youtube at its best...
August 12, 2006 6:13 PM Subscribe
This is what we all hoped the internet would be about. When we discovered the internet, most of us saw it as a way to connect to other people. Peter has only been on youtube for a week. His first video has been viewed nearly 300,000 times, and there isn't a single idiot teenager within range of the camera.
Do you have a few minutes to spare? Spend them with Peter. Six videos, and hopefully, more to come.
Interesting, I guess.
Maybe I'm just not the right mood for this.
posted by ®@ at 6:26 PM on August 12, 2006
Maybe I'm just not the right mood for this.
posted by ®@ at 6:26 PM on August 12, 2006
I linked to the first vid in a comment thread.
That said, I really don't think this is what I had in mind when I discovered the internet. I think I was mostly looking for porn.
posted by delmoi at 6:28 PM on August 12, 2006
That said, I really don't think this is what I had in mind when I discovered the internet. I think I was mostly looking for porn.
posted by delmoi at 6:28 PM on August 12, 2006
Brillian post, thanks - couldn't agree more, that's a fantastic use of the internet.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 6:35 PM on August 12, 2006
posted by Jon Mitchell at 6:35 PM on August 12, 2006
Being a young person I got bored after 1 minute and moved on.
Sorry, I mean got bored, snarked, then moved on.
posted by cillit bang at 6:36 PM on August 12, 2006 [1 favorite]
Sorry, I mean got bored, snarked, then moved on.
posted by cillit bang at 6:36 PM on August 12, 2006 [1 favorite]
That is the most awesome thing I've ever seen, ever. I want to have that man's baby.
posted by drleary at 6:37 PM on August 12, 2006
posted by drleary at 6:37 PM on August 12, 2006
Wow, nearly 300,000 people were just as bored by that as I was.
posted by fenriq at 6:42 PM on August 12, 2006
posted by fenriq at 6:42 PM on August 12, 2006
Peter, the bossman says April 22, 2007. Work it while you can.
posted by the ghost of Ken Lay at 6:45 PM on August 12, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by the ghost of Ken Lay at 6:45 PM on August 12, 2006 [1 favorite]
It's interesting, to be sure.
As an aside, maybe I'm just being cranky, but quite a few of the most recent posts are just redirections to YouTube videos - is this the going trend?
posted by FormlessOne at 6:49 PM on August 12, 2006
As an aside, maybe I'm just being cranky, but quite a few of the most recent posts are just redirections to YouTube videos - is this the going trend?
posted by FormlessOne at 6:49 PM on August 12, 2006
You gotta admit the guy's got great taste in music.
posted by ZachsMind at 6:49 PM on August 12, 2006
posted by ZachsMind at 6:49 PM on August 12, 2006
I like his wallpaper.
posted by dirigibleman at 6:53 PM on August 12, 2006
posted by dirigibleman at 6:53 PM on August 12, 2006
I hope this guy's for real, because I find this pretty neat.
posted by uosuaq at 6:57 PM on August 12, 2006
posted by uosuaq at 6:57 PM on August 12, 2006
Same excruciatingly pointless banality as any other video blog, but by an old guy. Am I missing something?
posted by UbuRoivas at 7:08 PM on August 12, 2006
posted by UbuRoivas at 7:08 PM on August 12, 2006
Old guy rambles about....youtube?
Why the hell is this supposed to be interesting?
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:14 PM on August 12, 2006
Why the hell is this supposed to be interesting?
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:14 PM on August 12, 2006
Don't try to understand it man, just go with the flow.
*begins research for FPP about AARP members on MySpace, expects to win $30 easily*
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 7:21 PM on August 12, 2006
*begins research for FPP about AARP members on MySpace, expects to win $30 easily*
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 7:21 PM on August 12, 2006
With any luck I'll be as engaged as Peter when I'm as old as he is. If I make it that far.
Good on him, and to hell with the kind of faux-hip snarktacular everything-sucks ghetto that Metafilter has grown into. God damn, it's tiresome. (Maybe I'm just in one of my periods where I hate the site as much as I love it, but the dismissive sneer seems to be more prevalent as default comment mode than it ever was before. That sucks.)
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 7:22 PM on August 12, 2006 [3 favorites]
Good on him, and to hell with the kind of faux-hip snarktacular everything-sucks ghetto that Metafilter has grown into. God damn, it's tiresome. (Maybe I'm just in one of my periods where I hate the site as much as I love it, but the dismissive sneer seems to be more prevalent as default comment mode than it ever was before. That sucks.)
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 7:22 PM on August 12, 2006 [3 favorites]
I like this guy! He has an engaging manner which makes his videos easy to watch.
posted by Spacelegoman at 7:26 PM on August 12, 2006
posted by Spacelegoman at 7:26 PM on August 12, 2006
I didn't think this sucked, necessarily; but is it interested in any way other than "old guy makes use of technology"?
posted by mrnutty at 7:34 PM on August 12, 2006
posted by mrnutty at 7:34 PM on August 12, 2006
I watched all of his videos, and I thought they were great. It's like having grandfather-on-demand. I like his dry, self-deprecating humour, and he has a very nice voice. I signed up to YouTube just so I could subscribe to his videos. Thanks, HuronBob.
And thanks, stavros, for the word "snarktacular."
posted by meringue at 7:35 PM on August 12, 2006
And thanks, stavros, for the word "snarktacular."
posted by meringue at 7:35 PM on August 12, 2006
I am impressed that Peter is embracing the 21st century with the aplomb and veracity of a man half his age, but the direction of this conversation between him and Renetto and others has got me concerned.
