A very interesting conversation took place recently over at videoblogger
Michael Verdi's site . Verdi posted a video in November of his daughters called
Because Why Not? In the video, he approaches his two daughters individually and asks them to either perform or acknowledge him and the camera.
Both respond with irritation and the teenage daughter asks him to stop. She's sitting in front of her computer, listening to her iPod, likely wanting some teenage private time. The younger daughter, having just returned from dance practice, refuses to dance for the camera despite her father's request. When he asks why not, she says: "because you'll put it on the internet." He responds by saying, "no, I won't" to which she says, "yes, you will, you put everything on the internet." Verdi also adds text to the video which lends a humorous tone to his daughters' responses.
What's interesting is the response some viewers had to the video and the comments they posted. There's a whole privacy conversation going on -- with some viewers feeling like Verdi invaded the privacy of his children and exploited them, while others assert that the video is more a reflection of adolescent irritation with their parent (many of Verdi's relatives, including wife, mother and brother all post in defense).
Even more interesting, is a video posted in the comments in which Verdi and his two daughters respond to the critics. Verdi is incredibly defensive in this video and it's obvious the comments pushed some real buttons for him.
I'll admit to a certain level of discomfort watching the original video, but I'll also admit to not knowing the full context of its creation and eventual publication. Verdi seems like a reasonable man, with the exception of an obvious temper and affinity for the word s***. By all indications, he loves his daughters -- who are adolescents and behave as such. They seem to operate from a general annoyance with their father and likely say "dad, you're such a dork" with regularity. Typical.
Verdi may have showed them the video before he posted it, getting their consent. He may do this with all of his videos. We just don't know. Unfortunately, Verdi writes off the comments and concerns as "stupidity" instead of using this as an opportunity to shed light on his editorial process. This is unfortunate.
He's also so obviously frustrated that the whole conversation is even taking place. Seriously? As an experienced videoblogger whose subject is often his family, he must have thought through these very issues and could have just stated his process and position on such matters, ending the conversation there.
I think the concerns are valid ones, something every blogger -- video or otherwise -- has to consider in their pursuit. What are my boundaries? What aspects of my child's life am I going to publish and under what circumstances?
