The Secret World of VRChat [Age Restricted]

[@BrandonFM]

Brand new documentary is out now kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqDHYqSDmLyYg80

[@adri1273]

niceeee

[@snaggedcoot3485]

🙏

[@zootsprite1197]

why do you have a 14 year old added on discord, bro?

[@Alexander-yp5mw]

@@zootsprite1197 🤨

[@shush1920]

Just came over from that video. Keep up the work man 🙏🏻❤️

[@OrdinaryThings]

This was really terrific. A fantastic analysis and deep look into the developing community

[@shamrooooock]

yo

[@Rightly_Divided]

Parents when I was younger: "Don't sit too close to the screen. It is bad for your health." Parents these days: "Honey leave mommy alone with her new boyfriend who clearly is using me, go on that VR chat thing"

[@numblinkart]

Hey love your vids @Ordinary Things

[@reyluna0]

Fancy seeing you here

[@Aeon_Is_Near]

Feels like a weird passing the torch moment

[@thoruinmagni3644]

The feeling of finding a hidden gem on youtube is always so good.

[@terraraptorgaming6781]

Agreed. I love it when a recommendation hits just right for once

[@bodosanta4675]

Peak algorithm moments for me

[@bodosanta4675]

U know more weird documentaries? Disneyland fast pass is also a good one

[@justamanofculture12]

Exactly

[@nene_fae]

fr

[@SnufflySpy]

Imagine going to sleep, falling into subconsciousness, having a dream, then waking up into something that isn't the real world

[@narcissisticstatisticmonst4390]

Imagine these people out and about in our society after ongoing this type of pattern lol

[@Ch-4-lie]

a few years ago fell asleep binge playing fallout 4 VR and the fever dream it caused + waking up disoriented and sweaty a few hours later was absolutely horrible. idk how people sleep in VR and enjoy it

[@FoxiestLia]

@@Ch-4-lie I wouldn't sleep in VR playing a game like that. But some worlds in VR Chat (PRIVATE ONLY), are so chill I could just lie down in a meadow and fall asleep. As previously written, ONLY PRIVATE, public worlds are scary (partially because of a lot of reasons mentioned in this docummentary, but I am terrified of new people).

[@Ch-4-lie]

@@FoxiestLia def see what you mean, ive fallen asleep a few time watching youtube and movies in Room of the Sleep and Root's Home but the tired/kinda sick feeling of disorientation you get when you wake up + pressure from the headset on never seems worth it tldr: falling asleep can be comfy but waking up feels awful and jarring

[@mrduck1490]

@@Ch-4-lie There are relaxing stuff in VR you could probably fall asleep to those, my problem is the big massive goggles on your head that is shining lights directly to your eyes.

[@sealsake]

I hope Luke’s okay. A prime example of a child not having anyone and turning to a harmful predator or just over all bad influence.

[@aidonger42069]

"I finally have a friend"

[@hopree2839]

@@aidonger42069 nooooo😭😭

[@pekinami7640]

Your dumb if you think he's a pred

[@manny1659]

the worst part is that Luke was saying his parents would BEAT him... showing he holds no trust in his father or mother to telll them stuff like this

[@buji07]

​@@manny1659 he downed a bottle of vodka, if i was a parent in that situation i'd smack the everything out of my child

[@TheVirtualRealityShow]

Damn, my dude dropped a banger video about VRChat and disappeared off the face of YT with no more videos to be seen 😭😩 We need more!

[@BrandonFM]

Working on a new doc rn

[@LavaCreeperPeople]

who are you

[@simplysampletext1666]

@@BrandonFM LETS GOOOOO

[@doctorsno906]

@@LavaCreeperPeople he’s fuckin batman

[@LavaCreeperPeople]

@@doctorsno906 ok

[@jas9574]

My own thoughts on the mirror thing are that it's maybe not about narcissism a lot of times. A lot of times I think it really is just about the fascination with seeing yourself in some alternate idealized way. People who mirror dwell to some degree maybe don't like something about their real life self and have a fixation on that idealized view of themselves, and seeing it constantly reflected back at them gives that sense of validation and escapism. Maybe I'm just spouting BS, but it's a thought.

[@cthulhufhtagn7520]

That's what I was thinking, also the novelty in looking at yourself in a way that doesn't disgust or disappoint you is probably also what initially hooked people in

[@ryotoutsukai7605]

Yeah personally as someone who is transgender, it's super validating finally seeing myself in a way that feels right in a way. That's the main reason I mirror dwell.

[@DerakosZrux]

Whoa I'm as afraid to hear what the video says as I am of this comment. Mirrors are an easy way for people to see each other and themselves all together. To take vids and pics and the main reason it's become a staple is because people enjoy it. It's got nothing to do with narcissisms, low self-esteem or body dysmorphia. Man I thought this was common knowledge maybe the author should watch any of the dozens of videos on this topic. Oh and people staring at a mirror alone not doing anything are either AFK or jerking it to their avatar.

[@ryotoutsukai7605]

@Derakos Zrux the vid doesnt necessarily paint it in a bad light it's more like shown as a mystery why people do it with a slight negative lean I feel. Not the worst just more on the unknowing side. I also think it's a good sign the video author liked this post so it shows up near the top too. Though I do think the reason for mirror dwelling does differ among people. It could be what you said but for some people it is for dysphoria/dysmorphia reasons or self esteem reasons. I doubt it's much of narcissism bc the avatar isn't really you.

[@wickedjuggaloninja17]

From my experience a lot of mirror gang are model creators and want to see what the final result of there work.

[@SleepyAdam]

VRChat feels like the internet in the late 90s/early 2000s, a wild west where you need to navigate based on your own smarts, but in doing so you'll find some of the coolest virtual pieces of art and raddest people out there. Meta's new take on a VR hangout space which I refuse to call a "Metaverse" because it doesn't even fit the definition, feels more like the internet now. Boring and hyper corporate and soulless and just meant to make money rather than make connections.

[@YamiZee]

I refuse to call them Meta for the same reason. They will always be Facebook. Facebook wants to create a corporate metaverse

[@mrsnayarlhats4242]

True

[@flightlesslord2688]

Agreed

[@Oni_Teeth]

Reminds me of the early 2000s internet as well specifically a pioneering social networking digital meetspace called SecondLife where sometimes elicit goods and services were exchanged for real money.

[@MagnumLoadedTractor]

And also there are ppl addicted to it

[@Eimer4Life]

The scene with the 13-year-old really got me. I mean, taking advantage of adult women is one thing, but taking advantage of minors is really heavy

[@BellicV]

Its a VR you cant be harmed. If you feel uncomfortable all you gotta do is disconnect

[@Bignarfin]

@@BellicV that is such i horrible way of seeing it

[@BellicV]

@@Bignarfin seeing what?

[@KitKatTheKat2]

@@BellicV luke was getting peer pressured into drinking alchohol underage, so that is effecting his body

[@BellicV]

@@KitKatTheKat2 who bought the alcohol ?

[@ando5185]

I feel really sorry for Luke, sounds like his family situation might not be great, and from his “yay I finally have a friend” comment it kind of seems like he might be a bit of a social outcast too, even though he said it like a joke. Even while being taken advantage of he worries about being a burden on others, and says that he’s not used to people caring for him. It’s tragic, and I hope his situation improves, no kid should have to go through stuff like that.

[@rogue_xiv]

Do you think/feel that the situation would have been different for a 13 year old if their character wasn't an erotic creation? Seems like a simple timebomb of problems to come. Unfortunately these situations for anyone to experience are never forgoten or recovered from.

[@forgivvvn]

its fake lol what

[@nocturno5373]

@@forgivvvn it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen

[@nanounit]

I definitely agree and read the whole situation very differently. While I agree the kid shouldn't have been there and they should not have allowed a kid to play a drinking game, I also have seen often where kids that age are really just looking for attention and connection, especially when they don't really know how and it seems unfair to give a person who took the time to check on them and make sure they're okay the least charitable interpretation possible. Obviously it is also a common issue where that kind of person also takes advantage of a kid, but I definitely read the whole scene very differently as someone who grew up in virtual spaces.

[@semimad100]

@@forgivvvn that part wasn't fake. he just put it in code for the viewers while trying not to get demonetized by youtube. you are only supposed to read the yellow words in the warning before he starts that segment. "THIS NEXT CLIP IS REAL" are all the yellow words and also the only words in caps.

