Dear Internet: I'm Not Interested. Seriously.

A sad situation on this crazy planet. Just keep doing what you do. I enjoy and learn with every one of your video posts.

Donald J Arndt

Fran what do you think about the micro chip shortage? You think its possible the size limit has been reached? Seems to me it takes much more effort to manufacture them so small and production cant possibly keep up with demand.

https://twitter.com/wikivictorian/status/1435013147740487681

oops, I just fat fingered the key board. Watching your videos has started me working on some of the stuff, that I have collected(no where near as much as you..) And I am having fun again...I do miss radio shack, but the internet seems pretty good for parts...and they are quick. Anyway, keep up the good work, and do not let the old guys bother your...

I like your labs, your tear downs, and your commentary. I have always liked test equipment, and I brag sometimes about my 1970s lab...a lot of Heath kit, a various other stuff that I tinker with. I have what I call rotating hobbies. Sometimes model railroad(not for awhile), sometimes guitars(I have a protective coating of dust on all of them), and radios....Yes I am a amateur radio guy, (all old stuff).

I was once interested in HAM for the tech and almost got my license when I was 16, but all I ever heard on any band was old guys talking about how big their antennas were. Then I discovered Rock & Roll and it was young guys talking about how big their amps were. They had more fun, though, so go figure...

My interest in your channel has always been about the content. I am sorry you have to deal with this crap. I just want you to know that there's at least one person out here just wants to see you do cool stuff in your lab.

Brandon Lewis

Just be you, Fran, that's why we're all here.

David Peaker

I like your content and you, as a person. These so called standards prove to me that people have been brainwashed, and cannot just learn from your channel. It’s quite pitiful to say the least.

Rocco Rizzo

Dear Lady, you have been an inspiration to both myself and my friends for quite a while. We all appreciate you and your work and want to support you. This video kicked me out of my own sulk over essentially the same things you've described, and it struck my heart. You are in many ways more brave than I in the path and decisions you've taken, and I'd like to publicly honor that. You ROCK!

Fran please don't worry about them, to qoute a famous sage "reading comments online is like reading a toilet wall"

This is the video that made me take the long-overdue step of adding you to my Patreon. Love your videos and the interesting topics.

Kevin Mitchell

Just be yourself Fran, I think that's why most of us are here. We appreciate what you do and the content you put out.

I think these are all the reasons we see so many hand model videos with disembodied voices on YouTube. Many presenters just don’t want to deal with the public and never let their face be shown. It’s probably safer doing that. I remember that David Letterman had a stalker who constantly broke into his home. My memory says he never wanted to press charges and she just kept doing it. I don’t remember how it finally ended. But this is the unfortunate problem with making your face public. We all have friends and enemies for one reason or another and many times we never know why someone thinks about us the way they do. Attraction and repulsion are often snap judgments that are driven by forces buried deep in our psyche and the more you act upon your impulses rather than logic and reason the more likely you are to make bad decisions like breaking into the home of a late night show host or try to get too personal with a YouTube celebrity who has already had to make too many of these videos telling people that they are not interested. Stop bugging Fran and just enjoy her shows. Fran is not the subject of the show, she is simply presenting it.

Not interested either. Just want to see tear downs and rebuilds. Chrome plated things with glass tubes. Speakers with big magnets or anything star trek. Couldn't care about make up . Rather watch you spot wwld something. Have a great day

Damn Fran, that's sad. I dunno if it's a bit better than haters, but I suspect so.

I have a friend who is a ham and builds Tesla coils and is quite technical and she has to put up with a lot of the same things that you are talking about. The ham radio guys are always hitting on her. She is quite outnumbered in the terms of males to females. I guess that makes her quite popular among the technical group.

Jeff Larson

I don’t know, Big Clive is pretty damn adorable. But seriously, I watch YouTube for the content, not to fawn over people. I have a wife already, and I wouldn’t propose to someone I only knew from videos. What a silly idea. I honestly don’t care what people look like in their videos. I watch YouTube exclusively to learn new things and see really neat stuff. Platonically love you Fran, and the work you do. 💜

Jessica McIntosh

creepers gunna be creepy

BiggieJohn

I mainly watch for the hats.

Whippet Gas

I definitely think you look absolutely fine the way you are, and don’t need to be more “presentable”. I don’t often read the comments on YouTube videos, so I have no idea if other EE bloggers have to deal with unwanted attention, but I suppose if there is one thing we all need to do on social media is ignore/block those that insist on behaving badly.

