You have to realize: you're a little speck. NO ONE CARES WHAT YOU THINK.
November 4, 2013 3:37 PM   Subscribe

 
question and answer period is more informative but far less adorable than the video reaction section.
posted by sourbrew at 3:43 PM on November 4, 2013


"That wasn't Justin Bieber!"
posted by MoxieProxy at 3:44 PM on November 4, 2013 [1 favorite]


One little girl phrases an objection as follows: "With two guys, they're just gonna do guy things. They're gonna go to a fancy restaurant and be burpin' the whole time." That seems to be the only strong negative emotion raised.
posted by Countess Elena at 3:45 PM on November 4, 2013 [39 favorites]


Children who's parents allowed them to watch the gay proposal video are generally OK with gay marriage then?
posted by tylerkaraszewski at 3:48 PM on November 4, 2013 [4 favorites]


"With two guys, they're just gonna do guy things. They're gonna go to a fancy restaurant and be burpin' the whole time."

which is why I've always hated those GUY ONLY restaurants.
posted by philip-random at 3:50 PM on November 4, 2013 [5 favorites]


I didn't even get to watch it because I accidentally glanced at the top couple of comments while the video was loading up and by the time it was ready to play I had already lost the will to live.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 3:50 PM on November 4, 2013 [2 favorites]


Yeah, these kids are all huggable, and I'm really happy they're coming up okay. But I don't know if this proves much about their essential wisdom and innocence any more than Braxton here is proof of the essential wickedness of man.
posted by Countess Elena at 3:52 PM on November 4, 2013 [2 favorites]


Children who's parents allowed them to watch the gay proposal video are generally OK with gay marriage then?

Presumably, yeah. The kids are actors. (One of them just came in fourth on Junior MasterChef.) It's probably fair to assume there's legal paperwork involved.
posted by Sys Rq at 3:53 PM on November 4, 2013 [1 favorite]


"With two guys, they're just gonna do guy things. They're gonna go to a fancy restaurant and be burpin' the whole time."

She's never met my sister.
posted by dirigibleman at 3:53 PM on November 4, 2013


At least we can all agree I think that everyone, no matter how innocent or pretentious, is powerless in the face of Ho Hey.
posted by Lutoslawski at 3:54 PM on November 4, 2013 [8 favorites]


On the one hand, it's amazing to see how far we've come in a relatively short space of time- you can imagine very different reactions being had only 5 years ago.

On the other (and god I feel like such a bitter scrooge for bringing this up) this doesn't show that children will automatically support gay marriage, this goes to show that these children (most of which already know what the word gay means and that already know that being gay is okay (literally a phrase used by one of the girls)) from this part of america and that have a camera stuck in their face, know not to act more than shocked. Children generally act for approval and these kids know which response is going to be well received.
posted by litleozy at 3:54 PM on November 4, 2013 [4 favorites]


"If I had... a box of microscopes... would I be gay?" *crawls all over table awkwardly avoiding eye contact*

Man I can't wait to have kids they're fucking hilarious
posted by showbiz_liz at 3:56 PM on November 4, 2013 [20 favorites]


Gooch Reacts:

PRO: Gay marriage

ANTI: Flash mob proposals
posted by The Gooch at 3:56 PM on November 4, 2013 [4 favorites]




I suppose my problem with it really is, this proves nothing. It's nice and it's a good reflection of the increasingly dominate view of gay marriage in american culture, but it's more about preaching to the choir. BUT ITS STILL SWEET EH
posted by litleozy at 3:56 PM on November 4, 2013 [1 favorite]


Yeah, actually my favorite is the little girl who just keeps going "DUDE, THIS IS NEWS TO ME MAN, THIS IS BLOWING MY MIND." Because you can tell that most of the kids are repeating things they've heard- which is fine, we all do that every day, but I love the unfettered reaction of someone who's never considered this concept at all.
posted by showbiz_liz at 3:59 PM on November 4, 2013 [18 favorites]


I actually love these "[schmehs] react to [foo]" videos - yeah, they work with child actors, but I suspect that's only for the "because these are kids who are comfortable in front of a camera" aspect. (I really liked the Kids React To Matt Harding one, and there's one with senior citizens reacting to the Mars Landing.)