"...censor the unsavoury comments and remove and ban members who submit them. Don't stiffle the creativity of the young but protect them from abuse of this sort..."
This parental instinct to control is very damaging.
"I think you're absolutely right [Renetto] that we must somehow get rid of all these ignorant people who put these rude remarks onto anybody's site, whether it'd be adult or child's video. I remember a quotation I think it was by Jonathan Miller in some editorial he did in a high flying newspaper and I think he described such people he said if I remember the quotation right he said if they don't have the intelligence to find their way to the toilet unaided then they aren't worth consideration."
Peter and Renetto and others want to curtail free speech so that they can build a community in YouTube. They want to make YouTube a safe place for children, without censoring the creativity of young people. This is like teaching someone to swim without using any liquids. . Gwyneth Llewelyn over at Second Life was discussing how some people wanted to turn SL into a virtual country and ultimately it failed, but there are restrictions on behavior in Second Life which I must admit are one of many things turning me off from exploring it further. I've also been contemplating getting a video camera and joining in the fun over at youtube, but if people like Renetto & Peter get their way, I won't bother.
Random examples of humanity, like Peter and Renetto, from the youngest of them to the oldest, are wonderful. However, things like YouTube tend to illuminate both the best and the worst humanity has to offer, and it's not always the most vulgar of us who are the most ugly, or vice versa. A man like Peter, who lived through World War Two, should know better than to ask for a minority to be granted the power to censor and banish those with opinions and word choices differing from his own. Then again, his elders learned nothing from The War To End All Wars. Why should we learn from him?
posted by ZachsMind at 7:38 PM on August 12, 2006
"...censor the unsavoury comments and remove and ban members who submit them. Don't stiffle the creativity of the young but protect them from abuse of this sort..."
This parental instinct to control is very damaging.
"I think you're absolutely right [Renetto] that we must somehow get rid of all these ignorant people who put these rude remarks onto anybody's site, whether it'd be adult or child's video. I remember a quotation I think it was by Jonathan Miller in some editorial he did in a high flying newspaper and I think he described such people he said if I remember the quotation right he said if they don't have the intelligence to find their way to the toilet unaided then they aren't worth consideration."
Peter and Renetto and others want to curtail free speech so that they can build a community in YouTube. They want to make YouTube a safe place for children, without censoring the creativity of young people. This is like teaching someone to swim without using any liquids. . Gwyneth Llewelyn over at Second Life was discussing how some people wanted to turn SL into a virtual country and ultimately it failed, but there are restrictions on behavior in Second Life which I must admit are one of many things turning me off from exploring it further. I've also been contemplating getting a video camera and joining in the fun over at youtube, but if people like Renetto & Peter get their way, I won't bother.
Random examples of humanity, like Peter and Renetto, from the youngest of them to the oldest, are wonderful. However, things like YouTube tend to illuminate both the best and the worst humanity has to offer, and it's not always the most vulgar of us who are the most ugly, or vice versa. A man like Peter, who lived through World War Two, should know better than to ask for a minority to be granted the power to censor and banish those with opinions and word choices differing from his own. Then again, his elders learned nothing from The War To End All Wars. Why should we learn from him?
posted by ZachsMind at 7:38 PM on August 12, 2006
I also am planning on being this engaged when I reach those elder years. I appreciate people that are not afraid.
(Just saw the movie "The World's Fastest Indian", speaking of inspirational elders.)
posted by jaronson at 7:43 PM on August 12, 2006
(Just saw the movie "The World's Fastest Indian", speaking of inspirational elders.)
posted by jaronson at 7:43 PM on August 12, 2006
Perhaps the first video is a bit banal in the sense of "senior citizen using TECHNOLOGY! Whoa!" but I think that the other vids are fascinating. Considering he's nearly 80, I would love to be as lucid and engaged in contemporary technology as he is when I'm his age. My grandparents were neither as outwardly focused nor as coherent in their nostalgic ramblings, so this is good to watch.
If for no other reason than the above, I think this is a good use of the internet tubes.
posted by chimaera at 7:43 PM on August 12, 2006
If for no other reason than the above, I think this is a good use of the internet tubes.
posted by chimaera at 7:43 PM on August 12, 2006
I am really enjoying this guy. Thanks for posting this HuronBob.
posted by BillsR100 at 7:51 PM on August 12, 2006
posted by BillsR100 at 7:51 PM on August 12, 2006
I'd like to think that Dad might've been willing to do this, were he still around. There are a couple of war stories he told me that everybody ought to be able to listen to every Veterans' Day.
posted by pax digita at 7:54 PM on August 12, 2006
posted by pax digita at 7:54 PM on August 12, 2006
See, it's like MySpace, but it's on YouTube. Which makes it a simulated virtual experience, radiating within its own recurrent meme. This is basically a Web 2.0 realization of a conceptualised teleconference. The guy's not really talking to us, but he breaks the fourth wall, so in fact he actually is talking to us. Each and every one of us. The guy's old, but he's using current technology, working in the now, if you will, which makes him young again. Which we, the audience, the electronic participants, effectively helped accomplish in our own small way.
This guy is Mathew Lilard in Hackers, lighting up the new electronic dawn.
This guy is Keanu Reeves in Johnny Mnemonic, demanding the cheese sandwich.
This guy is that Optimus Prime voice distortion toy, whose electronic parts paved the way for an improved vocoder for the speaking-impaired. Except in this case, the voice being heard is the old guy's, but because of the medium and technology, it's really all of our voices blended together.
