only people in the world who have "limited contact" are the north sentinelese. Everyone else is up to their tits in missionaries, NGO's, government workers, and whatever else. Everyone trades with their neighbors, there are cell phones everywhere.
Okay I did watch a bit of it. Those folks know what a damn cigarette is. No one smokes for the first time without choking or takes pulls off a bottle of liquor easily. Ffs. If anyone can turn up the name of the group I'll poke around google scholar and see if I can find some info on them. The right wing toolbags who did the stunt and shits but don't infantilize the people they visited.
A lot of the angry comments are like this
: “That was a trashy move. Tribal communities are surprisingly healthy and some of them live very long lives. Bringing toxic products to them doesn’t help them.”
Just a lot of extremely patronizing stuff. Indigenous people have all kinds of problems, yeah, but being children who cannot make decisions for themselves isn't one of them. There a lot of s old school white man's burden racism going on in the comments.
Was it the North Sentinelese group that killed the idiot missionary, with an arrow through the heart, that illegally tried to bring them the bible? lol
yes and not for the first time. unfortunately they had to learn the hard way, but they took the lesson to heart.
e: didn't care for how this bit came off
they took the lesson to heart.
She was walkin' around with a loaded shotgun
Ready to fire me a hot one
It went bang, bang, bang straight through my heart (straight through my heart)
Yeah. People visited them back in the day but they've generally never allowed visitors to come ashore. You have to stay out in the surf or on your boat and they'd come out to greet people even then, it was only a small number of people and the north sentinelese apparently adopted stricter border policy years back and idk if anyone drops by regularly.
The comments reek of the semi-new age liberal eco-fash that is found amongst the "left" side of the mainstream west. Not that there hasn't been a history of white people getting other people groups addicted to drugs, but in many indigenous cultures know of and partake in narcotic, psychoactive or otherwise substances associated with "drugs". Because it has been part of human entertainment and community since the birth of humankind.
but in many indigenous cultures know of and partake in narcotic
Agree with the bulk of your comment, but I think it should said that narcotics aren't just any illicit drugs its a specfic group of CNS affecting stuff(I.e opiates) it's not a synonym for illicit drug as many people assume
Also the entheogens used in traditional tribal cultures and the like are almost always psychedelics, and a few delirants, which are non addictive or even habbit forming compared to stuff that is physically addictive like benzos or stuff that really hits the dopamine reward system like (extracted)cocaine and amphetamines
But as others have said these people aren't children and do know of and some have used stuff like that through life experience, my point is just outside of tobacco use by certain native american groups and a few cultures that use poppies( which are indeed addictive narcotic opiates) 'traditional drugs' are in general of the non addictive variety
Just a lot of extremely patronizing stuff. Indigenous people have all kinds of problems, yeah, but being children who cannot make decisions for themselves isn't one of them. There a lot of s old school white man's burden racism going on in the comments.
Sure, there are such comments, but I'm pretty sure that vapes, cigars, alcohol, and the like won't help, especially looking beyond the NELK boys and in the broader picture
Okay I did watch a bit of it. Those folks know what a damn cigarette is. No one smokes for the first time without choking or takes pulls off a bottle of liquor easily.
This seems like the era where western "civilization" reaches these tribes and their land where they're at a risk of being expropriated of their natural resources by lumber, mining companies etc. and having their lands used as military bases.
This expropriation is prolly what leads them to cope via substance abuse.
That's my concern, too.
I hate prank demons. On its own it's a deeply antisocial genre, but when tied to the algorithm it creates the Mr. Beasts and Nelk Boys of the world by rewarding the most antisocial behaviour they can legally get away with.
I swear, western “culture” has turned anti-social into the new pro-social and pro-social into the new anti-social.
Can’t wait until its 2030 and half the population is gone because this country legalized recreational warfare.
Squid Games was meant to be an insane satire about social murder and how the world of the rich is designed to kill the poor.
Or was it meant to be a content clout thing? I can't remember anymore, anyway, I'm gonna go watch "I MAKE 700 PEOPLE FIGHT TO THE DEATH FOR A CHANCE TO WIN 50 GALLONS OF WATER FOR THEIR FAMILY"
Little slice of colonialism in the 21st century for youtube ad money.
Makes me realize how fucked up it is when I see so many comments plotting on schemes to mess with North Sentinel Island.
They made it crystal clear they want to be left alone, it’s sickening seeing all the sadistic glee that goes on in those conversations. Like literal murder fantasies.
Stay in the surf or we kill you is as about as strict as border policies get these days
The anglo brainpan is small and predisposed to violence on anything it deems the "other".
I'm mostly concerned with COVID and other pathogens being introduced.
Looking to cause a 21st century version of the Nauruan Civil War, I guess...
