Photos
Is it just me, or is everyone a little on edge these days, like more than usual? Between the Juan Williams thing, and the increasingly nonsensical campaign of Christine O’Donnell, not to mention people using C-Span to air their romantic grievances, Gwyneth Paltrow singing country music live, and the whole postponement of the End of the World thing, it just feels like the world is pretty wound up. Will it explode? I wish. But if it’s not going to explode (and as we have already discussed, I guess it’s not going to now, which is LAME) it seriously needs to chilllllllll. You know that movie The Core where they drill a hole into the center of the Earth and detonate a nuclear bomb to “reboot the planet” (LOLOL)? We need to do that, except instead of a nuclear bomb, we should detonate a Chill Pill. BOOM! YOU’RE SO RELAXED, EVERYBODY! Now have a great weekend.
After the jump, the five Highest Rated comments, as voted on by you, the Lowest Rated comment, the winner of this week’s Luke Perry at Dragon Con Caption Contest, and the Editor’s Choice:
This Week’s Highest Rated Comments
| #5 |  |
explainer guy | Oct 20th | Score:100 |
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Luke Perry stars in Awkward Family Photos. This Fall on ABC. |
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| Posted in: The Videogum Why Don’t YOU Caption It? Contest: Luke Perry At Dragon Con | |||
| #4 |  |
cakeordeath | Oct 20th | Score:106 |
| Posted in: The Videogum Why Don’t YOU Caption It? Contest: Luke Perry At Dragon Con | |||
| #3 |  |
butterpranks | Oct 20th | Score:108 |
| Posted in: The Videogum Why Don’t YOU Caption It? Contest: Luke Perry At Dragon Con | |||
| #2 | |
cakeordeath | Oct 20th | Score:121 |
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Not pictured: Gabe waiting in line. |
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| Posted in: The Videogum Why Don’t YOU Caption It? Contest: Luke Perry At Dragon Con | |||
| #1 |  |
thisismynightmare | Oct 20th | Score:188 |
| Posted in: The Videogum Why Don’t YOU Caption It? Contest: Luke Perry At Dragon Con | |||
[Ed. note: Whoa. A clean sweep of the Best Comments category by the Luke Perry at Dragon Con thread. Congratulations, Luke Perry at Dragon Con thread. You earned it!]
This Week’s Lowest Rated Comment
| #1 | |
explainer guy | Oct 21st | Score:-37 |
| gunna have to defend my boyfriend on this one. he was just being honest about his feelings. you have to admit, you get nervous too. and if you think he is a dick for saying so, that’s just the pot calling the kettle bl….the pot calling the kettle, um…the same color as the pot is, is how what color it would call the kettle. | |||
| Posted in: That’s Your Boyfriend: Juan Williams | |||
[Ed. note: Last night, regular Videogum commenter and upstanding community member, Godsauce, Twittered that he was leaving Videogum because he was tired of having to defend people in the comments from getting piled upon. Uh oh. Obviously, I don't think any of us want that to be the direction this thing takes, and Godsauce does have a point, there is a certain degree of piling upon that has been taking place lately (always?) in response to contrary opinions, which at least in theory, we are supposed to pride ourselves on accepting and encouraging. Of course, it's more complicated than that, because just because someone posts a contrary opinion doesn't mean that other people aren't allowed or shouldn't respond to and debate and even vehemently argue with those contrary opinions. Hopefully all of that remains gentlemanly and respectful, though, which is a bar I'm sure we miss a little too often. So that's the general issue. Let's play nice, you guys. To this particular comment from Explainer Guy, I would offer the following response: I agree with you kind of. There is nothing bad about someone being willing to go on television and be very honest about their feelings when they know those feelings might make them look bad. That's great! Honesty is important, no duh, and we do live in a complicated and terrifying world full of DANGER. The problem with what Juan Williams said was not so much that he has bad thoughts, which we all do, and many of us would not have the courage to admit them, but that he couched those bad thoughts as not being bad at all, and in fact being demonstrative of a way in which we should all live. If he had said, for example, "I'm kind of bigoted towards Muslims because I'm scared of dying," I would have no problem with that. Fair enough! Death IS scary! Even good people can be kind of racist and most of them are a little! But he made a big deal out of how he's not a bigot before saying something very bigoted. So that's a lie. One or the other, please, Juan Williams. Lots of (most?) people harbor small, mostly benign bigotries, and it's fine and probably even useful to acknowledge them, but then you can't hide them under some self-righteous cloak of tolerance. Moreover, this was in a segment in which Bill O'Reilly was seeking validation for a grand and sweepingly offensive worldview in which all Muslims must be feared for their potential as violent terrorists, and Juan Williams happily provided him with such a defense. Gross. And unacceptable. So that's where I kind of disagree with your point, because Juan Williams wasn't just saying what anyone might think from time to time in a moment of weakness. He was lying about it and using it to justify the perpetuation of a culture of fear and hatred. So boo.]
This Week’s Editor’s Choice
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Anchor Management | Oct 18th | Score:70 | |
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He pulls a DVD off the shelf, “Nothing But Trouble” by Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase. “Good stuff. That’s what I make” he says, putting it back. “That’s what I make. Also, puppets” – Jeff Dunham |
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| Posted in: The Hunt For The Worst Movie Of All Time: Nothing But Trouble | |||
[Ed. note: The only thing I like more than a good inside joke is a good inside joke that relies on three other inside jokes to even make sense. (For best joke comprehension results please read this and this.) And a very HONORABLE MENTION to the thread begun by Frank Lloyd Wrong on the Longest Cat post in which everyone impersonated various comedians' reactions. Brava.]
