I think Jo Cat is brilliant. All of his content makes me smile. It might be fair to say that in my friendship group quoting Jo Cat has become an innate part of our shared language.

This is not the usual happy brill page. A few days ago, Jo Cat posted that he would be taking an indefinite leave from creation. All because of the worst and most horrible kind of people – bullies. I really hate bullies so very much. Most of my opinion of bullies is unprintable. Bullies are weak and cowardly – I have no time for them.

I respect Jo Cat’s need to step away. It is okay to duck out of something that used to bring you joy but now brings you pain. I’m just so very sorry that this has happened to him.

I don’t know Jo Cat personally. I just like his stuff. Jo Cat probably has no idea who I am. That is probably how things should be. I just could not let this go without at least trying to shine a little light and celebrate a good person. This is my nerdy way of saying, “Thank you Jo Cat for all the wonderful things you made. They brought joy to my life.”

The story for those who missed it

Jo Cat is a creator who made oodles and toaster strudles of amazing content. Like, for a basic example, the crap guide to DnD.

Some time ago, Jo Cat made a funny short video all about how he likes girls.

Honestly, I missed the video at the time but a quick watch told me it was just as good as Jo Cats other fine content. That video is the one at the top of the page unless the IsBrill gremlins escaped again.

Here it is again. Because if it upsets terrible people, I feel it must be shared everywhere to ruin their day every day for the rest of time.

For some reason, some troll-faced goblin in their mother’s basement got bent out of shape about this. Seriously, screw each and every one of those lame-brained losers. It is a fun video, wholesome and well-made.

Jo Cat was unfairly placed on the receiving end of awful comments, doxx threats, and other vile shite. For that one person who needs to be told – that is never acceptable behaviour. If you were part of that behaviour, you are banned from the internet until you can learn to act like a decent human being.

It reached a point where Jo Cat felt he needed to take an indefinite leave from creating things and sharing them. I don’t blame him. I might want to step away if that happened to me.

About a year later, it seemed to have reached outside its target audience and ever since then I have seen and received many assumptions about my character, my history, my beliefs, my relationships, and all those of my partner, as well as threats of violence to me as well as my family, doxxing attempts, and mocking from even people I look up to and respect. All from a single 30 second video, out of 200 other ones.

Jo Cat

I’d like to write something witty and hurtful about the people that did this but I’m honestly finding it hard to keep things somewhat upbeat. I’m sad for our loss of a great creator and utterly furious at those garden-slug-level creatures masquerading as human beings.

Yeah, we’re going to have to talk about bullying again.

Bullies are a special kind of lowlife. Their aim is to make themselves feel powerful by crushing others. Because they sold their soul for a packet of crisps and half a sandwich, they no longer have the human trait of empathy for others. You know, the thing that let us build societies instead of hiding in caves.

Bullies will tell you this is your fault and you are a terrible human being. This is, of course, complete bullshit. To bully someone properly you must isolate them from any source of support, refuge, safe space, or anything else that could keep you strong.

I’ve always kept quiet about it because speaking out about it publicly, defending myself, any reaction to it would just encourage more, and be presented as my own fault as well.

Jo Cat

That. That right there, is what bullies do. I don’t blame Jo Cat at all. None of this is his fault. The fault lies with those who will probably have a very bad time in the next life. This one too if there is any narrative justice in the world.

Bullying is one of the shittiest inventions of humanity. Like other diseases, we should seek to irradicate it. I’ve dedicated the rest of the sidebar to anti-bully links. Please use the comments to suggest other helpful links – I know my links are going to be mostly UK-based.

If you have been the victim of bullying, reach out. Tell someone you trust. Don’t let the worms make you feel isolated.

Bullies, in most countries, some aspects of cyberbullying can be a criminal offence. Stop and think about the people you hurt before your criminal justice system makes you face up to your vile behaviour in a locked room.

There is nothing to apologise for, oh worthy creator of content

Jo Cat ends his exit note with this:

If you took the time to read all of this, thank you. I’m sorry for causing so much trouble. Thank you for watching my videos

Jo Cat

In the highly unlikely event that Jo Cat reads my little page, I want to say that you sir, have nothing to apologise for. It was a true pleasure to watch your videos. They were great and my life was a little bit better for seeing them. You will be missed. I wish you endless and boundless love, happiness, and fulfilment in whatever you do next and all the things after that too.

Jo Cat, I salute you for your wonderful contribution to online culture, humour, and fantastic animation.

What can we do?

I feel like there is very little we can do other than drown out those nasty small failures of human beings with kindness. However, I’m pretty sure that if we were to go to Jo Cat’s YouTube channel and gift it with truly epic amounts of watch time, that might be a nice send-off for a well-loved creator.

December shall be binge-watching Jo Cat’s content month. Let’s make that a thing.

Go, binge-watch every awesome video from a wonderfully entertaining content creator.

Comments and WebMentions are moderated because a-holes are not welcome here but everything else will appear in due time. Do you remember your first Jo Cat video? Mine was one of the A Crap Guide to DnD episodes.