The YouTUBE phenomena

[Neurorelay]

I am spending my idle time today browsing through YouTube galleries and wonder to myself: is it really alot of creativity, or just people with oversized egos regurgitating spoon fed media culture and rebranding it creative and original?

Akin to posting in Off Topic here really, I think it is just a bunch of people crying out "pay attention to me!" I want to matter and be more then my mediocre existence.

 

[RichardE]

Originally posted by: Neurorelay
I am spending my idle time today browsing through YouTube galleries and wonder to myself: is it really alot of creativity, or just people with oversized egos regurgitating spoon fed media culture and rebranding it creative and original?

Akin to posting in Off Topic here really, I think it is just a bunch of people crying out "pay attention to me!" I want to matter and be more then my mediocre existence.

Any interaction with the world is just that.

 

[Neurorelay]

Originally posted by: RichardE

Originally posted by: Neurorelay
I am spending my idle time today browsing through YouTube galleries and wonder to myself: is it really alot of creativity, or just people with oversized egos regurgitating spoon fed media culture and rebranding it creative and original?

Akin to posting in Off Topic here really, I think it is just a bunch of people crying out "pay attention to me!" I want to matter and be more then my mediocre existence.

Any interaction with the world is just that.

Succinct and accurate, I like it.

I do clarify, I believe the medium through which YouTube broadcasts is original, just not the content it has.

 

[shortylickens]

Well, there are three hundred million of us in America.
There are about 6 billion of us on planet earth.

If you really think about it, we cant all possibly be coming up with new ideas all the time.

This is the number one (of many) reasons I have no interest in modern TV, movies, music and am quickly losing interest in the internet and the world of video games.
Its all crap.
And it keeps getting worse.

The day I gave up TV was great.
I went outside. I read a short story from Readers Digest. I stopped and chatted with a cute girl at the local coffee house. (I hate coffee, but nice girls seem to like it.)

I never went back to TV again. Movies followed soon after. And I spend a little less time in front of the computer each day.
Eventually, I will only use it at work and for paying bills at home.

 

[neutralizer]

Youtube is like the new wikipedia. Fun to browse for hours on hours.

 

[Neurorelay]

Originally posted by: neutralizer
Youtube is like the new wikipedia. Fun to browse for hours on hours.

I do agree with that, it is a compendium of media.

 

[Neurorelay]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
Well, there are three hundred million of us in America.
There are about 6 billion of us on planet earth.

If you really think about it, we cant all possibly be coming up with new ideas all the time.

This is the number one (of many) reasons I have no interest in modern TV, movies, music and am quickly losing interest in the internet and the world of video games.
Its all crap.
And it keeps getting worse.

The day I gave up TV was great.
I went outside. I read a short story from Readers Digest. I stopped and chatted with a cute girl at the local coffee house. (I hate coffee, but nice girls seem to like it.)

I never went back to TV again. Movies followed soon after. And I spend a little less time in front of the computer each day.
Eventually, I will only use it at work and for paying bills at home.

I would love to have that goal; however my mind has been so attuned and conditioned to media as the main occupying event in my day that it will be hard to shake.

 

[Cristatus]

Whoa! You're using some big words there, in your post, son!

Are you an english teacher, by any chance?

/threadjack

As neutralizer said, it's fun to browse, but I only do that once in a while.

 

[Neurorelay]

Originally posted by: logic1485
Whoa! You're using some big words there, in your post, son!

Are you an english teacher, by any chance?

/threadjack

As neutralizer said, it's fun to browse, but I only do that once in a while.

Teacher, why yes I am. Interestingly enough, maybe that is the heart of my discontent; "those who can do, those who can't teach and create lengthy discourses about their keen observations of all things human."

I think what has me most perplexed, is things like people getting development deals based on their MTV inspired video rants on YouTUBE; when all it will do is perpetuate the MTV philosophy of quick cuts and mindless jabber.

 

[SampSon]

Your post just says "pay attention to my opinion!!!", you are the same as everyone else.

Youtube is mostly just entertainment, it doesn't have to be profound.

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: Neurorelay
I think what has me most perplexed, is things like people getting development deals based on their MTV inspired video rants on YouTUBE; when all it will do is perpetuate the MTV philosophy of quick cuts and mindless jabber.

Yes, but remember, most of those people will be chewed up and spit out by the entertainment industry. They will hang around for years, hoping for their next big break that will never come. And in the meantime, they will make personal appearances at places like the Napa Valley WineFaire and make guest appearances on cable game shows to squeeze out another $500 from their 15 minutes of fame.