Philip Stephens

Huh, I'm 55 and single as well. (Divorced) When I found your channel, and the amazing content within it, I made a connection with the specific part of you that loves to investigate technologies and bring vintage electronics back to life. Not some kindred spirit that was some kind of target for romantic or deeply personal feelings. If we ever met, it would be all about the technologies and exchange of technical information. It's clear that you're primary focus is on the technical content, NOT the latest fad in makeup and hair styles. If you spent a ton of time trying to look like whatever the "standard" is today for women, it would distract me from your extremely great gift of communicating all things technical. Wasted time where you could be preparing for what you do best. The only physical thing that changes, and amuses me, is what kind of fun T shirt you're wearing. I like to see if I can relate to them. I'm really not interested in what's behind the shirt. That's not what your site is about! There's a million+ sites for that kind of physical content. But while there is the inevitable "lunatic fringe" no Internet content provider can avoid, there are also a lot of honestly lonely older tech guys who are your fans, but somehow think that since you have a common technical interest must mean you also must have some kind of common romantic aspirations as well. I just assumed you always received a certain percent of inappropriate comments that have no place in your message stream. Just roll your eyes and move onto the next feedback message. As long as no patron is showing signs of dangerous "stalking", you can brush off the unavoidable off-subject personal messages that there really is no way to stop. Your content and presentation is AWESOME! Keep it up. I don't have any other channel/person I follow, or are a patron of, on the Internet, nor do I do social media. Like I've said, your niche technical interests are what keep me coming back. NOT how you wear your hair!

Matt Wietlispach

I don't think it's about "looks" per se but a matter of just looking "presentable" as any other public speaker would. If you're going to ask people to spend their time at your presentation, then make the effort to look "prepared" and at your best just as you would make the effort for your presentation graphics look their best. I honestly don't think it's about being "pretty" or "girly" even, just "prepped to engage". That includes good lighting and sound and diction for that matter. When I stand in front of an audience to give a talk, I put on a spiffy shirt and look "neat" and not hard on the eyes, same with my speaking style, pace, volume, and vocabulary. Just my perspective and someone who is "on the spectrum" but also loves to share and talk about cool stuff too but knows I will have more of a positive impact if I make it easier for the audience to look and listen. And no, I don't wear lipstick either -- Teaberry Ice is my color but that's another story for another day...

lohphat

Hang in there Fran. You have had me on content since your Bina View stuff. I envy the hell out of your EE depth of knowledge.

Todd Corley

I'm a nerdy fem too and definitely understand your unease Fran. Younger generations are more aware of their behaviour but many +50 men propably do not see anything wrong about asking you out... That being said; yes, they should x)

He does, a lot x)

Oh god, I'm so sorry you have to deal with that. I'm a middle-aged (49) male ham radio operator and I'm so pissed at people like that who give us all a bad name. Men being shitty to women is so universal that it never surprises me when I hear about it, but it always depresses me. I'm also a patron of Xyla Foxlin and I joined one of her monthly patron Zoom meetups a couple months ago. It was her and a whole bunch of old white dudes like me. All I could think is that she must get so much harassment and I felt terrible for her. Everyone in that Zoom was 100% well-behaved but I can just imagine what goes on behind the scenes. For the record, I'm here because your content is awesome!

Circuitmike

Truly sorry that you get so many creepy commenters. It’s disgusting how so many people don’t understand the most basic boundaries. Love your content!

Thomas Fuchs

I appreciate your insights. It is great to be able to see other's experience and thoughts, and it is clear our attitude and interests are not too far apart. I am happy to support you and give you freedom to be who you are. Thank you for sharing.

veritanuda

Not excusing or justifying it, but if Big Clive isn’t getting similarly-inappropriate attention, I’ll eat a bug.

Lazlo Nibble

I learn something new every time I watch one of your videos, Fran! This time it was that some people pronounce ASMR as "asimir" rather than sounding the letters! Thanks for saying you'd like to grow your audience. I will talk up your channel where I can. Since I move in nerdy *and* guitar-y circles, I bet I know some more people who would love your videos.

Norm Nelson

This seems to be a problem that many women in prominent public view seem to be faced with. High profile politicians for example seem to get comments about their appearance rather than policy. Just seems to be part of the nature of our society, unfortunately.

Yes, it's a double-standard. Worse, it's bigotry and sexism. You do you. Let the rest of the world catch up. At least folks are watching! I do try to meet up with YT-ers I follow when I'm in their town (or they're in mine), to tilt a beverage, have a slice, and chat. Doesn't work out very often (proximity isn't always enough), but it is always great when it does. As for Dave Jones, we're always talking about his tongue angle (only because he does). ElectroBOOM's unibrow (only because he does). You get the idea: If they bring it up, it's fair game. Now, are we gonna talk about Fran's lipstick? Absolutely (because she just did). Especially when it is electroluminescent, phosphorescent or iridescent. Talking about regular lipstick (or its absence) is boring.

BobC

Glad you're not interested - so am I. Not, I mean. Amazing how we have sooooo much in common.... bleergh! Except for being in different continents - or is that incontinence? At my age I should know.

Ymir the Frost Giant

The harder you try to shut them down the more of a challenge you’ll become and the more interested they’ll become. It’s a catch-22 to be sure :D

Geoffrey Waldo