On YouTube & Community
Below is a transcript of a video I was going to make after Summer In The City last year, but who was I kidding, I don’t really make videos.
So, hi, I guess. I’m […], and, um, I don’t do this YouTube thing. I’ve never done it. A little while ago I signed up and subscribed to a few channels, but really I don’t watch videos. I only watch when I get the chance. Which isn’t often, unfortunately. Until now, I’d never made a video, I didn’t think I could/should.
That was pretty much my introduction to people last weekend at Summer In The City, which I’d decided to go to because I was interested in YouTube, and knew a few people that made stuff for it. (Which I think is pretty damn awesome). As this is my first video I thought I’d take this moment to look at SitC through the eyes of an outsider. Someone that doesn’t do YouTube.
Now I’m stuck for where to start.. Summer in the city. I stated about this multiple times, going from ‘excited’, to ‘massive’ and ‘overwhelming’ to ‘absolutely awesome’. Seriously, made props to the organizers, you did a great job. Like, an amazing job. Thank you.
Now on to the second point (better start needed), as an outsider to the YouTube community, I have to say, you’re all so incredibly kind and welcoming. I’m sad that it took me until the final night to really go up to completely random people and say “hi”, because, of the people I said hi to, 99% were super welcoming and made great conversation (even if one of them did end with red wine and a pile of salt on my t-shirt — I still loved it).
The one thing I didn’t really get at summer in the city, which I was totally over prepared for was this tidal wave of fangirling over certain youtubers. I thought I was going to be out of place as I don’t do the whole celebrity thing. I went into SitC totally expecting it, but overall, I didn’t notice it too much. I’ll save my thoughts on celebritism and fangirling for another video.
Even in the aftermath of the revelations around the abuse of power or fame and predatory nature of some people who were respected within the community, I still maintain that the YouTube community is one of the most friendly and welcoming communities that I have had the pleasure to meet and become a vague part of. Many thanks to people like Kim Nieuwenhuis, Jamaganza, Alice Hazel, Michael Markman, and many others that made me feel so part of things. You rock.