I'm kind of glad that they did include the one kid who kept saying "gay is bad for you", even though I suspect it was a tactical ploy to say "see, we didn't edit out all the kids who said it was bad."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:05 PM on November 4, 2013 [2 favorites]


Oh, the kid talking Martin Luther King, Jr… good work, parents.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:06 PM on November 4, 2013 [2 favorites]


One little girl phrases an objection as follows: "With two guys, they're just gonna do guy things. They're gonna go to a fancy restaurant and be burpin' the whole time."

She sounds like a bromophobe
posted by dry white toast at 4:13 PM on November 4, 2013 [26 favorites]


I suppose my problem with it really is, this proves nothing.

It's not intended to prove anything. It's meant to evoke a gut reaction. If kittens and puppies could talk and be relied on to evoke a heart-warming reaction, you'd find them out here as well.
posted by IndigoJones at 4:15 PM on November 4, 2013


I suppose my problem with it really is, this proves nothing. It's nice and it's a good reflection of the increasingly dominate view of gay marriage in american culture, but it's more about preaching to the choir.

Here's the thing. These children presumably have friends. Friends who are going to come out as gay or lesbian, who are going to have allies in these kids. And there will be children who are being raised to be anti-LGBT friendly, and maybe those children will have their ideas challenged by children like these.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:21 PM on November 4, 2013 [1 favorite]


"Fishing license. OH, that makes sense."

Oh, I needed that.
posted by MoxieProxy at 4:23 PM on November 4, 2013 [1 favorite]


I was glad they included tiny homophobe Lucas, even if it was cynically "for balance", because his eyebrows compensated somewhat for his beliefs, and also, he's five, so there's still hope.
posted by gingerest at 4:26 PM on November 4, 2013


"I'm your friend! Air-hug!"

That was the best thing.

Gosh, even the little homophobe was adorable. But I totally wish I had a daughter like Girl With Many Strong Opinions, Don't Get Me Started.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 4:45 PM on November 4, 2013 [8 favorites]



Man I can't wait to have kids they're fucking hilarious


Then they turn into teenagers and you see the wisdom in some species eating their young.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 4:48 PM on November 4, 2013 [8 favorites]


One little girl phrases an objection as follows: "With two guys, they're just gonna do guy things. They're gonna go to a fancy restaurant and be burpin' the whole time." That seems to be the only strong negative emotion raised.
Huh? You must have missed the fascist-in-training.
posted by Flunkie at 5:02 PM on November 4, 2013 [1 favorite]


Also, that little girl shouldn't knock burping in a fancy restaurant until she tries it.
posted by Flunkie at 5:04 PM on November 4, 2013 [1 favorite]


Call me a cynic, but knowing that they are all actors completely invalidates this. Between coaching from parents, re-takes, and who knows what else.. this may as well have been 100% scripted.
posted by mediocre at 5:06 PM on November 4, 2013 [9 favorites]


Call me a cynic, but knowing that they are all actors completely invalidates this.

Sadly agree.
posted by MoxieProxy at 5:14 PM on November 4, 2013


I didn't watch the whole thing...after the intro and the names of the kids were flashed I thought "this is totally staged". I felt like it was manipulative more than anything.
posted by cairnoflore at 5:17 PM on November 4, 2013 [1 favorite]


68% of Americans ages 18-29 support gay marriage. It's not hard to imagine those numbers rise significantly among those who are even younger, most of whom have never lived in a time when there wasn't gay marriage in at least one state.
posted by zombieflanders at 5:22 PM on November 4, 2013


Call me a cynic, but knowing that they are all actors completely invalidates this.

Just because they're actors doesn't mean they're acting.
posted by Sys Rq at 5:28 PM on November 4, 2013


68% of Americans ages 18-29 support gay marriage.
A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.

- Max Planck
Just throwing that out there. Planck was talking about science, but I want to believe that it's just as true for social justice. I feel like the forces of good are going to win this one.
posted by mhoye at 5:32 PM on November 4, 2013 [7 favorites]


No, we're always acting all the time, totally untrustworthy, I don't think legally we're allowed to enter into contracts.
posted by The Whelk at 5:34 PM on November 4, 2013 [3 favorites]


Call me a cynic, but knowing that they are all actors completely invalidates this.

Just because they're actors doesn't mean they're acting.


