Cat Abuser Online Video Uproar

On Sunday February 15th, 2009 a teenage boy and his brother filmed two videos and posted both on YouTube. It showed one brother beating a cat in a bathroom while the other brother filmed and commented. Though YouTube has now taken down the video and suspended the account, about thirty thousand views were recorded for the video over the weekend. The video caused an uproar among online communities in general.

Since Sunday, numerous internet communities have used social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace to identify the perpetrator. From posts online, commenters were able to put the pieces together and figure out the location of the poster. Using the user name and information along with information from the internet, internet users from various sites were able to pinpoint the location of the video poster. From this we can see how information we post throughout the internet may be scattered and unconnected, but can be put together to show a bigger picture. It is terrifying to see how someone can unknowingly be tracked down via the internet.

The online community is in an uproar, urging authorities to prosecute the cat abuser. Various websites and videos have been made in support of prosecuting the teenage boys involved. On one of these websites the teenage boys' parents' workplace and contact infromation are listed, along with their home address and full names.

By posting the videos on YouTube, these teenage boys are ultimately being punished in return by the internet.

Internet Celebrities

Weezer - "Pork and Beans"

If we really wanted to, we could upload our own videos onto YouTube and become Internet sensations. Many Average Joes (e.g. Tay Zonday, Chris Crocker) have caught onto the trend and scored deals to augment their actual-world celebrity statuses. For example, Tay Zonday has performed live on The Jimmy Kimmel Show, shot a commercial for Dr Pepper that aired during this year's Super Bowl, and participated in Weezer's "Pork and Beans" music video (see above link).

I am glad, though, that Weezer honored Internet celebrities on their music video. Internet celebs may not have made their way to the top of the film, TV, or music charts, but they at least prove that anyone can offer decent entertainment. Although I don't enjoy the majority of the content on YouTube, I do admire the celebs' courage for showcasing themselves when they were finally allowed to do so, especially on the Internet for a massive audience.

Response to "Digital Ethnography"

This blog post is in response to Brian Tan's "Digital Ethnography" post, particularly the video titled A Vision of Students Today.

Here is the original link to the Digital Ethnography web site.

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I multitask, and I know I'm not the only one. The virtual world imposes demands on us (WoW, blogs, e-mail, Facebook, etc.) that detract more of our time the more we become entrenched in it. At the same time, however, I can't simply leave the virtual world because my e-mail and Facebook demands are tied to the actual world. If I don't message a friend via Facebook on a class project, I procrastinate for the both of us. If I don't send a memo to my supervisor via e-mail, I am not being attentive or efficient. The actual and virtual worlds have become so demanding on their own terms as well as interdependent on each other that I almost need to have my laptop at all times so I don't fall behind on my tasks. I can survive without technology if I'm stranded in the wilderness, but I depend on it in college so much. Other people depend on my to utilize technology too.

The Internet is a vast sea of information that can supplement or replace the physical classroom. Is it bad that I am using the Internet for "distracting myself from my studies"? Well, no, I'd go nuts if all I did was study (I'm sure you would too). Then again, I use the Internet so much that I'm afraid I'm losing touch with the physical world sometimes. This may sound ugly, but I feel as if I surrender myself to the Internet. But this does sound too victimizing, and it throws a red alert b/c the Internet takes over me more than I take over it. If I acknowledge this, I will better understand that I have control over my computer and the Internet, and I will have more willpower to turn off the computer and get in touch with my physical self.

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Sorry if I bugged anyone with my excessive use of "I", but I can only speak on behalf of myself. If I spoke a bit on behalf of you, great!

Groovy Dancing Girl.

people are always getting discovered and made famous because of youtube.

I don't know if anyone is familiar with Groovy Dancing Girl, but she's highly entertaining.

apparently, her viral dancing videos led her to become a multinational jean model.

just another example of someone getting famous and paid for doing something seemingly random on the internet.

Pope now has a youtube channel

So, I was browsing through the news just a few hours ago and I came across this interesting article, this article talks about how the pope recently approved the making of an official Vatican youtube channel. The article says that the reasoning behind this would be to broaden the audience. however the article also states that "Benedict praised as a "gift to humanity" the benefits of social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace in forging friendships and understanding." (Associated Press 2009). It later says that he also warned against "virtual socializing" stating that it would prevent people from interacting in the physical world. What suprised me even more was the fact that the vatican already uses text messaging to send out the prayer of the day. The article also mentions that this channel follows channels that were recently made by President Obama and Queen Elizabeth.

I guess what made it especially suprising for me was the fact that the pope was embracing the internet. I come from a family where for the most part my grandparents have never touched a computer in their life. So to hear that the pope, one of the oldest religious symbols that I know, is joining us in the 21st century. haha, hmm I think that the approach is interesting and I understand that he is trying to expand his audience. But I wonder if by taking advantage of the internet that the vatican will soon be swept up...In other words....Does the Vatican know what it's getting itself into? The vitual world lacks any formal set of rules, the 10 commandments do not hold, nor does any state have command over the internet. The article mentions that a few of the arch bishops already have facebook profiles. But with all the things that happen online... Do we really want the church to be there? Watching over people. Website, facebook, youtube.....I think its rather frightening that both the church and state (refering to the Obama and Queen Elizabeth's channels) are creeping into the internet.

hmmm...when I imagine the virtual world I think of world of chaos....everyone pretty much gets to do what they want, however they want it. they get to say anything about anyone... and other than argue back there isn't anything that that person can do about it. Crime, Adultery...all of this exists in the vitual world. Part of the appeal of the virtual world is the freedom of it... a person can marry whomever they want, present themselves however they want...in fact, there are many people who present themselves differently online in comparison to who they are in the physical world.An example is how in second life or even in facebook a person can be engaged with or have a relationship with anyone they please, I have many friends that say they are married to their best friends (of the same sex) eventhough both persons are in seperate relationships in the physical world.

now that the church and state are joining us in this chaotic world....I feel that they will attempt to use their influence in the physical world and bring it into the virtual one and though the idea may be farfetched if both church and state achieve influence over online users will this lead to a online war between the church and the state and will those living online get caught inbetween? hmmm...this is starting to sound very familiar.... Land of the free, church, state...war... haha will will the virtual world become the new frontier?

I know we arent supposed to post long annoying theories...hahaha but I just had to share it...

-David P.

Does the internet bolster cultural circularity?

Just an example of "viral" internet trends growing outside their birth-realm of the internet, sparking a bit "IRL" before returning to their very origins.

One wonders if the "inside joke" does more when providing insight into a given culture. Perhaps it is a light sketch of the developmental path of adaptive culture? No doubt the following examples exhibit the "shared" aspect of culture... and the power of societies to dictate their respective trends beginning with nothing more than effective word-of-mouth.

Of course, Leroy Jenkins
It begins with: A.
And finds popularity in its given mode of hilarity.
It travels to: B.
Though I must mention, the pop culture question goes unanswered.
And finishes where it began with: C. D. E.
As a result, Blizzard acknowledging the viral nature of the event has re-established the joke and the story of "Jenkins" continues.

And now, ...
Numa Numa
An obscure Moldovan pop song receives new interpretation through: A.
And the video finds popularity given the quirky humor.
Now, the viral song finds a new following through: B.
One can only speculate what will develop further, but the movement of this particular song to capture the current trends of American pop music is amazing just in itself.