This past week, long-time YouTuber Shane Dawson began his new YouTube series, “The Mind of Jake Paul.” Facing ridicule for doing a series on YouTuber Jake Paul, many people, including myself, were curious about what Shane was going to do with it. In his previous series with YouTuber and make-up creator Jeffree Star or YouTuber Tana Mongeau, Shane is considered to be too compassionate, and regardless of their pasts just wants people to see the good in them. So, with the fan base knowing this is how Shane goes about making his videos people were scared he would put forth the same compassion to Jake Paul; who many people believe doesn’t deserve the compassion let alone another platform to gain followers.
Many people expected this series to be something that no one wanted yet, Shane Dawson is doing exactly what he does best: informing his viewers. Here are a few things Shane Dawson has gotten right so far in this series:
What is a Sociopath?
In the second part of this series, Shane Dawson pulls in YouTuber and therapist Kati Morton and discusses what makes someone a sociopath. They use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and go through each of the symptoms of Anti-Social Personality Disorder; more commonly referred to as a sociopath. In this discussion, it’s found out that 1 in 25 people suffer from this disorder, which means there is a good chance that you know at least one, if not multiple people, with Anti-Social Personality Disorder.
Who are these people? One person on Twitter who is diagnosed with Anti-Social Personality Disorder, who wanted to remain anonymous, had a lot to say about their experience*.
Q: “How do you feel about Shane stating this diagnosis is like playing a game?”
A: “It’s like a very intense Sims and at times I feel like the IRL person behind the keyboard, like a puppet master.”
Q: “Shane says that in a scenario of a plane crashing, someone with this diagnosis wouldn’t feel fear of dying, or worry like other passengers. How would you feel in this situation?”
A: “It would suck if I was going to die, but I wouldn’t fear it. But I don’t plan on dying yet. I would be uncomfortable, but I wouldn’t panic like the other passengers.”
Q: “In regards to relationships, how do you see them? And does this change depending on the relationship (parental, friend, or significant other)?”
A: “It doesn’t depend on the type of relationship. Every person in my life has a use to me, whether small or large. Once someone is useless they are tossed away.”
Q: “I know you don’t feel things, but do you know when you are using someone that it’s wrong? Or does that thought even cross your mind? Or does it just not phase you that it’s wrong?”
A: “I don’t find it wrong because I only receive from it. But I know that society finds this wrong so I am not upfront about it. I personally do not care at all.”
Though the majority of what this person says lines up with what Shane and Kati talk about, I feel as though it would’ve been beneficial for Shane to talk to someone who was actually diagnosed with Anti-Social Personality Disorder, so it would be a first-hand experience, not just assumptions made through what symptoms they are supposed to have.
Is Jake Paul a “Sociopath”?
Through Jake Paul’s videos on YouTube and the video clips Shane has used in his series of Jake, many would believe that he is indeed a sociopath. Yet, Shane hasn’t talked face-to-face with Jake yet, so to imply that he is indeed a sociopath and isn’t putting on a façade just to get views on YouTube is a big stretch. People do anything and everything for views; in the first part, YouTuber iNabbers says how newer generation YouTubers have to go out and do crazy things for views because all of the older content creators have paved the path, and the newer ones have to prove they’re different. Jake and many others do exactly this. Yet, by the end of this series, people will have an answer on whether or not Jake Paul does indeed just put up a façade, or if his videos are exactly how he is in person.
Implying Others are a Sociopath
After the release of the second part, titled “The Dark Side of Jake Paul,” many people began to slam Shane Dawson for, what I’m going to assume people feel, is slander. Slander is when someone makes false-damaging statements about someone else. This is in no way what Shane Dawson did. Whilst talking to YouTuber and therapist Kati Morton, he plugs in videos of various YouTubers and celebrities that in that particular clip are showing the symptom of that they are discussing. Before this segment starts, he states that he is in no way implying any of these people are indeed sociopaths; the day before the video was released he tweeted that he was in no way implying that these people are sociopaths, though somehow people still misconstrued what he was doing and got really upset that he was damaging reputations of others.
Overall, this series has started off really strong. Regardless of the backlash Shane has gotten, I believe that this series still has a lot to tell and a long way to go. I’m very excited for the upcoming weeks to see how this story pans out, and if Jake Paul really is a sociopath.
*Interview done via Twitter Direct Messages.