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Dear monsters, the monster derby has been cancelled this Saturday, we will be doing a monster bar dive instead. Also, there will be a southern monster meetup around thanksgiving in Birmingham Alabama and an End of Year Texas Meetup in Austin December 11th. For these and other updates, go to Werttrew’s tumblr page and the Gabe Delahaye fan page.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=105547626135055
Also, we will password protect chat from people who like to flash wang. Stop by sometime, last week Gabe was there and he brought some famous friends with him.The password will be “enhance” and it will be posted here as well as in werttrew’s page. All monsters are welcomed.
http://tinychat.com/videogum
upcoming password: enhance
sorry, if this gets double posted, my computer was messing up i guess.
Come on out, Southern Monsters! And bring your Larry the Cable Guy posters!
WOO! Represent Southern Monsters!
YES!! Southern Monster meetup in my town! All are, of course, welcome. Shoes are not required.
We are going to take you out and get you drunk! Facebook event to come!
I’ll bring my night cheese and my $4000 ham napkin!
I’m actually going to be down that way when all this is going on. I could maybe go if you guys want if not that’s okay too….
Yes, you should definitely come! The more Monsters the merrier!
We would love to have you!
Also, we will be password protecting the chat soon. The password will be “enhance” and it will be posted here and in werttrew’s tumblr.
http://tinychat.com/videogum
Will our favorite Southern Monster be there? We all know he really gives a care
proper link: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=105547626135055
oh boo AND hiss. My band has a show in Houston December 11 otherwise I would totally make the trip to Austin. Any excuse to go to a better part of Texas than this one!
Props thisismynightmare. That gif was one for the books.
Indeed. Truly a .gift
Thanks, Guys! I’m so excited! (Pun? intended) I guess this means I need to start going for that EGOT!
Werttrew, did I even come close to the highest rated comments of all time?! I think the highest is 400-something…so probably not.
Congrats to my internet sister! Slumber party at my house!
I’ll not that the comment is now #7 of all time and climbing!
http://werttrew.tumblr.com/post/998209585/all-time
I’ll post it officially in the top 10 list here in a few days.
Wait I though animated gifs weren’t allowed in Monsters Ball.
I’m so excited they count again!
I believe they are only not allowed if it is a gif sans text. If there is some sort of text accompaniment, it is still eligible. I could be wrong though.
No joke: As I fell asleep last night, this gif played whenever I closed my eyes. It’s burned into my psyche.
It’s Friday let’s dance
Couldn’t let this happen without a Kenneth Gem:
I’m classically trained.
Now iz de time vhen we dance!
Plie this week off, keyboard cat!
Did somebody say dance?
Oh no! My dancing Snooki disappeared!
Reasons this was the best week of my life: 1) I got 52 up-votes on a comment this week (52!!!) 2) Baby Friday acknowledged my existence during a Mad Men chat 3) FLW: “Could that cat BE any more long?” — Chandler Bing 4) Gabe and Da Cake Eatur interacting on Facebook (maybe?) 5) Jersey Shore Gif Party!! http://bit.ly/9LdVRx
Aw, thekelburrows! I feel like this right now:
Also, this made me happy beyond belief:
HOLD ON, BACK UP. Gabe and Da Cake Eatur might have interacted on Facebook? As Da Cake Eatur’s chief musical chronicler, how was I not informed of this?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8241053@N05/5106071530/ (god I hope this works)
I forgot the number six highlight of my week! Being dumped as Robin Rubbermaids first groupie.
I’m kind of holding out.
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTxeCRV5oV8LqAUQcwMIZke8p1XYGoV_juNiW_B33eT_Iq11KA&t=1&usg=__TrO40v_hhj-jBevVoGt28Er3YG0=
See, that’s supposed to be a picture of Anita Pallenberg and Marianne Faithfull.
Say it aint so, Godsauce…
I remember when Gabe went to Comic Con and challenged us to get the nerd movies BNPG thread up to a 1000 comments and Godsauce just killed it all day. Here is hoping you come back soon sauce.
I hope so too! One of things I love most about hangin’ with the Monsters is that people really ARE generally so cool and accepting. Sometimes you have to swallow your pride and take your downvotes, but in the end you know you can make a Christine O’Donnell masturbation joke on the next page and everything will be fine. Am I being naïve?
Generally, I’d agree with you, Baby Friday.
But, you have to admit, you’ve never really accepted me and Cakeordeath’s special bond.
She’s mine, muppet! And you know it!! She’s (sob) mine….
I want to agree with you, I really want to agree with you, but when you’re on the majority side, you generally do feel fine, like, OK, next post this person makes won’t be so bad, I’ll give her/him a sympathy upvote, it’ll be all right; not to mention your opinions are validated. But does that come across at the time? And I imagine it could pretty gross to disinterested parties. Especially with the as-yet unsolved problem of misunderstanding tone.
Total bullshit. Was I personally snubbed? Methinks so.
Great week everyone. Let’s all make like Gabe on a Wednesday night
Those are weird-looking yogurt cups.
#5 and worst comment. It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times…
Mad love to you, explainerguy. You crack me up and you take your downvotes like a man.
also, i appreciate the sentiments about not piling on people [unless it is well deserved] when they may have a different opinion than you and i enjoy a polite, substantive discussion, which i think we had in the thread that followed and hope the other monsters involved did too.
that said, i hope that means Godsauce will see that as a turn for the better and return.
explainer guy, you really handled yourself like a pro out there. After doing some research, I’m a little more understanding of your argument than I was at first, and I give you a sincere apology for sort of starting a dog pile. Forgive me and be my very best friend forever until we all turn to dust, amen.
