The Five Stages of YouTube Addiction

[Hattlen]

just changing five stages of death; not that great

[Auriella1]

You know you have an addiction when you've watched more than 10 Chris Crocker videos, and when you've made a promise to yourself never to comment on his videos.

[Seanqw3]

lol i know exactly what you're talking about.

[spikereaver88]

this is class "A" NOT FUNNY. what a bore

[thermisius]

yeah i also admit to watching too much youtube on account that I have almost 10,000 video views since the middle of last may and i have been watching youtube since the summer of 2006.

[bulbheadmyass]

Great video! I have to admit I am afflicted and addicted and to sun it up - I'm A YouTube Junkie.

Don't believe me? Check my vid called "I'm a YouTube Junkie" and it's my featured vid on my channel.

[kenrg]

With treatment you can cut down on your YT use, but it's never possible to remove it completely. And why would you want to, anyway?

[bulbheadmyass]

I hear they have a patch. :o)

[WorkingRevolution]

Oh damn this was funny, im showing all stage one many stage 2 and some stage 4 signs, but without the correct equipment or the tech savvy to make my own vides i cant really experience the full stretch of stages...but anywho very funny video, i shall subcribe :D

[kenrg]

No equipment? Come on ... web cams have gotten real cheap ;^) Just search eBay...

(I know, I'm an enabler) Thanks!

[Dragoon27]

have u ever tryed pills there joke :) :D

[farinalea]

I am in stage 1 but i know i will never move on to stage 2 and onwards! Look i don't even have my own videos so i'm not really an addict ok!

[kenrg]

but you will have your own videos, yes, you will!

[PS3FANBOY305]

i promis u i am a youtube addict i have over 400 favorites and 11 videos all i do is watch youtube

[RebeccaMagnifiq]

hahah. love it. when people ask me what i am doing on aim i am going to send them this video. :P

[lilnesbomb]

you're fucking weird...

[MrWackomaster]

lol very insteresting i think im in stage 1 lol it proves that i might be in stage 4 though or the one that says o i dont need subscribers but i noe im addicted lol

[clayLavl]

i'm glad i finally watched this one. i'm in stage2. i was worse.

[kenrg]

Only stage two? You need to watch more videos!

[mspiggy17]

LOL! me have no life atm.. yes! im addicted to youtube coz, tv is boring, all i do is flip through channels since nothing's worth watching. but nop, i accept the addiction,

coz denial is soo like blah. awesome idea tho,

i can relate :D ehehe... and you sound like one of my teachers too. nice work sir ken. 5 starz!

[kenrg]

Thanks - We all must face our addiction head on and proudly say, "I'm a 'Tubaholic, and I don't want to be cured!"

[captainfury2007]

I'm not an addict.

Why doesnt kenrg ever respond to my comments!?

I'm sorry, I'll sub to you if you sub back?

I hate myself. I don't need kenrg.

I'm okay with my one subscriber, who is actually me anyway.

[kenrg]

I'll never respond to your comments. It's part of my evil plan to drive you mad, then sign you up as a patient to Dr. Woodcup.

[myjugsarehuge]

Great, love the William Sledd references, has he subscribed to you? I have cos you made me smile a lot, 6 subscribers my ass

[kenrg]

Thanks - No, William Sledd has not subscribed or commented, and even rejected this as a response vid to one of his videos. Oh well. Some people have no sense of humor when it comes to being stalked ;^)

Thanks for subbing!

[ShreddedSociety]

Very interesting, I like,

[kenrg]

Thanks!

[WHATevaTV]

This is excellent. I subscribed.

[kenrg]

Thank you! Help is at hand...

[clockmakers55]

Brilliant !!!! Tongue-in-cheek and so true.

[kenrg]

Thank you!

[atree3]

are you going to do a flip side?

[kenrg]

No, Dr. Woodcup is as flipped as it gets.

[fallofautumndistro]

Hah, kenrg, this was great. I think I'm stuck between stage three and four. =)

[kenrg]

Really? I'd have marked you for having gone through the full cycle a few times by now ;^)

[H0neyBabyD0ll]

outstanding!...

[kenrg]

Thanks!

