Blank Room Soup: One of YouTube's Creepiest Videos

[@decodingtheunknown2373]

Go to curiositystream.thld.co/decode_0222 and use code DECODE to save 25% off today, that’s only $14.99 a year.

[@TheLoxxxton]

So the Simon bigs up a youtube channel and does not put links! Come on share the Blink182 link

[@Zach-ku6eu]

#Simonisacoward Why so many channels? He's spreading his bets. More advertising money from Russian companies. That's why he's such a limey coward who won't post anything about Ukraine!!

[@Zach-ku6eu]

#Simonisacoward Simple Simon is a Pie Man, trying to sell us crap each day. Hiding in the corner like Little Jack Horner, trying to keep the world's war at bay. When found in the dark his only remark: 'The Russians might take my pie away'!!

[@aprosper]

@Decoding The Unknown Thank you Simon and co for your awesome videos!

[@unculturedweeb4240]

Pepe the is not an alt right symbol. Far left liberals realized racists were using it for racist memes and just handed it to them. Every race and religion uses Pepe the frog. And they handed them the ok hand sign too.

[@nicholeayt509]

Simon, you are the only KZbinr who I've seen let his writers and editors have personalities and interact with them like this. I love it. It adds so much to the videos and I appreciate the credit you always give.

[@cindygr8ce]

Markiplier does it with his editor Lixian. Lixian puts himself as a cartoon into videos and they interact it's quite clever how Lixian does it

[@TheWarbirdMistress]

Well, they're only a basement away, so it makes it that much the easier.

[@denverparsons7330]

You’ve clearly never watched mr beast lol

[@antiisocial]

100%

[@rossharper1983]

@@denverparsons7330 I'd guess the Op isn't a teenager, so probably wouldn't watch Mr Beast, like the rest of adults don't

[@kathryncumberland]

The poem Kevin mentioned is Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken." It's about his friend's inability to make decisions in life, but people misunderstand it as being about choosing the uncommon way of going about life and attaining some sort of personal growth thereby.

[@meatpilot]

Simon has made a video about the poem being misunderstood as well. We can let him off the hook that he just doesn’t get that hint because he’s never been to an American high school graduation.

[@Kerosene.Dreams]

I'm very glad that art is subjective and that no matter the intent behind art, it can always be interpreted into something personal that someone can take away from it.

[@adde9506]

@@meatpilot I've been to more than my fair share of American graduations, and that poem was never read. People were expected to write their own speeches. My favorite was the valedictorian that spent five minutes stringing together synonyms for "think" into surprisingly coherent and funny sentences.

[@InquisMalleus]

Frost's friend thought it was funny, but said it would be widely misunderstood. Worse, it it encouraged his friend to join the British Army in WWI, where he died. It was a good video, and I so happy that I wasn't the only one who got the points.

[@jacuzzi.834-57]

If that video is about "personal growth and development" I for one would be very fucking worried.

[@drewlovely2668]

I love when you show your personality in your podcasts and business blaze. The tangents are top tier and your family updates are adorable. I've noticed blaze boi simon sneaking into the other channels of the simon verse.

[@maryscott9430]

Same and i love it!!! Especially since hes tried to tone it down on brain blaze. Now his adhd and tangents are creeping in… its FABULOUS! Lol

[@Methecos]

Simon Verse 🤣🤣 Whistlerworld

[@kylebenjamin6120]

I always think of it as narrator simon and tangent simon. Two very different characters

[@onemoreguyonline7878]

I think we all ended up on Simon's channels because we were off on a KZbin tangent in the first place. Fractal tangents.

[@onemoreguyonline7878]

@@Methecos Simonpocalypse

[@doclewis8927]

Anyone familiar with Simon knows that there's no such thing as a short intro. No worries!

[@paladin_83]

Any intro that is under 40% of the total video is short (for Factboi). 🙂

[@paladin_83]

@Spencer Ellis Did Danny get loose?!?!?

[@Zach-ku6eu]

#Simonisacoward Simple Simon is a Pie Man, trying to sell us crap each day. Hiding in the corner like Little Jack Horner, trying to keep the world's war at bay. When found in the dark his only remark: 'The Russians might take my pie away'!!

[@aprosper]

@Decoding the unknown Thank you Simon and co. for your awesome videos!