Whew. It’s Friday! Huckabeast, OUT.
no apology necessary huck. have a cupcake, on me.
happy weekend everyone.
explainer guy, if it makes you feel any better, it was you and ian that got me commenting on here in the first place. So you have that to hang your hat on. You know, if had a hat and you needed a place on which to hang it.
i take that as the highest of complements, teacherman. glad you’re here.
Lawblog’s artist page, if any monster that entered the song conte4st wants to be linked to the monster group contact lolwut at last.fm
http://www.last.fm/music/Lawblog/+listeners
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Can we just ban him? why give him the satisfaction to be lowest voted?
I second that.
you have my third.
Sweet gif.
Spaced!
I win the internet!
Agreed. Enough is enough already
Holy shit, this is even worse than the tubgirl incident.
Let’s not get hyperbolic up in here. But it’s pretty gnarly.
I guess it’s weird to compare the two, and maybe I’m weird (I am), but I’d rather be caught off guard by a woman spraying diarrhea in her mouth than the bleeding corpse of a beloved comedian.
At least tubgirl could turn on the water rinse herself off, brush her teeth and go about the rest of the day. I feel dirty inside.
There was a tub girl incident? That’s terrible.
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Yes. Followed by graphic elderly blowjobs.
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
You seem lost. Here, let me give you some directions.
http://www.4chan.org
You seem lost. Her, let me give YOU some directions:
http://www.eharmony.com/
YOU ARE THE ONE WHO SEEMS LOST!!!
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
L O S T
Woah. Rick Dagless!
That’s me
I wish I was more attractive like Dagless. Still one can only dream…
This user has been banned.
Reminder: the Videogum User’s Agreement does not allow for the posting of inappropriate photos, nor the perpetual harassment of other commenters. Please be respectful of the community.
clear eyes, full hearts, can’t get banned!
I love that your avatar is calling a time out here. I imagine Coach Gabe calling calling in the following play:
Pro Right 36 TAG Speed Option Y Open 921 (RELAX!!!)
#whoelseusedtobeahighschoolfootballcoach?
Is it weird to, like, actually LOVE a website?
If it is, then I know a bunch of people who might form a support group with us.
“Oh man. Oh, sorry, guys, I’m kinda late, hold on, let me catch my breath. Huh. Okay. Phew. Okay. That cat is so long … what? I missed it? Shit.” – Ralphie May
I totally missed that thread until Gabe called it out. So glad he did — just went and read its pricelessness. You guys are geniouses!! An all-time VG highlight in my book.
I can’t believe I missed that thread and I’m so glad I just read it because it is AMAZING.
Definitely a Vgum highlight, I concur.
["Cool story, Bropoleon!" - Everyone]
“That cat is so long, his breath smells like cat food.” — Ralph Wiggam
“Read my lips: no new long cats. Wouldn’t be prudent.” -Dana Carvey, October 23rd, 2010
Long cat runs by followed by a scantily clad woman being chased by an over weight gapped-toothed British comic.
- Benny Hill
also
never forget
Hey guys, it’s been a while since I put up a reminder about chat, so:
http://tinychat.com/videogum
My new favorite thing in this whole entire world.
Yay Tinychat! We’ll be on during the Soup probably.
Yay! I will see you guys later then!
Here’s a topic to discuss in tinychat tonight:
Bones is getting a spinoff:
http://www.deadline.com/2010/10/foxs-dramedy-bones-plots-spinoff-series
Sadly I wont be able to join in the discussion as my internet is down at home.
Isn’t it kind of weird to plan a spinoff of a character that hasn’t been introduced or even cast yet? I’m desperately trying to think of a clever word that is the opposite of spinoff but I am failing.
I was kind of hoping they would give sweets his own show but at the same time he would remain a major character on Bones as well. That way we could have double the sweets.
I would love a Sweets spinoff with Gordon Gordon! They could start a private psychiatric practice, and hijinks would ensue! Occasionally (of course) they’d need to help out their ol’ pals Booth and Bones. Let’s US wish them luck, too.
Starting next week, we will be password protecting the chat. the password will be “enhance” and it will be posted here and on wert’s tumblr. Come on by sometime, all monsters welcomed.
Is there a way to join the chat without hooking it up to my Facebook or whatever? I don’t really feel like adding TinyChat to my applications and, even if I do, it automatically just names me “Chris.”
Suggestions? Do I really have to make a Twitter or something, just for this? (I will do it, but I will complain first.)
we initially did the twitter/facebook thing to keep flashers out, if this password thing works we might take out the social media requirement.
Funtastik, I started a Twitter that I use just for Tinychat, so that I can be Baby Friday (as I was meant to be).
Honorable mention! I’ll take it!
I’ve kind of been in a funk lately, and the long cat metajoke thread UNFUNKED ME (sort of).
Good job, everyone. If I could, I’d give you all big fat boners.
I will take your fat boner, sir. That….that is what I said.
that was a great thread. Tip O’ the Hat!
You earned it Frank. We were merely the electrons to your nucleus on that one. And that thread was off the hook.
Have a good one monsters! I love you all.
I smiled extra wide after remembering what episode this came from
Cool story, amirite?
bay area monsters, who is gonna be seeing buffalo springfield playing for the first time in 42 years on sunday? i will be the tall white guy smoking weed on the lawn, very easy to spot.
