Communal Entertainment

I like to think about what people did in the past few centuries to entertain themselves while gathered in groups.  Sliding stones around a backgammon board as far back as 3000 BC.  Bundling up on a cold winter night to stand outside together and stargaze, possibly even discussing how small we all are in the grand scheme.  Gathering around a grand piano while one person pounds on it and everyone sips whiskey, links arms, and sings.  Huddling close to the phonograph listening to "Au Clair de la Lune" on record and marvelling at the invention of music coming from a spinning plastic disc.  Sprawling on the carpet next to the big wooden box radio listening to spoken dramas and comedies until it was time for bed.  Tuning into the Ed Sullivan Show, watching in wonder as John, Paul, George, and Ringo began their journey through stardom.  

Staying with friends in Madison, Wisconsin for the past few days sparked this idea.  I realized what groups of people do now, and while its no backgammon or Sullivan, it is pretty entertaining.  Now, we see groups of people - families, friends, neighbors - gathered around a laptop, bent over, listening to and watching captively, our generation's form of communal entertainment: YouTube.  "Have you seen this one?"  "George Washington?"  "Supermodel?" "Grape Stomp?"  (Careful on that last one, I actually laughed my way into herniatic surgery as a result of it... no joke).  And we huddle around until our necks can crane no further and our stomachs cannot bear the pain, and we all sigh, wipe away the laughing tears, walking away feeling elated with thoughts of all of the unfortunate souls we just filled an hour laughing at.  The question is, what's next?

P.S. A not so much comical as inspiring YouTube video to lighten spirits:  "Where the Hell is Matt?"