My Guilty Pleasures - YouTube Edition

Written by Shae Rufe

​Admittedly, YouTube is the place to go when one is bored, procrastinating, or looking for something hilarious. I'll even go so far to say that it is my top place to go when I'm having trouble writing. Along my journey through the world of YouTube I have seen some pretty interesting things. Some good, some bad, and some things…just…shouldn't be seen. We all have our 'subscribed' lists of people we follow religiously. Well, today I'm here to share with you some of the amazing things I've found on YouTube, and the amazing people I follow! Why? Because out of all the nerdy things that go on around here, YouTube has its moments.

First, is my go to YouTube Channel, Simon's Cat. Maybe you guys have seen these animated shorts done, in black and white, about this adorable little cat that gets into all kinds of shenanigans. If you haven't, you really should. I found these videos a few years ago and have been addicted to them ever since. First, the cat in general reminds me of my two brats. The hilarious antics that Simon's Cat does is so typical of all cats, it’s perfect. These shorts aren't terribly long, generally under two minutes. I can watch all of them within one sitting and giggle insanely. I've even gotten my family addicted to watching them. When a new one comes out, I can bet money on how fast my mom posts it to my Facebook wall, or texts it to me. Of course, there's more than just Simon and his cat. There's also additions, such as a new kitten, a hedgehog, a garden gnome, and of course some birds. These videos are something that every cat person will adore! And if you just happen to have cats, you'll sympathize entirely. This has expanded to include a line of books about the many adventures of Simon's Cat. Simon, in question, bases these shorts off of the many inspirational moments with his own felines. There's little to no talking in these videos, but there is a lot of meowing. What I truly love is that everything is drawn panel by panel, before it's animated and then he does the voice over. That's a bit backwards, but all sounds are made by the creator. 

I have a love of people who make parodies of things. I don't know why, it's just something that amuses me greatly, and something I think a lot of us share an interest in. Enter Smosh. I first got interested in them when they did a parody rap to Legend of Zelda. At first, I was a little more than giddy that someone had actually done something like this. However, the dedication that went into making that video, and of course their costumes, was something that got me hooked into watching a lot of their other stuff. Since, Smosh has gone on to do a lot. They have their own site SmothPit.com, a magazine, and several shows they do on YouTube. What I admire about their videos most, is their ability to take great humor in a lot of situations. They've done several 'What if_______ was real?' videos, like Pokémon, which are my favorite, and made fun of all kinds of things. I love their 'Expectation VS Reality' shorts the best. Of course, they don't take much of anything serious, they do swear a lot (which is somehow fitting), and they always manage to make fantastic behind the scenes videos. If you're looking to lose at least an hour of your day, Smosh is easy to get sucked into. They also play a lot of games, give great commentary, and do some guest appearances elsewhere. It's always fun when YouTube personalities come together.

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​How can I make this blog and not mention College Humor? This site has been around for quite some time, but their YouTube channel was new to me. Mostly because I never thought to look them up on YouTube. I'm willing to bet that their humor is more than just for college students, but hey, it's a catchy name! I found them on accident while searching for some random things on YouTube one day, and the rest is history. They're fake advertisements, parodies of serious videos, and original content are all something that is easily enjoyed. There's something for everyone, and even some things that have full on disturbed me. Yes, I'm talking about their Fury Force videos. Even then, it was funny. With a brand of humor that spans every taste, it's hard not to find something to like about them. That being said, my very favorite series of theirs started as just a single video. If you've not seen their 'If Google was a guy' series you really should stop reading this and go look them up right now. I mean it! Go! I'll wait…………………………………………………………….See! They're hilarious! I've seen all of them about a thousand times. I don't know why I find them utterly addicting, but I do. 

How could I make this blog and not talk about ERB, also known as Epic Rap Battles of History? Back when I first ran into them (through a friend), they were just on season 1, but they are now on season 5, so they are still going strong. Some pretty amazing battles have taken place, I have learned a few of the songs and happen to sing them randomly. It's saved me from boredom many times. Before writing this blog, I went back and watched all of season 3, just because I could and it’s also my favorite. They've had several fellow YouTubers on as well as some pretty famous guests, and there are so many episodes that I love. Facing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles against the famous artists they're named after was amazing. While that was awesome to watch, my favorite, however, just happens to be Edgar Allan Poe VS Stephen King. Shae Fact, I am a Poe fanatic. My dad was really into Poe's works, and thus, so am I. I spent much of my college career writing about Poe, and to see him face off against Stephen King was partly a dream come true. I highly recommend them. Especially since their battles can be downloaded on iTunes, and many other places (I'm sure).

What's your favorite YouTube Channel? What do you like to search for when you're bored?

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