Bah! I really wanted to go, but I’m too poor. Smoke one for me!
I will be there tonight. We need to have a Bay Area monster meet-up ya know….
Dude! Yes please! I thought I was the only one. The lone snarky hipster in a sea of plain ole hipsters.
I’m sorry to see Godsauce go. Maybe in time he’ll come back to us. I do think that this community gets insular at times; we all have a lot of similar opinion on much of the Big Stuff, which makes it a safe place for a lot of us. But with that also comes the same sort of one-sidedness that any other cloistered community has. I do always try to be mindful of others’ opinions and give people the benefit of the doubt but, like any other human, sometimes I just respond viscerally and call someone stupid when I should respond in a more measured way.
So, anyway, whatever. You guys are still the best group of commenters I’ve come across on this here internet, so I’m definitely going to stick around. So in honor of our cloister, I wish you a great weekend.
i ended up feeling the same way you did. Like, yeah I see where you’re coming from Godsauce, but where are you going to find a better and more intelligent group of commenting on a pop-culture and webjunk blog? c’mon!
Exactly. There have been times I have been upset by a post or a thread in a post or whatever the hell, but if you take the time to CHILL OUT (good advice, Gabe), you get over it and enjoy whatever the hell comes next on this truly GREAT website. I don’t even comment that much, particularly during the week, but I still really enjoy the community and the friendships that are here. Thanks, guys!
agreed
i never comment cuz im always late to the party, but im totally addicted to this place for the humor, for the dialog and for the feeling like there are friends here since my real life is totally lacking in all of the above. i dont know any of you but somehow thru the magic of the internets it seems like i do. thanks everyone for making this a fun place to hang out and escape, its the best!
So, this week my girlfriend of 3 years and I broke up. It was, to say the least, a truly sucky week. I just wanted to jump in and say thanks for all the laughs that helped to brighten my day even the slightest bit during this rough patch I’m currently going through. I’m proud to call myself a Videogum Monster. Have a swell weekend, everybody : )
I hope this helps.
OH MY DUCKING JESUS CHRIST ON CRUTCHES THAT IS CUTE.
You’re a gentleman and a scholar, wettrew!
Ugh, bro, that is the worst. I remember when I was 21 and broke up with my girlfriend of 3 years I though I was going to fucking die. I remember sitting in my dorm room alone one night, drinking scotch, and being so upset that I smashed the glass onto the table next to me and digging the glass into my hand. I would not recommend this as a method of therapy.
Night turned to day though and days turned to weeks and weeks to months and, little by little, the pain receded. Friends were there to talk things through — or, at times, to talk about anything else. Out at a bar one night, we met up with some girls celebrating a 21st birthday party. I started talking up one girl in particular and left my friends to follow her to the next bar, and the next, and, finally, back to her apartment. We started spending a lot of time together after that night, and, although I didn’t mean to, I ended up falling in love with her. Seven years later, Baby Friday and I were married.
I guess what I’m saying is that it gets better.
this is my favorite story. HAPPY ENDINGS!
That’s an awesome story, teacherman. Really means a lot to me that you shared that. And I’ll try and remember to stay away from glass tables next time I go on a serious bender!
Glad you enjoyed the story. Keep your head up — better days are ahead.
Hang in there, picklepotato.
feel better!
I still can’t get that damn Willow Smith song out of my head.
It’s not very often one LOL’s at gifs. But oh shit you have outdone yourself on this one my man.
This is the greatest and best.
This is so wrong, but I never want to be right.
“You ever laugh so hard at something that you have to cognitively remind yourself to breathe, lest you die of suffocation? Yeah, man, I wish I could do that…” – DirtySpaceNews, 2009-2010
No way! I got Editor’s Choice, which is almost as good as Teen Choice! I’ve been commenting since March and always felt that I was an underachiever, but this has validated the countless hours spent on here. Thank you Gabe, thank you Internet and a special shout-out to all the terrible people who’s failure made that joke work.
Almost as good, I’m headed for New York tomorrow! So excited! Gonna be awesome, hopefully I can cram in a visit to the Videogum offices. So if you see an awkward Dutch guy wearing a “I got Editor’s Choice on Videogum”-shirt on the streets of NY, say hi.
Ahhh! Omg that is really cool and I’m really happy for you eeee! You keep on keepin’ on, Anchor Management.
Anchor Management, I always be looking out for Ron Burgundy (sp?) to get my funny on. Keep on posting, brother — heads have turned your way.
Hey, uh, guys? Where the hell is Winwood?
I think he got his little feelings hurt when Mans schooled him. I hope he comes back soon, I’m beginning to think Lost was a good show.
Amirite u guys?
It ain’t exactly Sophie’s Choice.
Mans schooled Steve Winwood? When did this happen?
http://videogum.com/236991/a-gilbert-godfried-psa-against-music-piracy-for-some-reason/psas/
Oh my.
dang. i want to get in on that discussion but it’s dead… i have shit to say about stealing music.
I also wish that discussion was ongoing as I also have shit to say AND I like to hear what shit other smart monsters have to say. It is something I spend way too many hours thinking and talking about IRL. Mans, you did indeed have some good points, I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
Guys, I am happy to continue this discussion any time and any place. Just let me know where. Talking to people is fun!
Let’s continue it here, BITCH: Starting Monday Gabe will only make Videogum available via $15 compact discs which you can purchase at stores. If any of you try to share your comments with quotes of Videogum content embedded via an online platform for free then you will get sued.
What’s that? You want to forfeit the argument now? That’s cool.