This guy is the future, but in the proverbial now. Question is, are YOU ready for it?
posted by Smart Dalek at 7:54 PM on August 12, 2006
This guy is Mathew Lilard in Hackers, lighting up the new electronic dawn.
This guy is Keanu Reeves in Johnny Mnemonic, demanding the cheese sandwich.
This guy is that Optimus Prime voice distortion toy, whose electronic parts paved the way for an improved vocoder for the speaking-impaired. Except in this case, the voice being heard is the old guy's, but because of the medium and technology, it's really all of our voices blended together.
This guy is the future, but in the proverbial now. Question is, are YOU ready for it?
posted by Smart Dalek at 7:54 PM on August 12, 2006
i'm not getting it ... look, i can understand why a few people would like him, want to reply to him, etc, etc ... but 300,000 views?
he seems like a nice old man, but what is he doing that deserves this kind of attention?
posted by pyramid termite at 8:03 PM on August 12, 2006
he seems like a nice old man, but what is he doing that deserves this kind of attention?
posted by pyramid termite at 8:03 PM on August 12, 2006
On a more serious note, Peter's vids reminded me of Bowie's "Algeria Touchshriek", but in a more contemplative vein.
posted by Smart Dalek at 8:04 PM on August 12, 2006
posted by Smart Dalek at 8:04 PM on August 12, 2006
Smart Dalek: "See, it's like MySpace, but it's on YouTube. Which makes it a simulated virtual experience, radiating within its own recurrent meme..."
LOL! ...You ARE kidding.. right?
"..it's really all of our voices blended together."
Huh? Er.. No. Sorry. I respect the man, but his voice is not mine. It's his, and he's a right to use it. Don't for a nanosecond pretend he speaks on behalf of all humanity. I don't hear me echoing in him, and I don't hear you.
Pyramid Termite: "he seems like a nice old man, but what is he doing that deserves this kind of attention?"
I think it's the fact he IS perhaps the oldest YouTube user that's got everyone's attention. It's not what he's doing. It's the fact that he's doing it.
posted by ZachsMind at 8:10 PM on August 12, 2006
LOL! ...You ARE kidding.. right?
"..it's really all of our voices blended together."
Huh? Er.. No. Sorry. I respect the man, but his voice is not mine. It's his, and he's a right to use it. Don't for a nanosecond pretend he speaks on behalf of all humanity. I don't hear me echoing in him, and I don't hear you.
Pyramid Termite: "he seems like a nice old man, but what is he doing that deserves this kind of attention?"
I think it's the fact he IS perhaps the oldest YouTube user that's got everyone's attention. It's not what he's doing. It's the fact that he's doing it.
posted by ZachsMind at 8:10 PM on August 12, 2006
"we must somehow get rid of all these....people"
I, too, find fault with humanity and demand instant cessation of its existen
posted by carsonb at 8:10 PM on August 12, 2006
I, too, find fault with humanity and demand instant cessation of its existen
posted by carsonb at 8:10 PM on August 12, 2006
Smart Dalek: "On a more serious note..."
Oh thank God! You weren't serious. I was gonna have to bitch slap you.
posted by ZachsMind at 8:10 PM on August 12, 2006
Oh thank God! You weren't serious. I was gonna have to bitch slap you.
posted by ZachsMind at 8:10 PM on August 12, 2006
"...and yes you're ahead of me here, aren't you?"
This is beautiful, thanks; he has the basic point down nicely: blog about stuff *you* find interesting. That story about the vicar being forced to resign after being reported to the cops for kissing a girl on the forehead - with a link to the Putin belly-kissing episode, and no clear resolution or lesson to Peter's thoughts at all - is a perfect example of the joys of personal media. I'm not surprised he's found an audience, and I'm only 3 videos in.
posted by mediareport at 8:16 PM on August 12, 2006
This is beautiful, thanks; he has the basic point down nicely: blog about stuff *you* find interesting. That story about the vicar being forced to resign after being reported to the cops for kissing a girl on the forehead - with a link to the Putin belly-kissing episode, and no clear resolution or lesson to Peter's thoughts at all - is a perfect example of the joys of personal media. I'm not surprised he's found an audience, and I'm only 3 videos in.
posted by mediareport at 8:16 PM on August 12, 2006
Can we agree that using "Web 2.0" as an adjective or adverb is really lame by now?
posted by clevershark at 8:19 PM on August 12, 2006
posted by clevershark at 8:19 PM on August 12, 2006
ZachsMind: it helps to think of my earlier post as a MONDO 2000 article. But I digress.
posted by Smart Dalek at 8:21 PM on August 12, 2006
posted by Smart Dalek at 8:21 PM on August 12, 2006
Needs more Bovril.
posted by blue_beetle at 8:28 PM on August 12, 2006
posted by blue_beetle at 8:28 PM on August 12, 2006
I'm gonna disagree with Zachsmind's take on Peter's take on Internet trolls:
"...'If they don't have the intelligence to find their way to the toilet unaided, then they aren't worth consideration.' Um, well, I think that's true. Anyway, as adults of course we can just ignore them; we've been there, done that, there's nothing that's going to shock us and we can just write them off as the yobs they are..."
He then goes on to suggest that YouTube begin editing obnoxious comments that are nothing but noise or personal attacks. Which, ya know, isn't all that different from what we currently have here. He's well aware that banned users can get another account, but thinks YouTube implementing *some* sort of consequence for bad behavior wouldn't be that horrid of an idea. Seems to me this guy's got a great perspective on online community, and though his slightly brusque dismissal of pornography doesn't quite ring true, I don't think his suggestion that YouTube begin taking asshole behavior just a little more seriously is a sign that he's some kind of Tipper Gore Grandpa in disguise.
