Yesterday’s big headline wasn’t the volcano in Iceland, the impending tax-day deadline in the U.S., or even the meteor that lit up the Wisconsin sky. The big news story was, of course, that Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” music video overtook “Charlie Bit My Finger” as YouTube’s most popular video ever – with some 180 million views (100,000 of which came from me alone).
Never having watched “Charlie Bit My Finger,” I gave the video a click.
There was a note at the top of the video, left by the creators. It read:
Would Lady Gaga ‘fans’ stop leaving ignorant an abusive comments please. We simply do not care if we are first or last. This is life, not hysteria. Read the blog.
Either the creators of “Charlie Bit My Finger” are trying to build some marketing hype with reverse psychology, or else they are expressing a complete lack of understanding when it comes to human nature – and YouTubers, in particular. I’m pretty sure that the note elicited more – not less – comments. And I suspect the degree of “abuse” contained within those comments increased exponentially after the note.
It is very, very hard to try and change or control the actions, thoughts or behaviors in others. On the other hand, it is quite easy to change yourself.
Rather than try to control the actions of Lady Gaga fans, the creators of “Charlie Bit My Finger” should channel their energy and effort into not measuring themselves or their family by the comments on their video. It’s good practice – believe me, I should know.
As one of my favorite quotes says:
Never underestimate your power to change yourself; never overestimate your power to change others.
Sink your teeth into that, Charlie.
April 16, 2010 at 8:25 am
Davey.. you make mountains out of mole hills. who really gives a s**t about this?
April 16, 2010 at 8:48 am
who cares if anyone cares!? It’s amusing to read and funny to know. This World is already to serious!
April 16, 2010 at 8:49 am
I hate to say it, but I disagree with you here Davey. It’s unfair of other people to comment on the charlie bit my finger video making fun of them for being overtaken by lady gaga. While I personally don’t see the amusement in the video, they probably didn’t expect it to get so big, and it’s not that big a deal. But don’t make a comment about them saying that they don’t want abusive comments.
You are a positive person who can take an insult well. But that doesn’t mean you want them. And also there probably wasnt any hidden meaning in that message; they just didn’t want abuse, like every other human on the planet.n
April 16, 2010 at 8:56 am
Am I the only gay man in America that can’t stand Lady Gaga? Enough with the femme gay icons. My God even us gay men are men. Sometimes us gay men can be such fairies. No offense to anyone, after my younger brother is the biggest fairy of them all. No offense brother
April 16, 2010 at 10:42 am
This is called: I dont have what to write this morning s**t but I need to post something there for my fags!!! LOL
April 16, 2010 at 12:10 pm
I never said it is fair – of course it’s not fair. But at the end of the day, it’s just easier to not be bothered by the comments than to stop them.
April 16, 2010 at 1:20 pm
There is a lot of relatability we find in such icons. However, it isn’t just female icons we look up to. It’s there flamboyancy we adore, maybe. The fact that no one can tell them to stop acting like that the way some of us were told to. I love Gaga not just because of who she is but what she is. She’s a twisted surreal character who makes great music. Even if she wasn’t so over the top I’d still love her music. It is pure pop music. I know straight males who can’t avoid liking her music either. She simply is a musical genius. Love her or hate her, she is taking over the world.
April 16, 2010 at 1:23 pm
All of this goes back to See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. They may not like what’s happening to their page but there’s little people can do to stop the ignorance of others.
April 16, 2010 at 2:02 pm
I don’t hate her, but I sure don’t like her. I realize gay men like me are a rarity. I have been critized,persecuted and physically threatened by many gay men, for being ouside the box and not “being gay enough”. Matters little to me, I can surely defend myself. Kick a gay mans ass just as easy as a straights.
April 16, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Do not get me wrong I do not go looking for fights. But if I am physically threatened I will defend myself, all I was saying.
April 16, 2010 at 2:28 pm
DW, why be bothered by someone who disagrees with you? Does not mean they do not respect you. I am sure many gay men, me included adore you. You bring to us a way for us to freely communicate with each other. What other blog offers to us this chance? You are a good and decent man. I have never held back my opionions, and far as I know you have not edited any persons voice. I say defend what you think is right, or ignore. But at the end of the day amico we deeply respect what you are doing
April 17, 2010 at 2:18 am
chew on this Dave; for once your comments here STINK!
April 17, 2010 at 6:08 am
Besides, I’d rather chew on Davey Wavey!
joey
April 17, 2010 at 6:49 am
I’m not so sure that what we see is the “real” Lady Gaga. Look up “Vintage Lady Gaga” on YouTube and watch her before her image makeover. I like her now, but I LOVE her in that video!!! I’d like to think that her wild craziness is just a marketing scheme, but I suppose that Lady Gaga could have been who Stephanie Germonata was all along and she’s just now showing it. Just a thought!
April 17, 2010 at 8:01 am
I have actually communicated directly with Harry & Charlie’s mother and they are a very sweet family, and totally amazed at the viral popularity of the video. The boys are growing up and actually now have a 3rd little brother. Being #2 isn’t so bad! Especially considering that Gaga’s video is such a professionally produced commercial production, and theirs is just simple, honestly adorable cuteness. (Like Davey!) Check out Sam Tsui’s videos! Also amazing!