Steve Winwood: 1
“Mans”: 0
Mortal Kombat voice narrator: Steve wiiiiiinssssss
I would not say I schooled Steve. We had an interesting conversation about downloading music. There were other people involved and lots of good points made, with most people disagreeing with me. I hoped he would have responded more, because it was a good conversation.
It is a LIE to say that this “Mans” person schooled me on any topic, much less a topic where I was clearly the victor and “Mans” was my Victoria. Jazz HOT! Snap fingers. If you go back and read that thread you will see that I won.
I have been derelict in my commentating lately as I have had a few days off and not near a desk “PC” but checking the blogs on my iphone. Did you know that when you attempt to log in to the videogum to commentate you get re-routed to a shitty mobile app version of this site that does not allow commentating? If you click the “view full site” or desktop version option the mobile app re-routes you back to the mobile version perpetually, so that you feel like Zod in Superman II trapped in a floating mirror in outer space unable to tell “Mans” to suck it. That’s what it’s like.
And what is the deal with this “Godsauce” character trying to make some scene-making event out of not commentating??? Yeesh, maybe its for the best and he or she will go get an actual life
Holy shit — this is your best work ever, Steve. I feel strange agreeing with you so much lately. To borrow from 30 Rock, “It’s weird, but weird in a good way. Like going to the gym drunk.”
While I can’t go so far as to say I hope Godsauce will “go get and actual life,” I did think the dramatic exit was a little much and more than a little passive aggressive. And furthermore, to suggest that this community is ” sometimes…hurtful and insulting” and often expresses an “easy and unchallenged disrespect for those that it does not understand” frankly borders on the ridiculous. Of course, I’m sorry she got her feelings hurt and I can understand why, but to suggest that this community is anything other than open, sympathetic and intelligent is just plain wrong. I mean, have you BEEN OUT THERE??? It’s all racists, homophobes and mean jerks. Like Lawblog the Great hath written, “Videogum is the oasis in the barf desert that is the internet.”
That all said (phew!) I like Godsauce a lot and will be first in the hug line when she gets back. Till then, you guys are doing fine. Keep up the good work.
Teacherman, you’re an awesomely funny and intelligent cat, so great respect to you. But I must take umbrage with a few of your statements here. Either you missed the point or you got it perfectly and I can’t tell which (’cause tone on the internets). So I’mma talk on it for a sec…Let’s Rap…
“It’s all racists, homophobes and mean jerks.” I think that is the exact reason G-love and the Special Sauce is taking a break from the ‘gum. Within a given post, someone (likely Gabe) will say, “RACIST!” Monsters will pile on. Someone else (a fellow Monster) will pipe up with a completely valid counterpoint that says, “…umm…you guys…maybe not quite so racist…haha…[insert inside joke here to counter downvotes]?” And that person will be at the bottom of a dog pile in no time flat via downvotes, berating, etc. (See Explainer Guy’s exploits this week.) Also, I think it’s inaccurate to categorize Godsauce’s exit as being “dramatic” and “passive aggressive” by tweeting he was taking a break. If he wanted to be passive aggressive or dramatic, he could have easily spoken up as the first comment of a Monsters’ Ball or a WMOAT. But he didn’t. Gabe is the one who chose to trumpet the tweet in MB. Likely because he knows and values Godsauce and his status in this community; likely because he is acknowledging that maybe Godsauce has a point in his consistent struggle to bring parity to any political discussion wherein only one side of the equation is represented. Here, in a place where people often trumpet their own “amazing” levels of acceptance, it’s those same people who then sweepingly and unequivocally judge those who are judging. Don’t get me wrong. I realize some people in the world deserve to be berated. But even racists and homophobes have moms, (I think). And ascribing the qualities of homophobes and racists to any Monster who sticks up for someone whom the community has labeled as such should be out of bounds. At a minimum, not with the same level of vitriol as the actual offender. ClownCoffee is another example. That guy puts his heart on his sleeve for everyone to see anytime a discussion regarding homosexuality occurs. He (seems to) feel hammered on an issue that is very personal to him. Anyway, I think maybe it happens more than you or most commenters realize. We’re all here to make friends (on a blog [ON A BLOG!]) which we can all agree is pretty amazing.
So, that’s the end of my rap…You guys stay safe and make sure your wear a condom when you play with your POGS or something.
Response to Dish:
#1 Godsauce (I think!) is a she/her. No disrespect!
#2 I think the big, grand point is that what does it matter if you end up at the bottom of a dogpile on particularly apt, particularly intelligent pop culture blog? Even if you’re at the bottom of downvotes here, you’re still at the top of the rest of the world, right? And if I had to wager a guess, it would be that most people around here know they can say, “Gulp. All right. My opinion is not popular: but this is me.” and they come out winning. I know I’ve personally felt like that. I’ve expressed my real feelings about something, and watched the dogpile turn into a puppy pile (believe it!). But it all depends on dialogue. Not downvotes. Downvotes is not a real thing. It is a website thing, and has nothing to do with how functional you are in real life.
Here is an illustrative picture of the Monster puppy pile phenomenon. Enjoy!
Wives always be gettin’ their man’s back! Nice!
100% agree that downvotes don’t mean anything in real life (I can’t believe you downvoted my post! What am I to do?!?!?