He's clearly not. And I'm only on #4.
posted by mediareport at 8:32 PM on August 12, 2006
"...'If they don't have the intelligence to find their way to the toilet unaided, then they aren't worth consideration.' Um, well, I think that's true. Anyway, as adults of course we can just ignore them; we've been there, done that, there's nothing that's going to shock us and we can just write them off as the yobs they are..."
He then goes on to suggest that YouTube begin editing obnoxious comments that are nothing but noise or personal attacks. Which, ya know, isn't all that different from what we currently have here. He's well aware that banned users can get another account, but thinks YouTube implementing *some* sort of consequence for bad behavior wouldn't be that horrid of an idea. Seems to me this guy's got a great perspective on online community, and though his slightly brusque dismissal of pornography doesn't quite ring true, I don't think his suggestion that YouTube begin taking asshole behavior just a little more seriously is a sign that he's some kind of Tipper Gore Grandpa in disguise.
He's clearly not. And I'm only on #4.
posted by mediareport at 8:32 PM on August 12, 2006
"...Which, ya know, isn't all that different from what we currently have here..."
Case In Point
What ticks me off is my funniest material of the night and no one's gonna read it now cuz the thread was deleted.
I did love how someone reacted to Peter's opinion about pornography by posting a video of two lipstick lesbians. That was hot!
posted by ZachsMind at 8:40 PM on August 12, 2006
Case In Point
What ticks me off is my funniest material of the night and no one's gonna read it now cuz the thread was deleted.
I did love how someone reacted to Peter's opinion about pornography by posting a video of two lipstick lesbians. That was hot!
posted by ZachsMind at 8:40 PM on August 12, 2006
Peter being secretive with brilliant use of foreshadowing:
"On the fery same day I was watching a chinese television channel. It's a channel that broadcasts in english.. uhm, I can't really tell you why at the moment that might be something else we can blog about later but what you need to know is..."
So in a future video blog will we learn about his secret fascination with China and why he was watching a chinese television channel? I'm all on pins and needles about it!
Again. Great taste in music. The guy's got a nose for his ears.
posted by ZachsMind at 8:49 PM on August 12, 2006
"On the fery same day I was watching a chinese television channel. It's a channel that broadcasts in english.. uhm, I can't really tell you why at the moment that might be something else we can blog about later but what you need to know is..."
So in a future video blog will we learn about his secret fascination with China and why he was watching a chinese television channel? I'm all on pins and needles about it!
Again. Great taste in music. The guy's got a nose for his ears.
posted by ZachsMind at 8:49 PM on August 12, 2006
I suddenly really want to get my grandma on youtube. I'd like to share all her great old stories (the ones about working in a leper colony or living in communist Chile or keeping armadillos as pets) with 30,000 people.
Imagine if we could get all our grandparents on youtube, trading their tales and thoughts with all the kids, the best rising to the top like cream....
posted by bookish at 9:11 PM on August 12, 2006
Imagine if we could get all our grandparents on youtube, trading their tales and thoughts with all the kids, the best rising to the top like cream....
posted by bookish at 9:11 PM on August 12, 2006
I had no idea people were video blogging on YouTube. I found both Peter and this 'Who are you....Who, Who...Who, Who' exchange very interesting. I'm no anthropologist but I am curious about the social construction of the www. Fun stuff! Thanks for bringing it up.
posted by taosbat at 9:22 PM on August 12, 2006
posted by taosbat at 9:22 PM on August 12, 2006
For one thing, Peter has a really nice, soothing voice.
I don't know, I just like him. He kind of reminds me of an older version of my dad, or of my grandfather if my grandfather used the verb bitch or had the internet.
posted by anjamu at 9:37 PM on August 12, 2006
I don't know, I just like him. He kind of reminds me of an older version of my dad, or of my grandfather if my grandfather used the verb bitch or had the internet.
posted by anjamu at 9:37 PM on August 12, 2006
pyramid termite, if you'll notice there's a pretty steep dropoff in viewership for his other videos. None have had more than 50,000 views which is still pretty insane.
Especially seeing as how my monster truck donuts video has only been watched 213 times and still makes me grin like an idiot every time I watch it.
Let me know when Peter drops trou for his lady friends. Actually, no don't. Maybe he's posting his hawt stuff over on Pornotube.
posted by fenriq at 9:49 PM on August 12, 2006
Especially seeing as how my monster truck donuts video has only been watched 213 times and still makes me grin like an idiot every time I watch it.
Let me know when Peter drops trou for his lady friends. Actually, no don't. Maybe he's posting his hawt stuff over on Pornotube.
posted by fenriq at 9:49 PM on August 12, 2006
Just saw this:
Geriatric Man found to be a viral marketing ad for YouTube.
Wait, sorry, the above was merely the headline from the television show I'm watching called Conspiracy TV.
But, seriously, I found this quite interesting. Now, if only YouTube kids in Lebanon could have video conversations with Israeli kids, and Iranians with US, and so on and so on, and we'd all be singing Lennon's "give peace a chance"...maybe it could happen. Or maybe I'm just dreamin' again. But I do hope this inspires others to use YouTube and the like for "healthier" purposes that further humanity in some way rather than just supply a quick giggle or mind-numbing distraction.
posted by Sir BoBoMonkey Pooflinger Esquire III at 9:51 PM on August 12, 2006
Geriatric Man found to be a viral marketing ad for YouTube.
