There appears to be a phenomenon called a haul video, where young women with literally tens to hundreds of thousands of subscribers talk about . . . crap they bought at the store. And many of them appear to have creator comments along the lines of “OMG, tee hee, this is my first haul video, I’m so nervous!!!” What’s to be nervous about, lady? You’re just pulling random items out of a grocery bag and talking about it.
Exhibit A, here’s one I found linked over at Cracked.com.
Well thanks a bunch. Something of which I heretofore had no knowledge about, nor any need for knowledge, has now arrived in my consciousness thanks to this thread, and has added some little-needed perplexity to my day.
Because fewer and fewer people actually get together and shop? Because shoppers want to be on the net, too?
According to Wikipedia, since you always say positive stuff (since you don’t bother purchasing negative stuff), some companies will actually take your newfound audience and pay you for shilling their products. Apparently the first two people to make it big both became paid advertisers for certain companies products. So maybe some people are nervous because they assume they might become famous.
But why do people watch them? I’m sure if I garnered an audience of a million plus of me picking my nose, somebody would come along and give me money for it somehow. The question would remain, though, where do these viewers come from?
Freakier than the huge unanswered “why?” is that they appear to have their origin, according to the Wiki link, in “unboxing videos”, which were the unwrapping of tech goods. Another “why the fuck would you watch such boring shit?” question, and probably a cue for me to go back to bed and try to forget this farrago.
This is probably a symptom of how social networking is replacing face-to-face interaction in people’s lives. People like to shop, people like to show off what they’ve bought, and other people enjoy the shopper’s satisfaction vicariously through their relating the experience. Only difference is that now the medium is different.
It’s shopping porn. People who can’t afford to shop as much as they’d like are living vicariously through those who can. I’m not saying isn’t kinda dumb, because I think it is, but that’s the explanation that seems most likely to me.
I kinda agree. I don’t think it’s because of social networking, but the overall change in interaction. We go to work and then come home. That’s why I think those “Best Week Ever” shows went on for as long as they did.
What’d I’d do in the military? I talked shit about things with my friends. The exact same thing those shows did. People just replaced what they did with their friends with tv/internet.
I had a college textbook from the 80s that had an essay claimed this was why Wheel of Fortune, unlike most other gameshows, remained popular. They went shopping for prizes at the end.
It’s the same thing I think about HGTV. No one I know who watches that channel can afford to go shopping for houses. It’s not as big a deal, but I see people watch cooking shows who never actually cook. And people who watch Deal or No Deal can’t claim they are watching do to the challenge of the game: no, they get a thrill watching the people win or lose.
TV is largely about living vicariously through other people. It doesn’t surprise me at all that the Internet is used the same way. And, yes, some people do seem to get a thrill out of shopping, as odd as that seems to us who only shop because we have to.
WTF. I was half tempted to make a parody video, showing off my “haul” of Fixodent, Monistat, Odor-Eaters, Depends, Anusol, Beano, Lactaid, and mustache-waxing strips, but after skimming through the one linked in the OP, I’m not sure it’d be enough of a parody. Showing off your oatmeal? Really?
Occasionally they’ll give a review of how the stuff works or their experience with it. When I am doing research on whether to buy a new product, occasionally haul videos will show up in search results with the reviews of said product. It’s one facet of why folks watch them, but another really is a bit of social network voyeurism-- you may not be able to afford it, but you can get a little gratification by watching others talk about their acquisitions.
The grocery store haul was a little weird, though.
I’ve watched unboxing videos when weighing up likely contenders for a new gadget purchase- especially phones, but there is quite a spectrum of quality. The good ones are clearly produced by people who have established tech blogs, but youtube is now swamped with a bunch of terrible amateur copycats.
Same thing happened a few years back with howto videos. A few high quality leaders, followed by a torrent of shite.
The worst thing about them is the pain of watching what should be a two handed task fumbled with one hand while they hold the wobbly camera in the other.
Watched a few seconds of this one featuring a girl debating whether or not to continue haul vids but then she talks about her true subscribers and fans. There are fans of these things. Wow.
I like them if they’re accompanied by reviews. There are plenty of people who do makeup tutorials and reviews on youtube that do haul videos that I actually enjoy. Some of them, especially the ones that are makeup artists, get stuff that isn’t going to hit shelves for a while, and their reviews certainly aren’t always positive. As someone who enjoys makeup but is picky about it, they sometimes help me find products that really work for me.
The ones that are just someone’s shopping list are boring, though.
People will watch anything on the interent! But I guess people make the video in the first place because they want to show off all the new things they’ve bought, and think that because they’re so excited about their stuff other people are sure to be too! And people watch the videos because they’re vicariously getting all this stuff, and sharing the enjoyment of the person making the videos.
No problem. I don’t get why guys like to sit with their friends and scream at the tv while sports are on, but it appears to be a popular activity amongst men, lol.
I know this place is full of women who like to say they don’t care how they look, they don’t like fashion, taking care of one’s appearance is a waste of time, etc. but in general, women do like to buy pretty things and look good.
When women shop during lunch, they like to come back to the office and show their female coworkers their new shoes. Everyone oohs and aahs. Same thing when you come back from shopping and your friends come over. You show them the pretty tops you bought, put together new outfits, try out new lotions and perfumes and generally share in the experience. It’s fun. You can share in the experience even if you can’t afford to buy the items yourself. You get to see what and where other women whose style you like are buying, see new trends, and get new ideas.
What’s to be nervous about, lady? You’re just pulling random items out of a grocery bag and talking about it.