[@dr4d1s]

I never expect any of Simons videos to be succinct or concise. That's part of the charm.

[@stephaniewindschitl9204]

Shout out to the legends who stream Simon's channels at bed time as a form of weird ASMR. Getting him that sweet, sweet stream time.

[@jaeboogie2786]

I can't sleep because Simon has me laughing myself so awake that I get out of bed and start a task/project.

[@localtownwitch]

Simon how could you ever forget who Hello Kitty is after the Casual Criminalist 😂☠

[@agiraffe3673]

Exactly what I was thinking!

[@piperjaycie]

He’s probably blocked it out!!😳

[@petradegroot3578]

@@piperjaycie i think you could be right about that..

[@user-yv2cz8oj1k]

What was Kitty sans crime? Did she kill for money and fame? 🤣

[@aaronsmith5947]

​@@user-yv2cz8oj1kno girls skull was sewn inside the Hello Kitty doll...

[@ThatWriterKevin]

While bizarre, I'm a little comforted knowing that Simon doesn't know who Helly Kitty is. It means that there wasn't a vivid image in his mind during the CasCrim episode where the little girl's head was stuffed inside a Helly Kitty doll I should also be surprised you didn't recognize the Robert Frost reference since you did an entire TIFO about it, but like you always say, it's in the eyes and out the mouth.

[@decodingtheunknown2373]

In the eyes and out the mouth. Especially for stuff I'm not super into like poetry and Hello Kitty. Although I do know what Hello Kitty generally looks like :)

[@sambosmummy]

Hello kitty!

[@charlottebritt6712]

More stuff from Kevin!!

[@ThatWriterKevin]

​@@charlottebritt6712 Thanks! There's lots more coming!

[@monroerobbins7551]

Agreed

[@PeacelordApropos]

Simon's ability to insert his artistic opinion is why I have a sub on every channel. Keep on! And better expand that basement....

[@melissavictor8300]

Me too!

[@healbot9000]

Same

[@its_a_trap2101]

Thirded

[@justheretowatchtheworldbur6611]

Oh yeah! I knew I couldn't be the only one.

[@nodiggity9472]

By "artistic" you mean . . . . . .something else, right?

[@emilywalker3352]

This channel is awesome and much better than most "unknown" and "unsolved cases/mysteries" channels.

[@decodingtheunknown2373]

Thank you :)

[@tank4969able]

Agreed 👍🏼

[@CallowayVisuals]

The interactions between writer, presenter and video editor is so freaking epic. I love it! It’s sometimes more entertaining than the video content lol.

[@Raven-Nephilim]

You misunderstood ’Death of the Author’. It’s a theory put forward by Roland Barthes that readers surpass authors and create a new work simply by reading it. I love the anecdotes in these videos 😂👍🏽

[@buddyzilla4557]

I imagine Simon and Kevin taking the roles of Jen and Roy from "I.T. Crowd." "Deep seeded" is kevin's "Peddle-stool" that will eventually lead to Simon's "Damp Squid." I can't wait to find out what it is. Probably a lot.

[@Zach-ku6eu]

#Simonisacoward Simple Simon is a Pie Man, trying to sell us crap each day. Hiding in the corner like Little Jack Horner, trying to keep the world's war at bay. When found in the dark his only remark: 'The Russians might take my pie away'!!

[@Azulakayes]

Wow...I remember, that was an hilarious episode and Jen won!

[@aprosper]

@@Zach-ku6eu wat?

[@ringlhach]

36:34 Irony is a native English speaker struggling to pronounce the word "effortless."

[@jimcappa6815]

“For anyone who clicked on this expecting a succinct video…” Nobody who knows Factboi is expecting that honestly

[@DeeDeeBaldwin]

And the lack of succinctness is what keeps us coming back for more!

[@RegrettablyLongwinded]

Deep-seated makes sense as a saying that I suspect derived from horseback riding. Riding with a deep seat is more secure and difficult to dislodge than when one is standing up in the stirrups or leaning forward, perching on the horse.

[@bloodandempire]

Deep-seated means "firmly established," as in "deep-seated resentment," but it also has an earlier literal meaning of "situated far below the surface." It is from that meaning the figurative use of the word developed

[@faile66]

@@bloodandempire yeah, which makes me think 'deep SEEDED' is older, and changed to 'deep seated' over time as expressions do. My family always said 'seeded'. I could be way off base though..