[@HumansOfVR]

bravo mate I commend your 400 hours of editing and hard work you put into this video

[@sehnsehnsehn]

In conclusion, anything bad in vrchat can be avoided by blocking or changing worlds. When it comes to the kids/pred issue, that's not something that can just disappear, just like in the real world, there will always be predators, the best we can do is teach OUR OWN kids to stay away from them or not give OUR OWN kids access to a game like vrchat in the first place.

[@afrog2666]

Yeah parents need to pay attention to what their kids are doing online and communicate about what they experience day to day..

[@Johny9405]

@@afrog2666 Indeed. It is very hard to track what a kid does online unless you have a draconian watch over them. That's why its of upmost importance to communicate with them so you know what's going on and get to the bottom of situation early before real harm is done.

[@floofykat987]

This actually makes me think about the time where I ran into a predator in vrchat, I was with some of my girlfriends and we decided to spend a night hanging out together on VR since our parents wouldn’t let us have a sleepover due to it being a school night. I was 15 or 16 at the time (I’m 17 now and I’ll be 18 in less than a week), so we all went to The Great Pug and fooled around and talked. We were all having a lot of fun until this guy came up to us and started getting super touchy with us, specifically me. At first I thought he was just trolling or whatever, so we got up and moved. This guy just keeps following us and following us, and he keeps making remarks at me. One of my friends made us switch servers and we didn’t see him after that, but I just remember feeling so uncomfortable. It was pretty disturbing and I made sure to be careful and look out for red flags everytime I went into a server after that.

[@FruitBasketyay]

Exactly. Preach louder for the back

[@yurimaoism]

@@Johny9405 im not even gonna lie i thought you were talking about the minecraft mod when you said draconian

[@adrymarker]

I really hope Luke is ok.

[@5ar1us]

he seemed ok and I hope/think they didn't E-rp in the room it would have been a bit more obvious or how u wanna say it

[@zkvn]

luke made me XD irl

[@crowsoup9953]

Poor kid. Made me really sad to see him clearly stressed about the drinking/his parents/etc while adults in the room ignored him. It sounds like he really doesn't have outside support and it makes me so sad.

[@ShinziiArt]

Watching that made me feel so much rage, haven't felt that pissed in a while

[@mrsnayarlhats4242]

@Rockyroad66 to be honest he shouldn't be doing under age drinking that's very illegal and your right he could get alcohol poisoning like that

[@gh0stness]

this is the type of video you need popcorn for

[@BrandonFM]

facts

[@thekaiandrews]

im eating popcorn watching this lmao

[@nursabrinaalya4051]

I ate breakfast and 2nd breakfast through this video

[@tiredoshawott7823]

"My parents are going to beat the absolute living shite out of me". No wonder the kid has unhealthy coping mechanisms... and AceTopside takes advantage 9f that.

[@Sunny78249]

I'm not the smartest person, so how did Ace take advantage of Luke?

[@Germinator08]

@@Sunny78249 he took advantage of their loneliness and insecurities to become Luke's "friend"

[@gaia4986]

@@Germinator08 I'm not sure that's exactly what happened. It seems the dude was drunk as fuck before Luke came in the lobby

[@Germinator08]

@@gaia4986 hm, I didn't notice that, thanks for the info

[@alexpulman7037]

@@gaia4986 doesn't matter, being drunk is no excuse for encouraging a 13 year old to drink or behave how he did. Do that IRL and some bad shit would happen.

[@roki_zura]

Really does show a lot of VRChat's more mature and darker side. It really brings to light a few things, some things I didn't even know about as a VRC player. Although, I wouldn't say that this is all of VRChat. I won't defend actions like that, but it doesn't mean that all of VRC is like that at all. There are wholesome sides, and a part of the player base that tends to avoid that stuff. A lot of players on this game tend to stay for the friends they can make too, which can be hard irl. Honestly, as long as you avoid that side of things, VRC tends to be more enjoyable that way.

[@MisterJakeC]

Exactly

[@euclodies1719]

Sauce pfp?

[@PumaArg]

Real question: how do you make friends in VR? lol

[@nycto5335]

@@PumaArg Just talk to people. Maybe someone has an avatar of a character you recognize and stuff. The game has a friend list too so you can find em again in the future. Plus after you meet em and get to know eachother enough a Discord invite is probably gonna happen so it just goes on from there. I only played the game once without a headset but every now and then I meet couples of people in XIV or other stuff that say they met in VrChat. But like it was shown in the video there's also people with bad stories of VR.

[@euclodies1719]

@@PumaArg my man is asking the real questions

[@damianbouras]

I think the mirror thing doesn't result from narcissism. I think it's actually the opposite. A lot of people are not happy with themselves in real life so they like to look in a mirror and seeing another body.

[@midjelly8837]

It's still obsessive and weird

[@crypt9446]

A month late, but theres an argument to be made that its still narcissism. At it core, narcissism cen be recognized as self obsession, not necessarily your self esteem. So, if you loathe yourself to the point of self obsession, its narcissism. If you hate yourself so much that you rather stare at a better version of *yourself* for hours, i'd say it counts. Im not a psychologist, but ive read a couple studies on the subject and it really flips the idea on its head!

[@Void_Deserts_Tower]

I don't have vr chat, but i can understand standing in front of a mirror for a long while, becouse hey, it's an avatar and moving in vr seems really fascinating. Just the feeling of, im in control of this body, but it's actually not my body. It moves as i want it, but it's not my body.

[@AzumarillConGafasBv]

That's still narcissism AND low self-steem plus body dismorphia

[@Void_Deserts_Tower]

@@AzumarillConGafasBv no, no, no. I mean the weird feeling of being dislocated from my actual body. The same if i raise my hand in vr. There is clearly nothing in vr, but in reality i hit it into a table.

[@asuka2467]

I used to be one of the people that stared for hours into a VR mirror. Pretty much in my case, it was just because I was antisocial, scared to socialize, and I hated myself in reality so much I would rather spend my time with a headset on staring at what I wish I was. Though, I think I would’ve done much more if I wasn’t so antisocial and afraid to communicate, due to my unstable metal state at the time. It was like a coping mechanism for me, although now if I think about it, I think it was rather unhealthy.

[@justinallen2408]

Definitely not healthy

[@poppanuge5478]

Wow this comment makes a lot of sense! I would think the narcissist would rather go and interact with others would they not? To validate their self worth thru others expense

[@celuler22]

i feel that

[@ahnschimmel4169]

thinking about the mirror gazing , i could see how it would actually be healing for me ...to a point at least. in an everything in moderation kind of way.

[@rvh1999]

You need some serious help instead of wining here on YT

[@DerakosZrux]

Let's not forget an important point too, it's VR. Unlike irl you can literally leave in an instant and no one can follow you home or abduct you. So that's a big plus for partying in VR vs IRL.

[@Cr4z3d]

A sad fact, but very true

[@alshabib5849]

dealing with problem people that are harrassing you is also as simple as literally pointing at them and pressing block

[@7838-h2d]

i know right!?

[@jaiella-kennedy9212]

@@Cr4z3d how is that sad its a good thing

[@jaiella-kennedy9212]

@@Logan21590 even then if they do anything you can just block them or leave and if you really dont like whats going on you could try taking the headset off

[@zmite6114]

The last time I slept in VR chat it was extremely fun and surprisingly relaxing and I woke up at 7 am to a bunch of 12-year-old squeakers drawing pp's and yelling hey shawty wake up I was also surprised when I woke up thinking I was hallucinating or drunk.

[@Cr4z3d]

🤣

[@setsers1]

😆

[@juniebunnz]

it was the "hey shawty wake up" for me 😂😂

[@Sailorlluna]

It’s literally soooo weird seeing how predatory violence evolves on the internet. When I was 15 in 2013 we had tumblr, 4chan, kik etc. and there were soooooo many times i was taken advantage of by adults in various ways. It’s almost like at any point, there exists somewhere on the internet, a place where adults are taking advantage of minors. I wish we could figure out a way to stop this.

[@jonathanhinkle11]

Unfortunately, I don't think we can. People with power manipulating those without power is as old as society, and children are, unfortunately, the easiest target if you are an unhealthy person looking to feel powerful. I was 22 in 2013, so my formative teenage years were in the wild-west internet that was incredible, but also very dangerous to a young person, and the consequences of not being careful were harsh. I don't want kids to go through that, and fortunately, a lot of kids growing up on the internet today are doing so in "moderated" communities. The bad part though is that those of us who grew up in the early years haven't done a great job at teaching safety and awareness to our kids, our younger siblings, etc. Unfortunately, the moment they step out of the safety of moderated communities, they lose all the protections that they probably didn't even know that they had, including protections from being indoctrinated into hate/abuse groups. It was a bit eye opening for me, personally, when the video started getting into the various disturbing experiences people had and my reaction was "Oh, that's it? That's pretty tame tbh" and then I realized 1. My childhood and teenage years on the early(-ish) internet exposed me to some pretty fucked up stuff, 2. A large portion of gen Z people don't know about the internet that exists outside the social media giants/corporate websites, and probably haven't developed the skills/mindset needed to not get hurt/hurt others in a place where there are no rules.

