A very public breakup
February 22, 2007 7:27 AM Subscribe
The break up on Valentine's Day, with a crowd of hundreds and an a capella Dixie Chicks song thrown in for good measure.
A University of North Carolina student, in front of an invited audience, splits up with his girlfriend (who goes to NC State) in the "pit". All of this recorded and YouTubed for your entertainment.
Bonus feature: View a different angle and an interview with the breaker upper.
News item found via the London Metro of all places.
A University of North Carolina student, in front of an invited audience, splits up with his girlfriend (who goes to NC State) in the "pit". All of this recorded and YouTubed for your entertainment.
Bonus feature: View a different angle and an interview with the breaker upper.
News item found via the London Metro of all places.
Bad, nasty, mean-spirited people. And atrocious camera work. I hate this post.
posted by parki at 7:45 AM on February 22, 2007
posted by parki at 7:45 AM on February 22, 2007
Man that was bad and I feel sorta less accomplished in life for having watched it.
posted by thirteenkiller at 7:52 AM on February 22, 2007
posted by thirteenkiller at 7:52 AM on February 22, 2007
Who thought university could get even more melodramatic and idiotic. Thank you YouTube. And holy crap is that guy pathetic.
And atrocious camera work.
Hey! I like shoes.
posted by dobbs at 7:54 AM on February 22, 2007
And atrocious camera work.
Hey! I like shoes.
posted by dobbs at 7:54 AM on February 22, 2007
If it is fake it is awful.
If it is real it is awful.
That is all.
posted by GavinR at 7:56 AM on February 22, 2007
If it is real it is awful.
That is all.
posted by GavinR at 7:56 AM on February 22, 2007
I like this, actually. Dogme 95 is finally starting to get real.
posted by billysumday at 7:56 AM on February 22, 2007 [3 favorites]
posted by billysumday at 7:56 AM on February 22, 2007 [3 favorites]
"...I hate this post."
Hey don't shoot the messenger.
posted by Webbster at 7:59 AM on February 22, 2007
Hey don't shoot the messenger.
posted by Webbster at 7:59 AM on February 22, 2007
"...I hate this post."
Hey don't shoot the messenger.
Riiiight...because the general would have shot you for insubordination had you not relayed this important message to us.
posted by billysumday at 8:01 AM on February 22, 2007 [4 favorites]
Hey don't shoot the messenger.
Riiiight...because the general would have shot you for insubordination had you not relayed this important message to us.
posted by billysumday at 8:01 AM on February 22, 2007 [4 favorites]
Yeah, I vote we shoot the messenger.
posted by thirteenkiller at 8:03 AM on February 22, 2007
posted by thirteenkiller at 8:03 AM on February 22, 2007
College a capella groups make me want to vomit. Strike that, ALL a capella groups make me want to vomit.
posted by cyclopticgaze at 8:08 AM on February 22, 2007
posted by cyclopticgaze at 8:08 AM on February 22, 2007
Hey don't shoot the messenger.
posted by Webbster at 9:59 AM CST on February 22
You don't understand Metafilter AT ALL, do you ?
posted by Ynoxas at 8:09 AM on February 22, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by Webbster at 9:59 AM CST on February 22
You don't understand Metafilter AT ALL, do you ?
posted by Ynoxas at 8:09 AM on February 22, 2007 [2 favorites]
I dunno...I thought it was wildly entertaining.
posted by Banky_Edwards at 8:12 AM on February 22, 2007
posted by Banky_Edwards at 8:12 AM on February 22, 2007
Mean spirited, yes. But it coulda been kinda good if you were able to hear or see them. boo.
posted by ElmerFishpaw at 8:12 AM on February 22, 2007
posted by ElmerFishpaw at 8:12 AM on February 22, 2007
It's a fake, I'm 90% sure. Watch the faces of the couple in question, they both strain mightily to keep a serious expression.
If it's a fake, it's really very clever. Interesting that the Bowie Extras video got such kudos from you guys and this doesn't -- they're almost exactly the same story. (And I don't even like the musical style -- but it's very well done...)
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 8:13 AM on February 22, 2007
If it's a fake, it's really very clever. Interesting that the Bowie Extras video got such kudos from you guys and this doesn't -- they're almost exactly the same story. (And I don't even like the musical style -- but it's very well done...)