I kind of feel sorry for them. So few people get a shot and fail, and then move on to a normal life.

 

[Neurorelay]

Originally posted by: kranky

Originally posted by: Neurorelay
I think what has me most perplexed, is things like people getting development deals based on their MTV inspired video rants on YouTUBE; when all it will do is perpetuate the MTV philosophy of quick cuts and mindless jabber.

Yes, but remember, most of those people will be chewed up and spit out by the entertainment industry. They will hang around for years, hoping for their next big break that will never come. And in the meantime, they will make personal appearances at places like the Napa Valley WineFaire and make guest appearances on cable game shows to squeeze out another $500 from their 15 minutes of fame.

I kind of feel sorry for them. So few people get a shot and fail, and then move on to a normal life.

I find that comforting; yes in a way it is hoping they fail. But it inspires me to the thought that only the truly creatvie, intelligent and original will survive.

Originally posted by: SampSon
Your post just says "pay attention to my opinion!!!", you are the same as everyone else.

Youtube is mostly just entertainment, it doesn't have to be profound.

I never stated anything otherwise, I just wanted, as do you tubers, to share my opinion on one facet of popular culture. Your contribution to this post, however, is cliche, and obvious. Anyone can point out something they disagree with, but it takes intelligence to expound upon that notion and develop it into a deeper thought like I have tried to do.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: SampSon
Your post just says "pay attention to my opinion!!!", you are the same as everyone else.

Youtube is mostly just entertainment, it doesn't have to be profound.

I never stated anything otherwise, I just wanted, as do you tubers, to share my opinion on one facet of popular culture. Your contribution to this post, however, is cliche, and obvious. Anyone can point out something they disagree with, but it takes intelligence to expound upon that notion and develop it into a deeper thought like I have tried to do.[/quote]ZING!
And here lay the problem we've been having with the forums lately.

(Though, in his defense, Sampson usually makes pretty good posts.)

 

[aircooled]

when i'm bored at work i browse youtube. it's fun.

 

[SampSon]

I never stated anything otherwise, I just wanted, as do you tubers, to share my opinion on one facet of popular culture. Your contribution to this post, however, is cliche, and obvious. Anyone can point out something they disagree with, but it takes intelligence to expound upon that notion and develop it into a deeper thought like I have tried to do.

Well you tried, but there is nothing deep about this post, no offense. I view your thread just like you view my post, "cliche and obvious", as opinions like yours about user driven content on the internet are a dime a dozen, available in blog format in 60 different languages.

Youtube is just a medium for users to share video media, that's really it. The content on there ranges from videos of someones cat taking a poop to a professors rant on socio-economic factors in the southern congo.
What exactly do you expect from something like youtube? It's like the "america's funniest home videos" of the internet, and sites that host content like this have been around for a long while now. Do you expect people to think long and hard about their content when they upload it to youtube? Do you expect them to think: "Is this video going to influence the hearts and minds of it's viewers and truely make a difference in this world?"?

You should have a firm understanding of how vain people are in general, youtube allows them the pleasure of doing it easily and for free for others to see. If you intended to make this some deeply seeded sociological question about the human condition then you should have also questioned the content validity of sites like myspace or any number of blogs. The driving force is that people want attention that goes without saying and is covered in any lower level sociology and psychology class.

As for regurgitating popular media, why not ask critical questions about the Family Guy? Most people think that show is a refreshing, creative and funny piece of work, when in reality it's just putting parody and cringe humor in cartoon format, yet it gets rave reviews from even the most "intelligent and critical thinkers". Once an original idea becomes popular, it will get absored into mainstream media culture and you will then deem it unoriginal because it is now accepted as a norm.
Nothing stays "orignal" and life works in cycles.

 

[Neurorelay]

Originally posted by: SampSon

I never stated anything otherwise, I just wanted, as do you tubers, to share my opinion on one facet of popular culture. Your contribution to this post, however, is cliche, and obvious. Anyone can point out something they disagree with, but it takes intelligence to expound upon that notion and develop it into a deeper thought like I have tried to do.

Well you tried, but there is nothing deep about this post, no offense. I view your thread just like you view my post, "cliche and obvious", as opinions like yours about user driven content on the internet are a dime a dozen, available in blog format in 60 different languages.

