Drinking, long hours and YouTube don't mix but bring in the viewers

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Monday, 10 November 2008 13:50

Opinion and Analysis

CNET had a follow up article by Chris Matyszczyk to the Times story with a second video from Maartje at Couscous of Smith in action, with more commentary on life and additional detail on the magazine he’s thinking of publishing, called “Goggle-Eyed” in homage to Gmail Labs optional “drunk detection” feature for emails sent on the weekend – although this video has likewise also been removed.

The CNET article has Smith explaining his actions and weighing up the consequences in the article responses, saying: “This is the first blog I have replied to since the infamous video which has now been seen by over an incredible 125,000 people.

“After the sheer terror of the first two hours of the day after the greatest day of my life all I can say is that I have been overwhelmed by support by journalists, brummies and watchers of the video. Thanks for your insight. It goes without saying I am taking advice from the NUJ [National Union of Journalists] at the moment if anyone needs to be in a union it's me!”

Smith also responds to Matyszczyk who offered to buy him a drink on his next trip to the UK, with Smith happily accepting.

It also has “Maartje” from Couscous Global saying he “sort of feels responsible for – my god – 125.000 hits”, asking if Smith is “ok” and leaving his email address for Smith to contact him on, not that Maartje can do anything about it now beyond removing the video (as has happened with the second clip but not the first) as the damage has already been done.

Smith’s ordeal is a stark lesson in public behaviour, video cameras and consequences, because not only are there surveillance cameras all throughout the CBD of many major cities for, but anyone with a smartphone or digital camera can video anything they want and put it onto the Internet!

Any bystander or passerby can be a digital paparazzo, propelling anyone to Internet infamy they come across if they have camera to hand and the knowledge to upload – and if something is interesting or shocking enough for people to take notice.

And many smartphones can upload the video as soon as it has been filmed, with live video streaming to the Internet from mobile phones also a reality.

In a snap happy and video recording world, we’re all on display, one drunken night and a camera ready person away from the next big hit on Flickr, MySpace, Facebook, YouTube or elsewhere.

Finally, a major fame bringing online Web 2.0 sensation that few want to be featured on or part of, although a drunken rant parody clip is surely on the way if one hasn’t been posted already!