This is one of the weirdest videos I have seen. It was uploaded to YouTube a few days ago. In it, the presenter compares packs of AFL collector cards purchased from Coles compared with the same products purchased from a local newsagency. While the video is weird, it is weirder that it has had 995 views already.
Don’t judge me for finding this. I was looking for something else and found this. Seriously odd.
This video has been published for a few months now and as you say can’t see the point in the comparison for they would all be the same packets distributed at random.
Good afternoon Mark,
This is Dave from the YouTube channel referred to here. As someone who has read your wonderful blog over the years it’s an honour (and a bit surreal!) to find my channel mentioned here!
Hopefully, I can try to demystify things a little.
I started my channel late last year as a Covid project. I lost my job due to the pandemic and was feeling aimless without structure in my life. Making the channel gave me purpose and confidence and a way to connect with people.
In one video I just happened to mention that I’d purchased some of the packets from one shop and the others from another, and the viewers responded enthusiastically to this information. YouTube reiterates that you should listen to your audience, so the popular “Shop v Shop battles” were born from there.
I’ve pondered this myself, and the best I can manage is that sports fans are wired to find engagement in the dynamic of Team A vs Team B, even though, as Graeme mentions, here it’s entirely arbitrary.
I always try to keep the tone of my videos positive and light, and the “battle” concept here is used very gently. I certainly don’t intend any disrespect to newsagents. Essentially, it’s a way of adding some narrative structure and variety to the channel. My aim is to create a space that is full of fun and frivolity for people that enjoy watching card openings.
Now if you ask me why people would enjoy watching someone open cards, well that’s because we are deeply weird people!! Haha
I hope you have a wonderful day and thank you for all of the fantastic work you do!
Kind regards,
Dave