So.
Not a film I ever expected on That Guy with the Glasses. Even with the various disclaimers (and at least partially due to the introduction*), I was waiting for the "the joke" until about half way through the video. It's not a joke, despite the opening.
It's actually both serious and well-made. Informative and thought-provoking.
Give it a look, and let's talk it over.
* This is the fifth video for the "Fifth Year Anniversary Special" - a series of short videos that were more commentary-laden and not as much gag-based, really, though Internet Dating and Me was mostly just a long set-up for a gag, and Dragged In was... um... a cute gag. Dragonbored was a preachy, well-known, but well-integrated-with-humor message. EDIT: oh, and I guess there's an Epilogue. I forgot about that.
I generally agree with your sentiments, but I also think it's a good reminder, and potentially thought-provoking if you allow it to be. Even if you know the message, sometimes it's good to be refreshed on it every once in a while. :)
Kind of sorry this only got one response (as good a response as that is).
Dragon Bored illustrates the on again off again issue I have with summoners.
Seemed a bit too "after school special" to me. It works well as a "The Internet, And You!" video you might show to 7th graders, but as a PSA you have to seek out on the internet, on a website you're not likely to end up on as a wide eyed newcomer...it doesn't hold up so well.
Everybody who watches this video on the site is already aware of all this, and either cares or doesn't already. The people that do care get nothing out of this, and the people that don't aren't going to finish watching it in the first place.
Though I will say I think the whole Cyberbullying dealy gets blown way out of proportion, especially people who say "It's worse than being bullied in real life because you just can't escape it! They can follow you every minute of every day!". And no, it's not because "They're just words, hurr durr", it's because the large majority of places you see people getting harassed have a handy dandy Block/Ignore/Etc. button you can use on those asswads who won't leave you alone.
If only real life were that convenient.
Dragon Bored illustrates the on again off again issue I have with summoners.
Heh.
Seemed a bit too "after school special" to me. It works well as a "The Internet, And You!" video you might show to 7th graders, but as a PSA you have to seek out on the internet, on a website you're not likely to end up on as a wide eyed newcomer...it doesn't hold up so well.
I suppose the reason it didn't seem that way is that it doesn't really purport to be talking to anyone but adults. It never really talks down, or at least it didn't feel like it to me, but rather seeks to remind. At least that's how I took it.
The other possible option is that it could be shared with others (like I did) in places they frequent. Sometimes giving a link or something else to someone will result in them seeing something new from a video that they wouldn't have otherwise.
I think it was a good attempt. It's not going to revolutionize the internet, of course, and I wouldn't expect it to. It seems, to me, merely to be one more tool with which people can communicate with others the importance of not being raging jerks.
Everybody who watches this video on the site is already aware of all this, and either cares or doesn't already. The people that do care get nothing out of this, and the people that don't aren't going to finish watching it in the first place.
I'm not entirely sure of that. I can understand your sentiment, but the fact that it's made by a Producer of Channel Awesome means it's likely to be seen by some those who would otherwise actively ignore those kinds of things, as some fans are obsessive enough to watch everything there.
I also think it's more squarely aimed at Channel Awesome fans than people in general, though it's carefully made in neutral terms on purpose. One of the reasons it was created is likely in backlash to the rather furious rage wars people were having on that site about things like Spoony leaving (whether or not that's the catalyst, I couldn't guess), or other issues (which seem to be common there, from what I understand). I suspect it started at one of those times, but evolved. It may very well have taken it's own advice to become what it did.
In any event, it's an interesting look.
Though I will say I think the whole Cyberbullying dealy gets blown way out of proportion, especially people who say "It's worse than being bullied in real life because you just can't escape it! They can follow you every minute of every day!". And no, it's not because "They're just words, hurr durr", it's because the large majority of places you see people getting harassed have a handy dandy Block/Ignore/Etc. button you can use on those asswads who won't leave you alone.
If only real life were that convenient.
To a point, yes. I agree that it has convenient outlets that many do not.
However, many who are bullied in such a manner are likely too socially insecure to cut themselves off in such a way. They feel the need for interaction, don't have enough friends, or something else. Or they're simply too young to have developed enough common sense to do so. Or there are those who have (purposefully or not) had their information leaked, so they can't just evade it.
And even knowing it's a constant wave (even if ignored) can, in fact, put psychological pressure on you.
I'm not saying it's worse (inherently) than real bullying. But it's certainly a valid thing to be cautious of.
Another difference, I suspect, is in the degree and ease with which people fall into cyberbullying. It's simple, easy, and, due to the apparent anonymity, something that's even to a degree natural.
But you have an excellent point about the idea that cyberbullying is likely a bit of a modern moral panic. Is it bad? Yes. Do bad things happen? Absolutely. Is it blown out of proportion by the media? Probably (the media does that).
I also think it's more squarely aimed at Channel Awesome fans than people in general, though it's carefully made in neutral terms on purpose. One of the reasons it was created is likely in backlash to the rather furious rage wars people were having on that site about things like Spoony leaving (whether or not that's the catalyst, I couldn't guess), or other issues (which seem to be common there, from what I understand). I suspect it started at one of those times, but evolved. It may very well have taken it's own advice to become what it did.
This...yeah. This makes a lot of sense. Especially in light of the Spoony thing (which, depending on how you take i, was its own example of what they're talking about).
I like Spoony but DAMN did he step in it with that whole mess.