[@dannieandrews]

Love Simon's complete brain-break at learning about queer fanfic. Simon, the Star Trek fandom *created* the type of queer fanfic we can find online today. Probably could do a video on it for one of your 17000 other channels 😂

[@fiction-]

I just made the same comment lol. I only want Simon to do a brain blaze video on it if he comes at from the "women and lgbt created their own shit cause nothing was geared toward them" instead of the "lol my immortal Harry Potter fic was so bad" hee. Though that might be good too.

[@Fabala827]

I definitely commented on at least one other video of his that he should do a video about either fanfiction, general fandom culture, or both. I just imagine him discovering the concept of fanon; the self-representation we have used to feel closer to our favorite shows & characters (from slash fic rare pairs to ones as ubiquitous as fandom itself); the fact that Kirk/Spock has been around so long that my best friend’s mom used to be part of zine/letter campaigns that passed along handwritten slash fics via the USPS….omg. Maybe an exploration of the fandoms that have caught the most people/spawned the most fics and what tropes are involved in them becoming so popular (especially the ideas of queer inserts, chosen family, mental health recovery, etc)?? The levels of incredulity that Simon would reach logging into Ao3 for the first time ever and seeing how many tags exist period, nevermind the number of hits a Spirk tag would get?? And RPF?!!!?! WATCHING HIM DISCOVER THE OMEGAVERSE??!! Dear Lord, I am worryingly into fanfic & I would still pay actual money to watch Simon react to diving into that rabbit hole, no matter how much he mocked it. As long as his writer at least has acknowledged why and how it’s become so massive and important to those of us who consistently found ourselves under- or completely unrepresented, and how fascinating that is in and of itself, I am HERE. FOR. IT.

[@dannieandrews]

On this note, Simon, hmu if you want me to try and write a script for this ✌

[@ExperimentIV]

@@dannieandrews i would collab on that script with you if you wanted

[@Hannah-c8o]

@@fiction- I want both, imagine Simon decoding the author of My Immortal

[@buddyzilla4557]

Simon doesn't recognize "Hello Kitty." I'll forgive him for not knowing what "Funko Pops" are but what rock has he been under that he doesn't at least recognize hello kitty as a thing? Mr. Business Blaze himself just describes it as "cats." Not even eluding to it being that cat on all the little girl merchandise everywhere for decades or something like that. He even HAS a little girl so I feel it's hard to have bought her baby clothes without at least coming face to face with the big, creepy, mouthless little girl who happens to also look like a cat at least on a couple of occassions..it isn't pokemon or anything but I feel it is still one of the most recognizable merchandising/advertising characters out of Japan. It didn't fade like Lisa Frank did and plenty of other media has referenced or paradied it in some way. Simon..if you want to be a good business mind you need to know how to reach different target demographics appropriately..being unfamiliar with branding like "Hello kitty?" For shame.. As an extra note..I recently became aware there is a strait up "Funko Pop" store now in my hometown. I am very dissapointed..my old leech of an ex roommate used to collect and have a FB group for them and I even owned a couple specific characters I love once they got the treatment but especially now of all times, years after the fade of their popularity hight and still during a quarantine state when lots of more generally profitable businesses are struggling to get back on their feet, you choose THIS produc!? I guess you don't fall victim to the supply shortages other stores do with everyone trying to get rid of the dumb things but I don't think that's a good sign for your turnaround..the second half of supply and demand is the catch..despute being suxh a weird and widespread phenomenon I cant blame Simon for not knowing what a "Funko Pop" is as I'm sure many want to forget them and I myself can't belive a dedicated store could even exist at this point.

[@krondys]

Even funnier when you consider his traumatic experience recounting the Hello Kitty murders on Casual Criminalist...

[@fancyultrafresh3264]

Simon apparently needs to dissect the social juggernaut that is Hello Kitty on BB someday. Good heavens Factboy!

[@masha8770]

The weird bit is he did a Casual Criminalist where Hello Kitty was featured... somewhat. Maybe the trauma of that episode has wiped his brain.

[@fancyultrafresh3264]

@@masha8770 I completely forgot about that. Yeah you’re right he blocked it out entirely. Poor guy.

[@lilac4297]

@@masha8770 I remember that episode and I understand him blocking it. Poor Simon.

