"Where the Hell is Matt" video is a fake, but I don't care.

Posted on: 02 Jan, 2009|Comments: 9|Views: 2948|Likes: 1| INT

Disclaimer: Since writing this entry, I found out that the Hoax was a Hoax. Click here to read more.

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The "Where the Hell is Matt?" video has received over 20,000,000 views on YouTube. If you have not seen it already (and who hasn't?), it is a video of a guy named Matt Harding and his adventures around the world dancing with people of various locales and cultures. It is very charming. Matt has a blog that he has been maintaining since February 2008 detailing what he has been involved with. His blog has lots of pictures, maps and video detailing his worldwide exploits. It even has videos of Matt speaking at Gnomedex (a conference for technology professionals), spoofs about his fame and several other videos sent in by adoring fans.

"Where the Hell is Matt?" has attracted a lot of attention. A search for "Where the Hell is Matt?" generates 15,600,000 results on Google. Time Magazine named it the top viral video of 2008. Inside Wikipedia is a detailed accounting of his work as a videogame designer (which is what he did prior to traveling the world), news appearances, television show appearances and special recognition by VIPs. For example, Jawed Karim, one of the founders of YouTube, stated that Harding's video is his favorite video posted to Youtube. Matt Harding's video was so popular that companies like Stridegum began to sponsor him.

By all accounts, this is a wonderful internet success story. However, it is all built on a lie, an elaborate hoax if you would. Frankly, the "Where the Hell is Matt?" video is a fake. In case you do not believe it (I surely did not), check out the video below of Matt Harding explaining the reasons behind the hoax and how it was pulled off.

Matt Harding: Where The Hell Is Matt? an 'Elaborate Hoax'

So there you have it! "Where the Hell is Matt?" is a fake. But you know what? I don't care. The video (now infamous video) is just as significant to the world community as it was prior to this secret being revealed. Why? Well, for one, it convinced all who saw it that everyone wants to belong to something bigger than themselves. We were convinced that everyone (no matter where they are) could laugh together, dance together (however badly) and smile at the same time. (I mean, how can you look at this video and not smile?) The "Where the Hell is Matt?" video also convinced us that the world (if only for a moment) can stop fighting and... shooting missiles at one another.

So, yes, the video is a fake, but does it have to be? The "Where the Hell is Matt?" video opened our eyes to a possibility that could become a reality. Actually, with all of the attention it would receive, how hard would it be to get sponsors? And if an authentic series of videos and blog posts about a dancing world traveler was produced and posted on YouTube or here in EnglishCafe would people believe it? Would they be encouraged by it? Would they share it with family and friends and garner millions of views as the original video did? I guess what I am asking is, "Would a real video be any more profound than the fake one?"

I don't think so and that is why I don't care if the "Where the Hell is Matt?" video is lie. The benefit of the video was worth it.

-Jim

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Ariakerry

Submitted by Ariakerry on 06 Aug, 2010 06:50 AM GMT

The video is clearly a fake. Matt is a prankster. haha rolex replica

Exactly I agree with rolexreplica. This is fake
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rolexreplica

Submitted by Rolexreplica on 13 Jun, 2010 06:03 PM GMT

The video is clearly a fake. Matt is a prankster. haha rolex replica

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JimStroud

Submitted by JimStroud on 22 Jan, 2009 10:06 PM GMT

Are you kidding me? He was just kidding in this video! I mean c'mon, guys. Listen closely to what he's saying.... dunking a 747 in a pool, building robots to dance? I can't believe you guys are actually buying this....

Okay Matt, you got me. I fell for your prank, but that's okay because you inspired me to rant. Here I go...

Matt makes an awesome video that is all at once, imaginative and inspiring. One world, one people, united in dance. It was a beautiful thing to see and an even better thing to spread. See? We can come together on something. Some themes are universal and worthy of spreading. It felt good to see it. It felt good to share with others.

Detractors filter in and point at what they believe to be flaws in the production. Look here... This is fake. The shadow should not be there! These people are not really in that country. Rampant optimism and cheer, slowly eroded on the edges and a collective pessimism settles among the fringe. The world is too divisive and man too... human to dance in a concert of hope, change and a peace lasting beyond the present generation.

So Matt steps in with a new video. A hoax video proving to his detractors that the witness of unity was a fake and that it was a simple thing to spend tens of millions of dollars on animatronics and elaborate set designs; rather than spend much, much less to produce the real thing.

The "Where the Hell is Matt?" video was a brilliant piece that would be hard to surpass. How does one even try? More dancing? More exotic locales? No... the only way to make it even more memorable is to call it a fake. Those who listened (or half-listened) to his explanation took it as face value and repeated the hoax, thus making the video spread even further. Those who had not heard of the video, looked up the original version and the website. Those who were well acquainted with the video, gave it a second look with skeptical eyes. This brings a curious question to mind...

Which video spread the fastest?

Was it the video promoting unity and cheer?

Or was it the video "proving" that such a thing did not happen and (maybe) could never happen?

According the stats on YouTube, this version of the video has been seen 41,052 times with 5 people linking to that particular video. I wish I could see the stats on the original video to compare, but I can not.

So my questions still stand. Which message will prevail concerning this video? Will it be those that accepted the hoax at face value (as I did) and spread that message? Or, will it continue to spread as a shining example of what we as mankind could be if we all came together and, if only for a few moments... danced?

What do you think? Please share your thoughts.

Jim

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dpgassault

Submitted by Dpgassault on 11 Jan, 2009 06:22 PM GMT

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kevinbsb

Submitted by Kevinbsb on 09 Jan, 2009 12:52 PM GMT

At first I kind of get downhearted when I read your post about the video being fake. To me, it was the most incredible video ever. It makes me feel how beautiful this world is, and that there are so many people and places that beyond our imagination. After reading the comments and watch the video carefully, it was a real relief that the video is not something verisimilitude but a real one. Actually, Matt came to Vietnam and many VN newspapers wrote about this event, so I was about to blow up if I cheated us :)).

And as Jim wrote, even if it were fake, it is worth seeing!

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sam

Submitted by Sam on 06 Jan, 2009 07:05 PM GMT

Jim, I am really wondering how this could be a fake. Look who is using Where the Hell is Matt for their commercials..

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It's not a fake. Matt did the whole "it's a fake" thing to make fun of the computer animators who really think they can do everything.

My favorite line from Matt is, "Obviously the world is way to scary and dangerous to do a real video like this, but people bought it anyway".

He delivered a great satirical presentation in declaring it a "fake". Robots to do the dancing - now that's funny!

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Rajan

Submitted by Rajan on 05 Jan, 2009 07:39 AM GMT

Jim, I am really wondering how this could be a fake. Look who is using Where the Hell is Matt for their commercials..

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JimStroud

Submitted by JimStroud on 02 Jan, 2009 06:55 PM GMT

Jim, after watching the video, I've concluded that the "Where the Hell is Matt" video is real, while this "coming clean" video is the hoax! Animatronic puppets? It's his way of getting back at the naysayers. I think it was brilliantly done and even I almost got hooked. So unhook yourself Jim!

________________________________

"Found the right path. Turned left."

Write your 6 word memoir.
http://www.engcafe.biz/?q=node/2646

Lets get Mulder and Scully to investigate this unsolved mystery. (smile)

-Jim