[21stCenturyCat]

very well observed, now if only I knew who WilliamSledd was...

[kenrg]

Frankly, I'd heard of him (76,000 subscribers), but I'd never watched any of his videos until AFTER I'd posted this. Seems like a nice enough young man, but I have no interest in watching another.

[twister7boy]

i really came here to see others and so others can see me. so in away i am addicted but i hope i will never lose sight of why i came here to begin with. you have friends then acwantences. i would rather have friends. plus if i was ever to get to big here "like that will ever happen" but i reply to all my friends here and i'm affraid that wont happen anymore if i ever did get big here. so thats how i look at it for me right now. what do you think?

[kenrg]

Keeping sight of your goals is important - on YouTube or anywhere in life. This is a great place to meet people and make friends, but it can take a little while and a little patience to make it happen. Best of luck.

[twister7boy]

so i am looking to make friends on here as well but i like seeing and making friends in person as well as on here. i miss being able to just hang out with in person. plus i get tired of writing them and talking on the phone with them. so friends are very important to. i cimment on all vids i watch and talk to all my friends here. so i hope to meet alot of people here in person one day. not just over the internet.

[twister7boy]

great video about youtubbers. i am at the point where i spend alot of time here. but subscribers and frinds are very impotrant to me but i wont bargin for anything and i dont care really how popular i get i care more for the people that like me for the way i am. and me to them for they way thay are so that will never change. i also keep intouch with anybody thats wants to talk to me. i just moved so my friends are not around me.

[taragolden]

actually ken, you are on a very short list( yeah thats right, just you) that id bargain for.. really this is a very good video.. maybe not your best dr,woodcup,, as i loved the forest scene, but very very good..

[taragolden]

damn, why isnt this featured yet?

[kenrg]

Ah, that's the eighth stage; anger and bargaining for OTHER people's videos...

[blackturtleus]

Funny video! You seem to portray a relatively unsuccessful YouTube addict, do the megastars on YouTube go through the same stages in the same order? Where does compulsively posting videos fit in to your system? I've noticed some users who post like three a day... consistently!!!

[kenrg]

Yes, the compulsive poster... I suppose that will have to be another follow-up video. The partners are not addicted; they've just got lousy jobs.

[GeneticBlend]

Yes yes. I've been through all of those stages several times. And I invented a few I think. What stage is the delusional stage where I think I have a chance to become a YT partner?

[kenrg]

At that point you're well into the double digit stages. That stage has ruined many talented 'Tubers - just look at what happened to Nalts!

[stuartmoffatDOTcom]

this is so true, especialy about the "ill be a much better blogger if i have a few hundred more subscribers".....

I bargain alot :P

[kenrg]

Two more stages to go...

But, you know, I think the bargaining stage continues as you progress through the later stages...

[OhCurt]

Woodcup is very wise.

And perhaps over-caffeinated.

Anyway, yeah, this was a good video, but it's not like I couldn't have stopped watching it if I really wanted to.

[kenrg]

Woodcup is tired. He's been hiding in the woods all summer. You may not be able to relate to the YouTube addiction, but I'm sure you can relate to the caffeine abuse?

[OhCurt]

I'm only on my 4th cup of coffee, so I have no idea what you're talking about.

[Justinmazing]

Brilliant! I don't know what kind of LSD you take to come up with these genius videos but I would love to have some.

[kenrg]

I don't take anything now but whiskey and wine. It's just the flashbacks from what I may or may not have taken in the past...

[MBRHIndustries]

hey wait a minute, I don't have a social life! I'm too busy trying to cook a new more effective batch of internet crack.

[kenrg]

Well, when you get that recipe perfected, be sure to post it here so we can all share in the fun!

[LukaIsntLuka]

that was great! :-)

[kenrg]

Thank you!

[Minniver]

I don't need kenrg to reply to my comment... I just don't care anymore.... I'm taking down all my videos... I'm closing my account... Who cares about some silly videos anyway?

[kenrg]

Well, if you're deleting your account then I won't bother to reply to your comment. So there.

[theheyoka]

wow, GREAT JOB, ken.. i love it. thanks for the much needed laugh today.. i look forward to seeing this vid featured. 5 stars from me..