Wait, sorry, the above was merely the headline from the television show I'm watching called Conspiracy TV.
But, seriously, I found this quite interesting. Now, if only YouTube kids in Lebanon could have video conversations with Israeli kids, and Iranians with US, and so on and so on, and we'd all be singing Lennon's "give peace a chance"...maybe it could happen. Or maybe I'm just dreamin' again. But I do hope this inspires others to use YouTube and the like for "healthier" purposes that further humanity in some way rather than just supply a quick giggle or mind-numbing distraction.
posted by Sir BoBoMonkey Pooflinger Esquire III at 9:51 PM on August 12, 2006
I'd like to grow up to be an old English eccentric gentleman kthxbi.
posted by moonbird at 10:33 PM on August 12, 2006
posted by moonbird at 10:33 PM on August 12, 2006
All those here who can't figure out why this is (or might be) interesting make me sad.
posted by washburn at 10:37 PM on August 12, 2006
posted by washburn at 10:37 PM on August 12, 2006
Thanks for the post, HuronBob, and what the wise wonderchicken said. I've been following these videos for the last few days and am curiously addicted to this gent and the response he's evoked. His telling it all clip in which he reacts to the response he got had me quite weepy. The warmth with which he has been greeted is a breath of fresh air. The response videos that others made - such a disparate group of people - were also very touching. (You can find them in the sidebar.)
I remember the thrill the first time I posted to a message board, chatted on irc, or made a post here and got supportive comments - it was exciting to connect! Of course, now I'm jaded and blase, but his clips tapped into something for me, they rekindled the wonder of the web - the idea that you can reach across continents and touch strangers ... many of us take it for granted now, but it's really quite remarkable.
And it may be even more remarkable given his age and life circumstances. This is an engaging man who obviously led a full life. But many at his age have lost most contemporaries - he's lost his wife; and often, health or just plain age interfere with other passions - perhaps he can no longer ride his beloved motorcycles. For many, with age, the world constricts and narrows. But with these videos, he's found a key to engage - that's marvelous. Think how important mefi is in many of our lives for various reasons, and yet most of us are still in the prime of things, out in the hurly burly. I'm glad he found a way to connect with an online community, and I'm glad they've embraced him as they have.
An aged man is but a paltry thing,
A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing
For every tatter in its mortal dress .... Yeats
posted by madamjujujive at 11:36 PM on August 12, 2006 [4 favorites]
I remember the thrill the first time I posted to a message board, chatted on irc, or made a post here and got supportive comments - it was exciting to connect! Of course, now I'm jaded and blase, but his clips tapped into something for me, they rekindled the wonder of the web - the idea that you can reach across continents and touch strangers ... many of us take it for granted now, but it's really quite remarkable.
And it may be even more remarkable given his age and life circumstances. This is an engaging man who obviously led a full life. But many at his age have lost most contemporaries - he's lost his wife; and often, health or just plain age interfere with other passions - perhaps he can no longer ride his beloved motorcycles. For many, with age, the world constricts and narrows. But with these videos, he's found a key to engage - that's marvelous. Think how important mefi is in many of our lives for various reasons, and yet most of us are still in the prime of things, out in the hurly burly. I'm glad he found a way to connect with an online community, and I'm glad they've embraced him as they have.
An aged man is but a paltry thing,
A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing
For every tatter in its mortal dress .... Yeats
posted by madamjujujive at 11:36 PM on August 12, 2006 [4 favorites]
Nicely said, madamjujujive.
posted by Sir BoBoMonkey Pooflinger Esquire III at 12:28 AM on August 13, 2006
posted by Sir BoBoMonkey Pooflinger Esquire III at 12:28 AM on August 13, 2006
I too have been following him. He is the best thing to hit YouTube in a long time. Very interesting. I love it. Video blogging - short, sweet, someone else's server.
posted by caddis at 12:37 AM on August 13, 2006
posted by caddis at 12:37 AM on August 13, 2006
In his defense, here is the most lovely message I think I've ever seen on youtube.
A part of the videos may be in response to this question/message (Who are you?, youtube). Currently there are 181 responses which cover more personalities than I ever imagined showing their faces for the first time together on youtube (and gave me a glimpse of hope in online humanity and consumed my entire evening)..
On preview madamjujujive said it all much better ...
posted by spacelux at 12:50 AM on August 13, 2006
A part of the videos may be in response to this question/message (Who are you?, youtube). Currently there are 181 responses which cover more personalities than I ever imagined showing their faces for the first time together on youtube (and gave me a glimpse of hope in online humanity and consumed my entire evening)..
On preview madamjujujive said it all much better ...
posted by spacelux at 12:50 AM on August 13, 2006
But, seriously, I found this quite interesting. Now, if only YouTube kids in Lebanon could have video conversations with Israeli kids, and Iranians with US, and so on and so on, and we'd all be singing Lennon's "give peace a chance"...maybe it could happen
Yup, then our leaders will get us all killed. Can't keep power without an enemey!
posted by delmoi at 1:17 AM on August 13, 2006
Yup, then our leaders will get us all killed. Can't keep power without an enemey!
posted by delmoi at 1:17 AM on August 13, 2006
But if we all grew our hair long and had a world-wide naked bed-in, online, and the world leaders all stripped and lubed themselves up while looking at each others mugs on the tube...then, don't you think then peace on earth would come?!
Surely, then.
