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October 11th National Coming Out Day

2007-10-12 · Hank, Katherine Green · watch on YouTube · Pop culture · comedy performance

Prompted by Seth Godin's claim that YouTube video already beats books as a medium, Hank marks National Coming Out Day by urging viewers to stop hiding things, then comically 'comes out' as a Japanese pop fan and stays on Team Unicorn.

What is said

00:00:00 — Greeting; Katherine interrupts; Seth Godin interview: many books published, few bought

  • ★ Katherine asks whether Hank is still working on his video, since it is about 10 o'clock at night. (playful) — 00:00:09 · Katherine Green
  • ★★ Hank relays a point from a Seth Godin interview: about 175,000 books are published in America each year, but the average person buys about one book a year. (hedged) — 00:00:09 · United States
  • ★ Hank suggests that maybe publishers should publish less crap. (playful) (hedged) — 00:00:09

00:00:58 — Godin: YouTube already a better medium; National Coming Out Day and Hank's call to come out

  • ★★★ Seth Godin, as relayed by Hank, says YouTube video is not only going to be but already is a better medium than books, reaching far more eyeballs on many topics. — 00:00:58 · YouTube
  • ★★ Hank concludes that, like best-selling authors, he should sometimes say important things, and says he will do so today. (playful) — 00:00:58
  • ★★★ Hank notes that today, October 11, is National Coming Out Day. — 00:00:58
  • ★★★ Hank heartily encourages anyone hiding things about themselves to let them come free today, and says it is fine to do it the next day too. — 00:00:58
  • ★★ Hank says that if you keep a secret about yourself that the people you love and respect deserve to know, you should come out, and he will do it with you. — 00:01:27

00:01:56 — Hank 'comes out' as a fan of Japanese pop music

  • ★★★ Hank 'comes out' of a non-traditional closet: despite his punk image he is a gigantic fan of upbeat, sweet Japanese pop music, and asks viewers not to see him differently. (playful) — 00:01:56
  • ★ Hank adds that he still likes punk rock and still wants to hear viewers' band demos. (playful) — 00:01:56
  • ★★ Hank acknowledges this is far less difficult than coming out as gay, but says it is a little difficult because he likes to see himself as into harder music. — 00:02:31

00:02:57 — J-pop sweetness explains unicorns; feud: stays on Team Unicorn; sign-off

  • ★★ Hank suggests the sweetness of Japanese pop might explain his attraction to unicorns, which feature prominently in Japanese pop culture. (playful) (hedged) — 00:02:57 · unicorn
  • ★★ In the feud, Hank says he may be ready to accept that zombies are more awesome than unicorns, though not for John's reasons, but will not give up his place on Team Unicorn. (playful) (hedged) — 00:02:57 · zombie, unicorn

Humor (significant)

  • Hank admits he does not know who Seth Godin is. — 00:00:09 > «Apparently he's bald. and famous.»
  • After urging viewers to come out on National Coming Out Day, Hank announces he is leaving a 'non-traditional closet'. — 00:01:56 > «but I am a gigantic fan of Japanese pop music.»
  • Hank explains what his secret J-pop fandom really means. — 00:02:31 > «take off my clothes and dance around my house in my underwear»
  • Hank concedes his confession is not as hard as coming out as a gay person. — 00:02:31 > «well I am on YouTube but leaving that aside»

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