[kenrg]

Thanks - The character wouldn't exist without you!

[taragolden]

very kind of you to say...

[ChordToNowhere]

BILLY!

[kenrg]

Where!?!? Billy's dead!

[mom4education]

Dear kenrq,

Clever video, going thru those 5 stages, and all.

Anger Stage: I dun know, but I've witnessed a lot of anger around here, what with the little-people (the unrecognized, YouTube viewing community) trying to get the SHOOTING STARS TUBERS dumped in the toilet. It's happened several times since I've joined YouTube (most recently with Chris Crocker). I chalk it up to survival of the fittest. Would make Darwin proud.

Thanks for posting. Like your style! (o:

Love,

mom

[kenrg]

Thanks, Mom! I usually try to avoid the drama and gang-ups, but then when I least expect it, I get sucked into them myself. It's kid of hard to steer clear of completely if you make a lot of videos or comments. But, yes, a lot of the anger is a very petty sort, isn't it?

[groovytimes]

Just what I need, more classes -_-b

[kenrg]

But the only test after this one is whether or not you can leave a clever comment. You passed!

[groovytimes]

YES!~

[LeSaMilano]

haha seems your audience is captive...elsewhere!!! LOL

[kenrg]

What do you mean? I saw a full room!

[TheSuspendedMeul]

Doctor, I managed to escape and break the addiction for a while, but I'm being sucked back in, I can't help it..that feeling of wanting more and more. I tried chewing gum for a bit but it just doesn't seem to work. I dont want to go back to the cupboard under the stairs but I feel I have no choice..

[kenrg]

Chewing gum can never compare to the thrill of watching mentos & soda geysers. Stop trying to fight it, sit back, and enjoy the ride.

[geezerart]

Okay, Okay, I know who you are imitating! Be careful or Tom will make fun of your neck! lol Freida

[kenrg]

DISCLAIMER: This character is not based on any real psychoanalysts I know of, current, past, or future. And certainly not any who've moved into corporate consulting. Hope that helps...

[tlg847]

My lawyers will be in touch in the morning, Dr. Plasticmug!! This kind of slanderous, libelous, disclaimer can't be left to stand unpunished!! Oh, and you're a pencil neck!

[tlg847]

How 'bout the stage where you think people are writing songs about you?

Yikes!!

[kenrg]

When you start imagining songs are about you, it's time to pack it in, I'm afraid. No help for that one.

[tlg847]

OK, then how 'bout some meds just to take the edge off?

[kenrg]

You're the doctor, whatever you want to prescribe. Personally, I'd recommend whiskey, and lots of it.

[ajdpadbury]

I like this character Ken, we do not see him enough! I can add to Stage 2 - Anger: "When I actually GET a comment, why can I not read it?!"

[kenrg]

And then there's stage 6 - traveling to another continent to make a video collaboration...

[ajdpadbury]

LOL! I wonder if Dr. Woodcup could work on an antedote?:)

[MHarris1920]

Don't I know all about that!!!How nuts was that??

[violaozim]

haha... got to love the way Dr. Woodcup talks! I'm already a big fan of Dr. Smiles, yay to Youtube Doctors!

[kenrg]

Thank you. We're all affiliated with the YouTube HMO that you get with your paid membership.

[doobiesmk]

Yay! The ignominious return of Dr. Woodcup!

[kenrg]

There was much demand for my services. And I'm feeling much better now, thank you.

[30andout]

Dr. Woodcup -

I see the attendance at your lectures has increased. I'm sure your success can be attributed to the fashion advice you've received from WilliamSledd.

[kenrg]

WilliamSledd! Do you think he'll notice? He hasn't responded to this yet...

[KennyWrites]

There's a lot of truth here! I've written about YouTubers who are at each of these 5 stages. Humorous, but insightful too!

[kenrg]

Nothing but the truth. Thank you!

[hobeabd]

Brilliant! :)

[kenrg]

Thank you!

[DoctorMetropolis]

lucky we have this good doctor to make it all clear.

[kenrg]

Thank you, good colleague doctor! We fake doctors must stick together!

[brignoni68]

That was funny Ken! You play that role so naturally. Is he based on anyone in particular or is it just a natural outgrowth of YOUR persona?

