YouTube launches Citizentube

11Apr07

YouTube has launched Citizentube. Citizentube is designed to fuel the revolution of YouTube politics. What is YouTube politics? Let’s ask the good folks at YouTube:

What is YouTube politics? The answer to that question is as varied as the users who jump onto the platform. But it’s one thing for certain: a place where everyone, from users to candidates, has the same chance to be seen and heard. Let the best ideas win.

Now all I need is a webcam… I accept cash or check donations.

While I’m all for giving everyone a voice, I am reluctant to say that Youtube would be the appropriate forum. If you have seen the type of comments people leave on videos, and then compound it with the endless heated political flame wars over political ideology that occur on the internet, you probably know what I’m talking about. In most online political debate, neither side listens to the other, nor do they give the other side any respect. Like some of the most hated TV political pundits, members spew off cookie cutter criticisms without any real thought. Their typed comments become sharper than their tongues.

Years ago, I have been in a few of these arguments myself, over whether it was the right decision to invade Iraq. None of us really knew anything about what was happening. All we knew was 9-11. All we felt was 9-11. And in the end, if I remember correctly, the arguments drew on between hawks and doves for days, until everyone became disgusted with the shape of the debate, and moved on.

There was a picture that was created for online debates like those. It was an image of a disabled child running on a track, and the caption stated, “Arguing online is like the Special Olympics, either way you’re still retarded.” As politically incorrect as it was, it expressed the jaded attitude many people have devoloped over years of internet debates, over politics, the existance of God/gods, the eternal struggle between Windows and Mac fanboys (*cough* linux *cough*), etc.

The internet has given everyone a voice and there are many cases in which people have benefitted, eg. a bone marrow drive on Youtube or bringing awareness to genocide in Darfur. But humanitarian interest issues are easy. Everyone can agree. The problem is, without a proper moderator, a political debate on the most remotely controversial issue between people sitting at their keyboards, who most likely do not have a full understanding of what they are talking about, rarely leads to an educational debate. It becomes a wall of noise. People insulting each other and disregarding any valid points. Like YouTube I have great hopes for citizentube, but personal experience has taught me to expect the worst.

[update] I found this picture and thought it was perfect for this

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