The Knockout Game

On Youtube, there's a viral sensation going on in the world currently, though I wouldn't necessarily call it a sensation, since usually that label is saved for something positive.  The thing I'm talking about is knockout videos, which have to do with The Knockout Game.  I don't know much about it myself, but from what I've heard, a person or group of people wait for an unsuspecting person and then punch them in the back of the head, resulting in a knockout.  This type of behavior is cruel in itself, but the fact some people find it amusing sickens me. 

Now, some will try to justify the game, saying it's just people having a little fun, but that's what everyone says before something violent happens like dares or drunk driving.  They start out harmless, but then the ramifications come.  Case in point, a couple of days ago, I heard that someone knocked out a guy, only to be shot by him right after.  You can feel however you want to about that, but anyone who instigates that in the first place is stupid, especially if they didn't know what they were getting themselves into.  There are games in real life, but the Knockout Game is not one of them.  If you want a real one, play a board game, or buy a game system.  Don't play this ridiculous game because you're hurting both the person and yourself by bringing violence, and just being a bully, which the world already has enough of. 

Comments

Being a independent blogger, I'm grateful for any support my blog gets, whether it's views or comments.  I get more views than comments, which some perceive as a negative thing, but I don't think that's the case.  Views are just as important as comments to me, especially when you consider how little time people have nowadays.  Comments though, are not as great as they seem.  It's great to interact with fans/viewers whenever it comes to something you mutually like, or your own work, but there's a time when comments are too much, such as when they're blindly positive or too negative.  Take for example, what I see on YouTube daily.  It has a comment section that is open to anybody, but people misuse it all the time.  They'll say something is really awesome, but won't change their minds even when someone has facts that prove they're wrong.  Another example is when people's comments get out of hand, and they're too negative about a subject, starting a long argument.  I find the latter worse than the first, but just the fact that comments affect people this way makes me question what's the point for them.  Yes, we have freedom of speech, but even that has a limit.  And with no one to actively supervise what's online, are people responsible enough with their opinions?

I think they can be, but it's clear not everyone is that way...

Viral Videos

Whenever I'm on Youtube and see a video that has lots of views, I wonder how it can go from just a popular video one night to viral video/overnight sensation the next?  It doesn't make much sense to me because sometimes it can be something legitimate like Susan Boyle's "I Dreamed A Dream" to stuff that's bad like Rebecca Black's "Friday", Carly Rae Jepson's "Call Me Maybe", etc.  There's no formula!  You can tell from my writing that I don't find viral videos amusing, but that's only because they're fads and really stupid! 

People have no originality anymore because they never like anything themselves anymore.  They only like what other people like, which is a shame since when they do that, they take away a part of themselves that makes them unique.  Added onto that, they waste a lot of time watching or listening to the same thing over and over again, when they could be doing something productive.  I know viral videos aren't going anywhere anytime soon, but I really wish they would. I love Youtube, but all their recommendations for viral videos like "Harlem Shake" are starting to get on my nerve.  I'm a human being, and I can make my own decisions myself!