Bob Saget had something good.
Well, technically it wasn’t his idea, but Saget was the face of America’s Funniest Home Videos throughout the 1990s. For years we laughed every week at children tripping in mud, old people falling over at wedding receptions and the infamous objects to the groin.
Back in the day there wasn’t anything fancy; just a cable box, a lunchable and Saget.
Fast forward 18 years later where the Internet has literally taken over the world. America’s Funniest Home Videos has now transformed into sites like www.break.com that features instant classics like:
A guy failing to do a backflip: http://www.break.com/index/failed-backflip-onto-concrete-floor.html.
A breakdancer knocking himself out: http://www.break.com/its-always-sunny-in-philadelphia/drunk-breakdancer-knocks-himself-out.html.
And nothing is complete without a random object to the groin: http://www.Break.com/index/guitar-hero-nut-shot.html.
This wave of online video sites, known as the Youtube era, has caused tens of thousands of people to pick up a camera with hopes to get “big” on the Internet. It’s caused an even bigger wave of anonymous viewers waiting to bash them to holy hell or roll on the floor laughing their ass off.
Why?
Why has America been so fascinated with watching these videos?
Obviously it’s as entertaining as a monkey riding a dog, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IolGVHkv1vQ, but there has to be more. Maybe there’s a sense of innocent voyeurism in watching a baby laugh like an adult, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P6UU6m3cqk. Or maybe it’s the anonymity that comes with the Internet. The way that users can hide behind a screen name and watch videos that offer advice on oral sex, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GE82tqcYYQ. How about a way to cherish amazing moments that give you chills every time you watch it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA.
You can spend hours figuring out what drives millions of people to sit there and watch, laugh, and cry at the expense of others. But it doesn’t have to be one specific reason, what drives someone to these websites can’t really be defined.
Watching other people suffer or succeed has been something the world has been fascinated with pretty much forever. And now with these websites we have the ability to customize our own funniest videos instead of being force-fed the ones with those horrid Saget voiceovers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3bxYSGZdLw.
So I guess the real question is: Why wouldn’t these catch on?
Not only is it a place to laugh at the follies of America, but also it’s a place for amateur filmmakers to feel legit. The internet is a perfect outlet for artists to get honest feedback (even if those people have usernames that start with “xXx”).
Think about it, creating a website where amateurs can express their opinion and artistic ability in front of millions and millions of people without needing a degree or any qualifications. A place to publish just about anything they want on a website for free!
What a great idea.
It’s actually going to be exciting to see how big this online video thing will get. It’s hard to believe a site like this will ever fail. A site where “Internet series” can take off, where new skits pop up every day and where groin shots are still a hit.
My questions actually got answered as this column progressed so now this is kind of the awkward goodbye, like do we shake hands or high five? Or do we just wave bye? Oh look there’s a Youtube video about it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml8Q_qZxWLE, I guess that’s the only proper send off.
Note: Don’t google search: “monkey riding a dog” with the filter off.
2 comments:
hahahaha, pretty funny... I like the fact that you took the time to incorporate video's in your blog, just in case readers wanted to watch. The only problem with that is that many people don't really have time to watch every single one, and if your a curious george such as myself, it kind of sucks because I don't have to much time to watch them all! Also, I was a little thrown off by the Bob Saget and America's Home Videos. At the beginning you seemed to praise them and at the end you kind of put them down a little. It could just be me, not getting it though. Over all I like your blog...Kudos!
Excellent first specialty column.
Including the links was a good idea - but caution is advised not to put too many in. The reader, in this case, could get lost in YouTube land (or some other video site) and forget to come back to the column.
I did not follow any links when I read it the first time, because I didn't want to get divert. (But that monkey video!)
The introduction using Bob Saget et al put in in context. I found that program soooo obnoxious I couldn't really watch it. Too much laughing at people in pain.
The one aspect that might be explored in future columns is the impact of diluting the audience. Another is the financial end of all this.
Someone, somewhere is making money. Right?
I liked the segment that mentioned about amateur film makers and how these sites provide a forum.
Good job. Encore?
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