[@ilajoie3]

I can understand Simon not recognizing hello kitty. The last time he dealt with the character it was on the Causal Criminalist with a skull sewn inside in a video that he could not stand reading

[@jimcappa6815]

Just his brain protecting him by blocking out the trauma. Allegedly

[@staytuned2L337]

One hundo 😂 also it was a mermaid I think rather than HK as she usually is.

[@sirandrelefaedelinoge]

causal

[@bradthechampion]

Love how Jen finishes the quote that Simon just drops midway through to deliver a tangent

[@leeneufeld4140]

Watching intelligent, creative people at work is wonderful. Hollywood should take note :)

[@ignitionfrn2223]

5:50 - Chapter 1 - The videos 13:55 - Chapter 2 - Who is rayray ? 18:50 - Mid roll ads 20:10 - Chapter 3 - The theories 20:15 - Chapter 3.1 - It's was raymond all along 27:40 - Chapter 3.2 - Dark web torture video 32:20 - Chapter 3.3 - Fetish video 34:00 - Chapter 3.4 - Video from a fan 36:20 - Wrap up

[@mosisusasu9205]

Death of the Author basically refers to how an author cannot control how readers interpret their texts. So they almost inevitably put quite a bit of themselves into their texts, but basically it means that once they publish it it's out of their hands and up to how readers interpret it.

[@Renrose68]

When Simon and Danny don't agree it makes me feel like I did when my parents argued.

[@Shizznad]

Thank God I had caught up on all my videos and worried I would be bored the rest of the day and Simon rides in and buys me another 40ish minutes. Thank you fact boi

[@amandajones661]

It's even a smaller group of fetish community : dolls, soup, kidnapping, crying

[@austinwagner3231]

Jen nailing it with the Subscribe Like Bell reminders when Simon was talking about encouraging creators

[@zeusathena26]

We like hearing your personal comments, & stories. Keep up the good work Kevin.

[@Battle_Beard]

No, Simon, there are still tons of creepy videos going out on KZbin and getting hundreds of thousands or millions of views. The most horrifying part of these videos tends to be the parents tugging their 8 year old through the motions of their poorly thought out script while hocking some crap toy.

[@JonPITBZN]

The Death of the Author is about interpreting a work, not writing it. The writer can put as many of his or her beliefs or experiences into the book as (s)he wants. But when you make theories about the book, you're not supposed to consider the author's personal opinions or experiences. Source: English Degree

[@keca.4324]

You mean like...Bible?!

[@AmberPearcy]

I love Jen! Just wanted to give her some love today. 💕 P.s. “Atypical” is one worth checking out, Simon.

[@spddiesel]

I think he's talking about "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost. It's the early 20th century version of "Good Riddance" by Green Day.

[@ryanc473]

Simon, surely by now you've come to realize that your audience of shows like Brain Blaze and Decoding the Unkown expect nothing less than a long, drawn out, rambling and tangent filled introduction. Anything less would be blasmephy in our eyes (take the reaction of the discarding of Danny's introduction in recent Brain Blazes as proof) Edit: take the instead of the the

[@robertsears8323]

At 14:44 That real life "Rick" moment Simon had when he realized he had been say a common phrase wrong his whole life was so priceless.

[@n.8883]

He's been taking it for granite.

[@michaelf.2449]

It blows my mind that deep seeded isn't the correct version and that deep seated is... Like I've been saying deep seeded since forever

[@davidgould9431]

But he hasn't - to 'seat' something is to fix it in place inside another thing (see the Macmillan dictionary entry), so deep-seated means really firmly in place. The problem might be that, in US English pronunciation, it would come out sounding more like 'deep-seeded' where the T in the middle is quite soft. That would lead listeners to suppose what's being said is deep-seeded. In my 60 years as a Brit, I don't recall ever hearing deep-seeded for deep-seated. Edit: I should have guessed that Simon would go on to look it up. I really must stop posting comments or replies before seeing what's in _all_ of the video. :-)

[@frankshailes3205]

@@michaelf.2449 "Seated" means based or placed though, so a deeply-held long-term belief makes sense as deep-seated. Deep-seeded implies something was put there to grow, which is the wrong meaning.

[@StefanTravis]

"Death of the author" means "the author's interpretation of their own work is no more or less valid than anyone else's interpretation". What the work means and what the author intended are separate questions.

