Is YouTube....bad?

[€uroMeinke]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Now that I think about it, for many people spamming a friends list with a funny YouTube video is somehow once again acceptable. Just after they were all trained to stop sending me that crappy email joke of the day or the glurgy partriotic tribute or the latest "your couch could be killing" urban legend.

yes, but at least they're links instead of attachments - right?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

And knowing the internet - that is where the technology for YouTube was probably developed and perfected

Surprisingly no, the porn versions are rather useless.



So I've heard.

[Alex]

When it comes to amateur porn at least one layer of filters is a very good thing.

Just because two people are naked and rubbing bits is not enough reason to subject other people to it. There needs to be some minimum of skill and production value to the enterprise.

Or so GD's heard.

[Alex]

I think I might prefer the text version. Because as you say the description that accompanies the YouTube link is generally "you've go tto see this" or "Funny!"

And I feel kind of obligated to look on the off chance that it is the funniest thing since grandma broke her hip. At least with the stupid/glurgy/legendy emails I can read the first two lines see it is crap and then delete it.

[Not Afraid]

Is YouTube "bad"? As Chris said, morally? No. But, there's a LOT of bad crap that ends up there - more bad than good IMO. Personally, I think it's a giant waste of time and, of all of the hundreds of links I've been pointed to on YouTube, I think maybe 5 were actually worth viewing. I just don't have the time nor the inclination to watch sub-par videos. I don't even watch TV because I can't seem to find anything that is worth watching in amongst all of the crap. I certainly don't want to spend my time passivly watching someone else's stupid pet tricks or whatever it is.

I'm sure there are good things on YouTube, but I'm not up for finding the needle in the very large haystack.

Now, if the Bruce and Norman Yonemoto, The Damaged Californians, Bill Viola, Hidja Keating posted their videos on YouTube, I'd be all over it, but that kind of thoughtful presentation doesn't seem to be available on YouTube.

[mousepod]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

Now, if the Bruce and Norman Yamamoto, The Damaged Californians, Bill Viola, Hidja Keating posted their videos on YouTube, I'd be all over it, but that kind of thoughtful presentation doesn't seem to be available on YouTube.

This is for you, NA.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by mousepod

This is for you, NA.

That's a great site! There used to something similar where I saw many a video - it may have been first generation of this. Love it. Thanks, Jesse!


(Oh, and nice la Chien Andalus graphic!)

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

I'm sure there are good things on YouTube, but I'm not up for finding the needle in the very large haystack...I don't even watch TV because I can't seem to find anything that is worth watching in amongst all of the crap.

And I abstain from TV for the same reason. But when many people whose tastes I feel akin to recommend a series, I'll eventually Netflix the DVDs. Most times, I've enjoyed those suggested shows.

Similarly, I wouldn't browse YouTube on my own, even if I had a clue as to how. But I watch most linked-to videos, and have rarely been too disappointed. Oftentimes, in fact, I've been very glad to have something pointed out to me that I wouldn't have otherwise seen.

I like our YouTubery thread here on the LoT ... and I'm glad when something is sort of "must see" that gets a separate thread outside of that (the recent George Takei thing comes to mine ... lordy I'm glad I saw that).


If I'm going to link to some YouTube thing, I try to give a hint as to what's on the other end. But I'll click on the generic "funny" if I trust the sense of humor of the link's creator. At worst, a bad YouTube video has wasted 3 minutes of my time. A television series on DVD has the capacity to waste far more than that.


Meanwhile, the inventors of YouTube were selected (indirectly) as Time Magazine's Men of the Year ... no small feat. Bad or good, YouTube has ratcheted-up the use of the internet in a revolutionary way. Personally, I don't feel like putting Day of the Mold out there for all the world to see ... but huzzah and good luck to all those who want to share their stuff (or other people's stuff) with the rest of the planet.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Personally, I don't feel like putting Day of the Mold out there for all the world to see ... but huzzah and good luck to all those who want to share their stuff (or other people's stuff) with the rest of the planet.

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.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

Is YouTube "bad"? As Chris said, morally? No. But, there's a LOT of bad crap that ends up there - more bad than good IMO...I just don't have the time nor the inclination to watch sub-par videos.

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.