technoculture203-09

I am particularly interested in what makes people feel the need to post comments on YouTube, and also the type of interactions which take place.

Comments allow interaction between users, where the YouTube community can provide feedback for those creating media content, or for public interest or political videos, provide a Public Sphere for debate. This application of Habermas may simply be bourgeois elitism, perhaps evidenced by analysis of the comments. The majority of comments are generally inane ("lmao" "awesome" etc). We can conceive some kind of imagined 'collective audience' where comments of appreciation might provide a link between individuals so that the media consumption experience is not isolating.

Posters on YouTube videos might be performing and reaffirming self-identity through online interactions. This could explain the prevalence of conflict, where a negative comment against someone’s post might be perceived as an attack on their identity. Idealism aside, the posts which stand out are those of users engaged in argument. This at least demonstrates that YouTube allows a forum for debate, where the plurality of the internet allows that that debate not necessarily be intelligent or informed.

Of course, for the detached media user (or postmodern 'Tourist'), there is a certain amusement to be had in observing the arguments of others. Indeed, some people will post comments with the particular intention of generating such a response.

On a more positive note, I found this on YouTube.

Just don't read any of the comments.