What would we all do though if we thought the same of UPVOTES???). That doesn’t stop them from hurting actual real life feelings (see ClownCoffee [maybe] and I think it’s fair to say Godsauce). And is comparing ourselves as a community to the rest of the world/internet so we can look down and realize that we’re better really what we’re all after? I think not. I hope not. It doesn’t stop the accusation of hypocrisy through group think from being true. Nor does it authorize a digression from civil disagreement in a community that continuously goes out of it’s way to pat itself on the back for acceptance. After I wrote that last post, I went back and read Gabe’s thoughts under Explainer Guy’s comment and realized I had pretty much regurgitated the exact same things that he said (and we all know that whatever Gabe says goes!). I added the defense for G-sauce not being dramatic or passive aggressive, obvs. But, sorry, I wholeheartedly agree that sometimes the community is hurtful and insulting; that it does express an easy and unchallenged disrespect for those it does not understand. Valid point made. Valid point should be acknowledged (or else!). Maybe the community doesn’t seem that way to you, because you’re so funny, witty, and good-looking (according to teacherman), but definitely more often than you or t-man seem willing to admit.
Bee-Tee-Dubs, Godsauce is def. a fella as I had a beer with him (or someone who claimed to be him) Aye-Are-Ell while I was on a .biz trip to the ATL about 3 weeks ago. And I’m in ATX. Where ya’ll at?
Whoops! My B on the gender mix-up. Not quite sure why I was thinking lady. On the rest of it: fair enough. Obviously everyone is experiencing this little thing in his own way, and it’s not really right for any of us to assume that our way is the only way.
Missed the last question! We’re in ATL ourselves.
Just wanted to conclude–you’re right that teacherman and I might not be able to see clearly the negative things that other people are experiencing. We love the Monsters and love is blind sometimes.
Sweet. Maybe next time I’m out there we can get an ATL pizza party going.
alright, well, my 2 cents is a little jumbled and occasionally self-serving but here goes. i am a HUGE record nerd and i work in the record nerd business of reissuing music from back in the day (before i had status and before i had a pager). one thing i’ve learned in this business is that, unless you are/were a huge star, your chances of getting paid for a reissue are next to nothing. i’ve communicated with a lot of old, obscure artists whose titles are controlled by one of the majors (WEA, EMI/CAP, UMG, SONY BMG) and not one of them has seen a single dollar, or even accounting statements for that matter. if they’re lucky they at least own their own publishing which means they get paid 9 cents per song per cd or lp or mp3 sold. the philosophy of the majors seems to be the same as kathy bates in fried green tomatoes, “we’re older and we have better lawyers.”
so, i will admit to downloading old records off blogs. but i have rules about it. if it’s available as a reissue on a independent label (i.e. sundazed, light in the attic, etc.) i buy it because i want those labels to stay in business. if it’s reissued on a major, on the other hand, i probably won’t because i have read enough about the majors to hate everything about them. if it’s not currently in print then i have very few qualms about dl’ing it because there’s no chance of the artist getting paid anyhow, and at least i’m helping to carry on the legacy of some obscure artist and record.
all that said, anything i’ve ever downloaded, i’ll purchase on vinyl if/when i find it. though, used cd/record sales opens up a whole other can of worms. yes, it’s helping independent record sellers to stay in business but the money trail stops there. the labels aren’t getting paid, and the artists certainly aren’t getting paid. in theory they got paid once for it, initially, but what’s to stop that one cd from becoming 100s of mp3s on 10s of computers through the continued resale of it?
anyways, every time i have this conversation my opinion alters slightly and there’s always more questions than answers but one thing that will never change, i never steal new, independent music.
I think a lot of that last thread everyone trying to justify using improper means to obtain music. Watching the discussion unfold, it really became apparent to me that my own perceptions of how I obtain music were fundamentally flawed; Mans makes the simple, unshakable (and completely prudent) argument that theft is against the law. Does it matter that the business model is fucked up? Does it matter that artists may or may not get a majority of their revenue elsewhere? Does it matter that the artist has a fuck-ton of money already?
I’m not going to lie to you people by saying I never have and sill don’t download music illegally. But as time goes on, I’m finding it harder to make the case that I’m somehow sticking it to someone, that I’m fighting the good fight. I’m just being kind of an asshole and taking something for free when being specifically told not to take it for free.
LIAR
Crap that was supposed to be in response to fucking “chris trash”
HA! HA HA! HA! What a moron! He doesn’t know how to reply!!!!!!
I saw this today and it made me laugh:
shirts be needing more worfs.
Always a ballsmaid, never a ball. I missed it by 3 votes…
Oh well. I don’t give a care! (turns away before anyone sees tear.)
Great weekend you guys!
I feel you, and then some (TWSS?)
OMG, teacherman, I laughed so hard when I read that comment the day you posted it. So good.
I gladly give you one of my Ball slots, Teach.
Oh man, that is what SHE SAID.
Thanks guys. I feel like doing the monster mash.
If it’s any consolation, I said “OOF! DING DONG! Classic long cat.” to myself so many times on Friday to get me through the work day. AND IT WORKED!
I’ve been feeling pretty unfunny lately, and have been staying away from Videogum for that reason, but god damn, those top comments gave me a good laugh, and reminded me how great you all are.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll spend the rest of the weekend reviewing all the amazing posts I missed.
You could never not be funny, because your avatar will always make me laugh. Why are there no Pepper Ann reruns? She was the best.
Well, you should comment more because I LOVE YOU.
You know when life is going alright, not great, but you know bearable as far as life goes, because it’s pretty hard, and then all of a sudden a big black specter swoops over your vision [imagine That One, except sitting on your brain for no goddamn reason] and it’s like, why? Why and what is the point and goddamnfucking WHY?
But then you read a great thread about comedians reacting to a really really long cat and it gets a little better?
