Starts out kind of pathetic. Then it gets awesome.
May 31, 2009 4:04 PM   Subscribe

This is how you start a party. (SLYT) (via)

The video is of a lone dancer at the 2009 Sasquatch! Music Festival (wiki while the site is down) slowly gathering a party around him. He is dancing to the song Unstoppable by Santigold

Now all that's left is to ask this question: What kind of party animal are you?
posted by The Devil Tesla (118 comments total) 41 users marked this as a favorite
 
Not nearly as good as being there, I'm sure, but a kickass video nonetheless.
posted by futureisunwritten at 4:12 PM on May 31, 2009


"Part of A&E's new series Great Accomplishments on Ecstasy" is a pretty great tag.
posted by soundofsuburbia at 4:13 PM on May 31, 2009 [5 favorites]


Man, I miss partying at the Gorge. When I saw the Beastie Boys perform there years ago, the whole fucking hillside was rocking!
posted by P.o.B. at 4:16 PM on May 31, 2009


It appears five is the maximum number of dancers for a minimum sized dance party, anymore and you risk an exponential explosion of participants.
posted by TwelveTwo at 4:17 PM on May 31, 2009 [2 favorites]


Once it started metastasizing, I couldn't help but think of Katamari Damacy. They could've rolled down the hill together and consumed everything in their path. Unstoppable, indeed.
posted by Busithoth at 4:18 PM on May 31, 2009 [11 favorites]


This natural law observed in the video may be generalized and more broadly applied to all participatory activities, but further research is necessary. Possible avenues of further exploration of this phenomenon include: Team Fortress 2 server population distribution, Favoriting behavior on Metafilter, alphabet thread success, total stray cats supported by an individual over time, and dead baby jokes.
posted by TwelveTwo at 4:22 PM on May 31, 2009 [12 favorites]




The music sucked.
posted by a non e mouse at 4:22 PM on May 31, 2009


Must have been an earthquake too.
posted by netbros at 4:24 PM on May 31, 2009


That's pretty awesome.
posted by Evangeline at 4:25 PM on May 31, 2009


People don't dance no more, they just stand there like this.
posted by anthill at 4:32 PM on May 31, 2009


oooh oooh! Can I have the 'total stray cats supported by an individual over time'?
posted by iamkimiam at 4:34 PM on May 31, 2009


This video made me very happy.
posted by Artaud at 4:36 PM on May 31, 2009


The part that made my happiest is the guy in the red undies and sunhat who charges in at at 2:17.
posted by Artaud at 4:38 PM on May 31, 2009 [2 favorites]


Thanks.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 4:41 PM on May 31, 2009


This video made me very happy.

It made me happy too but then it made me a little sad. Like how many of those people had just been sitting quietly on the side of that hill, wanting to get up and dance but too scared they would be the only ones? This guy has it right: if you feel like dancing then dance! And don't give a shit that you're the only one or you might look silly. Chances are half the people around you want to do the exact same thing.

Of course, drugs probably help.
posted by LeeJay at 4:46 PM on May 31, 2009


THIS IS FREAKING AWESOME!!!! THAT IS EXACTLY HOW IT'S DONE!! TESLA GOLD YES!!



YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.....
posted by humannaire at 4:48 PM on May 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


Great metaphor for humanity.

You can actually pinpoint the moment where the reaction "Look at those fucking idiots" becomes, "Shit, I'm not a fucking idiot, run and join."
posted by fire&wings at 4:49 PM on May 31, 2009 [4 favorites]


577 views. You wonder how something like that gets posted anywhere.
posted by smackfu at 4:50 PM on May 31, 2009


That was awesome.
posted by nooneyouknow at 4:50 PM on May 31, 2009


Um, maybe I'm having a cynical day, but all I could think of was "99.9% of people are sheep and can't even pretend to be carefree and joyful unless a bunch of other people are pretending to be carefree and joyful."

