Previous Next Latest

YouTube: The Great Equalizer

1/29/07, 1:08 pm EST

Despite attempts to reign it in, YouTube has proven to be one of the coolest quasi-Socialist utopias on the web. Sure, it got bought out by Google. But it’s also pissing off neo-con media behemoth Fox by allowing users to upload unfiltered content from some of the network’s most successful shows. (Want to enjoy an episode of The Simpsons without enduring plugs for Joe Millionaire or ads for KFC’s Buffalo Snacker? A search for “Simpsons” and “Halloween” scares up eighty-five results, at least a few of which turn out to be full episodes.)

And now comes news that YouTube is bulking up its general support of artistic expression by offering monetary incentive. Feel like flexing your creative muscle and committing your upside-down talking chin routine to Memorex? Go ahead — soon you might get paid for it.

Legislation that hog-ties YouTube’s bucking freedom seems inevitable, so let’s take a minute to reflect on this unusually progressive moment in American pop culture.

Question: Do you watch “illegal” content on YouTube? What do you think of Fox’s lawsuit? Would getting paid change the experience of uploading and watching home videos?


Previous Next Latest

Comments

sebastian bach | 1/29/2007, 1:29 pm EST

when youtube starts letting me see titties then i’ll be on board

boo boo | 1/29/2007, 1:30 pm EST

Fuck ya!
its our god givin right to get what we want in life,and these corporate bastards want us in control just to make them richer!!!

they had there chance to do the right thing when you were made famous and rich by “US”the american public and now you want us to live by rules!!!

there’s only one thing to say to fox in defense.. “FUCK YOU”!!!!!!!!

theworldsforgottenboy | 1/29/2007, 1:44 pm EST

The great thing about You Tube is it allows me to view all these dreadful old rock videos I have not seen in 20 years… I hate the concept of cable TV and resent having to buy bundles so much that I have not had cable for 15 years. The sooner the networks are willing to sell the world a commercial free downloadable minimum 720p quality show of 1 hour for $ 2.00 TV as we know it will cease to exist. They need to learn to quit being addicted to add revenue… but the small minds in the big towers I fear are too short sighted to take that leap of faith… so more power to the security code hackers.

lovertang_kk | 1/29/2007, 1:45 pm EST

youtube? i dont have one of them

The Grubby 1 | 1/29/2007, 1:45 pm EST

I. Love. Youtube. DON’T LET THE MAN SHUT YOU DOWN!

Roger Dorn | 1/29/2007, 1:45 pm EST

Great If I get paid, awful if I have to pay. Of course any kind of Conglomerate would find an issue of the “little guy” using “illegal” content on the web (no matter how harmless it is). Rich get richer, poor get poorer. Gota love big business.

Oddjob | 1/29/2007, 2:01 pm EST

youtube is one of the coolest things on the internet. I worry about how Google is going ot ruin it for me.

anonymous | 1/29/2007, 2:10 pm EST

Considering the amount of advertising you have to endure to watch anything on regular tv, youtube is a welcome alternative. That, and you can watch shows any time you like.

Geffen | 1/29/2007, 2:29 pm EST

While I agree with the overall thrust of your post, describing Fox as “neo-con” shows why I turn to RS for music news and not political commentary. You clearly have no political science background and are throwing around terms that you don’t have the slightest idea of the actual definition of. Stick to the music news and leave your ill informed political sniping to your free time.

Buster C | 1/29/2007, 2:47 pm EST

Well Geffen I have a degree in poli-sci, and while I would agree with you most of the time I dont here. Yes Rolling Stone should stick to music, but if you cant see that Fox is neo-con then you are blind. By the way I am an old school conservative which means I believe in a small un-intrusive government. Neo-cons are no better than big government liberals in that they think they know best for the rest of us.

nathan | 1/29/2007, 3:13 pm EST

Thanks to Youtube, I got to see all of the best scenes from the Wicker Man and it only took 2 minutes. Thanks Youtube!!