[@jaymzx0]

Hell yes Stolen Babies! One of my fave bands from back in the day when they were still making music. The whole band is super nice and crazy talented. Look them up they have their vids here on KZbin. It's a sort of Mr. Bungle mixed with some circus metal.

[@adoredpariah]

The "death of the author" concept is about readers and critics not interpreting a work based on the author's background or personality etc. I don't think it is supposed to be a golden rule or anything, personally I do I think it helps to read things in a different light when you don't know exactly how cancelled the author might already be. The "separate the art from the artist" concept essentially. It can be an interesting way to approach academic texts on the first read through and I like to attempt it when it comes to films in particular. Watch it once without knowing who was involved, then watch it again after you look into who did it if it wasn't already obvious, and more importantly if the film is even worth watching twice. If a film isn't worth a second watch looking into who made it and the possibilities of why it was made are still usually interesting to me but for a very different reason.

[@PositronWeaponD]

Simon being like “is Kirk and Picard homoerotic fanfiction a real thing?” makes me hope he never becomes aware of certain tags on AO3. He needs to be protected from the internet!

[@skeletonpark7828]

I know Kirk/Picard fic isn't close to weird. No one tell him about the Onceler fandom or My Immortal.

[@PositronWeaponD]

@@skeletonpark7828 JUST the Onceler fandom? Don’t tell Simon about the concept of Tumblr sexymen in general

[@Hannah-c8o]

The milk fic 😰

[@PositronWeaponD]

@@Hannah-c8o I’m pretty sure I don’t even want to know

[@Michelle-xz7pl]

I can't decide which channel I enjoy more, this or the Casual Criminalist. Both are amazing.

[@sherylcascadden4988]

A year behind you, but I'm binge watching both.

[@xenos_n.]

The story behind this video is actually way more interesting than I imagined it would be.

[@ediedarleneedgmon5301]

I watch several of your channels & it’s BECAUSE YOU INTERJECT A BIT OF YOURSELF into the telling of the story that I enjoy your videos; keep up the great work!!!

[@alliewhitlock621]

I'm so excited for Cicada 3301! I'm fan of a similar podcast that's been mentioned on Casual Criminalist (and they've mentioned the great Simon Whistler) called Red Web. It's where I first heard the Cicada 3301 mystery. I can't wait for your next video.

[@ThatWriterKevin]

I haven't had the chance to watch this yet, does he say in it that Cicada is next?

[@alliewhitlock621]

@@ThatWriterKevin sorry to spoil! He says it at the very end, like last 5 or so minutes.

[@ThatWriterKevin]

@@alliewhitlock621 Just finished it! Well here's hoping that's the next one released. It is definitely a long one

[@monroerobbins7551]

This is why I love art. There’s no filter, there’s no true way to express yourself. Art is fascinating, and the psychological reflection it can come from is very varied, and fascinating. At the same time, that’s why I’m bloody terrified of it, cause… you know, humans are scary. 33:22 …or sadists, just enjoying someone suffering

[@michellee1190]

Simon: “I’m not an artist…” Also Simon: (Describes how he very much is an artist as he talks about how he presents on this show and others)

[@alexisperez9299]

The definition of artist does include writing. Presenting I’d say is on the lower tier of artist but still to some extent. I think the confusion is shown when he goes on his tangent about not needing others approval. In the sense that if a comedian goes around telling people “I’m funny” can be 1 come off arrogant 2 a LIE lol

[@nodiggity9472]

I think he said "autist", not "artist". It certainly fits better.

[@alexisperez9299]

@@nodiggity9472 no.. look at the screen. The word on the screen is literally “artist”

[@alexisperez9299]

Not to mention it’s synonymous/stereotyped with being unemployed/low paid

[@nodiggity9472]

@@alexisperez9299 Not all autists are unemployed/low income. Look at Elon Musk.

[@arvetis]

"Death of the author" is widely misunderstood. It's supposed to apply to literary criticism and analysis - the idea is that the critic should analyze the work devoid of information about the author. It's not something that the actual author has to worry about.

[@iambeezyfbaby]

Can't wait to hear Simon address the drag from not knowing Hello Kitty!