Since the enemy is ourselves, maybe we all should die. Maybe god will step in last minute...and pat all the apocalypticrites on the back for being right.
Fuck that, the enemies are the uber-capitalists, and most government officials, and all they're supporters...which happens to be a majority of us, me included most of the time.
Yes, nihilism is apropos when Bush is reading Camus and a kid's baby bottle could get you shot in JFK.
But on a more positive note, if I've left any room for that, old dudes like this, with what I hope is genuine, pure honesty and openness...well, those glimmers are what will eventually win out over the spotty blights on humanity, that if it were a body would look something like a cancer metastasized from toe-nail to brim of hat and ol' geriatric dude is that wise doctor's laser zappin' little cancer cells, one by one.
posted by Sir BoBoMonkey Pooflinger Esquire III at 4:43 AM on August 13, 2006
Surely, then.
Since the enemy is ourselves, maybe we all should die. Maybe god will step in last minute...and pat all the apocalypticrites on the back for being right.
Fuck that, the enemies are the uber-capitalists, and most government officials, and all they're supporters...which happens to be a majority of us, me included most of the time.
Yes, nihilism is apropos when Bush is reading Camus and a kid's baby bottle could get you shot in JFK.
But on a more positive note, if I've left any room for that, old dudes like this, with what I hope is genuine, pure honesty and openness...well, those glimmers are what will eventually win out over the spotty blights on humanity, that if it were a body would look something like a cancer metastasized from toe-nail to brim of hat and ol' geriatric dude is that wise doctor's laser zappin' little cancer cells, one by one.
posted by Sir BoBoMonkey Pooflinger Esquire III at 4:43 AM on August 13, 2006
Type-O's a-plenty! Eyes blurry, time for bed.
posted by Sir BoBoMonkey Pooflinger Esquire III at 4:45 AM on August 13, 2006
posted by Sir BoBoMonkey Pooflinger Esquire III at 4:45 AM on August 13, 2006
He's nice to listen to, but as with all YouTube videos the quality is so poor its almost painful to watch. I'm just listening to it running in another tab as the visuals don't really add anything.
posted by Orange Goblin at 4:57 AM on August 13, 2006
posted by Orange Goblin at 4:57 AM on August 13, 2006
madamjujujive... Thanks for that comment...you said exactly what I was thinking (well, sort of, but I evidently couldn't think it as well as you could!) when I posted this.
posted by HuronBob at 5:46 AM on August 13, 2006
posted by HuronBob at 5:46 AM on August 13, 2006
Make that seven video. "Telling it all, Part 2" added five minutes ago.
posted by beagle at 6:14 AM on August 13, 2006
posted by beagle at 6:14 AM on August 13, 2006
All those here who can't figure out why this is (or might be) interesting make me sad.
Seconded.
to hell with the kind of faux-hip snarktacular everything-sucks ghetto that Metafilter has grown into. God damn, it's tiresome.
Seconded with a yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum.
Why read anything old dudes write? After all, they're not advancing the medium, and their handwriting is often shaky, and they take too long to get to the point, and all we want is another shiny thing.
Nice post, HuronBob!
posted by languagehat at 6:24 AM on August 13, 2006
Seconded.
to hell with the kind of faux-hip snarktacular everything-sucks ghetto that Metafilter has grown into. God damn, it's tiresome.
Seconded with a yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum.
Why read anything old dudes write? After all, they're not advancing the medium, and their handwriting is often shaky, and they take too long to get to the point, and all we want is another shiny thing.
Nice post, HuronBob!
posted by languagehat at 6:24 AM on August 13, 2006
I don't ever want to be responsible for a one link youtube video post so I am using this FPP to introduce the BEST MUSIC VIDEO OF ALL TIME EVER.
If you don't agree, it's okay, you're just plain wrong.
posted by longbaugh at 6:48 AM on August 13, 2006
If you don't agree, it's okay, you're just plain wrong.
posted by longbaugh at 6:48 AM on August 13, 2006
I'm glad this exists, but the actual content doesn't engage me. A bit like StoryCorps in that respect.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 7:14 AM on August 13, 2006
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 7:14 AM on August 13, 2006
I just watched longbaugh's link and I am utterly and completely at a loss for words.
posted by localroger at 7:29 AM on August 13, 2006
posted by localroger at 7:29 AM on August 13, 2006
What ticks me off is my funniest material of the night and no one's gonna read it now cuz the thread was deleted.
Oh you've got to be kidding me. *That's* your objection to Peter's thoughtful take on dealing with YouTube comment trolls? That some of your precious oozings in a self-link spam thread got deleted?
Ho-kay, man...
posted by mediareport at 8:04 AM on August 13, 2006
Oh you've got to be kidding me. *That's* your objection to Peter's thoughtful take on dealing with YouTube comment trolls? That some of your precious oozings in a self-link spam thread got deleted?
Ho-kay, man...
posted by mediareport at 8:04 AM on August 13, 2006
I prefer the videos by 70 yr old Benglen. Very endearing.
posted by yeti at 8:06 AM on August 13, 2006
posted by yeti at 8:06 AM on August 13, 2006
stavros and others who are reverse snarking on people who don't find this at all compelling. Who in the fuck are you to tell me or anyone else what I should and shouldn't like? This crap is boring as hell to me, just because it makes you feel all warm and fucking gooey inside, don't try to make me feel bad or insult me because it bores me to fucking tears.
Its called an opinion, you can disagree with others without being a colossal prick about it. But what fun is that?