Jay | 1/29/2007, 3:16 pm EST

I support “The Man” on this one. If Fox or ABC or NBC has shows turning up on UTube, then you could expect that plenty of people will skip watching the show when it airs, cutting into ad revenue and fewer people will buy the DVD of the shows, also cutting into revenue. Less revenue means fewer shows, more commercials and fewer choices. I don’t bother with u-tube. Except for that video of the monkey falling over after smelling it’s butt. That was some good stuff.

Delaybass | 1/29/2007, 3:35 pm EST

I can understand that for some stuff, but mine main use for YouTube is to see old interviews and performances that you cant find otherwise, Tom Waits, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed etc etc, whcih thier is pry a case for the music as well, but just makes me more of a fan personaly

Skyline | 1/29/2007, 3:44 pm EST

I think it’d be nice if YouTube allowed users to download videos off of their site. I got a nice Ipod video, but nothing worthy to put on it.

asdf | 1/29/2007, 4:09 pm EST

i put up a badass link for eddie vedder and kings of leon playing together and the rs douchebags delete it…anyways here it is again for your viewing pleasure:
http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=Om2CwIT2poI

theoneandonlyme | 1/29/2007, 4:43 pm EST

personally i dont watch tv,the programs offered dont intrest me one bit.All thats ever on is mindless dribble with advertising for cars and fast food,(i have never bought a new car,and i dont eat fast food either).
i do however enjoy music videos available no where else that i know of so fox should get lost.

lik roper | 1/29/2007, 4:47 pm EST

if being seen for free on you tube is looked at like the club circuit where many bands are forced into paying to play because they do not draw enough people yet (it’s all about $$$ – cuz it takes a lot of money to keep a night club open for even one night!), then paying to see the content on you tube should be only reserved for artists worthy of it as well…

also; when you charge to be seen it cuts down on your exposure and essentially becomes only for the rich or whatever, or the few people who actually have the disposalble income for such things…i might be able to make some money charging people to look at my web site, but that would also get my word out to less people, so…

but you know; jimi hendrix played all over the damn place, and sometimes even for free – just for the exposure, so i suppose it all gets down to this; ‘whatever floats your boat’…

me of course | 1/29/2007, 7:12 pm EST

i love youtube, but i do have to agree that full episodes of entire shows is ripping the networks off. Although I hope old nickelodeon shows like Pete and Pete that are not on TV anymore stay on youtube.

KC | 1/29/2007, 7:36 pm EST

Oh my God! Who Cares!

~Zig~ | 1/30/2007, 4:25 am EST

So Fox is considering taking legal action against YouTube because they,according to Fox,are “ripping off the network and some of the best television shows on Fox”.Hmmm…Fox should be honored that ordinary people are posting videos from Fox on YouTube to give the shows exposure to other people.It sucks that people might have to pay for YouTube but getting paid would be sweet.So Fox,quit your bitching and be glad that your shows are getting exposure.

Sunny | 1/30/2007, 11:24 am EST

Wait a minute..This is not cable…I don’t pay FOX to watch their stupid shows….I just have to hope that there’s enough foil on my antenna…So if YouTube plays FOX shows I can’t see the problem….What are you rich bastards crying over? Is it FOX crying or the fat bastard advertisers that are hiding behind them…
SCREW CORPORATE AMERICA!!!!
Just wait until they find a way to sell the air we breathe…

spooky | 1/30/2007, 11:37 am EST

I check-out youtube for all the odd ball offerings,not for fox-tv crap.

Rick in Washington State | 1/30/2007, 2:27 pm EST

YouTube is awesome… YouRipper is even better. Either way… go Seahawks.

YOUR FOUR YEARS BEHIND | 1/31/2007, 8:32 am EST

FYI: Joe Millionaire ended in 2003. It’s now 2007!

I know Rolling Stone is generally out of touch, but geez…

Post A Comment

Caution: Off-topic comments will be deleted

Name:

Comments:



Advertisement

Advertisement