April 17, 2010 at 10:40 am
Who is Lady Gaga?
April 17, 2010 at 10:50 am
I’m no fan of Lady GaGa. Haven’t heard any of her songs except “Bad Romance,” which I like. There’s a gay guy on Utube who does a very sexy dance to that song (sorry, Davide, he might be too fem for you, hehe). I think he’s gr8.
I was looking for the news one morning and happened to see her interviewed. She was not all made up, very smart, and very articulate. I was very impressed by her then.
So, some almost worship her, some think she’s great, some can take her or leave her, and some really don’t like her. So what else is new? I say, live and let live. Say whatever you want except wicked hate speech and the promotion of violence against anyone.
April 17, 2010 at 1:27 pm
ok so theyre trying to manipulate Lady GAGA fans to do something?
April 17, 2010 at 2:19 pm
DAVEY-
No you are not rare I’m like you also and it makes me feel even more warm inside to see that you are a real; so utterly gorgeous gay male that by looks would be the stereotypical flame queen but you are not.
I don’t know if you are more in touch with your feminine side or not but should you be why must the way you manifest yourself be like others of the same. We are human not or sexuality no two women are alike and the same with men ( who are not gay ).
Grow up gay community for God sakes be human not a stage act
April 17, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Hi Samual,
I think the point is that you shouldn’t be developing an artificial audience based on negative press – generating an interest outside the mainstream to collect new fans is called marketing.
Cheers.
April 17, 2010 at 2:33 pm
Hehe, no teeth joey.
April 17, 2010 at 4:45 pm
I’m learning lately that diversity is key to not only life, but evolution, and how focused I am on creating sameness. And how every time I open my mouth, it broadcasts everything I am about. These comments were a good way to push me outside of my comfort zone today.
And I appreciated the thought you put into your blog today, Dave.
April 17, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Davey,
As my first input into your blo I must point out that this was old news last week. I find your thoughts, theories and phylosophy on life more interesting then repeating the endless babble that is covered all over the internet, t.v., newspapers and radio. Keep up the great work you do and leave the mindless stuff to EXTRA. I do realize that all this gossip does have an impact on some peoples lives! Steve
April 17, 2010 at 9:35 pm
No doubt! I could really care less about LGG…I really admire most of your work, and maybe you just needed to write about something a little lighter today, so I will check back another time….PEACE,everyone!
April 17, 2010 at 9:47 pm
i dont like lady gaga…. but i dont dislike her, caring either way would be either a desperation to conform with all the fairy gays, or rebellion against the mainstream, or you just like her music i guess, but idk who really does….
along with the femme gay fairy icon thing, yeah, its lame and old. cher had that going and its passed. why cant we just be men?
April 19, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Lady Gaga makes me “Like gag me with a spoon, gross like Mr. Bufu eeew gross, like my toe nails are so grody they kicked me out of the salon. I’m so sure! I like live in the good part of Encino, you know. I do not talk funny, I’m so sure, like.” This seems to have more relevence than that bat s**t. I cancelled my Twitter acount to stay away from such “news” as that. So toataly awesomely knarley and tubular dude, like.
April 19, 2010 at 5:12 pm
We kept talking about the official party line as propaganda from the former Soviet Union. Look whose calling the kettle black. Marketing is our fancy word for what we dish out as propaganda.
April 19, 2010 at 5:13 pm
Yes. The world needs more clowns and Davey has found out the hard way on that subject.
April 19, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Exactly. I would suggest revisiting the movie “Breaking Away” (likely you haven’t seen it at all) where the lead character at 18 becomes a man learning one of life’s biggest lessons early on that life’s not fair. When he discovered the horror of it he was crying in front of his Dad who said “What’s the matter you act like you lost your wallet.” To which he cried longer and harder. I learned that lesson probably a bit sooner than he did In High School water polo where there is much underwater shinnanigans unseen. But to expirence at 18 is really the best time to expirence it.
April 19, 2010 at 5:33 pm
No Davide your not the only one. Now get a powdered sugar donut and blow it in your brother’s face, give him a hug and say “Here’s your fairy dust.”
April 19, 2010 at 5:36 pm
Yeah, we all knew that, but did you have to stick the knife in and twist it?
April 19, 2010 at 9:37 pm
irony. sweet irony.
April 24, 2010 at 8:58 pm
It’s changed to “please stop replying to the ‘Gaga fans’” because he realized they won’t stop leaving ignorant comments.
I’m pretty sure it has no commercial purpose…
With that said, I have to disagree with you this time, even though most of the time it’s better to mind your own business and work on yourself, I think it’s better to at least try and change others for the better. Even though it might spark more comments, at least they tried, than just sit around and ignore it. Do you think it’s really a right thing to let those comments flow around a cute little family video? Especially after realizing a verbal war is starting between his own fans and the Gaga fans, he told his own fans to stop, I think he didn’t do anything wrong.
May 12, 2010 at 5:38 am
I sincerely love Lady Gaga and her bizarre costumes but she really let herself down now going out in see through undergarments.
May 12, 2010 at 8:23 am
yeah, I rather see her in space suit
July 28, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Several Gagatards were posting whining crap on the babies video. Gaga fans need a life too!