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 8:13 AM on February 22, 2007
shite
posted by baker dave at 8:20 AM on February 22, 2007
posted by baker dave at 8:20 AM on February 22, 2007
Mmm...may I suggest a MeFi "cooling-off period", similar to that which some recommend for prospective handgun purchases, before posting cultural detritus?
Because, really, I don't care.
Particularly, as was the case in the "hysterical bride cuts off" video, when a culture-shifting event turns out to have been staged for the aggrandizement of the participants.
But, really, because I don't care.
Thank you.
posted by the sobsister at 8:26 AM on February 22, 2007
Because, really, I don't care.
Particularly, as was the case in the "hysterical bride cuts off" video, when a culture-shifting event turns out to have been staged for the aggrandizement of the participants.
But, really, because I don't care.
Thank you.
posted by the sobsister at 8:26 AM on February 22, 2007
his girlfriend of four months
I'd hate to think what he'd do to announce a divorce after 20 years of marriage. Slaughter his kids while a band of spoon players perform Fleetwood Mac's Go Your Own Way?
posted by jack_mo at 8:28 AM on February 22, 2007 [13 favorites]
I'd hate to think what he'd do to announce a divorce after 20 years of marriage. Slaughter his kids while a band of spoon players perform Fleetwood Mac's Go Your Own Way?
posted by jack_mo at 8:28 AM on February 22, 2007 [13 favorites]
A pity. If they could just have made it through five months, they would have been over the hump.
Seriously, why make such drama out of a relationship that's younger than some of the contents of my refrigerator?
Speaking of which, I should probably throw that yogurt out.
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:31 AM on February 22, 2007 [4 favorites]
Seriously, why make such drama out of a relationship that's younger than some of the contents of my refrigerator?
Speaking of which, I should probably throw that yogurt out.
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:31 AM on February 22, 2007 [4 favorites]
This student actually had publicized his plans in advance via a Facebook group to try and garner a huge audience, just to make it even more appalling.
posted by leesh at 8:40 AM on February 22, 2007
posted by leesh at 8:40 AM on February 22, 2007
Why is he breaking up with her, calling her out for cheating, when he then says he banged her roomate? A little hypocritical there.
Also, the fact that he had to put on this big production to break up with a girl he's been going out with for a mere four months makes me think he's either an attention whore or he's having serious problems dealing with the reality of his and her relationship.
The guy's an a-hole. The girl I'll give credit for at least standing in there and putting up with the BS and taking it to him in front of a crowd. I don't think that's the reaction he expected.
posted by ruthsarian at 8:41 AM on February 22, 2007
Also, the fact that he had to put on this big production to break up with a girl he's been going out with for a mere four months makes me think he's either an attention whore or he's having serious problems dealing with the reality of his and her relationship.
The guy's an a-hole. The girl I'll give credit for at least standing in there and putting up with the BS and taking it to him in front of a crowd. I don't think that's the reaction he expected.
posted by ruthsarian at 8:41 AM on February 22, 2007
I feel stupider for having watched that.
posted by jennaratrix at 8:50 AM on February 22, 2007
posted by jennaratrix at 8:50 AM on February 22, 2007
What a tool.
The internet, I mean.
It's a fantastic tool to demonstrate what a tool that guy is.
What a tool.
posted by Mister_A at 8:50 AM on February 22, 2007 [4 favorites]
The internet, I mean.
It's a fantastic tool to demonstrate what a tool that guy is.
What a tool.
posted by Mister_A at 8:50 AM on February 22, 2007 [4 favorites]
Sometimes I do wish a meteor would just wipe us all out.
Or at least them.
posted by Merlyn at 9:08 AM on February 22, 2007
Or at least them.
posted by Merlyn at 9:08 AM on February 22, 2007
This is quite possibly the stupidest thing I've seen on the internet in months.
posted by drstein at 9:11 AM on February 22, 2007
posted by drstein at 9:11 AM on February 22, 2007
I read the comments first, and then foolishly watched the video. Never before have attention whores been given such an effective platform as youtube.
posted by drezdn at 9:16 AM on February 22, 2007
posted by drezdn at 9:16 AM on February 22, 2007
Why are we paying any attention to these people?