Youtube is just a medium for users to share video media, that's really it. The content on there ranges from videos of someones cat taking a poop to a professors rant on socio-economic factors in the southern congo.
What exactly do you expect from something like youtube? It's like the "america's funniest home videos" of the internet, and sites that host content like this have been around for a long while now. Do you expect people to think long and hard about their content when they upload it to youtube? Do you expect them to think: "Is this video going to influence the hearts and minds of it's viewers and truely make a difference in this world?"?

You should have a firm understanding of how vain people are in general, youtube allows them the pleasure of doing it easily and for free for others to see. If you intended to make this some deeply seeded sociological question about the human condition then you should have also questioned the content validity of sites like myspace or any number of blogs. The driving force is that people want attention that goes without saying and is covered in any lower level sociology and psychology class.

As for regurgitating popular media, why not ask critical questions about the Family Guy? Most people think that show is a refreshing, creative and funny piece of work, when in reality it's just putting parody and cringe humor in cartoon format, yet it gets rave reviews from even the most "intelligent and critical thinkers". Once an original idea becomes popular, it will get absored into mainstream media culture and you will then deem it unoriginal because it is now accepted as a norm.
Nothing stays "orignal" and life works in cycles.

Thank you for a thoughtful response, that was my intention in my original post, to elicit discussion. I agree whole-heartedly with your position; my main concern was that mediocrity is just so prevalent. I see no redeeming qualities in most of our popular culture. My hope would be that we continue to push the envelope of thought and culture, only then can we get past the "same ol' shite" that we are forced to ingest on a daily basis through all forms of communication. Sadly, even what i say uses words that are cliche, so maybe the cycle cannot be broken because there is a much more deep seated issue we have yet to uncover.

 

[Beige]

Originally posted by: Neurorelay

Originally posted by: SampSon

I never stated anything otherwise, I just wanted, as do you tubers, to share my opinion on one facet of popular culture. Your contribution to this post, however, is cliche, and obvious. Anyone can point out something they disagree with, but it takes intelligence to expound upon that notion and develop it into a deeper thought like I have tried to do.

Well you tried, but there is nothing deep about this post, no offense. I view your thread just like you view my post, "cliche and obvious", as opinions like yours about user driven content on the internet are a dime a dozen, available in blog format in 60 different languages.

Youtube is just a medium for users to share video media, that's really it. The content on there ranges from videos of someones cat taking a poop to a professors rant on socio-economic factors in the southern congo.
What exactly do you expect from something like youtube? It's like the "america's funniest home videos" of the internet, and sites that host content like this have been around for a long while now. Do you expect people to think long and hard about their content when they upload it to youtube? Do you expect them to think: "Is this video going to influence the hearts and minds of it's viewers and truely make a difference in this world?"?

You should have a firm understanding of how vain people are in general, youtube allows them the pleasure of doing it easily and for free for others to see. If you intended to make this some deeply seeded sociological question about the human condition then you should have also questioned the content validity of sites like myspace or any number of blogs. The driving force is that people want attention that goes without saying and is covered in any lower level sociology and psychology class.

As for regurgitating popular media, why not ask critical questions about the Family Guy? Most people think that show is a refreshing, creative and funny piece of work, when in reality it's just putting parody and cringe humor in cartoon format, yet it gets rave reviews from even the most "intelligent and critical thinkers". Once an original idea becomes popular, it will get absored into mainstream media culture and you will then deem it unoriginal because it is now accepted as a norm.
Nothing stays "orignal" and life works in cycles.

Thank you for a thoughtful response, that was my intention in my original post, to elicit discussion. I agree whole-heartedly with your position; my main concern was that mediocrity is just so prevalent. I see no redeeming qualities in most of our popular culture. My hope would be that we continue to push the envelope of thought and culture, only then can we get past the "same ol' shite" that we are forced to ingest on a daily basis through all forms of communication. Sadly, even what i say uses words that are cliche, so maybe the cycle cannot be broken because there is a much more deep seated issue we have yet to uncover.

OK, I don't know what you all just said but it sounded real smart.
Yes, I just found out that I am what atot considers a "Nef"

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: Neurorelay
I am spending my idle time today browsing through YouTube galleries and wonder to myself: is it really alot of creativity, or just people with oversized egos regurgitating spoon fed media culture and rebranding it creative and original?

Akin to posting in Off Topic here really, I think it is just a bunch of people crying out "pay attention to me!" I want to matter and be more then my mediocre existence.

Culture thrives on interliteracy. The internet was\is like pure oxygen into an interliteracy furnace. We all now know everything everybody else knows... seems that way sometimes...
They're not regurgitating they're reinforming the original.