It's lovely. Anyone who doubts that bigotry and discrimination is still hurting people has only to watch these tough guys tearing up, remembering high school. God. And at the DOMA hearings, Maggie kept saying, "I'm not a bigot, it's terrible that people say that about me."
I think I like the Microsoft one better. The ones in this Apple look nice, presentable, dressed for this occasion. Whereas the MS one shows people with tattoos, piercings, bad hair, wearing clothes they probably wore to work that day. You know, people who dont look like they work for a software company.
But still, nice to see more of these videos on YouTube.
Any chance of getting Henry Rollins to do one of these videos? Some of his spoken word is like this, telling of stories of how messed up his upbrinding was and how he got through it, how he tells other how to get through it, how things obviously get better once you leave HS and start living on your own.... but at some point, trails off into poetry about hating cops in LA.
I enjoyed the moist bear so much! (I thought Apple had already submitted one of these, but I guess that was another big tech company....dare I say, the corporate ones kind of run together?)
I saw this on Facebook last night and was glad I had some kleenex handy. The people who are recalling their attempted suicide are the hardest for me to watch, but I'm very glad they are all still here to share their darkest hour.
I'm very fortunate that I lived through my last suicide attempt at age 17. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have tried it, though, if I'd seen these videos. This one in particular.
I'm glad too, TVDinner. Surviving an attempt can make the road kind of twisty here and there all through life - I hope you'll always find a bit of peace in these.
I caught this yesterday on daring fireball, an apple blog by John gruber. Of the major software companies I think this has been the most earnest and moving. Kinda blew the google one out of the water.
I started to say I'm SURE but changed it to I KNOW but it didn't change. Or I screwed up, that's probably it. *sigh* I'm SURE you all KNOW what I meant.
Woah, why is it gone? The message says, "This video has been removed as a violation of YouTube's policy on depiction of harmful activities." What's up with that?
Gosh, I wasn't expecting such a response. Thanks, you guys. Really I just want to emphasize how incredibly important this project is. As a high school student I identified as a lesbian (Oops! Turned out I liked sausage and eggs!) and attended a suburban public high school with a biiiig football field. Inevitable rumors flared up, and I asked friends to escort me to my car because I was afraid of being assaulted in the parking lot. ("All that dyke needs is a good fuck!") On top of that, my girlfriend was a controlling, alcoholic bitch, and I had no one to talk to about it. No one. It was an immense amount of pressure for a 17-year-old to take, and I cracked.
It was luck and luck alone that saved my life. And I'd had the privilege of living within a bus ride of Capitol Hill. I'd volunteered for the AIDS quilt and met actual gay people. My parents, when I finally told them, were loving and accepting, and I never feared that they wouldn't be. I had so many, many more advantages than most gay kids had, especially at that time (1991-2), and *I* almost didn't make it. I can't imagine what it's like for kids without those advantages.
This project matters so much to those kids. It would have made a world of difference in my own life, and I know good goddamn well that it will to others. Hang in there, kids. You're gonna make it through. And it's so, so worth it.
TVDinner, thanks for sharing a bit of your story too.
I can't believe it got taken down! Sure, it's more gut-wrenching an approach than the earlier company videos, the ones that came out in response to the original urgent call for videos. Apple folks, by taking time to wait and see what other companies did, have been able to see what worked and what didn't for those early, eager companies, and so pump it up a bit.
I'll be surprised if it stays off YouTube for long. Standing on the shoulders of those who came before, they've moved the form along for IGBP, and that's the main thing.
A little warning on that link there would be appreciated, Erica. The first video that activates is a Men's Rights Campaign, and I didn't figure it out until my ears were bleeding.
Unfortunately it looks like some homophobes reported it as promoting a harmful activity and the automated system on YouTube took it down.
It's powerful, it's good and it reinforces the message of Dan and the Trevor project. I like it. Now to find out how to get YouTube to let everyone see it again.
TVDinner, I thank you for sharing your story, and I thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster that your attempt failed. Have you done a video for IGBP? If you haven't, I hope you will.
the MS one shows people with tattoos, piercings, bad hair, wearing clothes they probably wore to work that day. You know, people who dont look like they work for a software company.
You must not know many people who work for software companies around here. It's not like in the beginning of The Matrix.
I keep thinking of the woman who was so afraid her parents would reject her. It's so important to tell your kids - "the world will tell you that it's hard to talk to your parents about sex and sexuality. That's not our family. There is nothing you could ever say to us about who you are that would make us stop loving you." A simple message, early on, could spare our children misery and save lives.
Bless the souls so generously giving hope to others.
These warm my days so much. I don't want to pretend like my closeted-bi suffering (can't lie to high schoolers i guess) was or is the same as an openly gay person in high school, but for the bits I did and do get the fag comments, I find this very cathartic. Makes me feel less alone and I hope that feeling transfers to people who actually need it.
But still, nice to see more of these videos on YouTube.
Any chance of getting Henry Rollins to do one of these videos? Some of his spoken word is like this, telling of stories of how messed up his upbrinding was and how he got through it, how he tells other how to get through it, how things obviously get better once you leave HS and start living on your own.... but at some point, trails off into poetry about hating cops in LA.
God, I'm bitter.
Excellent vid, thanks for the eyewash. :)
xoxox
@13: You obviously pissed off Google.
It was luck and luck alone that saved my life. And I'd had the privilege of living within a bus ride of Capitol Hill. I'd volunteered for the AIDS quilt and met actual gay people. My parents, when I finally told them, were loving and accepting, and I never feared that they wouldn't be. I had so many, many more advantages than most gay kids had, especially at that time (1991-2), and *I* almost didn't make it. I can't imagine what it's like for kids without those advantages.
This project matters so much to those kids. It would have made a world of difference in my own life, and I know good goddamn well that it will to others. Hang in there, kids. You're gonna make it through. And it's so, so worth it.
I can't believe it got taken down! Sure, it's more gut-wrenching an approach than the earlier company videos, the ones that came out in response to the original urgent call for videos. Apple folks, by taking time to wait and see what other companies did, have been able to see what worked and what didn't for those early, eager companies, and so pump it up a bit.
I'll be surprised if it stays off YouTube for long. Standing on the shoulders of those who came before, they've moved the form along for IGBP, and that's the main thing.
It's powerful, it's good and it reinforces the message of Dan and the Trevor project. I like it. Now to find out how to get YouTube to let everyone see it again.
Oh wait. Well I am glad that you are here even if you are not really a food group.
You must not know many people who work for software companies around here. It's not like in the beginning of The Matrix.
have been known to give 20% of participants AIDS...
Bless the souls so generously giving hope to others.