[@hopree2839]

@@jonathanhinkle11 kinda wanna know about the fucked up things during your time but yknow what, whatever, ignorant is bliss anyway

[@nonymouswisp8176]

We could teach kids signs of grooming, that could help a bit

[@gryaznygreeb]

Me too. Even on garry's mod I met creeps.

[@sleeve9097]

i’m glad i was already an adult by then

[@triggeredbeetle5370]

That ace guy disturbed me, he encouraged a minor to drink and he accepted a 7 minutes in heaven with the same minor. Hes a manipulative man. I don’t even want to know what they did in that room.

[@ZakkuTakku]

People like him are absolutely disgusting and should not be on this game, or any online game for that matter...

[@justinallen2408]

@@ZakkuTakku or maybe children shouldn't be allowed on vr until they've turned 18 lol seems kinda obvious

[@ZakkuTakku]

@@justinallen2408 Kids are going to find ways to get into online spaces that they shouldn't be in. There's no real way of stopping it because regardless of what tos says, their parents still let them play, and they can just lie about their age to set up an account. In any case, any adult should know better than to mess around with a minor like that. Even if the kid isn't supposed to be there, it's still the responsibility of all adults in the room to control themselves and not try preying on them

[@uhhhhokey2144]

this is old, but you can unlock the door and go inside the room btw. whatever happened, you let it happen.

[@triggeredbeetle5370]

@@uhhhhokey2144 whatchu mean I let it happen?

[@Snipe30801]

Dude I'm getting a "Disrupt" vibe from this kid! Keep it up bro. These types of edgy edited videos are what really hit! I might get into the craft soon too! Hell yeah!

[@Snipe30801]

omg thanks for hearting my comment bro! I KNOW you are going to be big one day! like, really big!

[@MavvyChiew]

the editing style is so much like disrupt

[@StickzDev]

He probably took inspiration from Disrupt

[@Snipe30801]

@@MavvyChiew Yeah, pretty sure he uses Adobe after effects just like disrupt...

[@Snipe30801]

@@StickzDev Most likely so.

[@haiichni]

as a vrchat ex addict, me and my 3k+ hours enjoyed this video a lot. i recently snapped out of my unhealthy loop of playing vrchat from 8pm-6am every night recently and it's made me notice how sucked up into the game i was. every single part of this video was something i'd experience everytime i would play the game. now i only play maybe twice a week and if i do happen to get on the game i play 2 hours max.

[@Tokmurok]

Good for you. I would like to ask, did you ever use the mirror, and if so, why?

[@yourallygod8261]

nice :y

[@capitalreckless5516]

How do people know if they're really drinkin alcohol?, just drink some oj instead

[@jacklesmithda3rd502]

Jesus crazy

[@crispbrisket6769]

@@capitalreckless5516 i know right

[@Someone-no]

I hope Luke is doing better and I’m also hoping his parents are now watching what he’s doing online

[@malaythakkar8772]

His parents seem pretty abusive as well sadly

[@Chillwave6]

​@@malaythakkar8772yeah, the comment about "they're gonna beat the hell outta me" makes it seem more like he's just been restricted from using internet instead of being monitored.

[@Tyson-r1w]

@@malaythakkar8772no they ain’t your just really white

[@EpicBrony300]

It had never occurred to me the thin line this game has you walking on, I definitely agree that vr chat should be an 18 plus experience because moderating a game like that is nearly impossible

[@5ar1us]

not 18+ but ceritanly not 13+ maybe 16+ (sorry for my bad english)

[@QuinCreeperKid]

@@5ar1us Naw kids shouldn't be exposed to this level of degeneracy

[@5ar1us]

@@QuinCreeperKid 16+ isn't a kid and in my country it's the legal age to drink and have s3x (with same age) so I would say 16+ is ok but 13+ is 100% the wrong age for shit

[@friendlyhamster8989]

@@5ar1usLegality varies from place to place so it should be placed at 18+ so less people would have a problem with it. Also many consider someone to be mentally an adult at 23 so that too.

[@romaniac205x7]

@@5ar1us 16+ is a kid it doesn't matter what you're country thinks, but psychology says our brain becomes completely developed at 25 so a 25 year is still a kid according to science and it make sense because 25 year old are just 13 year old that has more freedom in their life.

[@realJenni]

that first dark side part (with numbers and ace) is so gross. 13 years old is such a baby just listen to his voice. im 18 going 19 in a few months and im the youngest in my friends group who are all pretty much around 20 - 25. We dont allow minors when were drinking or partying and we refrain from making friends with REALLY young KIDS like 13 year olds because we dont behave like roldemodels and dont want to act like parents. FOR THE KIDS SAKE... im so mad not a single person in that room thought hey hold up, this little baby is 13 years old why is he here?? why is he drinking??? he was being manipulated and groomed right infront of like a dozen people. ive been playing for like 2-3 years now and i have met minor with creepy stories and even mysef expierienced (being a minor myself when i started playing) a fair share of predators having 30 year olds treat you like youre their age and manipulating your vunerable position...i have so much more to say but not a soul is gonna read this comment so imma just stop it here. i wish i couldve protected that kid.

[@GorillaNuts]

I don’t know how this video doesn’t have so much more recognition considering it tackles such crazy subjects especially the use of grooming and stuff , I honestly just think people of age shouldn’t be able to interact with kids their isn’t a point as a adult y you would want to talk to kids anyway

[@Cr4z3d]

@@GorillaNuts Unless you wanted to play more a role of being something like an older sibling. I get your point though.

[@shortcirkuitz_unofficial_8814]

I read all of it, something needs to be done about the manipulative adults and the grooming if anything can be done.

[@johannesjrgensen440]

Wish me and my friends could fuck ace up in the real nightlife. All those other punks need a fucking prosecution/ major fine. Enablers of child molestation is what all those subhumans are.

[@kiptaylor3567]

Can't really call it grooming though. The guy was also drunk before the kid joined. Annoying sure, that it's common to see someone inexperienced and tease them because of it. But it's VR. If your not going to have ages, emails, accounts, IPs, ect. Don't be surprised when people act as if there are no repurcussions, as long as you disconnect yourself enough there arnt any.

[@rosecity_chris]

As VR becomes better, more widely used and "metaverses" become a bigger deal...everything you covered is only going to get crazier

[@Lets-Go-Family]

I think the opposite is more likely. Sure, there will be some crazy stuff, but I think VRChat now is kind of in its wild west stage. In the future, I'm sure we'll see more regulation and homogenization of the metaverses. There will probably be dark metaverses that sprout up to deal in banned or illegal virtual activities.

[@breeziebanned]

fr it’s only going to get worse

[@inverse6556]

@@Lets-Go-Family this. i'm scared that besides all of the negative stuff, VRChat is in its golden era. but, there's also enough people who care deeply for the game in it's current state, that if the game does go downhill, someone will think of a solution. this is the internet after all... i really hope that the widespread popularisation of VR doesn't bring about unnecessary legal changes & censorship to the way the internet works. that might be one of my worst fears.

[@Ranixo286]

I hate headsets though so maybe if they were less clunky and foggy...

[@npc6817]

Nah fam the opposite, it's going to be so overregulated you won't be able to do even normal shit

[@OverZeelous]

I wanted to puke during the "Seven Minutes in Heaven" chapter. But at the same time, by the end, I kind of came around on it. On the one hand, Ace encouraging "Luke" to drink is.. Really not a good thing. But at the same time, when he sat down with Luke at the end it seemed like he either expressed his true feelings on the matter or had a "PNC" moment and was like "Wait a minute, oh God that kid must be miserable". Although, I will definitely say that the fact he, or any one else didn't step in to say "Hey, no kid, you can't play with us, you're not old enough, you should probably go somewhere else" and then if "Luke" insisted on his participation they could either ignore him, or if able, remove him from the "world" completely. Ever since I was a child, I saw what drugs and alcohol could do to you if you let them control your life, by studying my eldest sister, who then was a deadbeat housewife who messed with a lot of guys and was never stably housed. I didn't want to be like her when I was growing up, so I outright avoided doing all the things she did. I never hung out late with friends, I never participated in activities by people pressuring me into them, stuff like that. The only time I ever drank anything alcoholic was when I mistook a cup on a table for some juice, which was actually wine. I took one sip and immediately spat it out. So, I personally can't see how "Luke" was able to stomach one shot, let alone three, or however many he took. I say all this to say that neither party is completely free of critique. Ace egged "Luke" on, and "Luke" was gullible enough to fall into peer pressure, and do something he knew he was not supposed to do. It's a fucked up case all around.