That’s always nice.
This post is nice, too. Monsters are really nice.
I love this post, but I’m sorry that I’m your reference point for the terrible big black spectre that gives you an unwanted existential crisis.
I wish I could say this is the first time this comparison has been made.
That was a joke, but seriously, how many loved ones have I caused to question the most basic minutiae of their everyday existence? Ugh, too many.
“Seriously though, why are you laughing? Every experience you’ve ever had, even this laughter – especially this laughter – are nothing more than temporarily stored memories which will gradually fade into oblivion as your body betrays you in ways you never though possible and you should have noticed but didn’t notice because you’ve worked your entire life at a job that you took no joy in and never benefited anyone and in fact it was detrimental to the global society but there was no time or reason for you to question its merits because societal and evolutionary pressure told you to procreate so you did and spent your life doing a terrible thing that you hated with the slimmest hope that your offspring would not suffer the same fate but you knew ultimately would so while you climb into your twenty year death bed called “The Golden Years” your children are too busy working their entire lives at a job they take no joy in and don’t benefit anyone to make sure that the last few years you have before your mind and body melt away – preferably the former before the latter – aren’t as shit-stained and terrifying as they will inevitably be NOT TO MENTION the fact that while all this is happening, wars that are beyond your control to stop are killing countless people every single day, children starve and die of unspeakable illness, women are raped and brutalized in the name of misinterpreted religious text and industries that you’re powerless against continue to poison us and wage what seems like a deliberate war on our existence as a species. I mean, do you know what it took for that Coke to get into these people’s cups, through their plastic straws and lids and into their systematically poisoned bodies to distract them while their minds are also systematically poisoned with torrential advertising that poses as distraction from the shit that faces them once they leave this systematically poisoning excuse for art?”
“Honey, you’re being an asshole. The movie’s about to start. I’m sure Paranormal Activity 2 isn’t that bad.
I love my wife.
I love this comment so much, I wanna take it behind the theater and get it pregnant so we can have children that will be too busy working their entire lives at a job they take no joy in and don’t benefit anyone to make sure that the last few years we have before our minds and letters melt away aren’t as shit-stained and terrifying as they will inevitably be.
Or you can become a starving artist and just really hope for the best because you were able to shower your only child with so much extra attention and love, and you didn’t have the financial resources to place so much value on material things. I dunno….. there just seems to be no instructions that come with life.
We should have lunch, That One, because this is basically what I do too.
I work in advertising. Drink more Coke.
what thread is this? I assume it’s the loooong cat one that’s been referenced infinity times in this thread….
Ebert/DeLahaye 2016
This gif is terrible. I cannot stop watching it/laughing.
Have you ever seen that .gif of the kid in the puddle and the dog runs through and hipchecks him to the ground, and as he gets back up – shaken, sad, and thoroughly soggy, tears welling up in his eyes looking to his parents – the dog comes back for another hipcheck. Bam in the puddle again…
So good right?*
* Not so good! It actually legit makes me sad. I just want to pick the kid up and say “*cat hanging on wire* Hang in there!”
Have a great weekend monsters! Babe25 and I are going to one of those restaurants where you feed each other in the dark. Should be pretty horny.
is that a thing that actually exists outside of an episode of csi?
Dude! How will you know that you are sticking you hands in a bowl of spaghetti and not into a bowl of braaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnsssssssss???
Ok I wasn’t going to post anything & then I saw this:
Happy Friday
Guys, I’ve been off my gamegum lately. I’ve been coming to posts late, missing all the good comments, posting my golden photoshops long after everyone has moved on (I thought my “Gwynyth Steals Birdie” .jpg was just streets ahead, but it didn’t get the acclaim I was hoping for). I’m on West Coast time too, so by the time I get to work and log on, Gabe’s already posted like five things. I just feel a step behind all the rest of you amazing Monsters.
I guess what I’m saying is, I’m the tyranny of evil men. But I’m tryin’, Ringo. I’m trying real hard to be the shepherd.
Foz, we’ve all been there. And for what it’s worth, the Gwyneth Steals Birdie was my favorite thing. Teacherman actually made sure I didn’t miss it, because he knew I would love it so. And I do.
For those who (fortunately) missed it–it was Chris Farley, and it bummed me out so hard.
Look at the bright side, fozzy; the straggling monsters get to miss all the diarrhea eaters and bloody comedians, all the harangues and diatribes, all the thread-long spars, and get straight to the ROTFLAHMS! ROTFLAHMS, my friend, just the straight-up ROTFLAHMS.
For clarification— for I too am a west coast monster who’s been asleep all day and is a huge stand-up comedy fan— what deceased comedian was posted by that shitface earlier today that has since been [redacted]?
It was hard to tell, I think it was Belushi. It was not a very nice thing to look at.
Thanks, GbV. I knew it was probably either Lenny Bruce, John Belushi, Chris Farley, Greg Giraldo, or Mitch Hedberg. Anyway you slice it, the result of posting a photo of one of them dead is “You suck and are banned for being shitty.” I was afraid it was Giraldo, as he was the most recent death.
This is the first I’ve heard of this bloody comedian thing. Plus I didn’t know Godsauce was leaving until this post. Same with the Juan Williams thread incident. What a great first monster’s ball it’s been.
You guys are all the best. Here, have some baby otters.
Amen. On West Coast time as well and too busy at work to keep up. I’m always wayyy behind the speed of the internet.
By the time I finish typing and submitting this, there will be three new threads within this thread that are all meta, referencing another thread that was also posted after this thread.