UNC Student Television, I'm looking at you.
posted by infinitewindow at 9:25 AM on February 22, 2007
UNC Student Television, I'm looking at you.
posted by infinitewindow at 9:25 AM on February 22, 2007
"Well, Dean Oldman McCruthers said we could use the quad for a stage, and Mrs. Fishbaum has those old curtains that we can make some costumes with, and the Acapellettes are free next Thursday! Let's put on a show!"
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 9:30 AM on February 22, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 9:30 AM on February 22, 2007 [1 favorite]
I can't believe this made this kind of news. I work on this campus and I work with students. The prevailing sentiment here is that it was staged. Here is a response in the student newspaper from the director of our women's center.
posted by butternut at 9:35 AM on February 22, 2007
posted by butternut at 9:35 AM on February 22, 2007
Speaking of which, I should probably throw that yogurt out.
And Earl's gonna die... na nanana naaaaaaaaa naaaaa...
posted by katillathehun at 9:47 AM on February 22, 2007
And Earl's gonna die... na nanana naaaaaaaaa naaaaa...
posted by katillathehun at 9:47 AM on February 22, 2007
The best bit was when the acapella group said: "Our concert's on April 21st".
If this was fake then it's pointless. If this was real then the girl is pretty fucking cool.
posted by ob at 10:01 AM on February 22, 2007
If this was fake then it's pointless. If this was real then the girl is pretty fucking cool.
posted by ob at 10:01 AM on February 22, 2007
Sigh. Didn't watch the video, but the Women Center's response in the Daily Tar Heel seemed extremely well thought out to me and the knee-jerk criticism and the resulting discussion was a good example of how the language of academic feminism doesn't mesh with the colloquial understanding of gender equality. That is to say, when you study inequality you make links between these minor issues and the greater issues very easily and considering the severity of the overall problem, erring on the side of possible exaggeration does not seem particularly unreasonable.
A dyed in the wool or borderline misogynist is going to feel mightily empowered by attending this rally, yes? A women who has experienced domestic violence is going to feel threatened, yes? Seems pretty straight-forward to me.
Anything that promotes the astounding amounts of violence against women in our modern society deserves a fierce public response. Backlash against that response certainly does signify something, if only that average people have no freaking idea about the incredibly levels of violence that are hidden from public view.
posted by Skwirl at 11:37 AM on February 22, 2007
A dyed in the wool or borderline misogynist is going to feel mightily empowered by attending this rally, yes? A women who has experienced domestic violence is going to feel threatened, yes? Seems pretty straight-forward to me.
Anything that promotes the astounding amounts of violence against women in our modern society deserves a fierce public response. Backlash against that response certainly does signify something, if only that average people have no freaking idea about the incredibly levels of violence that are hidden from public view.
posted by Skwirl at 11:37 AM on February 22, 2007
A dyed in the wool or borderline misogynist is going to feel mightily empowered by attending this rally, yes? A women who has experienced domestic violence is going to feel threatened, yes? Seems pretty straight-forward to me.
Anything that promotes the astounding amounts of violence against women in our modern society deserves a fierce public response. Backlash against that response certainly does signify something, if only that average people have no freaking idea about the incredibly levels of violence that are hidden from public view.
He's a douchebag, Skwirl. There's no evidence that he hit anybody, or wants to hit anybody. There's nothing in either video that comes anywhere close to advocating hitting people. Hitting people is a way of being a douchebag, but it isn't the only way. Why isn't it enough that we call him a douchebag?
Sigh. Didn't watch the video, but
...for some reason that didn't keep you from posting about the grave misogyny of it all.
posted by Kwine at 12:28 PM on February 22, 2007
Anything that promotes the astounding amounts of violence against women in our modern society deserves a fierce public response. Backlash against that response certainly does signify something, if only that average people have no freaking idea about the incredibly levels of violence that are hidden from public view.
He's a douchebag, Skwirl. There's no evidence that he hit anybody, or wants to hit anybody. There's nothing in either video that comes anywhere close to advocating hitting people. Hitting people is a way of being a douchebag, but it isn't the only way. Why isn't it enough that we call him a douchebag?
