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I hate “Random Videos”. The concept of “random” is impossible to fulfill in what’s almost certainly a preconceived video. People who think they’re “random” are more than likely socially inept.
On a superficial level its fine, but people who think they can insult you, or be openly obnoxious just ’cause they’re “random” are cunts.
Gossip is fervent on YouTube at the moment. LittleMissKit, a British YouTuber activeley involved within the community, commit suicide last week. She was 29.
The shock it’s created is understandable.As someone who didn’t know Anne, but someone who’s had experience of suicide within my close family; I don’t know how to feel. Her YouTube videos are irreverent and upbeat, showing no trace of angst or depression; a complete contrast to the weepy, self-pitying monologues you might expect, making her suicide all the more tragic.
No one knew.
No YouTuber, none I’ve spoke to anyway, had any idea how deeply unhappy this poor lady clearly was, or even the impact her death has caused in ‘real-life’.
Suicide is always tragic. Tragic because its self-imposed, tragic because it’s often preventable; tragic to contemplate so much suffering and loneliness. Watching a seemingly ‘normal’ persons videos, weeks before they take their own life is incredibly unsettling, it brings realism to an otherwise faceless suicide story, but more importantly, puts things into perspective, life into perspective, YouTube into perspective.
Im aware that the following is a stream of tired-clichés; but views, subscribers and ratings are meaningless. It’s easy to be famous on YouTube, there’s a whole host of talentless, pretentious ‘celebrities’, who haven’t achieved anything in real terms. What’s really worthwhile is achieving the opportunity to bond closely with people you’ve never met before, over, essentially, creativity. The fact that this tragedy has made such an impact, even to those who didn’t personally know Anne, is testament to the strength of the YouTube community.
It also reminds us that life is a passing, transient period, which is, inevitably, meaningless. We all die, some sooner than others, but the fact that we all die makes the amount of time we’re here irrelevant. So, therefore, you might as well enjoy yourself as much as possible, make as big an impact as possible. After all, there’s nothing else to do.
Right, so this is my first post from the MacBook Air. This things begs to be written on, like an over-enthusiastic child. “Come on! Please do a blog from me! It’ll be fun… you could do it from an airplane if you wanted, or the dark! Or anywhere where weight is restricted…Im just that light!”
Buying this, was the most expensive thing I’ve ever bought. It gave me quite a thrill typing in my PIN, the amount on the display showing £1,199, I can see quite easily how people get themselves head and shoulders into debt, if only for the thrill of making the transaction.
Taking it home on the train, I was convinced I was gonna get mugged. I presumed Apple would give me the box in a generic, non-descript, white bag; but they decided a very expensive-looking, matt-black, far from generic, MacBook Air plastered carrier would be more suitable. Me being not the most surly of guardians, a smash-and-grab would of been childs-play. http://Jimmy0010.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/p1010037.jpg
People criticize the fact that apple spend a lot of time designing the packaging their products come in, I think its genius. Unpacking my MacBook, it was more like the box of an expensive set of jewelry, or artisan bath-salts, if such things exist; giving the consumer, me, a sense of importance; generating a positive and exciting experience from the moment I peeled back the cellophane. Apple stack aesthetics and their quest to be unique, high on their list of important factors, and reflecting that in the packaging is a fantastic idea; why not portray the whole ethos of your company in the boxes you use?
When you buy a Dell computer, and I’ve bought several, the box it comes in is a brown, clumsy, uninteresting affair, with polytene and stryrofoam littering the room, as you unbox the equaly uninspired device inside; and although many will see the box something comes in as unimportant, I see at more as a taster of what you’re gonna get in the long run. With Apple you get a sleek, perfectly designed, aesthetically pleasing and minimalist container, reflecting the computer and OS itself. With say, a Dell, and I’m only using Dell because I’ve owned Dell, you get an over-packaged, clumsy, ugly thing, that only just about does the job, with components often missing or difficult to assemble; again reflecting the experiences you can expect from a Dell and Windows OS.
I defy anyone to ‘un-box’ an Apple computer, and not get a little bit excited.
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This blog was written orignally on the VLR site, which if you’ve never visited is www.vaguelyliveradio.podbean.com… Alcohol and VLR isn’t that great an idea, as I discovered to Alex’s amusement last night… I awoke this morning, aching and fuzzy eyed, trying desperately to distinguish between what I actually did last night, and what I merely dreamt… I’m pretty sure starring in ITV’s hit new show, ‘Dancing on Ice’ was a dream, but shouting nonsense in a drafty garage alone, at near midnight, unfortunately was not. I must have looked like a boozed-up mental. We normally record the show on a Wednesday afternoon, giving Alex Thursday to edit and upload it, but this week was special ’cause we had an Australian guest. Without spoiling the surprise too much, basically, Alex “made a boob”. It turned out, as could be predicted, the time difference caused unprecedented and quite unnecessary confusion, leaving me and Alex recording at 10.30 PM last night, guest-less. Rather than rescheduling, we hastily added another episode to the ’series’ (I love classing VLR as a series) and recorded regardless, with me getting surprisingly intoxicated throughout the process. The show went well from what I can remember; discussion splintering out into even more bizarre directions than usual, slurring my way through God and morality as well as sex with inanimate objects.Listening to it when its uploaded, will be as much a surprise to you as to me…. Oh, and don’t worry if you were looking forward to us having a guest, we’ll hopefully have it sorted by next episode; with the live one now being episode 13. Jimmy.
Explanation of last nights post. To the unsuspecting reader I can understand people thinking I was sat alone in a darkened room, weeping into a glass of Pinot Grigio, perhaps scribbling out the faces of old girlfriends, and pining them to a faded-wall, a bit like they do in trashy-horror films; but no. The reality is, I went out and got a little bit ‘tipsy’, inexplicably got home (the details are still a bit furry) became incredibly nostalgic, as you do, and decided to share it with the world. No ‘biggy’.
In other news, I apologize for not posting more regularly, (more regularly? that doesn’t sound right…) I’m working on a post, but to be honest the subject is of such confusion and contention at the moment, Im struggling to put it all in a blog.
I went to Birmingham today. Today’s Saturday, meaning it was incredibly busy, and full of vile people. Why do people walk twice as slow when its busy? Its Hell. Get out as quick as you can; don’t lengthen your time in there, meandering around like a bewildered tit. I hated it; in fact I was close to smothering myself in a cloths rack, but with all items at 70% off, I doubt anyone would of even noticed my lifeless corpse lying there; I’ve seen women throw their own babies at other women to get that last blouse in a sale… (blouse? It was the first garment that came to hand, and I’m sticking with it. I like it, It’s archaic and nostalgic – the sort of word my Nan’d use) and whats the point in a protest-death if no one notices you? Thats where self-immolation monks have got it right; the ones who burn themselves to death in protest. It might be a bit sore, but it certainly draws attention to yourself. Make sure you tell people what you’re protesting about though first…. I also sneezed on a woman’s head while on an escalator. That cheered me up.
The reason I was in birmigham, was to get a Mothers Day card etc. But I also went to buy a MacBook Air. Don’t tell me; “It’s underpowered; The battery’s all rubbish; It’s too expensive! You can get something far less attractive for only X amount…” Yes. I know. I just want one; It was out of stock anyway. I was sort of glad… I’ve made about three trips into Birmingham with the intention of buying the Air, each trip ending with me bottling-out and texting Alex/Nerimon with “Convince me I want a MacBook Air…”
Ah, well…