The first guy was cool; all the rest are a bunch of posers.
posted by oddman at 4:54 PM on May 31, 2009 [4 favorites]


Supposedly dancing guys YouTube account (his name's Colin).
posted by PenDevil at 4:56 PM on May 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


Gotta remember to plan for Lovefest 09 in San Fran... dance like you ain't got no inhibitions, 'cause at Lovefest San Fran it's unpossible to be the freakiest.
posted by five fresh fish at 5:02 PM on May 31, 2009


"The music sucked."

Thanks for sucking. The joy. Out.
posted by Gamien Boffenburg at 5:03 PM on May 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


Well, I'll have one of whatever he had.
posted by carter at 5:05 PM on May 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


Um, maybe I'm having a cynical day,

Maybe?
posted by nooneyouknow at 5:07 PM on May 31, 2009


I was having a lousy afternoon, but this video totally made my day. Thanks Devil Tesla for posting this.
posted by lenny70 at 5:11 PM on May 31, 2009


You want cynical? while watching that my thought was "oh, look at these pale northwesterners i bet they are all thinking: 'let's go be on you-tube!'"

It reminded me of that time Mr. Wizard dropped the ping pong ball into the box full of ping pong ball loaded mouse traps. (link not Mr. Wizard, but that's the same thing, realizing now that it must be a staple of "fun" science teachers)
posted by Stonestock Relentless at 5:18 PM on May 31, 2009


It's a shame the first guy had to be killed and eaten before he could behold what he had wrought on YouTube.
posted by digsrus at 5:21 PM on May 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


I have a new hero.
posted by Bageena at 5:24 PM on May 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


It looked (to me) like the fat bloke and mates were taking the piss out of the bloke but it backfired. BIG TIME !
posted by Webbster at 5:26 PM on May 31, 2009


alphabet thread success

The proper term is contagion.
posted by Meatbomb at 5:28 PM on May 31, 2009


Holy awesome. I don't think that shit was brought to you by T-Mobile. I love how at a certain point people need to be dancing in that pack so badly, they are sprinting to get there.
posted by gwint at 5:36 PM on May 31, 2009 [3 favorites]


It's funny to me that they ran over there to dance. They couldn't dance on their own patch of grass, they had to be on his patch of grass (clearly it was greener). People, including me, are such sheep.
posted by DU at 5:43 PM on May 31, 2009 [2 favorites]


That put a huge smile on my face, thanks!
posted by mkultra at 5:57 PM on May 31, 2009


I've been that guy.
Except nobody else started dancing.
Good times.
posted by signal at 5:57 PM on May 31, 2009 [14 favorites]


Bonus: the mass of people shaded the first guy, thus sparing him an impending brutal sunburn.
posted by exogenous at 5:58 PM on May 31, 2009


It's the HBO Screen-on-the-Green dance!
posted by MrMoonPie at 5:59 PM on May 31, 2009 [3 favorites]


It's the HBO Screen-on-the-Green dance!
.
posted by exogenous at 6:08 PM on May 31, 2009


I dug it. I am guessing that was a high point of that first fellers life.
posted by dirtdirt at 6:15 PM on May 31, 2009


Needs more technoviking.
posted by malphigian at 6:17 PM on May 31, 2009 [4 favorites]


Made me smile, too. Although I was also hoping that all the pale shirtless people remembered to wear sunscreen.
posted by rtha at 6:18 PM on May 31, 2009


Marking this as a favorite in hopes I can use it to pop my kids' "I don't want to be the only one cuz I'd look stupid" bubble.
posted by davejay at 6:37 PM on May 31, 2009


The best 3:06 of my day!
posted by mikeinclifton at 6:40 PM on May 31, 2009


The trick is to close your eyes.
posted by phrontist at 6:49 PM on May 31, 2009 [3 favorites]


Made me smile.
posted by christhelongtimelurker at 6:52 PM on May 31, 2009


I'm so glad I wasn't there because it might have caused me to spontaneously expire of cynicism and mean-spiritedness. I guess there's still a chance...
posted by Joseph Gurl at 6:54 PM on May 31, 2009




People don't dance no more, they just stand like this
they cross their arms, stare you down, and drink and moan and diss.
posted by Cold Lurkey at 7:08 PM on May 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


Maybe we are looking at this wrong. Perhaps he didn't start it, he was just ahead of his time.
posted by TwelveTwo at 7:09 PM on May 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


577 views. You wonder how something like that gets posted anywhere.

