Vestitor:It's a hobby for some, but others are interested in raising its profile to something more than a sideshow. This fellow, unwitting or no, is adding to the profile of Esperanto as being an amusing sideshow hobby with some minor benefits.

So, because he doesn't share your goals and that of "others" for what Esperanto's profile should be, he's a jackass? Apparently he's at least taken the time to learn it to some level of proficiency; many make far more uncomplimentary conclusions without knowing anything about it at all! While I don't agree with all his conclusions, I do support his right to voice his evaluation of the situation as he sees it. Like, what did you want him to say? That when you're strolling around in [insert city here], you can ask any random person "Kie estas la busa haltejo?" and get a meaningful answer?

"I support his right to say..blah blah blah". Good, then you can support my "right" to say what I think of the situation.

The 'right to free speech' just means that someone can say it without being arrested, not that it has to be listened to, appreciated or accepted.

I never said he didn't make the (blindingly obvious) points that it's not the national language of anywhere and that the speakers are thinly sprinkled, just that dissuading people only helps keep it that way.

That's my view. I won't cry if no-one accepts it. I don't feel the need to invoke the principle of free speech at every interval.

Vestitor:It's a hobby for some, but others are interested in raising its profile to something more than a sideshow. This fellow, unwitting or no, is adding to the profile of Esperanto as being an amusing sideshow hobby with some minor benefits.

It doesn't even matter, really. To some people it is a small hobby, to others it is an important part of their lives. But if someone wants to make a video trashing it (or speaking moderately negatively, or speaking about the language's limitations - this also does not really matter), it is not worth giving such things our time and attention.

There will ALWAYS be someone who disagrees with something that one person holds dear, and posts something to the internet to that effect. There's no use getting upset about it, or giving the matter more attention than it deserves. As far as I'm concerned this silly YouTube video has already gotten far more attention than it deserves. If you see something negative about Esperanto, the solution is not to spend a ton of time talking about how wrong it is, giving time and attention to something that doesn't matter. It's better to spend your time being positive about Esperanto. Post your own pro-Esperanto video if you don't like some of the anti-Esperanto videos online.

erinja:It's not worth giving such people our time or attention (or watching their videos in particular, thus raising their viewing numbers!)

Actually, it is very beneficial for Esperantists to help the haters. How did Alice Coper and Maryland Mason become popular?

Why do you think Stephen Colbert shows video clips of his haters? Why does John Stewart show clips of Fox news reporters insulting him?

"Negative publicity can increase sales when a product or company is relatively unknown simply because it stimulates product awareness."
Stanford Graduate School of Business

erinja:

Vestitor: Post your own pro-Esperanto video if you don't like some of the anti-Esperanto videos online.

And a lot of people already did that => #EsperantoLives and the sheer amount of videos posted with that hashtag and in many languages is - at least for me - much more impressing than one single opinion expressed in only one video.

In the end maybe we need to accept that even Esperanto is not for everyone. Bad luck for them