I was in the midst of a business conversation today, speaking to someone about the clever technology their company has developed, when he tried to give me an example. “It’s like the video of the skateboarding dog.” I said I’ve never seen the video of the skateboarding dog.
If you want a definition of stunned silence, that’s what confronted me. It was like that scene in David Lodge’s Small World when Philip Swallow admits he has never read Hamlet.
I don’t think being ignorant about the skateboarding dog puts me in the category of fuddy-duddy high court judges — “What is this Beatles of which you speak?” — or the first president Bush who was amazed by a supermarket bar code scanner. But perhaps I’m wrong. Am I now disqualified from being in touch with the technology zeitgeist?
By the way, after our conversation I was sent a link to the skateboarding dog. I haven’t watched it, hoping my ignorance gives me a certain cachet.
If it’s any consolation I haven’t seen it either.
Related….
A friend sent a parody of a video I hadn’t seen. I looked it up — it had been viewed 34 million times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2cYWfq–Nw&feature=video_response
That’s another one I’ve never encountered.
The skateboarding dog is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQzUsTFqtW0. Only 8 million views — hah!
This thread made me Google “most viewed videos on YouTube”. I’ve never seen Evolution of Dance, which has been viewed 127 million times: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg
Now something worthwhile, in my estimation, like Richter and Oistrakh playing Brahms only logs 57,000 views.
I better watch out. Perhaps I’m turning into Andrew Keen.
Lance
Don’t feel bad – whenever any music post 1994 is discussed I have a blank look and my wife comes to the rescue.
Have a look at this Not The Nine O’Clock News sketch – although early 1980’s the concept is still the same
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSINO6MKtco