I almost posted it but I was blinded by science. It was next on my list if someone else didn't get to it first.

No, I'm not cooler than anyone. I just spend too damn much time on the net.
posted by loquacious at 7:10 PM on May 31, 2009


Awww fuck yeah I love this guy. My guess is by the video in the OP people were recognizing him and going to party with him.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:11 PM on May 31, 2009


he didn't start it,

it was always burning since the world's been turning?
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:12 PM on May 31, 2009 [3 favorites]


I almost posted it but I was blinded by science. It was next on my list if someone else didn't get to it first.

I conceder the fact that I beat you to this the world paying me back for the indignities of the past.
posted by The Devil Tesla at 7:22 PM on May 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


This is inspiring.
posted by mindsound at 7:24 PM on May 31, 2009


He's like the music festival version of the Tiananmen Square tank guy.
posted by Flashman at 7:35 PM on May 31, 2009 [5 favorites]


Like Katamari or like a dancing game that I really want to play. Recommendations plz?
posted by Pronoiac at 7:38 PM on May 31, 2009


God, that happens to me every day. I have to be careful, or I can bring entire cities to a halt.
posted by fungible at 7:53 PM on May 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


If you've never danced with hippies or stoners, put it on your list of things to do before you die. You'll have a crapton fun and way more amusing than the posers sitting around watching.
posted by P.o.B. at 8:06 PM on May 31, 2009 [6 favorites]


In the immortal words of Otto Mann, "Whoa, I don't need drugs to enjoy this. Just to enhance it."
posted by futureisunwritten at 8:07 PM on May 31, 2009


There is no party animal like the Uncia uncia (it's uncia uncia time)
posted by deadbilly at 8:11 PM on May 31, 2009


Although I was also hoping that all the pale shirtless people remembered to wear sunscreen.

It's the PNW. Burn time is 15 days.
posted by dhartung at 8:20 PM on May 31, 2009


I love how folks don't drift over - they come running, vaulting over sitters and leaping picnic spreads. Also how once the crowd becomes so huge everyone is just kinda back to milling around again. Metaphors on so many levels, and still just deeply fun. Great post!
posted by freebird at 8:42 PM on May 31, 2009


It looked (to me) like the fat bloke and mates were taking the piss out of the bloke but it backfired. BIG TIME !

Looks to me like maybe they started out to make fun of him, but realized pretty quickly it was more fun to join in. Oh, and Cold Lurkey's link is great; the kid's mostly just trying out moves but when he gets into the flow like after 0:45 you can tell he's got something seriously amazing waiting to burst out.
posted by mediareport at 8:53 PM on May 31, 2009


Sermons will be written about this YouTube video
posted by Flashman at 9:04 PM on May 31, 2009




I kept expecting this to be a viral ad for a beverage.
posted by mecran01 at 9:14 PM on May 31, 2009


Starts out kind of pathetic. Then it gets awesome.

i disagree. this video goes from good to bad. it was most awesome in the beginning when the first dude was feeling the music and doing a dance inspired by how he felt at the moment. his dance was unique to himself and his own reaction to substances in his body and the music onstage. he was the unbridled celebration brought to life by dance.

the second and third dudes came to mock the first dude's movements with their own superior sobriety/attitudes. their inability to do what the first dude was able to do was a direct result of their failure to understand the moment that the first guy was experiencing. yet, as they were the first on the scene after the initial dance they were able to learn a bastardized version of the dance which was more understandable to themselves and their onlooking friends. without second and third dudes being tastemakers, there would be no sheep. yet, without second and third dudes, the dance would remain undiluted and the first dude's celebration would have been able to proceed as beautifully as it could have.

