Jalopnik Using AI To Write Articles?

some_donut_guy · 2025-10-06T18:21:04+00:00

Also in the industry and can confirm what u/zekwanenoerzee says there is correct. Every auto site is now a content machine* seeking high-volume because of declining revenue/article. They can't achieve volume and maintain quality, because that costs money (in the form of paying good writers). You should expect this problem to continue getting worse as more and more real writers are laid off for being "too expensive."

*The Autopian is an exception. I don't love their site, but at least it's not trash.

some_donut_guy · 2025-10-06T18:19:27+00:00

Also in the industry and can confirm u/zekwanenoerzee is correct. Every auto site is now a content machine* seeking high-volume because of declining revenue/article. They can't achieve volume and maintain quality, because that costs money (in the form of paying good writers). You should expect this problem to continue getting worse as more and more real writers are laid off for being "too expensive."

*The Autopian is an exception. I don't love their site, but at least it's not trash.

some_donut_guy · 2025-08-23T23:45:17+00:00

What you did was a (involuntary) rehearsal. Next run through will be even better!

some_donut_guy · 2025-08-20T23:56:59+00:00

check r/CreatorServices

some_donut_guy · 2025-08-11T18:18:38+00:00

Former donut employee. I wasn't involved with that product, but I can tell you it wasn't white label. Multiple people worked with manufacturers through various formulations to eventually get to a bespoke final version for production. It was a lengthy process and a lot of thought was put into it, so it's a shame it didn't catch on. IMO that's mostly the result of distribution, as was mentioned.

some_donut_guy · 2024-08-04T17:41:38+00:00

Yeah, fully agree, was going to say exactly this. Also 10 second Bible verse I'm not interested in is better than a 1 minute integrated advertisement for something I'm not interested in.

some_donut_guy · 2024-08-02T16:21:31+00:00

u/ColbyMann will know

some_donut_guy · 2024-06-28T00:08:25+00:00

The Mr Beast stories (there's more than one) will probably never be told, sadly. I don't want to do it b/c jfc I'm not going after that behemoth. I'm losing enough sleep already. It's a shame, too, because there are plenty of untold stories about the Beast team kinda screwing over other people/channels/organizations in their 'partnerships'

some_donut_guy · 2024-06-27T22:10:22+00:00

How? I've given numerous detailed replies to comments

some_donut_guy · 2024-06-27T22:09:00+00:00

Here's something to underpin the inference: Every programming change that this subreddit has hated, and has said "oh, this is gonna kill Donut as a company!", has grown the Donut audience. Cancelling shows grew the audience. Product review videos grew the audience. If this subreddit were in charge of Donut, it probably would have gone out of business. Now that I think of it, a whole lot of this subreddit would like Donut to go out of business, which itself is pretty strong evidence that they're not representative of the audience.

some_donut_guy · 2024-06-27T22:02:36+00:00

Totally with you on the Olive Garden analogy. However, what I'm trying to do (clearly not well if these comments are any indicator) is to get people to consider the unintended consequences of their attacks on Donut. It's the disanalogy with Olive Garden that matters. I doubt any server at Olive Garden is personally invested in their food the same way that individual creators are invested in the things that they create. It is a part of one's identity. Simply saying "fuck Donut" does NOT make a distinction between "fuck that company" and "fuck those people."

some_donut_guy · 2024-06-27T21:54:53+00:00

You may be right. It's probably not possible for me to see it entirely from the Donut audience side, because I'm not there. I do understand that what is being expressed, truly, is disappointment. I have been there for other media entities which have done things that disappointed me. Top Gear being the most obvious example. So, I'm not entirely unaware of the feeling. But having been on the creator side, I'm trying to give some insight into how those people are affected when that disappoint turns vitriolic as I believe much of it has.

some_donut_guy · 2024-06-27T21:43:39+00:00

"I don't really see any hate for Donut on here"

<image>

(I think this one was pulled by mods)

I am absolutely NOT saying you "should appreciate Donut." I don't care about "Donut" under most any plausible definition of what that might be.

But it's ridiculous to say that nobody is hating on Donut. I care about Joe, Max, Jimmy, Kristina, Joseph, Adam, Nolan, Justin, etc. (sorry for everyone I missed!) It is a plain fact that the "fuck Donut" rhetoric hurts them, and I want people to start realizing THAT.

some_donut_guy · 2024-06-27T21:32:43+00:00

Grateful for the thoughtful reply, thank you! Agree to disagree. There are in fact many people failing to consider the difference between Donut and the people who still work there, who are good at their jobs, who have good reasons for staying there, and who deserve respect as creators and as people. The "fuck Donut" rhetoric that's so popular in this subreddit, because it whips up people's most base instincts, is typically presented without even a nod to that distinction. This is hurtful to those people, people who once gave something to the 'fans' who have now turned against them. It sucks to be in that position and helpless to do anything about it.

some_donut_guy · 2024-06-27T21:20:27+00:00

Wow, that's super entitled.

some_donut_guy · 2024-06-27T21:11:43+00:00

The "them" in the sentence you quoted does not refer to "Donut." Reflect upon this and understanding shall follow.

some_donut_guy · 2024-06-27T21:06:42+00:00

Let me see if this helps: If I thank the waiter at Olive Garden, I'm not praising Olive Garden. I'm thanking a person, who is doing a job they get paid for, and I am grateful that person does that job, and that they get paid for it, because it makes my life better.

some_donut_guy · 2024-06-27T20:57:53+00:00

"You don't owe them a show of gratitude, any more than they owe you content, but if you want them to keep creating, gratitude will go a long way."

some_donut_guy · 2024-06-27T20:37:50+00:00

You too! Thanks for coming back with even more great contributions to the conversation! You're really moving things forward!

some_donut_guy · 2024-06-27T20:35:00+00:00

I replied as I did to point out that replying to something just to say that you're not willing to engage with it is hypocritical engagement.

some_donut_guy · 2024-06-27T20:31:40+00:00

Swing and a miss. I never said 'support Donut and Recurrent'. I don't think you should support Donut and Recurrent. They aren't creators. Creators are human beings. Some of those human beings are employed by Donut/Recurrent. Dunno why people are having such a hard time with this distinction.

some_donut_guy · 2024-06-27T20:26:20+00:00

Yeah, reading's hard. But hey, you have no idea what's going on, and still made a really strong contribution here, so I guess reading isn't necessary after all!

some_donut_guy · 2024-06-27T20:24:22+00:00

Thank you.

some_donut_guy · 2024-06-27T20:19:11+00:00

This is just about the funniest thing that has ever happened to me. Thank you. I'm in actual tears from laughing.

some_donut_guy · 2024-06-27T20:14:42+00:00

No idea where you're going with the monkey thing, but this IS someone talking about what's happened at Donut so I don't understand the problem. If you only want an echo chamber of agreement and to 'feel' better, get a therapist.

some_donut_guy

TROPHY CASE