[@clownage5852]

He is 13 years old. Regardless of his age, Ace should've been a responsible adult and kick Luke or evening tell him directly to get out. Even if I was drunk out of my mind I wouldn't erp with a 13 year old. It's wrong, and your way of thinking boggs my mind. That "PNC" moment was just another tactic to groom a young child. Seeming like the clear headed and emotionally available adult is a grooming method that people use to get closer to a outcasted and emotionally vulnerable child. While Luke looks at Ace like a friend and nice person, in reality, Ace is the predator and Luke was the prey.

[@Bestglookser]

A isn’t having a “caring moment” or anything of the sort. Everything he’s doing is extremely predatory. He first goads the thirteenth year old to drink and then participates in 7 minutes in heaven w him. Everything he does after all this I can only see in an incredibly sinister light, who would do all that and then suddenly turn into a virtuous protector who is genuinely concerned about this kids wellbeing. His caring efforts seems to me like a thinly veiled attempt to continue his grooming.

[@Bestglookser]

Also there is no way you can say the 13 year is at fault in any way, he is in a room full of adults who are all pressuring him to drink. He is not “gullible” he is 13. You can’t expect a 13 to do anything else when put in a situation like that.

[@OverZeelous]

@@Bestglookser I don't follow you on this one man. He genuinely seems like he wants to help the kid. He doesn't say something like "if you need someone to talk to, you can talk to me at [x, y, z]", in which case he could use that platform to further the attempt at grooming. I will once again reaffirm, he should've had a more direct, assertive stance against the kids participation, but the fact he at least attempted to give the kid helpful advice afterward [barely] makes up for his incompetence.

[@brittanyhill5480]

I agree and I can honestly kinda see where ace was coming from. I mean you gotta remember that ace was drinking too and already drunk, so he's not thinking clearly and his judgment was skewed, I'm pretty sure thats why at the end he sat with the kid to make sure he was alright, cause at the beginning he was just caught up in the party and the drinking but then he came to his senses at some point and actually thought about what was really happening, that a 13 year old just drank for the 1st time and drank a lot, maybe even too much, so thats why he sat with him to make sure he was ok. Also, I don't think they did anything sexual during 7 min of heaven (at least I hope so), in fact I think they might have just talked and thats when he kinda came to his senses about the whole situation with Luke drinking. I've never played vr chat but I feel like this kinda thing is common on the game, where they don't just kick minors out of more mature situations or parties, cause I mean the game is 13+ and there's a lot of minors on the game, so you gotta be used to being around young kids on there, and the adults might just be trying to be nice and let the kids do what they want in the game, also they probably just wanna have fun instead of having to be some kind of enforcer or authority for kids all the time, so they just decide to turn a blind eye to it (which isn't right of course, but I kinda understand it). But no one ever knows anyone's true intentions so I could be wrong on ace completely

[@TheJemsen]

started playing this game on a lonely christmas night in 2017. early 2019 i had racked up almost 1.4k hours on there. what hooked me in the early days were the seemingly unlimited possibilities provided by unity and the naive fun everyone had with each other. at first it looked like a nice outlet for creative people, dancers, 3d artists, musicians you name it. then a few things happened. how to create stuff, character models especially, which was a daunting task at first requiring hours and hours of reading and watching tutorials got more and more accessible thanks to the community inventing more and more tools and gathering more knowledge. thats when mirror staring occured. me and "the gang" were chatting while doing character edits, creating animations etc. we tried to constantly come up with new fun things to make each other laugh. the mirror was a tool to quickly check how the stuff we made looked ingame. but anybody could suddenly be the sexiest anime girl with the most massive boobies. this lured in alot of weird folk. people unable to connect to other people irl suddenly had peers , people with the same issues as themselves and all of them had breasts. time to party. alcohol, drugs. everyday at every hour somebody would shout "shots shots shots" while some other guy mimicked the knuckles meme. one thing leads to another. people had relationships, many had their first sexual experiences inside the game and that also brought about alot of drama. socially inept people giving a shot at having relationships with each other lead to alot of malice. doxxing, hacking, actively trying to fry other peoples pc hardware etc... early 2019 all the innocent fun was gone, all i was faced with was drunks, silent mirror staring, drama, and people ERPing publicly. i left the game alongside other people i now consider true internet friends. i still keep in contact with them regularly and still look fondly at the time i wasted inside the game. but the community at large is a shadow of what it once was. thanks for this video, to me its a true blast from the past, as you said theres so so so much more both positive and negative going on in this game its unbelievable. cheers

[@junglistmassiv]

u can be socially inept and not be a degenerate bro

[@TheJemsen]

@@junglistmassiv Ofc they can its an obvious fact. But thanks for pointing it out specifically.

[@sophmicrcp6650]

i remember early vrchat too and it was just like wacky people with earblasting songs and loud graphics

[@TheJemsen]

@@sophmicrcp6650 such a great time back then.

[@Caboose44567]

Sadly that stuff isnt the same anymore, but there are still plenty of good people in the game. I've been guilty of many of the downside of VRC myself over the years, but I've also managed to create an amazing tight knit caring community with many of my friends. It's in large part a matter of finding the right people and avoiding the wierd ones.

[@TroddenH3H3]

The video is good, very very good infact. Not a fan of the random epilepsy transitions that blind you instantly and hurt your eyes. I know there was an epilepsy warning but those are intense, and I don't even have sensitivity to light or flashing lights normally. Nonetheless, it's a good video and I'm glad really digs deep into vrchat's not well known activities and I'm glad someone is doing this to let others know what is happening cause these things are serious.

[@mycollegeshirt]

this dude is crazy talented... jeez. The music the intrigue, editing. Tied into a cohesive narrative based on reality. It's really something else.

[@SmokerS446]

you should def check out LEMMiNO I think this video is inspired from his videos. Since the music in this video is the same as Lemmino's.

[@bigmaxmer4902]

And only like 1% of the people who watch his videos sub that's really sad

[@Immolator772]

some edits are really unnecessary and cringy though.

[@detonator5816]

Man, LEMMiNO - Cipher gets used so often, yet I *love* it every single time! It just fits the documentary style _soo_ well, especially in the intro.

[@WhirlingMusic]

he had a one minute long transition. it's awful and doesn't know when to cut off the boring irrelevant parts of an interview

[@XILPIX]

WOW... 21 and KZbin had always been my main source of entertainment and THIS IS the best KZbin doc I’ve seen on anything, the whole vibe, the music, the texts, the layout that felt so unique and fresh and just you as a person, thank you for this masterpiece, straight onto “the mystery of a VRChat predator” but seriously you going places man

[@GbBusterBoom]

I remember my SHOCK when I met my first “kid” on there. I said “ why are you in here? Are kids allowed in here?”. He was so mad that I even implied he wasn’t to supposed to be on there. Like CHILD you can get HARMED. Ugh. Kids need their own space. Where they can be free to pretend to be cool with OTHER kids that are of a similar mind.

[@GeniFN]

Rec Room is for them though they dont use it

[@satonehh]

@@GeniFN rec room is boring ngl

[@glorboflurp5114]

@@GeniFN rec room is utterly egregious. As someone who has played a far bit with friends, it is by far one of the most toxic social environments I have ever had the displeasure of witnessing. I’d say Roblox is probably the closest thing we’ve got to a kid equivalent to vrchat

[@stef4oben88]

Yes they can go on roblox

[@livedandletdie]

@@glorboflurp5114 Roblox isn't really any better though. It's about as dark as VRChat at the worst of times.

[@Madmax45247]

I have a sister-in-law who's 7 year old son plays VR chat almost daily. Randomly stumble on this video in my recommended. I'm thinking I should probably have her watch this.

[@Bigsharter]

snitch

[@Madmax45247]

@@Bigsharter Maybe I should have your mom watch this too. She's been telling me she's worried how much you play it.

[@Bigsharter]

@@Madmax45247 shut it peasant I’ll fortnite dance on your great grandma grave

[@Unusual-Ryan]

@@Madmax45247 there's pros and cons to vr chat just like every game with random people you should definitely tell his mom but she shouldn't just take it away

[@mirandapanda5439]

A 7 year old shouldn't even be using VR

[@ArvelDreth]

It's weird thinking of someone "taking advantage" of a drunk person in VR considering they can't affect your actual body.