the sheep, unaware of the awesome which started it all, crash the floodgates and proceed to do their common dances without a care or thought to the original celebration. they are merely demonstrating that they knew to run to where other people are in a desperate attempt to look cool to themselves and for the camera. yet the sheep will never be as cool, in their own minds, as the second and third dudes. even though the second and third dudes were just ironic losers. the resulting unlearned vain mish-mash what is truly pathetic for it is much too far removed from the original awesomeness of the first dancer.
posted by the aloha at 9:16 PM on May 31, 2009 [5 favorites]


sheep sheep sheep
posted by smackfu at 9:21 PM on May 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


takeaway from the aloha: dancing with other people is no fun
posted by punishinglemur at 9:30 PM on May 31, 2009 [7 favorites]


1. Sheep don't dance.

2. In my remake of 2001: A Space Odyssey, this video will be the "Dawn of Man" segment.
posted by stammer at 9:40 PM on May 31, 2009 [4 favorites]


It will also be "Jupiter and Beyond the Infinite".
posted by stammer at 9:43 PM on May 31, 2009


takeaway from the aloha: other people can not as much fun as i do because they do not dance as well as me.
posted by the aloha at 10:03 PM on May 31, 2009


I think he just liked dancing alone and all those sheep just fucked it up for him.
posted by binturong at 10:04 PM on May 31, 2009


Sheep?

Naw, everyone was just ready waiting for the moment to got good. And then it did!

Don't hate the players, don't hate the game, leave your computer on full, and come join the fun!!

PS This is why I voted for Obama. I knew this would happen when he got elected. Everyone's been waiting to dance again for almost ten years! Shit's bound to break out in spurts like this after being backed up for so long!
posted by humannaire at 10:10 PM on May 31, 2009 [2 favorites]


I just imagine the original guy looking up like "wha? where'd all these peo-- ... Hey a beat!"
posted by salvia at 10:19 PM on May 31, 2009


If these are sheep, well then I aspire to be one.
posted by Ugh at 10:20 PM on May 31, 2009


Sheep?

Seriously?

Making fun of everyone else in that video for what they do is equally inspired as anyone else making fun of him for dancing alone.
posted by setanor at 10:20 PM on May 31, 2009 [2 favorites]


the resulting unlearned vain mish-mash what is truly pathetic for it is much too far removed from the original awesomeness of the first dancer.

It's not fun if you have to think about it that much.
posted by setanor at 10:21 PM on May 31, 2009


Calling people sheep is not to make fun of them but merely to observe that they are followers, not leaders. That's all. They don't want to be the first.
posted by binturong at 10:37 PM on May 31, 2009 [1 favorite]


Sasquatch this year was hyyype! Another highlight was the couple having sex in front of thousands of people during the Decemberists. Security tried to break the two of them up... but they were committed.
posted by ageispolis at 10:48 PM on May 31, 2009 [2 favorites]


the sheep, unaware of the awesome which started it all, crash the floodgates and proceed to do their common dances without a care or thought to the original celebration. they are merely demonstrating that they knew to run to where other people are in a desperate attempt to look cool to themselves and for the camera.

Jesus Christ, have you ever been to one of these outdoors-on-a-hillside kinds of things? Because what happens is most people are hanging out, kind of drunk, kind of high, a little sleepy and warm maybe in the sun. They're watching the band and talking to their friends and not looking at every part of the hillside to see what's happening. They don't start to dance, or join the dance early on, because they're a little sun-lazy or they're not sitting so they can see the dancing until it gains critical mass. They're not sheep; they're goofy happy people at an outdoor concert. I suppose you are always the first person to do anything in your crowd of friends? Good for you, I guess.

You are not living up to your name.
posted by rtha at 10:59 PM on May 31, 2009 [7 favorites]


At every show there is always that one guy totally dancing it up by himself, different guys at different shows, but always one guy, and I always wonder, what is up with that guy? Why is there always one guy? And now I know: because sometimes this happens.

Have to give props to the second guy, though, he's the one who really made it happen.
posted by speicus at 12:10 AM on June 1, 2009


That's all. They don't want to be the first.