Sigh. Didn't watch the video, but
...for some reason that didn't keep you from posting about the grave misogyny of it all.
posted by Kwine at 12:28 PM on February 22, 2007
A dyed in the wool or borderline misogynist is going to feel mightily empowered by attending this rally, yes? A women who has experienced domestic violence is going to feel threatened, yes?
you really should have watched the video then ... yes, you could make a very good case that the guy's a misogynist ... i can make an even better one that she turned the tables right around on him, told him exactly what a narcissistic, immature stunt this was, and basically executed him in public with the approval of the crowd
yeah, there were a few people yelling slut ... they were outnumbered by those who were howling down the guy ... he tried to humiliate her ... but he got humiliated instead
yeah, buddy, brag about how you're smiling through all this ... but there's one problem with that - you weren't smiling
he deserved it
posted by pyramid termite at 1:30 PM on February 22, 2007
you really should have watched the video then ... yes, you could make a very good case that the guy's a misogynist ... i can make an even better one that she turned the tables right around on him, told him exactly what a narcissistic, immature stunt this was, and basically executed him in public with the approval of the crowd
yeah, there were a few people yelling slut ... they were outnumbered by those who were howling down the guy ... he tried to humiliate her ... but he got humiliated instead
yeah, buddy, brag about how you're smiling through all this ... but there's one problem with that - you weren't smiling
he deserved it
posted by pyramid termite at 1:30 PM on February 22, 2007
I don't believe the authenticity of any YouTube stuff anymore. A lot of the stuff that appears there is like the son of Bill Gates Disneyworld Chain Letter. I guess it's about time for a http://video.snopes.com debunking website.
posted by rolypolyman at 1:54 PM on February 22, 2007
posted by rolypolyman at 1:54 PM on February 22, 2007
all i know is after watching that footage i want to find the camara person and bash their f-ing heads in.
now if you'll excuse me, i have to go find some aspirin.
posted by nola at 2:29 PM on February 22, 2007
now if you'll excuse me, i have to go find some aspirin.
posted by nola at 2:29 PM on February 22, 2007
I was there. I happened to be walking by just as it was starting. It was horrible, and I couldn't stop thinking about it until I'd written out my thoughts about it. I have that writeup on my blog, which explains why I think it's a fake, among other things.
posted by tarheelcoxn at 4:00 PM on February 22, 2007
posted by tarheelcoxn at 4:00 PM on February 22, 2007
PointlessNewsFilter.
I agree with the cooling off period idea. Most people who read this site probably hear about important news as it happens elsewhere, so maybe it would be more fun to see the after-the-fact opinions and followup that turn up instead of, "OMGSOMETHINGISHAPPENINGWTFZZ!?!!!lol!!"
That might at least make MeFi seem more savvy and cool like it's supposed to be, not BoingBoing.
posted by taursir at 4:46 PM on February 22, 2007
I agree with the cooling off period idea. Most people who read this site probably hear about important news as it happens elsewhere, so maybe it would be more fun to see the after-the-fact opinions and followup that turn up instead of, "OMGSOMETHINGISHAPPENINGWTFZZ!?!!!lol!!"
That might at least make MeFi seem more savvy and cool like it's supposed to be, not BoingBoing.
