8 observations about standup on social media
On crowdwork clips, the algorithm, and more.
I been thinkin’…
Social media comedy is tragedy of the commons meets tyranny of the majority.
My stuff doesn’t do great on social media. Tough to run a Michelin star restaurant in a food court.
Comedy is tragedy plus time. Crowdwork is tragedy of the commons, immediately.
Maybe crowdwork comedians really are modern day philosophers because Socrates used to just ask a bunch of questions too.
The worst part of the crowdwork clip movement is that standup comedians have stopped hating on improv.
It's not that I dislike improv, I just find the whole “we dance around when we take the stage” thing slightly revolting.
The algorithm favors jokes that get shared with others. But so many of the best jokes I’ve heard are ones I don’t want anyone to ever know I laughed that hard at.
Too many artists accept social media's version of success. Don't let your ability to inflate Mark Zuckerberg's net worth be the measure of your artistic output.
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P.S. New YouTube vid:



I was going to do a whole Myq Kaplan "Dear Matt" comment, but I'll leave Myq to do that.
This is some of your best yet. This one hit me right in the ghoulies. (Bing it.)
"The algorithm favors jokes that get shared with others. But so many of the best jokes I’ve heard are ones I don’t want anyone to ever know I laughed that hard at."
Social media comedy? C’mmon man.