[@mirandapanda5439]

Yeah it's kinda dumb lmao

[@simonshura9144]

It is still heavily abuse mentally

[@ArvelDreth]

@@simonshura9144 I'm not saying it's okay that these guys did that, I'm just saying it's hard for me to wrap my head around being actually traumatized from basically drinking alcohol while playing a video game and then having someone use their digital avatar fondle your digital avatar. I've done VR stuff before and I get stabbed and shot at in FPS games all the time, which by this logic should give me PTSD. I dunno, I'm just having a hard time understanding I guess.

[@mirandapanda5439]

@@simonshura9144 heavily abuse? Lol You're tripping.

[@Nevir202]

It's cause it doesn't qualify. When you can literally disappear from a situation by just lifting a helmet, you're consenting to remain. There is no threat they can make to keep you there, there is nothing you can lose in there.

[@Pain-pl8qv]

I've unfortunately invested over 6,000 in this god forbidden game, been playing since 2017 I've seen it all been and been apart of it all VRChat is straight wildin, not as bad as it use to be tbh kinda miss the good old days but damn man ive seen and done some shit in vrc

[@crownless236]

vrchat is full of of societal outcasts. so i feel like it feels like almost everyone on there has done at least 1 weird shit.

[@justinallen2408]

@@crownless236 societal outcasts aren't the only weird people cx

[@nabe7587]

imagine playing vrchat XD

[@artalcoolique3341]

6000.....dollars.....?

[@Pain-pl8qv]

@@artalcoolique3341 hours

[@eternallysami]

I've had fun in VRChat but there are definitely darker sides of the game and you did a really good job of exploring the lesser known aspects of the game. I only found this video tonight but I'm glad it was recommended to me, it's really well-researched and interesting. Quality content. Also, I saw a clip from my video, my old VRChat world tutorial, at 3:16 😂💯

[@spinx2273]

Dude like 85% of my time in VR Chat has been quite frankly scary - I may have just been logging on at bad times, but the amount of grooming I saw during my short tenure as a VRChat patron was horrific. I called some people out, and usually got muted and/or adult males left with children to a private world. I dipped out for several years because of the scary stuff I saw. Anyway, I'm not saying all of VRChat is bad; I recently discovered the Spiderman (Spider-Verse?) lair and love it so much, but the first time I loaded in there was a dude surrounded by what sounded like 7-12 year old boys, and the dude (probably 28 or so) was talking in an overtly flirty manner. It was disgusting. Again I made a few comments to ridicule the person "grooming", but ultimately just wanted to swing - thankfully most of the kids got bored with the "flirty old guy" and just started swinging around the city. Anyway, I plan on jumping in to swing some more - it was pretty good on the web-mechanics side of things - but I am honestly kind of reeling from the insane amount of pervs who lurk in VRChat.

[@euclodies1719]

Sauce pfp?

[@chobai9996]

This isn't a game... it's like discord but VR

[@darkmario3321]

@@spinx2273 I have come across a couple people like that. Usually I either called them out and/or just reported them. Though I can count on one hand the amount of times I have seen creepy people in that game is one too many.

[@jase276]

@@chobai9996 It's evolved into a game, just because people use it for social interactions doesn't mean you can't do other things in it. For example, there's fully-functioning RPG worlds, FPS worlds with guns, Racing worlds, Boxing worlds, etc. You can literally create your own 'world' and put whatever you want in it. Discord can't do that.

[@talksickgamer]

That fainted, disoriented and dizzy voice the 13yo had after drinking made me uncomfortable and gut-wrench. It's absurd how people in the room were unaffected by that.

[@Tmb_Dog]

Alot off people in there where probably already drunk or they just muted him since he was a kid they probably thought he would of not drink

[@TechnoNeko]

the seamless music transitions and visuals are really impressive this guy is really good.

[@BeeBeBees]

i love how all the bad shit can be avoided by leaving the worlds and joining new ones

[@ZedNull.]

Its not a childs responsibility to avoid pedophiles and creeps. its ours as adults to not be pedophiles and creeps. Also to punish the exposed pedos and creeps.

[@BeeBeBees]

@@ZedNull. Well yeah but u can still fucking leave, this shouldn't happen but it does, there are tools in place to avoid these kinds of people, Blocking, changing worlds etc. Don't complain about problems with solutions in place.

[@ZedNull.]

@@BeeBeBees It does happen, and all those tools are useful AFTER the fact, not one of these tools detours it from happening to begin with, or helps kids avoid it from happening to them to begin with. The children are the victims and this line of thinking your on is the equivalent you someone getting raped and you saying "look what shes wearing". More important than any of the ways available for children to react AFTER they have been targeted by a predator is the repercussions for the predator and to expose them for what they are so people can avoid them BEFORE they are victimized by them. The whole point of the discussion is the damage that is being done to children, that damage is done whether they block them AFTER or not. Perm ban is the only logical solution. If your a piece of shit human being a like a pedo then you dont deserve the opportunity to interact with people you victimize, not simply be blocked from re-victimizing the same target. Thats why the sexual offender registry exists in real life.

[@sambob8019]

Yeah it sucks that there's pedophiles lurking around in general it sucks but parents should also teach their kids at an early age to you know block people that are creeps like that stranger danger and all that and maybe find a way to report people I guess there's only so much you can do through the game the rest of it's just kind of well law enforcement job

[@ZedNull.]

@@sambob8019 idk if you know this, but not one pedo on vrchat has been arrested or even had charges placed on them. its very easy to damage a childs mental state and forever change their opinions on adults without ever actually breaking any laws. law enforcement isnt going to help these kids. but i have been. ive Been doxing every pedo i come across. its extremely satisfying.

God, if I was there drinking with my buds and saw that shit with the 7 minutes in heaven there definitely woulda been a fight. Kinda irritates me that no-one there tried to stop that shit. I really love this game and have invested quite a bit of time and money into it and seeing it be tainted by shit like that really gets to me.

[@whydidytaddthis]

Exactly, thank you! That's a literal crime caught on camera. A room of adults pressured a 13 year old to drink and that Ace dude needs to go to jail, fuckin creep. Idk why more people aren't talking about that part of the video.

[@louloucaaa]

That shit made me angry.

[@inventor121]

A fight? I would have gone on a bloody crusade. I can't drink or even breathe in alcohol (ethanol specifically) irl due to medical reasons as such bars in games are the only places where I can even experience this sort of thing. If someone is encouraging people who can't or shouldn't drink alcohol to drink alcohol they deserve to be punched. This is why we need to invent a way to punch people through the internet.

[@ladsbois7302]

@@whydidytaddthis was that part of the video actually real?? I taken the disclaimer as truth, thinking they were just playing a skit to represent what happens. It just seems too whacky to be true.

[@SoulWhite]

@@whydidytaddthis all of you are idiots, kid's being a rebel, so what? Just because the people in the chat are not buzzkills like the rest of you unsocial losers doesn't make them bad people. Listen to yourselves judging drunk peoples decisions as if you knew any better. Filth of humanity, all of you.

[@BrandonFM]

Mystery of a VRChat Predator is out now kzbin.info/www/bejne/apvSdJdmZr6NbpI

[@PSking_]

its pretty nice

[@PSking_]

Ayo dude you have a team of editors? Because this video’s editing is AMAZING!

[@chrischarles4628]

I have a question what were the 2 remix Kendrick Lamar songs In the vid

[@BrandonFM]

@@PSking_ just me

[@mattmanhero2375]

Not me watching both videos in VRchat

[@neoflesh3579]

you had me until you said “NFT” merch bruh sigh can’t have anything good anymore

[@oliviapenelopehope4497]

I recently started playing VRchat. It is like the old internet. Wild and free; filled with chaos, pretty images, and people interacting with others they shouldn’t. The goal is communication, and that is part of the game model. Talking and having a body in-game that you nearly total control over its features. You can present yourself anyway want, regardless of how ridiculous or creepy that ends up being. Fare thee well, fellow travelers. May you not be too scarred from your time online.

[@edenmarble8048]

The irony is before you even brought up the mirrors I was already thinking I needed to get a full body VR set so I could enjoy those mirrors. Glad to know this is a wide spread human thing. Never tried VR but, those mirrors and being customizable hot with fellow customizable hot people are a hard sell for me!