23skiddoo says it pretty well, this is fetishizing old people. Good for the old guy, he's on teh intarnets, look how lucid he is, look how cool he is, go old guy, go. Yeah!
posted by fenriq at 9:53 AM on August 13, 2006
Its called an opinion, you can disagree with others without being a colossal prick about it. But what fun is that?
23skiddoo says it pretty well, this is fetishizing old people. Good for the old guy, he's on teh intarnets, look how lucid he is, look how cool he is, go old guy, go. Yeah!
posted by fenriq at 9:53 AM on August 13, 2006
Can we agree that using "Web 2.0" as an adjective or adverb is really lame by now?
Sure. Or a noun, a verb, or any other part of speech.
posted by owhydididoit at 10:00 AM on August 13, 2006
Sure. Or a noun, a verb, or any other part of speech.
posted by owhydididoit at 10:00 AM on August 13, 2006
He's nice to listen to, but as with all YouTube videos the quality is so poor its almost painful to watch. I'm just listening to it running in another tab as the visuals don't really add anything.
posted by Orange Goblin
I watched a number of the replies to "Who are you....Who, Who...Who, Who" after watching Peter's videos. Yes, the quality was often poor and the speakers varied from very interesting to just drivel. Still, many of these videos were interesting to watch simply because of the person's environment and their interactions with and within it.
All the world's a stage...
posted by taosbat at 10:03 AM on August 13, 2006
posted by Orange Goblin
I watched a number of the replies to "Who are you....Who, Who...Who, Who" after watching Peter's videos. Yes, the quality was often poor and the speakers varied from very interesting to just drivel. Still, many of these videos were interesting to watch simply because of the person's environment and their interactions with and within it.
All the world's a stage...
posted by taosbat at 10:03 AM on August 13, 2006
When we discovered the internet, most of us saw it as a way to connect to other people. Peter has only been on youtube
I thought it was a way to read net.bizzare and get pirated Apple ][ software.
If youtube is still doing flash, then I'm not going to see it on my box, as flash is not supported.
If the internet was about communicating data, hard to do that if the software for said communication doesn't work on your platform.
posted by rough ashlar at 10:20 AM on August 13, 2006
I thought it was a way to read net.bizzare and get pirated Apple ][ software.
If youtube is still doing flash, then I'm not going to see it on my box, as flash is not supported.
If the internet was about communicating data, hard to do that if the software for said communication doesn't work on your platform.
posted by rough ashlar at 10:20 AM on August 13, 2006
Who in the fuck are you to tell me or anyone else what I should and shouldn't like?
Nobody's telling you what you should and shouldn't like. Some of us are pointing out that there's no law saying you have to spew your opinion about every goddam thing in every goddam place, especially when it's dismissive. But the basic point is that if you're going to snark, you should be cool with being snarked at. If you can't take the heat, don't set things on fire. Capeesh?
posted by languagehat at 10:48 AM on August 13, 2006 [1 favorite]
Nobody's telling you what you should and shouldn't like. Some of us are pointing out that there's no law saying you have to spew your opinion about every goddam thing in every goddam place, especially when it's dismissive. But the basic point is that if you're going to snark, you should be cool with being snarked at. If you can't take the heat, don't set things on fire. Capeesh?
posted by languagehat at 10:48 AM on August 13, 2006 [1 favorite]
If the internet was about communicating data, hard to do that if the software for said communication doesn't work on your platform.
While it would be nice if they were using theora or another more open standard, the small number of people who simply can't use flash is probably not a compelling reason for them to rework the site. The vast majority of users can participate in this communication.
Anyway, adobe claims they're working on it (for linux anyway, assuming you're not using an Amiga or something).
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 11:09 AM on August 13, 2006
While it would be nice if they were using theora or another more open standard, the small number of people who simply can't use flash is probably not a compelling reason for them to rework the site. The vast majority of users can participate in this communication.
Anyway, adobe claims they're working on it (for linux anyway, assuming you're not using an Amiga or something).
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 11:09 AM on August 13, 2006
....to hell with the kind of faux-hip snarktacular everything-sucks ghetto that Metafilter has grown into. God damn, it's tiresome.
Wow. My countless hours of lurking just paid off. Damn fine suprametafilterian cultural observation.
... dismissive sneer seems to be more prevalent as default ...
I have sadly noticed this cultural trend operating in my own brainpan. Just having the two words "dismissive sneer" helps neutralize my own habitual sneer. (No sarcasm.)
posted by Moistener at 12:22 PM on August 13, 2006
Wow. My countless hours of lurking just paid off. Damn fine suprametafilterian cultural observation.
... dismissive sneer seems to be more prevalent as default ...
I have sadly noticed this cultural trend operating in my own brainpan. Just having the two words "dismissive sneer" helps neutralize my own habitual sneer. (No sarcasm.)
posted by Moistener at 12:22 PM on August 13, 2006
snarkfilter: Yeah! Wittering Old Man is what I've been waiting for since Web 1.0! If only this guy had started in 1998 the dot.com bubble might never have burst!
admittedly i only watched thirty seconds, but what the hell
posted by criticalbill at 12:44 PM on August 13, 2006
admittedly i only watched thirty seconds, but what the hell
posted by criticalbill at 12:44 PM on August 13, 2006
fenriq: Wow, nearly 300,000 people were just as bored by that as I was.
Then: don't try to make me feel bad or insult me.
*laughs*
posted by mediareport at 1:27 PM on August 13, 2006
Then: don't try to make me feel bad or insult me.