posted by taursir at 4:46 PM on February 22, 2007
i think it was real ... people have a lot of differing reactions to things and probably the best way to judge is by looking at the posture and body language
look at the hug that starts ... she's kind of looking away as they meet, and he practically has her in a headlock ... "i'm in control of you" ... then as they part he partially shoves her with one hand and then stops her ... "i'm putting you in your place"
during the song, she's looking at the singers with a puzzled look on her face, trying to figure out what's going on ... he's looking back and forth with a pensive look on his face, wondering how she's taking it ... then pacing around, obviously reviewing what he should say
when the songs over, he's got his hands behind his head ... "i'm in control" ... and then puts his hands in his pockets ... "i'm not available"
she's got her arms crossed in front of her defensively and then starts fiddling with her neck collar ... "i'm choking"
i could go on, but i think if they were faking it, they're pretty good actors ... and i think she may have been semi-expecting it ... this sounds like one of those arguments that were continued from another time
note that when she hugs the others at the end, she doesn't turn her head sideways
i don't think she was shocked ... but she was a bit embarrassed ... and showed a lot of poise ... some people are capable of that
posted by pyramid termite at 4:54 PM on February 22, 2007
look at the hug that starts ... she's kind of looking away as they meet, and he practically has her in a headlock ... "i'm in control of you" ... then as they part he partially shoves her with one hand and then stops her ... "i'm putting you in your place"
during the song, she's looking at the singers with a puzzled look on her face, trying to figure out what's going on ... he's looking back and forth with a pensive look on his face, wondering how she's taking it ... then pacing around, obviously reviewing what he should say
when the songs over, he's got his hands behind his head ... "i'm in control" ... and then puts his hands in his pockets ... "i'm not available"
she's got her arms crossed in front of her defensively and then starts fiddling with her neck collar ... "i'm choking"
i could go on, but i think if they were faking it, they're pretty good actors ... and i think she may have been semi-expecting it ... this sounds like one of those arguments that were continued from another time
note that when she hugs the others at the end, she doesn't turn her head sideways
i don't think she was shocked ... but she was a bit embarrassed ... and showed a lot of poise ... some people are capable of that
posted by pyramid termite at 4:54 PM on February 22, 2007
Webbster, your presentation skills need a little work before you can feed the lions here. You can’t just throw some bloody meat at a cage full of snarling gourmets and hope for the best. I never would have even smelled the damn thing, but I’m a UNC alumn... so there you go. And that’s the only thing that kept me from missing your links to the triumph of the beautiful female spirit over relentless dickwadism.
The girls won, hands down, all the way from the a capella group’s tour de force to Mindy trashing Dickwad. It wasn’t even close. He looked awful.
“Feminist Guerilla Theater YouTube Video”? It’s a start.
posted by Huplescat at 6:42 PM on February 22, 2007
The girls won, hands down, all the way from the a capella group’s tour de force to Mindy trashing Dickwad. It wasn’t even close. He looked awful.
“Feminist Guerilla Theater YouTube Video”? It’s a start.
posted by Huplescat at 6:42 PM on February 22, 2007
yeah, there were a few people yelling slut
I'm not gonna watch the fucking thing again but when I watched it earlier, I got the impression they were yelling slut about the roommate who slept with the boyfriend. They started chanting right after the girl said, "Yeah, she's the kind of girl do do that."
posted by dobbs at 8:03 PM on February 22, 2007
I'm not gonna watch the fucking thing again but when I watched it earlier, I got the impression they were yelling slut about the roommate who slept with the boyfriend. They started chanting right after the girl said, "Yeah, she's the kind of girl do do that."
posted by dobbs at 8:03 PM on February 22, 2007
She's a strong woman, I admire the fact that she was able to hold her own in front of a massive crowd designed just to humiliate her. She deserves credit for being able to handle that, because that's just extremely messed up.
posted by cell divide at 10:50 AM on February 23, 2007
posted by cell divide at 10:50 AM on February 23, 2007
when the songs over, he's got his hands behind his head ... "i'm in control" ... and then puts his hands in his pockets ... "i'm not available"
I had the opposite impression of his body language. Both of these seem to be nervous, I-don't-know-what-to-do-with-my-hands postures.
posted by Andrew Brinton at 3:52 PM on February 23, 2007
I had the opposite impression of his body language. Both of these seem to be nervous, I-don't-know-what-to-do-with-my-hands postures.
posted by Andrew Brinton at 3:52 PM on February 23, 2007
i think for a moment he did feel in control, but his anxiety got the better of him ... he was certainly nervous ... she handled herself a lot better than he did
posted by pyramid termite at 4:56 PM on February 23, 2007
posted by pyramid termite at 4:56 PM on February 23, 2007
Oh man. Oooh man. I've used a camera before. When I was little, I got to film Christmas several times. Several. times. And you know what? I held the camera straight, dammit. Maybe not exactly 0 degrees to the horizontal, but for fuck's sake peoples' faces were in the frame!
This is terrible. I mean, really bad.
posted by !Jim at 2:20 PM on February 24, 2007
This is terrible. I mean, really bad.
posted by !Jim at 2:20 PM on February 24, 2007
« Older Why is this man screaming? | World's Largest Hockey Rink Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by recurve at 7:40 AM on February 22, 2007