What patronising nickname do you use for people who do?
posted by setanor at 12:12 AM on June 1, 2009 [2 favorites]


Now I want to see the crowd join in with the determined sex couple!
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 12:40 AM on June 1, 2009 [2 favorites]


How odd, the youtube link that Cold Lurkey showed us "is not available in your country" when I click on it. What are they protecting us Swedes from? Dancing dudes? Yeah god Forbid Swedes learn how to have fun. ;)
posted by dabitch at 1:47 AM on June 1, 2009


Glad to see this again! I was at Sasquatch last weekend and had the pleasure of seeing this dance party evolution in first person. The instigator was dancing off in a mostly empty corner of the venue, and man was he tearing it up--up and down the hillside, leaping, writhing, total commitment. The video doesn't capture it, but he was seriously getting down for the entire Santigold set and maybe more. Enough so that we noticed from a halfway across the hillside. Good stuff, pure joy for him, lots of fun for everyone else, all that sheeple crap can suck it.
posted by bepe at 6:18 AM on June 1, 2009 [3 favorites]


I'm glad The Devil Tesla posted this. I also think everyone else who posted in the thread is a SHEEP. SHEEP SHEEP SHEEP.

Or, people just saw other people having fun, and wanted to join in. No need to label derisively.
posted by inigo2 at 6:27 AM on June 1, 2009


I'm torn on this one. On the one hand, the former raver in me just loves seeing people lose their inhibitions and dance ... on the other hand, I feel like this is the worst kind of Pacific Northwest hipsterism on full display. (I say this as a Seattleite.)

You've got the full cycle represented:
1. the random person just blissed out doing their thing
2. the couple of people who stick a toe in, hiding under the guise of irony/just kidding/ha ha, I don't really mean it/isn't this funny?
3. then the crowds of people who suddenly realize "hey wait a minute, those freaks are having more fun than I am!" who come literally running from all sides desperate to get in a moment or two of their own fun before...
4. the song ends.

Who had the most fun? The original dude who just said "fuck it" and was dancing at the beginning. Not because he was dancing alone, but because he let the music move him ... regardless of a scene of people to make the expression ok. Even just from a strictly literal sense: he spent the most time dancing = he had the most fun.

(PS: I edited a rave magazine 10 years ago, so I used to think about this kind of scenester behavior a LOT and can guarantee you I'm overthinking it here. And yes, I'm probably more cynical about it than most for that same reason.)
posted by arielmeadow at 7:01 AM on June 1, 2009


Only on MetaFilter can you find people bagging on other people's enjoyment for not being "authentic" enough.
posted by mkultra at 7:32 AM on June 1, 2009 [2 favorites]


Who had the most fun?

It's not about who had the most fun, it's just about having fun. Just my thought.
posted by inigo2 at 7:36 AM on June 1, 2009 [2 favorites]


Oh, mkultra: I'm like this everywhere. ;)
posted by arielmeadow at 8:16 AM on June 1, 2009


Well. I don't dance anymore because I'm crap at it and don't go out with enough other people who dance (and I'm a shy wuss about it). I don't even feel inspired to dance now, having watched the clip. But come on, all you naysayers. You've never run joyfully to a dancefloor after your friends before? I smiled at these people's happiness. I'm guessing / hoping it's happiness anyway. And it reminded me of not being 31 and responsible.
posted by paperpete at 8:27 AM on June 1, 2009


I always thought Neeva of the Sevateem should have a spin-off show.
posted by hawthorne at 8:28 AM on June 1, 2009


Oh, also, my take on the motivations of possibly-tainted-by-hipster-affectation-and-a-little-late-to-the-party dancers: it was the third hot, sunny day in a row, people were feeling sleepy after the grizzly bear set, then Santigold came roaring on and put on a very high energy performance that had a big crowd dancing in front of the stage (a crowd that gogol bordello put to good use immediately after). But for someone who suddenly felt like dancing, it was kind of tricky to navigate from the top of the hill down to the stage, so maybe I'll just stay here on the blanket... but hey, look at that guy, let's go dance with him!
posted by bepe at 8:54 AM on June 1, 2009


yeah it was good until all the other fucking hipster wankers turned up and didn't want to miss out on their chance to bore the life out of anyone who will listen later to how they were part of this like really totally so cool dance that you had to be there. i expect it was twitted and youtubed and flickrd to death and then forgotten about when the next shinny thing came along.
posted by monkeyJuice at 8:56 AM on June 1, 2009


