I think people can do what they want to really, it is their choice and no one elses business or concern and their own issue if anything arises from it like YouTube finding out someone was botting etc but I personally dont do it. I have done sub for sub in the past and it can work as some percentage obviously will end up regularly watching although it is likely a small number depending on your content and whether they like it or not to keep watching.
Mass sub for sub can work but those who do it are usually using programs, I personally dont think people should use it as it is obvious these days especially the whole mass contact requests.
As for view botting I see why people choose to do it but not to the extent they do, I dont get why they choose to bombard their videos with views when it just doesnt look natural like a 500k viewed video with like 10 comments and 7 likes etc it is really obvious, couldnt they be less greedy and maybe do say 200 until they built their audience more. I dont see their logic behind doing what they do with that. I dont hate those who choose to do it but I think it lowers what others think of them, say if I went and botted YTtalkTV with half a million views, I am pretty sure people here would think I was an a**e for it. I dont think its jealousy related as to why they would think that but more like a feeling like I am a cheater and no one tends to like people who cheat and especially those who show off such cheating like they deserve a medal, it would be like being applauded for winning a race even though you flattened everyone elses tires before hand. I would feel kinda bad about doing such things to do honest, I would feel so crappy about any success I do get from there on.
Promoting to me is using sites where you can promote in a decent manner, taking your time not to just be the person that says "check out my videos I need views", those people do not get anywhere when posting such content whether its on here, Facebook or Twitter. That is where I personally find it annoying and I kinda think it looks cheap, not only that it comes across as rude and desperate at times. When people spam it tends to make others think a lot about their personality.
Networking to me is the best way of promoting, you are involving yourself more properly with those who could be interested in your videos, youre not all about yourself and "hey look at me" youre getting to know, theyre getting to know you and will come and see your videos because they might like you, find something you posted on Facebook totally awesome and think youre cool in some way, networking attracts real audiences and not the small amount of views "check me out now" will earn you, I cannot believe how others can sound like theyre ordering others too when posting such comments.
Sites like Fireviews, I think people can use them if they want, I doubt YouTube will ban people because they used them a bit although I would NEVER recommend having any Adsense enabled video on any site like Fireviews as invalid clicks and traffic can get you banned for life. I cant imagine people gaining loads from using such sites but I think it can help new channels when theyre starting off. I cannot see people really massively inflating their statistics using sites like that, it isnt like it will bring 2000 views per video.
Fireviews VS botting I think Fireviews is more preferable because at least it is real people watching.
All in all I think people can do what they want, I aint going to hate on them for it, I dont use those techniques myself but others have found them beneficial, we did have a member here once who believed it was against YouTubes TOS using Fireviews as they considered it "stat gaming" so it seems like it can pose a risk but I dont think it is a massive risk.[DOUBLEPOST=1345772393][/DOUBLEPOST]
I try to think of my own personal channel and I don't get very many subs. I only have 30 but I am near 2,200 views. I personally try to get people engaged in my stuff or don't sub. Because no one wants dead weight or to be the person with 1000 subs their typical video has like 10 views.
That too, that is detrimental for any channel. Channels I come across that are like that I tend to avoid watching.
