As I've mentioned in passing maybe ONE other time, I am an official “YouTuber,” which means that I have a channel and provide content on a regular basis. Some refer to this as being a “content creator” but I think saying “YouTuber” sounds a lot more hip and jazzy so I shall stick with that for the purposes of this piece.
Many interesting discoveries have been unearthed since I began this jaunt into the world of video making back in May of 2017 and I thought I'd share, as is my nature.
For those who are totally unfamiliar with this online (meaning you can only get “there” via a computer and the internet and yes, I'm now being a tad sarcastic) area, I shall give a brief description.
YouTube is a video platform on the internet where one can view or make videos ranging from cat care to do-it-yourself projects of ALL kinds. For example, I've taken in videos of housewives showing off knitting skills from the front seat of a car—I am not making this up. There is a trend over there that has people producing videos from vehicles. No need to fret as the ladies in question were not knitting whilst driving but were simply “coming at us” from parked cars. It isn't always the case in terms of remaining in an idle vehicle whilst bloviating madly on film as I've seen many a person make videos with the car in motion.
I have seen several fads come and go over my years of being a viewer of “the tube” but recently one has come to my attention that is a touch puzzling. I'm sure if any of my “loungers” (I call the YouTube gig “Lounging with Lisa” and it's just under my name on YT) are reading this some might clutch pearls and become outraged over the next portion but it's a chance I must take. I'm not one for tiptoeing over shells of any kind so here goes nothing.
It seems like everyone and his or her brother (except for mine) is going live these days via YT. I have decided to dub this “GLS” for Going Live Syndrome. Evidently people have become heavily infected with the GLS bug and it has reached levels of absurdity, as most trends do.
I've been notified that So and So is live and is “coming at me” from the local supermarket or the shoe store or the waiting room at the doctor's office. Good gravy I've even stumbled upon a person going live whilst IN a hospital bed. I've witnessed nose blowing, gas passing, makeup application and other things best left unseen by the population at large, or small. Some feel they simply MUST go LIVE or their “fans” will wither up and die without seeing wonderful them. What is going on here ladies and gents? Get inoculated soon as GLS is sweeping the nation. Run, hide, avoid being bitten by the GLS bug!
When I first started the series in May I was told by YouTube that I had to have 100 people in order to go live. I was more or less talked into trying the unrecorded stuff and did so a few times without any real direction in mind. I was just getting used to the whole idea and more or less fiddle farted about with it for a few times. I worried that no one would show up or that I wouldn't have a topic to hold people's attention. I also had general concerns about saying something goofier than usual whilst live. Eventually I swept the fear aside and launched into it with speed and agility.
I did try to provide information for the live viewers that was somewhat interesting. For instance, over Labor Day weekend I went over the history of said holiday and focused on Eugene Debs and a few others who were instrumental in the labor movement. (This is just a bit of background here so you understand that I have always tried to provide something, ANYTHING for my loyal viewers to really enjoy.)
I was naive to a certain extent and simply thought that people were looking for actual entertainment when they jumped onto a channel to take in a live segment from Person X. I was absolutely wrong as it seems to me that people are either OK with watching Person Y carry out the most tedious mundane everyday tasks OR they are simply being polite by showing up. After all, “YouTuber Z” ALWAYS comes to my live shows so I guess I should go and watch him weed his flower garden live. (Actually that would be amusing to some extent as there is educational value in ascertaining which bit of green is or isn't a weed in a flower bed but I digress and in parenthesis to boot.)
The other morning I received notification that a person to whom I recently subscribed had gone live the night before. Out of curiosity I checked out the video in question only to discover that he or she (I will NOT divulge that information for fear that a mass “unsubscribing” campaign from my channel would ensue) had been live for SIX HOURS. I continued along my road of nosiness and checked out some of the gripping sagas I had missed the night prior. Sadly I discovered absolutely nothing earth shattering had happened. This person appeared to bloviate for a bit about various subjects ranging from well, I can't even remember at this point. (Mind you, I did NOT go through the whole six hour video but leaped about to get the overall “thesis.”)
He or she then moved along to the kitchen region and prepared dinner for the family, who could be seen from time to time entering the frame of the computer camera and looking rather unhappy in the process. After this a decision was made to actually consume said dinner in another room so that the subscribers could all come along or remain, in this case. Comments were read aloud for all to enjoy as food spilled from the mouth of this die-hard LIVE streamer. This person needs to be vaccinated for GLS and pronto! Does anyone else think this is a bit odd?
Admittedly I go live every Saturday and Sunday and there is a game plan, quite literally, as we play actual games that I have conjured in the dark recesses of my mind. (Many of my regular readers are familiar with this because from time to time I use a portion of a game in this column when I'm having writer's block.) I just assumed that people would expect something from me other than just your average duties being performed in a LIVE format.
I do understand prerecorded boredom and have provided HOURS of it for your viewing pleasure. This would be in the form of videos that are not carried out in real time but have been recorded at another time of the day and then uploaded to YT. In my case I upload straight away so that it's just short of being live. Since people have been groomed to lose interest quickly, I make sure that I rarely go over ten minutes and generally stick to around five to seven minutes on average. The live gigs are ONE hour almost on the dot with few exceptions. “Leave people wanting more,” is what my father used to say and I've decided to listen to him now that he's been dead for nearly 27 years. Aren't I sweet?
On that note, I think I shall exit and hope that you are left wanting more of delightful me. At this point you might not be too thrilled with darling me but it's a chance I must take. Step away from anyone with GLS as I hear it can be contagious.
If you so desire, pop over to my channel on the now infamous YouTube if you simply cannot live another week without me. No need to worry about playing a boring old game and interacting with people from all over the globe as I think I shall simply go live whilst cleaning litter pans, doing dishes, cleaning out the van or having a fight in real time with Perpetual (fiance). What are your thoughts?
THE END (Interstate Crosscheck, AIPAC, Geoengineering, “War is a Racket” by General Smedley Butler, “Where did the Towers Go” by Dr. Judy Wood)
PS Thanks to Diane Fritz for the wonderful postcard from here in Conneaut Lake! I loved it and it's on display currently along with some others. For those new to this insanity, I'm having a postcard drive and would welcome and cherish a card from Hartstown to Cincinnati and all areas beyond or between. My address is: Box 5227, Conneaut Lake, PA 16316. Yes, I realize this is rather odd but consider the source please.