[kenrg]

I have no idea who he is. He just appears on my channel from time to time... Thanks!

[wogsland]

I'm on stage 6: YouTube dominates my meatspace.

[kenrg]

I'm hoping to progress to stage 12 by the end of the month. Meatspace?

[wogsland]

Like going over to someone's house as opposed to what we usually do on YouTube - watch and comment.

[rextangle]

Damn! I learned so much today! Thank you Professor... or Doctor!

[kenrg]

That's Doctor Professor to you.

[myrnaukelele]

OK- I accept the fact that I'm addicted to You Tube. Now if only my husband could accept it too...lol! Great vid- loved the last shot.:-)

[kenrg]

If your husband is stuck at an earlier stage, we can always arrange an intervention to bring him along...

[xRemx]

Scary how accurate this really is!

I think I am a Stage 5'er, but I thought I overheard my wife saying something about twelve steps?

[kenrg]

The 12 steps are a myth - Just stick with regular doses of YouTube several time a day and you'll be fine...

[TubularBelle]

NO, I very happily and readily admit that You Tube has taken over my life to the point of me choosing to work afternoon shift and giving up quality time with my partner in order to still have time during the day to spend on You Tube.

[TubularBelle]

The only depression I have re You Tube is that there are not enough hours in the day. I think I skipped all 4 stages and went straight to acceptance. I would like more of my 172 subscribers to watch and comment on my videos but the faithfull few that do, are the ones that really matter. You are too too cool!!!!

[kenrg]

Stage skipper! Stage skipper!

I suppose that's okay, but you missed all the fun of the anger stage...

[xleax]

Kübler-Ross model by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her book On Death and Dying. the stages are also known as five stages of grief.

to come out of a YouTube addiction at acceptence is a very nice progress... as it is in losing a leg, or getting fatally ill and so on ;)

[kenrg]

I'm so glad somebody finally caught the Kubler-Ross connection - Thank you for the comment!

[juliact]

yes, but what treatment is available? and what is the prognosis? is there any hope???????????

[kenrg]

No treatment has been shown to be effective. That is hopeful. Really.

[livingpassion]

Your acceptance stage sounds a lot like denial... Are you sure it isn't simply the addiction cycle? Haha, loved it.

[kenrg]

There are those who say that stage five leads directly back into stage one, but I say they're crazy. Once you get through stage five you are free and never need YouTube again. Really. I'm not in denial...

[FunToRelate]

If I were a student in your class, I would find your halting pedagogical style disconcerting and pedantic. Is there going to be a test on this?

[kenrg]

Yes there is a test. You just passed it. Good work!

[MotherReiver]

That is completely awesome; what an actor you are! I really enjoyed watching, now I know why I subscribed to you!!!

[kenrg]

Thank you!

[MichaelLydon]

Three cheers, Ken, among your very best. Great last minute kicker!! Good acting. Very funny!! You could think of doing this live!

[kenrg]

Thank you - I also want to thank you for the book - I just got to the PO Box yesterday and was pleasantly surprised to find it - I'll dig into it in a few days.

[Annaconda1984]

i'm trying to spam u to the top (-: i think another stage would be reacting to negative comments with videos and all the "drama" on here. A stage I would never want to reach is this one: people thinking they're celebrities and treating people like fans. You have to have achieved something, to be a celebrity (-: and even through videos none of these people really have. With musicians it's a bit different...

[kenrg]

I think we may have a series of "five stage" videos here; five stages of addiction, five stages of e-lebrity, five stages of commenting, etc. - Thanks for the spam!

[WrenFreya]

Nice! Loved the empty classroom. LOL!

[kenrg]

Thanks - I was hoping that joke would play out well, but wasn't sure how it worked.

[WrenFreya]

It worked. =) I hope this one gets featured.

[Annaconda1984]

you should be up on a stage playing (-: and touring the world (I wanna see you in a theatre in germany or prague)...No kidding. This video absolutely rocked. To me addiction on here is when you click your way through from one video to another, start off in the morning and realize that after 10 minutes it's late in the night

[kenrg]

Thank you! I'd rather be in a theater in Prague watching a real performer, but I'll get up on stage if necessary.

