You need help with something online. Would you rather read an article or watch a video about it?

[Deleted member 33057]

I was talking with my cousin about this and I noticed that when I need help on something (tutorials, advice, reviews), I would rather read a website article instead of watching a youtube video on the same subject. To me the article is easier to get through and find the info that I need. with youtube videos you also have the obnoxious intros that take 2 minutes before getting into the actual subject.

My cousin however, goes to YouTube with any question he has and would rather watch a video for help. He says its easier to see what you need help with and hear the person explain it. I see the merits to it, but for me it comes down to getting the info as fast as possible.

Which would you rather do?

 

[digita1alchemy]

Depends what it is for. When fixing my car or doing home repairs, I usually want a video. For most other things, I'd prefer an article or walkthrough.

 

[Fat4all]

i like reading

 

[BLEEN]

Almost always read unless it's very hands-on.

 

[Couleurs]

Videos always wind up being absurdly longer than they should be, so I always go with articles when given a choice

"How to fill an ice cube tray with water" - 2:42:48

 

[CMP]

Reading is usually much faster

 

[Sixfortyfive]

I prefer to read unless I'm doing something that really needs a visual aid.

For fixing my car or doing home repairs, I usually want a video. For most other things, I'd prefer an article or walkthrough.

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Basically.

 

[Dega]

Articles are far more helpful the majority of the time. I can't stand most tutorial videos. They just go off topic or take 5 minutes to explain something that text does in 10 seconds.

 

[V23]

Depends what it's for. A (moving) picture is worth a thousand words.

 

[TheBaldwin]

If it's practical, video

Although for computer stuff I sometimes use video, because sometimes articles can be a little obtuse.

Although nothing is more annoying then typing in a 'YouTube guide' for a simple windows/computer problem and it's some guy with a bad mic fucking about for 15 minutes

 

[Lari]

I used to prefer reading, but at my cooking game has improved so so much after I started watching cooking videos for recipes I want.

 

[Hoa]

Video for physical hands on type stuff like with hardware modifications.

Article for software related or programming related.

Honestly I'm fine with both though.

 

[Bigg]

Generally reading, but if it's something very visual, like how to install a PC part, then I'll definitely watch a video to make sure I'm doing it right.

 

[Sunster]

articles can be annoying because there's always like 3 or 4 paragraphs of intro before they get to the point.

 

[Deleted member 86105]

article

 

[DoughBoi]

Depends. If what I need help with is more conceptual, then I will probably seek out written info. If it is an explicit task, then I will probably look up a video. My level of competence/understanding of a subject will also play a factor.

 

[Rosebud]

Article. Videos are the absolutely last option.

 

[Volimar]

Depends what it is for. When fixing my car or doing home repairs, I usually want a video. For most other things, I'd prefer an article or walkthrough.

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Same. If it involves hands on stuff, I prefer a video. If it's getting through some technical issue, I'd like a walkthrough.

 

[julia crawford]

Hmm depends on whether i have time. If i have to figure something out for work, text is better. Because you'll find technical terms you can google, examples you can stop and look at for more than two seconds, etc.

But if i have time and it's chill... yeah video is ok i guess.

 

[ironjoe]

I definitely prefer reading. I'm old now so having grown up reading rather than watching videos on the subject, I can't get past the habit.

 

[BasilZero]

Almost 90% of the stuff I needed help with something whether it was a game, something car related, tool related, software related, etc have all been a video on youtube.

Infact at my workplace , we're encouraged to look at videos of some things like how to take off a cover for a device/computer if we are not familiar with it or something like that - and yes it helped (especially when I started my first IT job for the first time lol).

 

[ScoobsJoestar]

Video online, I find that articles tend to skip a step or make me go "Wait, the interface is different - " so looking at a video really helps me understand things better. I guess I'm just a visual learner lol

 

[Jerm]

Watch a video. Visual learner.

 

[Deleted member 17388]

A cooking-related tutorial or so? An article so I can skim faster, if it's YouTube it goes 2X.

However, if it's something I'm learning then directly to YT... at 1.75X.

 

[Bradford]

Really, Really depends on the topic.

Using a silly example, if I wanted to learn how to tie a fancy tie knot, I'd watch a youtube video, because floating ghost-hands in still images and written instruction can sometimes be confusing or unclear.

But for learning how to like, Hack my 3DS? Article. 100% of the time.