*laughs*
posted by mediareport at 1:27 PM on August 13, 2006
Say what you like, this old man is the hottest thing to hit YouTube in quite some time. He has something to say, and he says it well, and with a very human touch.
posted by caddis at 3:11 PM on August 13, 2006
posted by caddis at 3:11 PM on August 13, 2006
to hell with the kind of faux-hip snarktacular everything-sucks ghetto that Metafilter has grown into. God damn, it's tiresome.
Agreed. I therefore declare the first annual MeFi love-in starts today, whereby we are all obliged to heap praises on everything, no matter what, and regardless of how utterly crap it is.
First up: lets have a big group hug about how great it is that an old guy can get his head around basic, user-friendly technology just as easily as a gormless 15yo. Incredible, to have travelled so far through life and to have actually learned how to do something! I am awed. *hugs everybody*.
And stavros? I am *so* waiting for your next faux-hip snark, mate! ;) *hugs stavros*
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:36 PM on August 13, 2006 [2 favorites]
Agreed. I therefore declare the first annual MeFi love-in starts today, whereby we are all obliged to heap praises on everything, no matter what, and regardless of how utterly crap it is.
First up: lets have a big group hug about how great it is that an old guy can get his head around basic, user-friendly technology just as easily as a gormless 15yo. Incredible, to have travelled so far through life and to have actually learned how to do something! I am awed. *hugs everybody*.
And stavros? I am *so* waiting for your next faux-hip snark, mate! ;) *hugs stavros*
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:36 PM on August 13, 2006 [2 favorites]
This is hearwarming and I dearly want to believe, but what's with the (relatively) spiffy graphics in the leaders? Would an elderly YouTube ninja as Peter be able to produce these? Or are these a fairly standard feature of YT or his video software?
Is there an off chance this might be a very cleverly disguised viral?
*dons tinfoil hat, rambles on about the old days, 14k4, 'bookmarks', every web page looked the same, you'd stay up all night and see, what, seven women, ...*
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 6:29 PM on August 13, 2006
Is there an off chance this might be a very cleverly disguised viral?
*dons tinfoil hat, rambles on about the old days, 14k4, 'bookmarks', every web page looked the same, you'd stay up all night and see, what, seven women, ...*
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 6:29 PM on August 13, 2006
Earwarming or heartwarming, take your pick.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 6:30 PM on August 13, 2006
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 6:30 PM on August 13, 2006
whereby we are all obliged to heap praises on everything, no matter what, and regardless of how utterly crap it is.
Well, it's not like the only two options here are heaping praise or lying about how good crap is.
posted by mediareport at 6:46 PM on August 13, 2006
Well, it's not like the only two options here are heaping praise or lying about how good crap is.
posted by mediareport at 6:46 PM on August 13, 2006
Yes, I guess there is the option of holding one's tongue. Unfortunately, that doesn't provide any useful feedback on what constitutes a good or a bad FPP.
In the most neutral tone possible, I watched the first video (only), and thought exactly what I posted in my first comment - that it is the same banal, pointless blah that I have witnessed every single time I have ever opened one of these popular vlogs on YouTube.
The only difference was that this one was done by an old dude instead of a young chick flashing a centimetre of cleavage. Otherwise, it seemed like exactly the same pap, which also happens to be easy to find when there are hundreds of thousands of viewers. As such, I don't think it makes for a great FPP, and I think it is OK for people to voice that opinion without being labelled as snarcktastic faux-hipsters.
posted by UbuRoivas at 7:06 PM on August 13, 2006
In the most neutral tone possible, I watched the first video (only), and thought exactly what I posted in my first comment - that it is the same banal, pointless blah that I have witnessed every single time I have ever opened one of these popular vlogs on YouTube.
The only difference was that this one was done by an old dude instead of a young chick flashing a centimetre of cleavage. Otherwise, it seemed like exactly the same pap, which also happens to be easy to find when there are hundreds of thousands of viewers. As such, I don't think it makes for a great FPP, and I think it is OK for people to voice that opinion without being labelled as snarcktastic faux-hipsters.
posted by UbuRoivas at 7:06 PM on August 13, 2006
Yes, I guess there is the option of holding one's tongue.
Or commenting in a way that allows for the possibility of a "de gustibus" shrug. Which you did. Look, there's nothing wrong with critiquing posts. Just don't whine about your hurt feelings after posting bitchy snark, is all.
posted by mediareport at 8:25 PM on August 13, 2006
Or commenting in a way that allows for the possibility of a "de gustibus" shrug. Which you did. Look, there's nothing wrong with critiquing posts. Just don't whine about your hurt feelings after posting bitchy snark, is all.
posted by mediareport at 8:25 PM on August 13, 2006
Well, I stand corrected: if it's good enough for the Herald, it's good enough for MeFi.
(Hm, they're getting better. Normally, the Herald journos are three to five days behind this place)
posted by UbuRoivas at 9:23 PM on August 13, 2006
(Hm, they're getting better. Normally, the Herald journos are three to five days behind this place)
posted by UbuRoivas at 9:23 PM on August 13, 2006
Get the fuck offa my lawn, you greasy sophomore cuntstains!
...which is what I'd be videoblogging, if I were 70. And had a lawn.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:38 AM on August 14, 2006
...which is what I'd be videoblogging, if I were 70. And had a lawn.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:38 AM on August 14, 2006
great stuff : )
posted by sgt.serenity at 4:14 PM on August 16, 2006
posted by sgt.serenity at 4:14 PM on August 16, 2006
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posted by phrontist at 6:24 PM on August 12, 2006