[@Brianlavalley3594]

I have to say, I am sad that I saw this video a year after it was made. It's in my opinion extremely well done. Well paced, structured, and message is so well shot. I look forward to seeing more of your work, I think you have a bright future in story telling if not already realized. What ever path that looks like this to me hit true and made me go from casually watching this video to minimizing everything and full screening with intent focus. It wasn't the shock factor but the story you told/ shared in your journey of discovery. I Hope you continue to make more content that you are passionate about because its truly something special.

[@wrenchisnotanerd]

It shows how messed up the vr is.

[@艾]

41:36 pay close attention to where he says "its not like anyone can actually tell if your drinking or not" the Ace guy was most likely asuming the kid wasn't actually taking shots and just faking it since a good 50% of the time when someone who sounds under 18 says they are drinking they are lying

[@yousufkhan-jy5lp]

But than he said take two you should get wasted... The problem was nobody assumed something could be wrong, I wish I could understand what everyone was thinking

[@rlexan]

this video is amazing. and I think as someone who just started playing vrchat is good to know that there is a side like that but every game is like that and its good that there are people like you who spread awareness about that side. and overall its a good video with good editing. but still you are very underrated.

[@justinallen2408]

I don't play online games ever so when I saw this I was more disgusted and shocked than indifferent like so many seem to be on here.

[@oldandy1645]

I have worked with addicts and around addiction for over a decade. There's several ways to tell if you MIGHT have a problem. Have you ever sacrificed something important to keep engaging in the activity? Have you abandoned someone, or lied about meeting with them, to keep engaging in the activity? Have you put off a job/work to engage in the activity? Have you lost sleep as a result of the activity regularly?

[@cognizant3252]

I'm addicted to playing with my cat. Oh no... In all seriousness, youre absolutely right. I've seen so many addicts in my field.

[@miguelcarvalho9551]

God. All the time

[@notmyday7695]

Every league of legends player has done all that and more.

[@thatothamae1394]

I do this on my phone and this yt app

[@AutumnintheNorth]

By that definition, literally *every* autistic/ADHD/neurodivergent person is an "addict," regardless of prior substance abuse. You above define "an addict (maybe)" as ANY person who: -Has problems producing tangible material gain for their capital-owning shareholders -Does not meet the social/temporal/financial obligations placed upon them by society -Fails to perform to expected metrics according to their age/education/income bracket/etc. -Does not comply with standard societal norms in otherwise unspecified areas That describes every SINGLE neurodivergent person, regardless of subtype or substance use. Are they all "addicts," sir? Does that description suggest a flaw in the patient, or a flaw in the diagnostic model? Could it be that the "addicts" you worked with were autistic/ADHD/neurodivergent people self-medicating the symptoms their neurotypical doctors dismissed or ignored as "degenerate behavior" for decades, if not centuries??

[@crafty_strangers]

When I first clicked this video, I was about to get ready for bed. I am now 59 minutes in and haven't felt so impacted by a documentary before. Everything is amazingly done, and it's genuinely terrifying to see the darker parts of this. I've been playing VRChat for around a year now and am extremely grateful to have not run into any of this yet. I even had to pause the video every once in a while, to just take a breather because I didn't realize how bad things could get in a game that, to me, is extremely calming and exciting. I always love meeting new people and I'm glad I've seen this video because It's taught me to be more cautious. Absolutely love this video and I think more people need to see this.

[@euclodies1719]

Nice avatar dude 👍

[@MsStoryJoy]

I just paused too... I'm on the part where the 13 yr old started breathing heavily. I'm shaking. Wanted to see if any comments would spoil the rest of that part for me so I at least know the outcome before continuing. Good God this is definitely impactful. I was about to purchase a headset and this made me realize... I am in NO rush.

[@Th3m0n5t3rEzURL]

take this as constructive criticism. I loved the video and got invested into the story of the video/stories of the people, however the glitchy effects kind of threw me off of the emersion of the video. Dont get me wrong, i respect the editing that goes into it, and it definitely takes time, however again, they feel overused. Again thoooo, fucking amasing vid

[@FireFli]

This was a genuinely outstanding production, Brandon. Congratulations on making such a well-structured documentary and bringing some really dark stuff to light. Amazing storytelling skills as well, I can tell you really know how to create suspense. Hats off to you, sir.

[@spazozzy]

This isn’t just a KZbin video. This isn’t just a documentary. This was an experience! This is art in its highest form. I was so intrigued by the style and quality of content being produced that it left me sad when it was over. This may just be the greatest KZbin video of all time, Thank you for your amazing work Brandon,and I can not wait to see more.

[@whiteberrywyatt]

I’ve had a lot of fun and amazing conversations on this game. Eventually started playing less because it got harder and harder to weed out the good people from the depressed drug addicts. I guess it’s not too different from real life is it?

[@potatopotatoeOG]

Yeah 100%

[@LeDragoX]

This comment hits different, like the video

[@BartBasquiato]

I got confused when the girl was talking bout the group of guys taking advantage of chicks by getting them drunk.. so they drink in real life while playing or what

[@whiteberrywyatt]

@@BartBasquiato yea it’s very common to go into one of the clubs and someone will say “ANYONE WANNA TAKE A SHOT?!” Then 15 people will wait for each other to go grab the bottle from the kitchen. Unless of course you’re a degenerate that keeps a bottle in your room hahaha. Then before you know it you’ve taken way too many. It’s weird you kinda don’t realize how drunk you get until the mask comes off and the room starts spinnin.

[@BartBasquiato]

@@whiteberrywyatt from the video it reminds me of imvu except it was no VR back in the day & it's true what dude said in the beginning unless you're dressed weird like them they dont pay attention to you or will even make fun of you.. pretty funny stuff

[@Only_Sleep]

43:00 Alcohol can cause some respiratory issues, a sign that they’ve had way too much to drink. Did you track how many shots they took total?

[@svenssko]

The mirror is a fascinating phenomenon. I think it's just become known as the defacto meeting place in most worlds, so people head there to find others. It can also help with immersion and self-awareness as your avatar, but the biggest benefit I'd say is overcoming the headset's limited field of view. It's easier to see everyone at once instead of turning your head ad nauseum, depending on who's talking. Chillin at a mirror every now and then with a group of friends? Healthy. Solo players just staring at themselves for hours? Yeahh dunno bout that, chief.

[@aestheticsimmer1215]

I am actually so happy you spoke more on the darker side of this game. You see, streamers show you the good, fun and wholesome part of this game and their young following, very impressionable kids get on it and they meet a whole different world. Kids don't usually get into the dark side cause they want to, they stumble upon it. I had many bad experiences on this game, good ones too but they'll never compensate the bad ones. I've been groomed, used, been in a bunch of weird groups, when i was underage i would get on to drink with people who knew i was underage they just didn't care, i thought this was the only way to play vrchat and have fun because i was young and impressionable. I'm no saint but the adults on this game are sick by not caring about your age and even trying to erp with you if you're wasted enough. Back in 2020 i was addicted to this game, once quarantine was over in my country i got into the nigtlife and that's when i truly saw what this game is all about. Now 2 years later i came back to it, and i can finally enjoy this game again, being of age and always raising awarness when i feel like something is wrong. Kids have no place in the nightclubs and the adults should be more careful, i don't want these kids to experience the same vrchat i experienced. (if u need someone to interview for a video i'm here, i got a bunch of stuff to say about this game and the dark side of it)

[@Antigonex]

i really wish people cared. but just like the parents of these kids they dont care or they just dont know/uneducated, the adults in the game dont care either. some are actually twisted. if theres a kid in a adult only world we vote to kick asap. VRC needs to update their policy since theres soooo many kids on that shit now

[@tikket10]

bro this game is out for only 5 years now why are you talking in such a grown manner? you cant have grown up using vrchat because the game is still relatively new

[@lookingfortruth1930]

@@tikket10 only weebs play brchat. They shall be stopped.

[@dwellerinblack7816]

@@lookingfortruth1930 ur mum weeb

[@johannesjrgensen440]

These people need to have their IP’s exposed and harassed for months until a group finally ends them in an alleyway. Either that or have the authorities track and em and trap em. Get that human trash out of society.

[@billybuddy6800]

Documentaries are good beacuse how you can hear stories from whatever it's about. It's just great to learn about something you might've never known before. But a lot of documentaries can be to boring because they don't include the stories the right way, which've made me unlike documentaries overall. But this one, is phenomenal. How you include som many stories, the good sides and bad sides of VRChat. I learned something new, and i legit feel different. And that only happens to me when i've played/watched something beyond perfection. And for a really small content creator making these sort of stuff out of nowhere, it's great. Thank you, thank you for making this masterpiece of documentary, and i hope people will take inspiration and knowledge from this. I will definetly. I'll share this to my friends, so they can se the magic of a great documentary too. Once again, thank you and great job!