[@amberly0317]

Definitely a highlight of the video was him not knowing Hello Kitty 🤣

[@piperjaycie]

He probably blocked it out for his own sanity and comfort!😬🤔😳

[@ciannolan9713]

Been ages since I’ve seen a video on BRS, looking forward to this one. Was always one of my favourite internet oddities

[@cerastella3954]

It's always a good day when one of these come out

[@lisahoshowsky4251]

I usually listen to this as a podcast but I’m glad I’m watching this as a video for once.

[@andrewdarlington7115]

You had me going on the deep seated/ deep seeded thing. Lol

[@jamiew6326]

Im pretty sure the poetry reference was to “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost. It’s a prime example of an artist loosing control of his art once the audience decides what to make of it.

[@susansprague7304]

I concur!

[@amandajones661]

I was today years old when I learned that it's "deep seated" not "deep seeded" 😅

[@sophroniel]

Dominique Persi is his little...... singer?? Is that the whistler-version of "sister"?? Bruh 😂

[@maharet967]

Simon saying people who didn't click off are legends made my morning. Thank you! 😁😂

[@rainbowpheonix6248]

You and actors and youtubers are modern storytellers, which is an important part of society since ancient times. Storytelling was often done in the evening around the fire, and was an important way to pass on knowledge, morals, cause and effect stories that can serve as examples of what to do and what not to do; and stories that just fire the imagination and keep morale high. It was often done by a father or grandfather of the family.

[@Strype13]

I was really hoping two Rayrray's would sneak up behind Simon at the end of this video and scare the hell out of him. Would've made a legendary closer.

[@gabrielpeery]

I watch these videos for the editing as much as the content. KZbin editors of the world have taken a role of control and banter that I just can't help but love.

[@thesuccessfulone]

I hope this is by Kevin! KEVIN do unfavourable semicircle, please. Aliens, strange videos and mysterious voices, perfect for decoding the unknown. More content than the division bell, at least.

[@ThatWriterKevin]

It's already written, but it's probably quite a while before that one is released

[@mikieswart]

@@ThatWriterKevin ah, another reason to continue existing thanks kevin, legend

[@saulgoodman2838]

Literally just searched: Blank Room Soup. And I found that you posted this video less than an hour ago

[@ImyaSmol]

Master of the algorithm at work

[@quackaddict2203]

I don't understand how this channel isn't one of the most popular. I love this one and Into The Shadows most of all, but I'm pretty sure I watch just about every single video you fine folks release.

[@ThatWriterKevin]

It's because no one involved in this channel believes that aliens or ghosts are ever the answer.

[@Slater2113]

A lot of these stories have been discussed to death on other channels

[@quackaddict2203]

@@ThatWriterKevin I dunno. I get folks' attachment to that sort of thing but, to me at least, it's so much more cool and mind-blowing when a story which is at least based somewhat in reality is still mysterious/chilling/strange or whatever without anything supernatural 💁🏻‍♀️ I still enjoy a good haunting tale even though I'm not a believer, but if you can give me a tale with the same cerebral impact that sketches me out just as much if not more... Yeahhh, that's where it's at. 😎

[@quackaddict2203]

@@Slater2113 Fair point. For me, if Bailey Sarian or John Ballen covered it then I've seen it but that's about it. Even if it's something I've definitely heard or read about in the past, it's still novel to hear a different telling *most of the time* ☺️

[@ThatWriterKevin]

@@quackaddict2203 Those stories are often much harder to find, and you turn off a huge segment of the potential audience by refusing to even entertain the idea of ghosts and such, sadly

[@DennisKent]

I saw Stolen Babies perform 15ish years ago (opening for Lacuna Coil) and it was really entertaining. A mix of melodic and harsh vocals and 100% strange. Strange enough that I bought their album lol. I'm familiar with the blank room soup videos but I never made the connection to Stolen Babies.

[@thejason755]

Am i the only one who caught simon saying “business blaze” at 2:26

[@katrinacollins892]

He was talking about how in tune he is with writers for his different channels. Danny writes for Business Blaze (and lives in Simon's basement), and Danny's writings usually coincide with Simon's point of view. So, yes, he mentioned Business Blaze, and the context was a mention of the writer for that channel.