I know enough about the biz to know that, much as these kids are probably not working from any script, they are definitely "performing". Because they get that being themselves is just that, playing to the camera eye and its expectations. Most normal kids (those with little or no on-camera experience), would not be near as relaxed, not near as forthcoming with their thoughts and feelings, not near as engaging.
posted by philip-random at 5:44 PM on November 4, 2013 [3 favorites]


I think it's more just that casting stuff like this is a little more complicated than driving a van up to a playground and shouting, "Hey kids, who wants to be in an internet video?"
posted by Sys Rq at 5:51 PM on November 4, 2013 [2 favorites]


Countess Elena: But I don't know if this proves much about their essential wisdom and innocence any more than Braxton here is proof of the essential wickedness of man.

Counterpoint: "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught (to Hate)"
posted by IAmBroom at 6:05 PM on November 4, 2013


I think it's more just that casting stuff like this is a little more complicated than driving a van up to a playground and shouting, "Hey kids, who wants to be in an internet video?"

Haha You'd be surprised actually! (I am Bill Nye)
posted by Potomac Avenue at 6:28 PM on November 4, 2013


Men with husbands have got to realize that they can't just be burpin' in fancy restaurants. There are sports bars for that.

And, I think we all want to be able to rock a faux-fur vest look AND have a box of microscopes.
posted by Morrigan at 6:28 PM on November 4, 2013 [1 favorite]


That kid Troy is on Masterchef Junior.
posted by Pazzovizza at 6:52 PM on November 4, 2013


That kid Troy is on Masterchef Junior.

This will be welcome news to attendees of the most recent DC meetup; we were chatting and eating dinner and, one by one, we all fell silent and just gazed at the muted TV showing Masterchef Junior. Then we talked about how much we hated Troy. Bonding!
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 7:07 PM on November 4, 2013 [1 favorite]


Call me a cynic, but knowing that they are all actors completely invalidates this.

Just because they're actors doesn't mean they're acting.


Well that one kid who was blinking so much was up to something. It was like he was sending Morse code with his eyes.
posted by fuse theorem at 7:08 PM on November 4, 2013


Then we talked about how much we hated Troy.

You will no doubt be pleased to learn that undercooking a chicken thigh reduces him to tears.

YOU HEARTLESS MONSTER
posted by Sys Rq at 7:15 PM on November 4, 2013 [2 favorites]


Now do the same experiment in Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, whatever.

On second thought, don't. It would be too depressing.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:21 PM on November 4, 2013


Then we talked about how much we hated Troy. Bonding!

suspicions confirmed. Metafilter is Middle School.
posted by philip-random at 7:27 PM on November 4, 2013 [2 favorites]


Call me a cynic, but knowing that they are all actors completely invalidates this.

Also knowing that these were all kids, completely invalidates this, unless you want to take as your position: It's not intended to prove anything. It's meant to evoke a gut reaction.

Just because you asked a bunch of kids "Is it right for the government to take your hard earned money?" and they said, "no, it's not right," doesn't really mean much for me. I don't base my policy decisions on the approval of kids.
posted by SollosQ at 8:11 PM on November 4, 2013 [1 favorite]


Yeah. Actors. But, here in the FIRST STATE TO LEGALIZE GAY MARRIAGE BY POPULAR VOTE, my kids have multiple friends who are children of same sex couples. I haven't even been asked any questions about homosexuality yet. It's just normal. This is the real legacy of legalizing gay marriage.

it's also saved me from an annoying and perhaps awkward conversation undoing some kind of prejudice they might have picked up somewhere
posted by Random Person at 8:37 PM on November 4, 2013 [1 favorite]


MetaFilter: They're gonna go to a fancy restaurant and be burpin' the whole time.
posted by Strange Interlude at 8:44 PM on November 4, 2013


No, we're always acting all the time, totally untrustworthy, I don't think legally we're allowed to enter into contracts.

This is why we cut thumbs on contracts, actually: because some of you have spiders in your blood and we must avoid entering agreements with you.
posted by NoraReed at 9:13 PM on November 4, 2013


"This is why we cut thumbs on contracts, actually: because some of you have spiders in your blood and we must avoid entering agreements with you."

Never get into a contract with someone who can always tell when you're lying.*

* I think that's one of the Rules of Acquisition.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 9:22 PM on November 4, 2013


Going into it and watching without reading the thread about 4 mins or so into it I frankly had to turn it off because it just seemed too slick and scripted to get anything meaningful out of it.
I can no more feel happy fuzzies about this video then I would be outraged at a similar production value video from, say Tennessee, with a bunch of kids acting all grossed out and disgusted about gay marriage, it's almost meaningless to me. By overselling the point they invalided the point. No authenticity.
posted by edgeways at 8:01 PM on November 5, 2013 [1 favorite]


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