[@BrandonFM]

wow thank you so much I really appreciate you taking the time to write this up

[@haisunn355]

I just turned fucking 14, and I genuinely couldn’t stomach watching the seven minutes in heaven segment in one sitting I kept having to pause the video and take a breather, it is terrible I hate how the internet allows this to be okay I am so glad I’ve grown up on the internet but I also feel terrible for the constant shit I see with people my age. thank god I know better

[@PartiallyLime]

I was 10 when I went through this... It was absolutely terrific yet I was put in the wrong mindset. It didn't make it any better that I started early puberty so I sounded like an adult. There was so much trauma. My perception on life is forever changed, and I can always feel a crippling addiction that will never go away due to all that's happened. I stayed on that game for 4 years, and I still occasionally play to this day with full body tracking. I try my best to take care of the kids whose parents didn't care enough to check the age restriction on the game. I grew up at the snap of a finger, but why should I let other children suffer the same fate? If I have the chance to save a life, then I want to take it. And even though none of this is my responsibility, nor is it anyone else's other than the parents, I think we can all save a life. Report the account, encourage others to do the same. But until the account is banned, always make sure that the child is on the right mental path. And never blame them for anything that happens to them. They're just a child. Also sorry if this sounded kind of dramatic, it's just what I've had to push through for years and it's been horrifying. I just want to encourage people to help those in need, and to spread the word of a topic that's been silent since the start of VRChat. It may not sound like a big deal, but oh is it scary for the victim.

[@sum1834]

no you're right, they're all just kids

[@iamgreatness6649]

What happened

[@narcissisticstatisticmonst4390]

Thank you. Currently arguing with my son over Oculus and wondering if I too am being dramatic. This video and comment let me know im not. You're doing the right thing by sharing your story. Sorry that happened to you.

[@Makena091]

No one ever elaborates when they say VR ruined a part of them. What mindset? What sort of traumas? How did your perception change? What kind of addiction are you talking about? Etc

[@plaguedoctor6134]

Nothing new vrchat is just a reflection of our real world, from predators to people struggling with personal or external issues just stay safe everyone.

[@RED-sl2le]

Would you be surprised if I told you there’s an entire community of Clone troopers with simulated battles in Maps where they coded in Hitboxes and working weapons.

[@gasparfaria4248]

Wow that seems amazing

[@thedemon970]

Ha! Let me know how I can join them lol

[@d-boyzeighteenhundred]

Would love to see a video of this frfr

[@RED-sl2le]

@@d-boyzeighteenhundred Look up “Clone troopers of VRChat”

[@Cloakerson]

If your immediate reaction to someone who says they're 13 isn't "dude get out of here" you need to seriously re-evaluate your critical thinking skills

[@semimad100]

damn. when i first heard people talking about it i figured it would be kindof whatever but, seeing that guy really encourage that child to drink actually made me feel like shit. they clearly had way more than they could handle before they really started to feel the first shot.

[@Astraeus..]

Wait till you find out the REAL world is exponentially weirder than any shit you ever have or are ever likely to see in VRChat. Seriously the only difference is that you can get to the weird shit in VRChat with a couple button clicks, rather than actually having to physically go somewhere.

[@m0zzar353]

exactly though, that is the problem, the accessibility of all the fucked up shit on the internet and on VRChat is the real problem

[@Astraeus..]

@@m0zzar353 I actually don't quite think the problem is with how easily accessible these things are, I'm more inclined to think the real problem is that we just aren't giving kids the necessary tools to learn how to properly navigate the internet. We aren't teaching them how to deal with and/or avoid things online that they just aren't going to be ready for. More and more I see parents giving children smartphones (either outright, or total access to one) at increasingly young ages. Parents who, themselves, are pretty technologically ignorant. Give a 5 year old something you yourself don't know shit about, and that kid in short order will figure out things you have no idea are even possible. That's the biggest issue going forward. Because parents are, clearly, not equipped to teach these things to their kids, there absolutely need to be dedicated courses in schools. In both primary and secondary, we need some established (and mandatory) courses every few years along (grade 3 & 6 to ease them in, then something more advanced in middle/high school). The thing is, people see how "good" their kids are with technology, and mistakenly equate that to their kids being able to deal with/handle the things they're being exposed to online. It'd be like letting your child drive a gokart their whole childhood then somehow assuming you can put them in a car in New York rush hour traffic and thinking they'll be just fine.

[@Ranixo286]

I mean, people don't USUALLY have sex in public areas dressed as cat girls though.

[@POBBLEBONK0.0]

@@Astraeus.. I think it’s a bit of a mixture of both, kids should really be taught about how to keep themselves safe, but it also doesn’t guarantee they’re safe as most kids are pretty gullible, and despite knowing they shouldn’t do something, they might anyways. Its important to teach them safety on the internet, but it’s also important to keep them away from adult spaces. I mean VRChat has literal stripper worlds, its no place for kids. And we also have the VRChat developers to blame for making a game that should be 18+, 13+, or for not taking these types of clearly adult worlds down.

[@coolmanvan]

that seven minutes in heaven segment was sickening. well made video mate this was very eye opening 👁!

[@JustXvynz]

That Ace guy is a young adult not measuring the weight of his comments and actions till he legitimately hears that kid out of breath and actually somewhat relying on him. Just a moment of realization, they both sound like troubled cases to me…just that one is expected to do better because they’ve hit the age of 18+

[@neilbishop1735]

Honestly, I love the way that this video was set up. Almost masterful. At the start of the video, before the deep dive, the video seems pretty chill, alike to most other documentary videos on this platform. But, the glitches and off colored pictures create this sense of uneasy-ness. Both this style, and the story happening behind the happy-go-lucky doors of VR chat go hand in hand. Well done man, will be subscribing

[@Snow-fb7oy]

I'm really hoping you make a whole series on vrchat. Saying this because as someone who's played vrchat for over 2000 hrs. There is just so much about this game that can't be covered in just one hour or even be written in a simple comment. I'm rooting for you, in that you keep on playing and exploring vrchat!

[@BrandonFM]

Honestly i thought i was done with the game but i can see myself making more content about it, also thanks for the support :)

[@Snow-fb7oy]

@@BrandonFM Np! Can't wait to see the next vrchat video! Also if you need help in finding more content, feel feel to hmu.

[@joeross6113]

Nice move putting the epilepsy warning ten seconds AFTER the transition of flashing colors and glitchy pictures, very cool

[@pauladriaanse]

Yeah it's an absolute dick move. It doesnt even show long enough at that, heck you could even call the epilepsy warning a flashing image!

[@toddwatkins5011]

If you have epilepsy and you are watching random videos online, you can't be mad at someone else for willingly playing Russian roulette.

[@pauladriaanse]

@@toddwatkins5011 How would people with epilepsy be blaming people for playing Russian roulette, even speaking figuratively?

[@bigmaxmer4902]

@@pauladriaanse with your logic in every yt title there should be a warning

[@pauladriaanse]

@@bigmaxmer4902 With any logic one'd know how to start a video without excessive flashing 🙄it's not that hard people

[@LoganH7958]

bro had 100 hrs and never saw weird stuff and me here 3 hrs and hade segs 3 times with men

[@chaotically-moon]

That’s not a feat, that’s quite disturbing.

[@Lotus5458]

Dude literally no other vr char doc went this far into detail and really hooking you into the story and the straybound files is equally amazing if not a bit better the storytelling the editing the music and all around this is top teir

[@BrandonFM]

the support on this video has been crazy and it's only been out for 3 days. more light-hearted long-form content on the way. been working nonstop on the next video should be out in a couple weeks maybe. ill post updates on my Twitter @BrandonFM_YT if any of you are interested in staying up to date. but again, thank you for the support

[@anthonyedison2388]

you probably dont give a shit but does any of you know of a method to log back into an instagram account..? I was dumb forgot my account password. I love any tricks you can offer me.

[@dfghiatus126]

Phenomenal. From the striking editing to the jarring allegories, this truly tells the whole Story that is and will be VRChat.