If we are discussing like, being stuck in a game or wanting to learn a technique? 100% text. Screenshots aren't even necessary most of the time. Give me the HTML formatted GameFAQs guide any day over a rambling 14 minute long video that I'm gonna skip through a bunch anyway.

Same goes for Wiki articles. Autoplay video on Fandom-aligned wikis is awful. I hate it so much. Just give me the article in text, period.

 

[Holy Diver]

I'd rather read by far. Videos are slower and are more likely to not give complete info.

 

[Princess Viola]

Depends on what it is I need help with.

Something where I need to actually be physically doing something? Gimme a video so I can follow along. Anything else? Article, hopefully with pictures so I can make sure I'm doing it right.

 

[MonoStable]

I find that if I'm completely clueless about something I like to watch a video with an expert who can really breakdown what's going on, if Im vaguely familiar what I need to do I want just the article so I can control F that bitch.

 

[Regiruler]

Honestly I'll go to an article first more often than not, but videos can do some things a lot better, and most things only a bit worse than an article.

 

[The Albatross]

Read.

The only time I want to watch a video might be for something home improvement related, like say soldering something. For some reason I watched This Old House soldering videos today.

Or if I'm stuck. We got this stupid bumper gate for my toddlers twin bed andthe instructions were useless on how to truly attach it to the mattress and I went searching on youtube and found more useless videos.

 

[Cat Party]

I used to always want an article, with a video to supplement when needed. But I have found my self going straight to YouTube more and more. A lot of "How-To" articles are incomplete, out of date, and/or absolutely inundated with ads. YouTube has pretty good search ranking and I find the comments to be incredibly helpful in a lot cases.

 

[molnizzle]

Article.

I fucking hate how everything is a YouTube video now.

 

[Euphoria]

Depends on how you learn best. Some learn better by reading while others learn better by observing.

I love reading, however if it's a repair for my cars or when I repaired my dryer, washing machine and over the range microwave I 100% went with videos.

 

[thecouncil]

Depends on what it is but I try to avoid 20 min vids for a 2 min solution.

 

[Donos]

Article.

I fucking hate how everything is a YouTube video now.

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Yes. Google something, five yt vids as top results... be it tech or gaming. Hate that too.

 

[RecRoulette]

I'd prefer articles but so many articles are shit that the video is the more efficient way to go.

 

[Bakercat]

If its just to make a decision, I look up articles, if its to physically build or do something, I watch a video to see how its done.

 

[Apopheniac]

Article is preferred, but I'll consult a video afterwards if I still don't understand.

 

[Oliver James]

Reading. I absorb more and I can read a lot more in the same time I watch a single video.u

 

[Mathieran]

It really depends. If it's fixing/making something then gimme a video.

video games, cooking, general knowledge, I prefer text

 

[Fiction]

I've been doing a lot of knitting and I can't live without those tutorial videos. Everything else id rather read if the website isn't annoying.

 

[Ryuelli]

It depends what it is that I need help with.

It really depends. If it's fixing/making something then gimme a video.

video games, cooking, general knowledge, I prefer text

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I agree with this.

 

[VariantX]

Watch a video if its something with a lot of steps.

 

[scottbeowulf]

Article.

I fucking hate how everything is a YouTube video now.

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This. I'm really happy this poll isn't the other way around.

 

[Deleted member 22630]

Depends.

 

[Deleted member 33057]

article

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lmao

If this aint the truth

here's how it goes, at least for tech related stuff.

*quick intro explaining the content of vid*

*overly produced intro*

*restating what the vid is about*

*sponsors/referral link*

*finally getting into the content of vid*

*but first backstory on the company, product, basic info*

*FINALLY getting to the point*

*outro, subscribe for more blah blah*

 

[carlsojo]

For skills (how to unclog my garbage disposal, change the thing that broke in the toilet, whatever) - video
For knowledge (macros for diet, keto, exercise regimens) - article

 

[SeeingeyeDug]

article

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the music with the typed text with the backspacing corrections. So true! That was pretty on point and funny.

 

[nampad]

Depends on the topic and task at hand.

I prefer reading something like Ifixit for repairing a laptop over a video which I would need to pause from time to time. Same is true for something else with many detailed steps.

For other stuff, a video might be easier.

 

[Weltall Zero]

Article, always. I read and skim much faster than people speak (or that I can process speech, anyway).