Quote:I used to try and provide support in the Kodi Android subforum . I don't care at all anymore. The time wasted is completely unproductive
I know the feeling... :/ and since kodi.tv is now back online - I just saw the screenshot.
Part of the problem imho is "150 character - smartphone enhanced - reddit culture" folks that look up how to videos on youtube in their free time. People that flood communities with "give me my personal solution" requests. Understand that the "well maybe I just read for a while..." lurker mode has become all but equalized in the social media age. People demand services. For free. Even under false pretenses, when they think it does help with their case..
Its using a geek - because who has the time to read for themselves these days?
I recognize, that there might be a large overlap with the group that payed for Kodi boxes, because they deemed it pure convenience.
But on a positive note - they usually drop off after a while. But then any influx in popularity will mean that a few more of them will show up.
Kodi until recently had largely been gated by an upfront knowledge that had been needed to access it on different devices. Now it became accessible for the masses. And they happily bought into it - without understanding even in the slightest of what they bought into. And to make a point - their opinion leaders on youtube didnt care to explain it either - they only cared about clicks (Put on a smile, act excited, if someone talks at you - make them feel heard, ... (What do you think? Please subscribe...)).
Without understanding how they are impacting the development communities that grew around it. Understand that on reddit - people are more than willing to switch to Plex - because they never could figure out how to add a SMB share or even a harddrive to Kodi itself. They then also promote Plex as the easier and therefore better solution, and become dedicated fans for life.
Asking into the ether "What app do I have to use to...:" is their problem solving mechanic. They dont understand, nor do they care in most cases - that this process doesnt hold true regarding open source projects at all. They dont even care if the current "app" they are using is "good" from an objective standpoint - they just like it, when stuff works for them.
They dont want to write emails to a dev, but asking their "very individual problem" in an anonymous forum for "anyone to pick up" - they have no qualms to do that whatsoever. Understand, that on facebook after a few days not even they themselves care or are reminded of what they have written If no one else picks it up.
Point being - you'd have the same problems if your popularity increase came from somewhere else.
That it came from people selling prepackaged piracy boxes under the Kodi label is quite a serious problem on top of that.
From a brand awareness point of view.
But - If you can - dont monitor your success by looking at what image your competitors try to pin on you. Thats ultimately a really bad idea.
And by all means - speak out and move against the misuse of your brand to drive sales or clicks for bystanders trying to ride the wave, they also partly might have helped creating - but that becomes harder and harder to support.
Raising awareness is the right move.