[@arandomcatonyoutube7258]

I already knew I didn’t understand VRchat but this ohboi this mad it ducking clear how much of this I can’t comprehend

[@alleyesonzee]

this was such an amazing documentary omg when i finished i was expecting you to have a million + subs or more, this deserves so much recognition i had no clue all this was going on! side note did anyone else get REALLY weird groom-y vibes from that ace guy? i presume he encouraged “luke” to take more shots & then he comes out and seemingly plays nice guy like he wasnt the sole person to continually encourage him to drink in the first place.. while “luke” is so drunk the poor thing clearly isnt in the right headspace to realize. he just thinks he found a genuine friend. idk maybe its more innocent than it seems but it really personally rubbed me the wrong way, as a victim of grooming in my younger years myself now that im older & can recognize the signs.

[@rzomunna4019]

I'm hoping he just realised he fucked up awfully encouraging the kid to drink that much and he's trying to help him out but the closet thing freaked me out

[@ottodeottodo4119]

wtf happened in seven minutes in heaven? like, they came out exhausted even though its just weird erp

[@olso8621]

@@ottodeottodo4119 I hope the kid was just exasperated from binge drinking. If not, I guess that was s*xual abuse? They should've told him not to still his mom's liquor and to get off the game.

[@whydidytaddthis]

That Ace dude needs to get reported to the FBI or some shit. It was definitely not innocent, he knew what he was doing.

[@amp4105]

@@ottodeottodo4119 tbh i think he just drank more

[@Aurkiel]

I stumbled upon this by mistake, but really enjoyed it. Gave me Nexpo vibes. Overall, well done.

[@zurikumoacaso7543]

Same

[@lenaya3993]

I just found this video randomly after a sesion of vrchat. Ive been playing vrchat for around 3 years now, its an amazing social experience for me as of the start of covid! But i have seen and witnessed some scary and dark moments too, vrchat is not all beauty and fun and minors should definitely not play it without supervision.. I love everithink about this documental, pretty acurate, and it was nice to hear other peoples storys as everyone has their own on the game! But yes, its the best socializing game ever made so far and not just because of the fact that its in VR.. Great video, big hug from a fellow vr player from Germany ✨

[@iamgreatness6649]

They raping people or what? Like just take the headset off or move worlds I don’t get it

[@TorstenAdair]

I chatted on AOL in the mid-90s. What occurs in VR chat with images occurred on AOL with just text. As with most corners of the Internet, it requires moderation. But with the Eternal September, there will always be idiots who keep popping in.

[@PartiallyLime]

@@iamgreatness6649 Well pressure isn’t that easy. Sure, you might not be able to be pinned down, but being groomed isn’t just something you can casually walk away from later. It’s hurtful and draining. You don’t really end up having the option to just ”walk away” afterwards because you’ve been told that it’s fine and that’s how it’s supposed to be.

[@TheXxpollyxx99]

This was by far the best example of how all kinds of fun can be had in VRChat, but also how dangerous it can be for minors! The video was great! and the older ones should always keep an eye on the younger ones

[@Model1928]

As someone with 3,400+ hrs in this game, i will just say, dont get lost in the metaverse, dont become the asshole player, or toxic one. this game can be very fun at times, but remember reality and real life are different. This reality is amazing i must say, despite its flaws.

[@lookingfortruth1930]

Reality is reality. We must face the truth or you won't be happy

[@NeoEclipsis]

Hey creator of 7 Minutes in Heaven here lol. I'm glad you enjoyed my world XD. But did you happen to report Ace? I don't like users like that on VRchat due to their behavior. I know the beginning of the 7 Minutes in Heaven section stated it was fake. But just in case it wasn't report him. I'm friends with a few mods in the game who would be happy to help. Sadly things like that happen in VRchat but we can stop a decent bit of it through reporting and awareness. I also added age restriction signs for the community to follow. Before you say it I know some people will unfortunately not adhere to them but it shows the map doesn't condone that sort of behavior. It leaves it up to someone in the group to stop it and report it.

[@BrandonFM]

Hey, i know for you as a map creator this isnt what you intended your map to be used for and i just want to make it clear that i do not blame you or anyother creator for the things that happen on this game, and im totally aware its out of your control and i agree its up to the community to stop these things from happening, ace has been reported however if you could let the mods know about the video and ace that would be great as im not sure if he has been banned yet

[@silentdallas]

Could I get an invite to this server ?! This seems like a fun ass room (with the right kind of people ) I’m 21 btw

[@emalontrack]

I have never played VR chat and im a "veteran" in Steam, this is important to know. Thanks Brandon.

[@randynuggetnubs5472]

As someone who's been playing VRchat for a while now, it's good to see some of the more bizarre things happening in the game getting a spotlight shown on it.

[@ameliaherd9887]

As a millennial who hasn’t really kept up with VR I really appreciated this and your research and can confidently say I now know how to safely and better navigate this world that I’m just now entering.

[@cdramafpv]

this is me.

[@FoxiestLia]

VR is amazing, but just like the real world, it isn't all pretty flowers and sunshine. It takes times, trial and error, to find a strategy that works for you, but once you know how to navigate a crazy world, one can finally stop, and appreciate the beauty of the very same world, that would look very dark from a different perspective.

[@kiraocelot]

same bruv

[@honeycombc]

Brandon, I only just discovered your video, but I have to say that the editing in this is excellent. I absolutely love it! You deserve any and ALL praise for it! Keep up the great work!!

[@토끼도도June]

Man this video is insane. I can't believe it hasnt gotten more attention by now. Actually seeing this side of a game like VRChat where i've had mostly positive interactions is crazy. This is definitely one of the best VRChat documentaries out there, thank you so much for teaching us about this.

[@Pathdrc]

Unless there is something you didn't show, I didn't detect grooming in the conversation as you ended it. Groomer-ish, but a don't know what happened in the closet. Maybe the kid talked about his issues with no fiends and parents not being home. The last conversation, in the lobby, I was wanting to gets what seemed like the obvious - that he we grooming the kid. However his conversation and tone, at least the way it ended in this video, could have been genuine concern. Allowing the kid to hang out and going along with their drinking was definitely not right, but maybe felt sorry for the kid. Then again, maybe I am that naive.

[@HunterGamingStudio]

Hey, I really like the editing and the overall video. Love these types of longer video-essays that delve into the topics. I would only point out these loud-flashing transitions from time to time that start unannounced, I am not versed in these things but have you thought of maybe not doing them for the sake of risk of seizures in your next productions? Thanks again.

[@hookvoid]

This is one of thee best documentaries I've seen in a long while, I can see that a lot of hard work has been put on this and a lot of Month's, it's been a really long time since I've been hooked on a video like this and I certainly expect more great content like this in the future I can watch this on repeat for month's. Great job on creating this work of ART this was really breath taking certainly a gem.

[@IAreNotaPotato]

I agree and his new one to just amazing

[@jeffypeters333]

I dont wanna be mean, but you stretched like 10 mins of content into 1+ hours. Maybe try to trim things down a bit in the future.

[@minvike37]

Yeah i was gonna comment this also. Hopefully the OP is going to school to be graphics design or editor. But the content was minimal.

[@UmiNoOto]

YOOOO you used quadecas music at around 32 mins. Ur editing is amazing man Love ur stuff

[@Pro_Gamer.-.-.]

I’ve played this game for a year now going on and off and I’m actually glad that this was created because I’m underaged a couple years away from being 18 and I’m so glad I saw this stuff because some of it I didn’t even think could happen thanks for making this 🙏🏻

[@Minion-ey5ln]

This video was absolutely amazing, I was 45 minuets in before I even realized how long I had been sitting there fixated on what I was watching here. And that's not even mentioning the amazing sequence you did between the two halves of the video

[@driesverhaag8955]

First hour long vid I've watched all the way through in a while, massive props to you for making it so informative and entertaining at the same time. Great vid

[@AspenExists]

The first time I went on VR chat I was surrounded, the most disgusting slurs and sentences. I broke down, then and there. I swore my soul I would never play again.

[@TheOmniverb]

"Some unnamed guy 'took advantage' of me... While I was passed out... In VR... By staring at my drunk, unconscious, fake, pixel body... Very awkwardly."

[@Rhah-]

Seriously. This is mind blowingly inane. Like, the most unhealthy part of that entire statement is the indication that the person who uttered it cannot tell the real world from the virtual. Acting the victim for clout and sympathy points is as asinine and toxic as it gets.

[@TheOmniverb]

@@Rhah- well said, and very accurate 👌💯

[@definitelydefinitive]

@@Rhah- damn great assessment

[@damemeplug5062]

"I will not be a good father" you got one thing right

[@bentleyreynolds8577]

Bro. I’ve watched both your docs and I’m literally amazed at how good and high quality these things are. Genuinely one of the most beautiful documentaries I’ve ever seen on KZbin.

[@maklo_9023]

You may be able to escape the real world. But you can not escape real people.