[bohogirl1]

i hope you get featured with this. it's spot on.

[kenrg]

Thank you!

[kenrg]

Thank you, kind sir! Not quite the same literary level as some of your vids, but it's what I can do.

[Spacemonkeyone]

Hey...are you the "sub" teacher???

[kenrg]

Guest lecturer. You know, for when the teacher needs to go out to smoke a joint or drop a load.

[Neotrific]

LOL.. Sounds like Meeee! I skipped a few steps here and there and went straight to taking down my vids--not because I feel they are so wonderful that I'm hurting viewers by depriving them of them...I just think some of the ones I make are stupid. Shakesperan quality, Sir!

[kenrg]

Thank you - but don't take them all down; they're my inspiration.

[thefrozenghost]

I'm so glad that I've been able to log into YouTube several times a day for over a year, make lousy comments, post even worse videos and know deep in my heart that I am in no way addicted.

[kenrg]

Very good. I know that I can walk away anytime I choose. I don't have to be here. I don't need to be checking comments on my new video every ten minutes. I can stop whenever I like. Just like you.

[liz1060]

There's a sub-psychopathy in the black hole of "just commenting," too ... re-writing a line until it sounds like the perfect impromptu adlib comment ... wondering why your comment wasn't replied to when everybody else's was ... the shame of proclaiming "First!" only to come back to see three other comments ahead of you ...

[kenrg]

Definitely! I look forward to your video reply explaining all of that!

[liz1060]

Is that like "Aw, com'on -- one little toot's not going to hurt anything."

[kenrg]

It's a liberal arts campus. What can I say?

[WrenFreya]

That was priceless!!!

[bwhahrhr]

take back stage 1, I can not make any argument without seeming to proof this argument!

(:

and ****, william sled NEVER responded to my comments and I have no subscribers. I am a nice person, a little bit depresed but I comment on the videos I like and by subscribing to me you can make myself aware of you.

[kenrg]

Excellent demonstration of the stages, thank you.

[speedyconkiwi]

Hahaha William Sledd^^

Loved the ending, as well as the video before the ending. Oh gawd. What a lame comment.

My apologies.

Great video though^^ 5 stages... I believe there are even more. Like.. Dancing. Singing. Creating alter egos. Drama. Uhm... and now I'm out of ideas.

*****

[kenrg]

Certainly, at least nine stages, but Dr. Woodcup is saving that for the sequel. Thanks!

[ophelia219us]

lol soooooo funny!

[kenrg]

Thank you! (Funny, but sad).

[anakin1814]

Brilliant!!

I'm at stage 7: Dreaming about making and commenting on videos that currently don't exist. That can't be so bad, can it?

[kenrg]

Stage 7? Not a problem at all. But stage 8, where you dream up your own haters and wake up with "Failure" written across your forehead in your own writing, is a bit tough.

[anakin1814]

Is it stage 9 or 10 where you reply to comments the second they show up? (That might be a double one for me!)

[kenrg]

Stage 9 where you reply to them the moment they post. Stage 11 where you reply to them before they post.

[anakin1814]

Good, then I'm only onto stage 9.

Although if you piggy back that back to Stage 8, dreaming that you're commenting on videos that currently don't exist yet, I think we may have a problem with the space/time continuum. (Although these Macs of ours can do ANYTHING)

[urbanblog]

Great! God knows where I am on that scale. Probably all seven........

[kenrg]

Join me in Stage 9. The view is very nice from up here. Or is it down here?

[Aukon07]

By the way, WilliamSledd replied to my comments once. :P nyah!

[kenrg]

Wow! I'm touched by having a comment from somebody who's been replied to by what's-his-name... ;^)

[blairtoo]

yes.

[kenrg]

maybe.

[Annaconda1984]

no, yes!

[morfeene2]

I think you're in Stage 6, there, Ken - "Delusional Imagining" - ha! ha! :-)

[kenrg]

Dr. Woodcup is in stage 6. I'm well on my way to Stage 9 ("Thinking your characters are separate and apart from the real you").

[Aukon07]

Awesome man! :D

[kenrg]

Thank you!