Overall
Last night, Jenny came home from a long day at work and complained the dishes hadn’t been done. Most nights they are, long before she gets home. But of course, you only hear about these things when there’s something to complain about, rarely do people acknowledge work when it’s getting done right.
Looking back at my archive of posts here on Viral Video Wannabe, I seem to only yell at YouTube when the dishes don’t get done, but have failed to thank them for all the nights they do (and the nights they go above and beyond, and even dry them and put them away!).
When the rumored changes of YouTube’s redesign started leaking to various media blogs, I picked up on the rumors and ran an article here. That same day, two staff members from YouTube, the second largest site on all of the internets, emailed me personally. I’m not NBC. I’m not the New York Times. I’m a vlogger who writes a blog with a couple thousand readers. George (head of the Partnership Program) and Mia (head editor) didn’t have to take that time (personal time, I might add, both wrote me after business hours). They have much larger outlets to worry about. But for whatever reason, they did. They sat down and spent fifteen to twenty minutes of their own time reading, and then another ten or fifteen responding to my article.
That deserves a thank you. Thank you.
Sadia is the editor of the DIY category. Sadia watched, and featured (in the DIY category) my first real video uploaded to YouTube. I found her email on her YouTube channel and wrote her a little thank you note. We kept in touch for over a year after that. Wishing each other a Merry Christmas, catching up on how things were going, she even sent me a nice little note about my YouTube book when it came out. Sadia also introduced me to Michele.
Michele is the Music category editor. Michele featured me on the front page of YouTube for the first time, back when that meant three-quarter of a million views easily. Michele and Sadia emailed me the day my video went on to the front page to say congrats. Michele and I also stayed in contact for months after that. Michele also read and wrote me a nice note about my book.
YouTube doesn’t always get it right. But no company ever does. However, these four people, over the years, have got it right with me, anyway. And as much as I might write about the doom and gloom of YouTube here, it’s only because I love the site to death. And I know you do too. We wouldn’t get so worked up if we didn’t. The interactions. The ideas. The people it’s introduced us all to. The opportunities and outlet and audience it’s provided - it is all beyond description sometimes. Forgive my mushy attempt here at describing it.
11 Responses to “Overall”
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Viral Video Wannabe...
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May 2nd, 2009 at 7:41 am
Well said Alan
May 2nd, 2009 at 7:51 am
I think your right Alan. If it wasn’t for youtube we wouldn’t have this great community that we do, and I wouldn’t know half of the awesome people that I do
I want to join you in saying THANK YOU YouTube!
May 2nd, 2009 at 7:52 am
Thanks for this, Alan. I will make sure George, Michele, and Sadia see it, too. We’re just as passionate about this site as you are, believe me.
Be well!
May 2nd, 2009 at 8:49 am
I think I can sum up my comment in two ways.
“Awwww.”
and
“I agree.”
We’ll add in an “I love you” for good measure.
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Well said! I think you’ve also raised another important point which is to remember that all of the things that happen on all the sites we love, happen because of real, working people. I think it’s often easy to forget that and consider the website simply as an entity, instead of the body of hard-working people like you and me* that it actually is.
Also, I always feel slightly guilty whining about any changes I don’t like on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube, simply because it’s a free service. Okay, they may have changed the interface in a nonsensical way, but at least they’re still providing us with this service which we all love, and still for free, despite, as several people including yourself have recently pointed out, often incurring huge losses on their part.
So thanks guys! :]
*More you than me, if I’m honest!
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:08 pm
It’s good to look reflect and give thanks for everything every now and then. YouTube has changed my life in so many positive ways and it’s not fair for me to complain if they make a mistake every now and then. Like the above commenter said, it’s still a free service!
-Julian, ItTakesII
May 2nd, 2009 at 5:59 pm
This is a great post Alan. Really puts it all in perspective
May 4th, 2009 at 10:43 am
aw shucks Alan — thanks for the kind words. To be honest, it’s connecting w/ the people who make such unique and entertaining contributions to the site that make this job worthwhile. I hope you continue to be part of it for years to come…
May 4th, 2009 at 11:28 am
why are you so cool?!?!?!
May 23rd, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Hi, nice posts there
thank’s for the interesting information
August 27th, 2009 at 8:20 am
really interesting post man.