Ah, YouTube. One of the staples of modern society. Through this single website you can access hundreds of videos from all over the world at the click of a button. You can literally find anything on youtube if you look hard enough. Searches of mine include how to tie a tie, how to shave using a straight razor, multiple food related videos that teach you how to cook certain recipes, how to shift cells in Microsoft Excel, how to play the chords for "Still D.R.E." on the piano, the list goes on and on. But what I wanted to talk about in this article is the surprisingly profound effect that youtube has had on my life.
One thing you should know about me, if I haven't addressed it in any of my previous articles, is that I love video games. The first time I played a video game was when I was about 6 or 7. The one game I played was Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit II. We had it on this really old computer, and we even had a steering wheel and brake and acceleration pedals that you would plug into the computer so it could make you feel like you were driving the car. When I got older my dad actually let me play the original Call of Duty and that was really what got me into gaming. I would play video games all the time, and I still do even today. Probably even more so than before.
However, I digress. This article is about youtube, and you're probably wondering what video games has to do with it. Well on youtube, you can find anything right? And what I've found is a bunch of YouTubers that play video games and post their game plays online. They also play together with other YouTubers and just generally have a good time. So why on Earth does it matter? Well I'll tell you. In my life when things just aren't going my way, sometimes you just feel as if you can't depend on anyone. Not even your family. You just feel like the only person that's going to get you out of this mess is yourself. When everyday just seems to be monotonous and terrible, the one thing I could look forward to was a scheduled upload from one of the many Youtubers that I watch. As weird as that may sound, a scheduled upload would sometimes be the one thing I depended on.
My parents would sometimes see me and just tell me that it's a huge waste of time. My cousin once asked me sarcastically, "Why are you watching a video of another person playing a video game?" I was actually slightly offended by that. It was harsh and uncalled for. And while it looks dumb to you it means something to me. It gave me a sense of community, or even family. Just knowing that millions of other people watched and or are watching the same exact video you're watching now. Certain YouTubers have long running jokes with the people they play with that you would only understand if you've seen their previous videos. It's like having an inside joke with millions of other people that you don't even know. Actually, it IS having an inside joke with millions of other people that you don't even know. You're all there, laughing at the same exact things I've had some tough times in my life, and sometimes the only thing I could look forward to was one of my favorite Youtubers posting another funny video. They helped me and they still continue to this day. I don't know if you're ever gonna read this article, but Seananners, Hutch, Mr. Sark, Smii7y, SovietWomble, Mini Ladd, Vanoss, H20 Delirous, Terroriser, Daithi De Nogla, WILDCAT, KYR_SP33DY, SideArms4Reason, ImJahova, NobodyEpic, Bdouble0, D4, D20, ShadowBeatz, G18. Thank you. If you do read this article I just want to let you know you've had a profound effect in my life and you've helped me when I thought I was out for the count. And next time you see someone watching a video on their laptop, don't think they're weird. There might be more to it than you think.
