Yeah, but I used to feel, and to a large degree still feel, the same way about music. There's a lot of crap out there playing in bars and clubs and lame-ass coffee houses. And I'm sure somewhere in there is some great stuff that's totally worth seeing, even if they'll never bet big. But I never had the inclination to commit enough time and energy to checking out the local and underground music scene. Doesn't mean I don't completely appreciate the underground music scene for what it is. It give anyone a chance to give it a shot, it gives those that want to commit the time and energy to pay attention to find those great gems, and it acts as kind of a natural filter for stuff with broader appeal to get some air play.

I see YouTube as creating the same kind of culture and community for video. It's finally reached the accessibility that music has had for the last century or so. I spend little to no time at YouTube and allow blogs to be my guide. Much as I spend little to no time in bars or independent record shops and allow KCRW to be my guide.

Day of the Mold? Dare I ask?

Oh, and my brother just uploaded a bunch of alleged comedy that he, I and a bunch of our friends did on Public Access TV twenty plus years ago. I haven't revisited any of it in a long time, but I'll post a link if there's anything that seems worth it. (Don't hold your breath. We were enthusiastic but not especially entertaining.)

Of course, coinciding with YouTube's rise to power has been the increase in accessibility of individuals having their own hosting service. As Euro (blast the freaking symbol's annoying to do on a laptop) discovered when he began pondering a board of his own, it's dirt cheap to get some storage space and a url. And it doesn't take much skill to get a video uploaded and give people a link. So those who want to fly a little lower than YouTube's radar and just keep things between friends (without the hastle of YouTube's cumbersome procedure for sharing private videos) can do so with relative ease.

Not that I'm suggesting you post DotM (I don't particularly relish the thought of our old videos going out on YouTube, but if the rest of our 'cast' is amused by the idea, I don't mind), just made me realize that there are a preponderance of outlets for the amateur videographer these days.

Exactly what I wanted to convey in my prior post, only much better stated.:snap:

I totally get that, and I guess for me it's one of the ways in which I've discovered I'm more of an aural instead of visual person. Somehow, I find it easier to sort through music than I do video. You Tube tends to frustrate me in ways that music sites just don't.

But, I don't knock media, I did enjoy the choreographed Mentos & Diet Pepsi extravaganza, as well as the copyright infringing content.

I guess I have more of a "zest" for music, plus I can experience it while I'm doing other things, so I don't find it annoying and time consuming. Plus, no one has ever sent me an email saying YOU MUST LISTEN TO THIS BAND, THEY'RE SO FUNNY!!!!! That's a huge bonus to me.

I don't really have the patience for either. I don't browse YouTube, preferring to trust the word of blogs and friends whose opinion has proven reliable, and I rarely spend time seeking out music. But I totally get why people would do either and I think both media benefit from having outlets of free expression.

You know this give me pause to think it may have more to do with sense of humor than media. If I think about it, I love short subjects, enjoy vintage and foreign TV commercials, as well as Japanese game shows - by all rights, I ought to love You Tube. But I don't, despite my personal collection of videos I've snatched elsewhere on the internet (besides porn). So maybe it's that a lot of things that people find funny, really don't amuse me that much?

I think the concept of YouTube is great. I just find the actuality of it to be rather anoying and trying. I don't think my life improved too much with the addition of 300 possible television channels (which is probably why I don't subscribe to any additional channels) and I don't see much improvement with yet another way to view a lot of schlock. Sure, there's good stuff there amongst the crap - just like television - but I'd rather have a good conversation, read a book, or share newfound music. It's just a matter of personal preference.

I think YouTube is great, just because of the opertunity it gives people. You can play with it, and accomplish little or a lot. It's up to you.

I don't brows, but links that are posted here I have usually enjoyed. Thanks to those that post them!

Also, with the advent of small video cameras and phones in combination with YouTube, it's much easier to force accountability on large companies, governent and Police, or rat infested resturants.

This can be a good thing, but yes, it can be abused. Spreading rummors, posting videos that were taken without consent, etc. can do alot of damage.

So much like nuclear power, it can do a lot of good, or a lot of bad.