Because I don't find dancing all that fun, and because I find large groups of people doing the same thing to be more terrifying than inspiring (even when they're doing something I agree with -- one reason I don't usually go to rallies, because I get freaked out by the throng of people I presumably agree with), this was a pretty unsettling video to watch.
posted by Casuistry at 9:03 AM on June 1, 2009


One of my favorite things about metafilter is that it makes me feel less cynical.
posted by inigo2 at 9:11 AM on June 1, 2009


Yes, but where the hell was Matt?
posted by monospace at 9:39 AM on June 1, 2009


That kind of reminded me of the old Gandhi adage about change:

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
posted by any major dude at 11:15 AM on June 1, 2009 [1 favorite]


Awesome.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 11:28 AM on June 1, 2009


Ow, my head. This video is why they invented automatic image stabilization.

Also, good grief people, some folks just find dancing with a mob of other people fun while standing up in isolation and dancing isn't. Of course they'll run to where the dancing is happening.
posted by Tubes at 11:31 AM on June 1, 2009


Why don't these guys ever move to the actual beat? They're all having fun, so good on them, but I've never been able to figure out the floppy dance.
posted by kanewai at 11:53 AM on June 1, 2009


The cynicism in this thread is kind of like the dancing in the video -- at first it's one guy crying "sheep" all by himself, and he doesn't care who hears him. Then a couple other people join him, and pretty soon a chorus of "sheep sheep sheep SHEEP SHEEP SHEEP" rises throughout the thread, until it's a big cynicism party everyone's running to be a part of!

The dizzying rate of ouroboric tail-eating is making my head spin.
posted by speicus at 12:35 PM on June 1, 2009


speicus: Have to give props to the second guy, though, he's the one who really made it happen.
i include the third guy with the second guy because the second guy drifts away from the first guy for a little bit. meanwhile, the third guy comes in and keeps the ironic dream alive.

rtha: You are not living up to your name.
after seeing how you demonstrated all of the qualities of a red-tailed hawk, i must completely reconsider my position. from now on, i will also clear everything i post here through you first.
have you ever been to one of these outdoors-on-a-hillside kinds of things?
i have. at some, lots of people danced around, too. never felt the need to document the scene.
I suppose you are always the first person to do anything in your crowd of friends?
considering that i am the leader of a cult, yes.

setanor: What patronising nickname do you use for people who do?
shepherd.
It's not fun if you have to think about it that much.
had i not gone into the reasoning behind what i felt, the first guy would not have gotten the love that i felt that he deserved.

oh, and sheep was much shorter than typing "fourth through hundred and whatever person".
posted by the aloha at 2:50 PM on June 1, 2009


after seeing how you demonstrated all of the qualities of a red-tailed hawk, i must completely reconsider my position.

Actually, I haven't leg-dangled, or crapped on anyone's head today. Yet.

from now on, i will also clear everything i post here through you first.

Awesome! Please do!

i have. at some, lots of people danced around, too. never felt the need to document the scene.

That's cool. Me neither. Some people are different, and do document. It's interesting that you know all about why people might document such an event.

he was the unbridled celebration brought to life by dance.


And yet you seem to think it sucks that other people were inspired by his awesomeness and celebration and rose up to join in. Okay.
posted by rtha at 7:11 PM on June 1, 2009


The music sucked.

