You Tube Videos

[tvargan]

Following a recent thread, which is currently locked, I'll give my opinion.

There are a lot of nice videos on you tube. Good stuff! These are well worth seeing.

However, there are also videos that show fireworks being used in dangerous, inappropriate, anti-social and potentially criminal ways. There are also anti-firework videos that are often ill informed, or even outright malicous.

I'd suggest a policy that forbids linking to You Tube videos, other than those which show fireworks being used in a manner that is consistent with safe and sensible practice.

[Andy_P]

Please see the decision we came to in the (now open again) topic.
Whilst we are obviously keen to promote safe practice, what is considered safe or reasonable can be very different in other countries.
THAT sort of video clip is fine by me, ones just showing stupid stunts are not.

[lewyb86]

my 2p worthas with most things there is a sensible side of people (us) and the not so sensible side now with youtube you can see both sides and i feel that people who join this forum do so with the best intentions, and such vids will not sway you into lightinh fireworks in shops or fireing rockets from your bum etc they should be used as a tool to educate people and such shd be alowed on this forum.just my 2p worth

[Andy_P]

Oh come on... No one posts a video either on Youtube or on here showing someone firing a rocket from his teeth (or worse) as an educational tool. Surely it's It's more like car-crash TV and how no-one can resist looking at a accident scene.

This forum's better than that.

[Masterchief]

Hear Hear

[lewyb86]

fair enough but it doesnt make you want to launch a rocket from your teeth does it so in some point in your life someone or sumthing has told you (educated) you that it is bad and something bad could happen now in this day and age where a lot of young and future users of fireworks learn from the net dont you feel this forum could be a port in a storm now it is a public forum.like i said my 2p worth

[RocketRev]

I'm very much involved in community and youth matters - it's part of my "job". I've got a primary school and my 3 children are in secondary school at the moment. I've been invited to go into that secondary school in a couple of weeks to do a firework safety session with 250 Year 7 children. So here's my 2p worth.......

Originally Posted by lewyb86

fair enough but it doesnt make you want to launch a rocket from your teeth does it

True - for me and, I assume, you. But there are many youngsters who'll get the idea and will want to try it for one reason or another. I'm one of the people who gets to hear the tales and also to see the evidence. I've also been on the receiving end of what some youngsters thought was cool to do with fireworks.

Originally Posted by lewyb86

some point in your life someone or sumthing has told you (educated) you that it is bad and something bad could happen

True. But so many youngsters have been told / educated yet don't / won't listen. They go out and do it anyway. Some will only learn the hard way through hard won experience. Quite apart from any impetus to rebel against authority by doing what they've been told not to do / is bad for you, there's a recognised theory of learning that says some people will learn from books / talks (i.e. by reading / listening) whilst others will learn by doing. For these latter folk, what tells them that it is bad is not you, me or teacher saying so, but rather the experience that it hurt when they tried it. For them it's, as you say, "sumthing has told you..."

Originally Posted by lewyb86

now in this day and age where a lot of young and future users of fireworks learn from the net

Some learn from the net that if they do the things they see on YouTube etc. then they can get their video up there and get their bit of "fame" and public attention. They see the number of hits the videos get and want the same popularity. They see the joking and "respect" the kids seem to be giving those who dare to try and want the same for themselves. One video of some action appears and then more follow..... copycatting is going on for one reason or another.

In an odd way, we fall foul of the same urges ourselves. I see it in all sorts of forums.... One video of stupid behaviour is shown or one anecdote or joke is told or one witty reply is made and folk fall over themselves to follow suit..... so a series of video's or anecdotes or jokes follow, each one trying to outdo the others. There are times when that's great fun - runs of really good jokes or tales are told and a good laugh is had all round. But it's not always a good idea.

Originally Posted by lewyb86

dont you feel this forum could be a port in a storm now it is a public forum

Absolutely right. But remember, a port in a storm is a safe haven, a place to run to from the storm - not a place where you go to get caught up in a storm. When it comes to keeping this forum a safe port, judgement has to be exercised and getting it fair and right can involve some close calls and no doubt some questioned calls.

I think Andy made the right call in the case of the YouTube videos that gave rise to the discussion in this thread. At least in the UKFR forum we can have the debate and discussion and, as a result, who knows how things might develop. For example, the Pro Forum was introduced by Pyro Pete to enable the discussion of some things that wasn't appropriate in the General forum. Mind you, somehow I don't expect us to have a forum just for posting YouTube clips etc - well, clips of questionable behaviour with fireworks at any rate! Might be worth having a video clip forum for other stuff, though......

[tvargan]

One potential issue with You Tube is that the "realted links" , which appear automatically after a video, can be totally inapprorpaite. Two direct examples. I once posted a video of a fireworks show with "Rule Britannia" as the theme, and most of the related videos were racist, skinhead, BNP stuff. I don't, of course, support these people- I am after all from a Jewish background, so I pulled the video to avoid any connection.

I also posted a video of a wedding, and one of the realted links was a song called "I like Bukkake" - not exactly appropraite.

I noticed a recent video from a fireworks shop, just a basic video of someones stash, somehow has managed to get 3 or 4 different links attached directly too it of people firing rockets out of the arse.

Potentially, a simple product sample video can link directly, via the related links at the end of the clip, to videos showing how to make X ....

I'm not sure how this can be avoided.

[Pyro Pete]

Thanks for the comments and opinions expressed here.

I would like to keep things are they are - everyone is welcome to post YouTube video clips, but bear in mind please this is a pro-fireworks and pro-safety forum. There is no reason people should be posting video clips showing intentional firework misuse. In that case, myself or a moderator reserves the right to remove a link or post.

Please remember that moderators have to look at the bigger picture in particular how such a video or link (or why a pro firework forum is hosting it) is perceived elsewhere for example by the public or the anti-fireworks brigade. This does mean a judgement call and we won't all agree with this all of the time. However our decision is final.

Context is also key here. I personally have no problems with video content showing non-UK fireworks, some of these can be quite shocking in UK terms (Las Fallas springs to mind) but are quite normal in the host country. In that case providing it is clear in the video or link that it's non-UK then it's fine with me.

If you see any post or video that you feel isn't right for UKFR, use the "Report Post" option which will alert a moderator who will then take a look.

[Intoxic8]

The posting of youtube videos from one viewpiont could be that it might not be subtible for here, but what is subtible. I feel its more of a case of relevence. If it relates to a topic within the community no matter how horriffic or stupid then it holds relevence. A combination of positive properties can be extracted such as view and talking points, discussion, and awareness. To wrap the community up in cotton wool and withdraw its use would just create curiosity. We are not stupid or Neive. Id like to think that we all hold a sensible level of common sense and the abilty to take what we want from veiwing these. As for protecting our kids from such videos then Youtube should police what isnt subible for its site as we will for ours. As Pete said the reporting of possible usuitable material is the best way to police it.

Ill give an example of this, the video has been posted manytimes so you all should know what im on about. It was the video of the fireworks factory fire in holland or gemany somewhere like that. It was rumoured the camera man died in the incident. Now it may be a tad incensitive posting that video based on the fact people were hurt but by seeing it we all know how serious out of control fireworks are and that a nice attractive wrapper around what essentially just looks like a harmless box is acually potentialy a bomb in a box. It showed me how impotant staking cakes is as i know lots of freinds who in the past bought cakes grounded them and lit them. They were suprised why i had staked the fireworks and seeing the videos of stupid idiots who dont do this only cements the need for stakes. I learnt all i know from UKFR and i know i still have loads more to learn. All in all this video alone creates huge awareness and a more educated voice to pass on to our kids for there safty awareness.