Where are my dentures and hover-rocking chair – I’m getting ancient.
You and Foz aren’t the only ones. I generally log on in the morning to read a couple of posts, generally from the day BEFORE as my son is getting ready for school, and then I’m LUCKY if I get to log on again that day. Generally, I play catch up during the weekend, but then posting a comment seems like a waste of time, generally. I’ve posted so little lately, I’ve lost my gif posting magic! SIGH
If it’s all the same to you Monsters out there that are late to the party, post your comments anyway – we may not be remembered in the Monsters Ball, but hey, some of us out there are reading what you are writing!
as above i commented after you cuz i agreed with you – here i am agreeing again! and all of you think your late cuz your on westcoast time im on hawaii time and way behind. like in another world behind, but still find myself driven to keep up with the happenings here as it is so happenin’.
Like I did with JORTS last week, this week I just dropped “We Monsters” into my DJ set:
Confused listeners abound!
That’s awesome. I love to confuse the masses.
Someone told me on twitter that I’d been mentioned here, so I guess I won’t be able to sneak out the back door without saying a drunken 2am goodbye.
Yes, I am taking a sabbatical from Videogum.
This community is like a family to me, and sometimes it is just really necessary to get the fuck away from my family. Especially when my baby brother won’t stop talking about politics, and I’ve heard my father tell the same joke 14 million times.
I appreciate that this is a wonderful place full of wonderful people, and I am proud to be a part of it. Unfortunately, I do not always agree with the consensus views on certain ideas and on certain people, and those things and those people often become the objects of scorn and ridicule in ways that I sometimes find hurtful and insulting. Worse still, the opinions of dissenters in the community are often marginalized by downvotes or insulted by peers.
My instinct is to respond when I disagree with one of Gabe’s posts or when I feel that another commenter has been unfair, but lately the prospect has been exhausting. I have found myself writing long responses in defense of an enemy-of-the-gum or in support of an unpopular position or in an effort to find an amusing way to indicate a fundamental disagreement with the premise of a post, and I end up just deleting the drafted comment and moving on. The problem is that every time I fail to respond, I feel like a hypocrite. I feel like I am implicitly condoning the community’s easy and unchallenged disrespect for those that it does not understand.
Many of you have made reference to family gatherings where you felt alone in your unorthodox political viewpoints while surrounded by people of a different mind. That is how I feel here. My point of view is very different from the community’s, and countering this forum’s conventional wisdom is a Sisyphean task. I appreciate that you are respectful of me personally, but you don’t seem to realize how ugly and brutal you can be when you have a target to eviscerate whose perspective is easy to caricature. You also don’t realize that when you do that, it often hurts me.
There are other things that have been bugging me as well. Little things about loved ones that become annoying when I’ve spent too much time around them. Things that drive me crazy when you do them because they also bug me when I do them, and I hate being reminded of my myriad imperfections.
Right now, I need some time apart from Videogum. I hope that in a little while, perhaps after the elections, I can return to find that the endearing qualities seem more prominent, and the frustrating ones have faded into the background.
I’ll see you all again when I return.
Have a refreshing sabbatical, and come back on your own terms and in your own time!
P.S. I don’t know why photobucket made this comic strip so small when I uploaded it, but I also put it on twitpic in case anyone wants to see it bigger- http://twitpic.com/302qvj
That is quite awesome! What film is that from, might I ask?
It’s from the anime classic “Vampire Hunter D.” D’s saved the day and is moving on, and the girl and her little brother try to catch up to D to say goodbye. It’s just really funny because in the English dubbing they just shout “D! … D!!!“ incessantly.
You’ll be missed! Come back soon.
GOODBYE for now Godsauce. You will BE MISSED. Now, once MORE, YOU MUST ride with your knights TO DEFEND WHAT was, and the DREAM OF WHAT could be.
Godsauce, I will make sure that no one sits in your chair while you are gone.
Also, watch out for Gargamels.
And Hank Azaria…
…dressed as Gargamel.
tl;dr
gabe has the correct opinion about juan williams
On the flip side of Godsauce’s above, very thoughtful goodbye post – I just read the long cat comedian thread and fell in love all over again with Videogum and all of you monsters.
Good to catch up on my videogum, as I’m usually too busy at work these days to get to it much. Good show all.
Hey kids,
If you want to join the “monster” basketball fantasy league, sign up now at Yahoo. league number 107942 password birdie. Thanks to garbage face for creating it. Draft is Sunday.
AWESOME.
Also, coach? You seem to have gotten significantly older since high school. And a lot more… not black…
Videogum is just a blog. Never forget.
hey videogum – i’m sorry. that’s to anyone who got even the slightest bit uncomfortable (or felt a lot worse) if they read the parts where i was throwing around some heavy shit the other day.
my (big) mistake.
if that happened to you, but you see this now, I hope this has an at least equally relaxing effect on you. that is, if not a net positive relaxing effect, maybe, if you’re lucky.
seriously – whoops. sorry.
As someone relatively new, and perpetually playing catch up on Vgum, I saw that whole thing played out at once. And indeed, it was heavy. And I know just as well as everyone else that “confidence juice” can make us do and say things that we normally wouldn’t. (Just ask the black eye I received from the man I politely told to go fuck himself that one night. Yikes, amirite?)
But yeah, no harm done, at least from my end. My main reason to comment though – and this isn’t meant to make you feel any worse – is to say to watch the “Go kill yourself”s, you know? Every time, it made me cringe. *sad face*
yeah, well, that’s the stuff I’m talking about.
it makes me cringe too. sorry.