I thought I was being ironic. I have since discovered that the sound drivers on my laptop are screwed...
posted by a non e mouse at 8:59 PM on June 1, 2009


When did "sheep" become the all-purpose Internet insult? It's ubiquitous. And it stops any discussion dead in it's tracks without actually adding anything. I now rank sheep comments up there with "you know who else was a vegetarian?" posts.
posted by kanewai at 12:30 AM on June 2, 2009


Same reason it became popular in politics -- it's an easy, mindless insult to throw at people that agree with one another, with the further advantage of making yourself seem edgy because you portray yourself as different.
posted by inigo2 at 5:56 AM on June 2, 2009


rtha: And yet you seem to think it sucks that other people were inspired by his awesomeness and celebration and rose up to join in. Okay.
it would be like if everyone got on stage with their own violins, regardless of ability to play, at the symphony after hearing a well-played solo. or if everyone simultaneously got on their soapboxes at a toastmasters ceremony instead of listening to the main speaker. or if a group of chefs came to your home busting through the door and windows to throw in all sorts of spices into your perfectly fine mushroom soup.

i think in the framing that the framing that the video starts of "kind of pathetic" lead to an over-celebration of collective action over the under-celebrated individual dancing achievement. the first dancer was the only dancer who was truly expressing himself with the dance. the second and third dancers came to mock and appropriate. everyone else came because it looked like the place to be due to the mass of people and the camera. it is fine that everyone had fun, but only the first dancer had a quality dance. snark must only be ok if it is not held within a dissenting opinion.

burhanistan: Metafilter really is a place that is bereft of the aloha spirit.
that is what happens when people swarm to anything popular. quality is thrown out the window to be replaced with ego gratification, and possibly networking. the aloha spirit exists only because of isolation and a determination to show it to the few who were determined enough to make it to the island.
posted by the aloha at 10:49 AM on June 2, 2009


Sorry, but that's crap. The first guy was repeatedly exhorting everyone around him to join in, and then they did. It's a shame that something pretty simple has devolved into some (possibly inveitable) meta-discussion over the gentrified nature of dancing at outdoor festivals or whatever it is you're on about, but "mock and appropriate"? Sweet christ almighty, one guy has a fun time dancing, asks other people to join in, they do, all have fun, live happily ever after, the end.
posted by bepe at 11:22 AM on June 2, 2009 [3 favorites]


the second and third dancers came to mock and appropriate.

Who cares? Maybe they were, and it was half-hearted attempts anyway. They still expressed something uniquely theirs and didn't just duplicate what they saw. Everybody likes to have fun. Everybody did.
posted by P.o.B. at 2:07 PM on June 2, 2009


Don't diss rtha. I've seen her swoop in at a meetup, carry a very surprised bystander away, & then serenely kill & munch on the carcass.

Also, the aloha, removing the agency of followers is pretty dumb, & shows a lack of self-awareness: your originality schtick is tiresome & boring.
posted by Pronoiac at 3:04 PM on June 2, 2009 [3 favorites]




Wow, he's from Calgary, and he works at Ming. Small world.
posted by Flashman at 4:55 PM on June 4, 2009


I've seen her swoop in at a meetup, carry a very surprised bystander away, & then serenely kill & munch on the carcass.

Speaking of this, I saw a bird attack a squirrel today! (Unfortunately, the point of impact was hidden from my view by a bush, so I couldn't quite see what happened.)
posted by salvia at 10:21 AM on June 5, 2009


burhanistan: Metafilter really is a place that is bereft of the aloha spirit.

that is what happens when people swarm to anything popular. quality is thrown out the window to be replaced with ego gratification, and possibly networking. the aloha spirit exists only because of isolation and a determination to show it to the few who were determined enough to make it to the island.
posted by the aloha at 1:49 PM on June 2 [+] [!]


Yeaa! Aloha is back!
posted by humannaire at 2:19 PM on June 7, 2009


So, y'all have never seen someone eating ice-cream and thought "Hey, I want some ice-cream"? Because the argument that everyone wanted to dance from the start, but were sheep who couldn't do it until others were too, or that they didn't want to dance, but were sheep who did it just to fit in, misses the really obvious third option: They were sitting there, listening to music. Then they saw someone dancing. Then they saw a few people dancing. And then they thought, "huh, you know, now I feel like dancing!". Just like wanting ice-cream. No sheep involved.
posted by Bugbread at 11:03 AM on June 8, 2009 [1 favorite]


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