[@zaranea7920]

@@katrinacollins892 Iiiii think @thejason755 rther ment that he (as he often does) slipped up still calling it BUSINESS Blaze and not BRAIN Blaze ;)

[@elena_eleen]

Note about that Netflix show called Atypical that was briefly touched on: I've heard it described by several sources, as well as one of my autistic friends, that it doesn't really nail its portrayal of autism very well. They also cast a neurotypical actor (meaning someone who is NOT autistic) because he was "best suited for the role." Actual autistic actors auditioned too but were rejected in the end, meaning they lost out on a role in a field of work where they already have fewer opportunities because of their neurodivergency.

[@legomego3333]

It’s Hello Kitty, Simon… 🤣

[@momok232]

I just gotta say, right as the Ray Ray ran up to the guy I got an ad, which made for a slightly creepy/funny moment in my watch experience

[@buddenbaum9511]

In my 30 years ive only ever heard Midwesterners say "deep-seated." Granted what does an American hick know more than an older, distinguished, British gentleman in the English language

[@goddammitalana]

I think you mean deep seeded

[@onbearfeet]

I've lived my entire life on the US West Coast and I say "deep-seated". Seen it written quite a lot too.

[@briancrawford8751]

@@onbearfeet It is "deep seated." "Deep seeded" is not only wrong, it doesn't make sense.

[@JustKrista50]

"Deep seeded". It's a pretty common American phrase.

[@steveremo474]

4:00 Robert Frost's the road less traveled

[@Jennifer-sh9uh]

Kevin sounds like most 70s/80s American kids.. very cynical with a dark sense of humor. We thrive on that shit

[@ThatWriterKevin]

I was indeed a kid in the 80s!

[@Jennifer-sh9uh]

@@ThatWriterKevin we spot our own. 😆

[@emmadinnie988]

It's super cool when Simon really likes a channel that you also follow. Alex Melton is awesome. His country covers of pop punk songs are particulary unique and inventive.

[@tamarawinnett4138]

I am genuinely THRILLED you're doing the Cicada one next. I loved learning about that a few years back!

[@ThatWriterKevin]

It was the next one written and recorded, but it's looooong so it may not be the next to be fullye dited

[@joeywatch1145]

I'm pretty sure he's referring to The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost (from the intro). If you've ever heard the line "two roads diverged in a yellow wood and I took the one less traveled by," that's it.

[@ThatWriterKevin]

Indeed I am! I know for Simon it's usually through the eyes and out the mouth, but he did a whole video on the poem for TIFO so I thought he'd remember

[@joeywatch1145]

@@ThatWriterKevin 🤣

[@dempseydoodle2010]

IDK about everyone else but the long rambling intros are amazing!

[@KWMQ]

Kevin's writing is predominantly expository - my writing is predominantly suppository.

[@dana.8128]

I like Kevin. He's witty, dark and gives you openings

[@ThatWriterKevin]

Thanks!

[@TheKalaxis]

"The most mysterious song on the internet" (aka "Blind the wind") would be a good Internet mystery to cover.

[@ThatWriterKevin]

It's coming!

[@DracoTriste]

Simon not understanding “death of the author” is both entertaining and painful. I know he’s Fact Boi, not Literary Criticism Man, but still…

[@jonslg240]

Bravo, bravo! Encore! Encore!

[@decodingtheunknown2373]

Wait, it isn't about the author not making the writing about their own experiences? I just Googled it and it kinda is what I thought... What am I missing?

[@Lowmanification]

@@decodingtheunknown2373 Death of the Author is more about how your work is interpreted once it is released. The general idea is that despite being the creator of the work, your opinion on what it means is no more important than the opinions of those who view/critique it. This allows for a work to be interpreted in ways which go beyond the initial intention of the creator and allows a more full/deeper meaning to be derived from it. This is especially useful when discussing older works and applying a modern critical lens (marxist, feminist, etc.) to them. Additionally, it also means that the creator is not able to dictate the meaning of the work, stifling intellectual discussion about it.

[@DracoTriste]

@@decodingtheunknown2373 it means the author is “dead” in the mind of critics and it doesn’t matter to them whether or not he has an interpretation of the work in question. So, the author might have made the work about himself, but in Death of the Author criticism, his interpretation about the meaning or importance of the work has no more weight than what anyone else says. It has nothing to do with how a book is written, but rather describes how a work is read by others. It’s how Lord of The Rings can be interpreted to be about climate change, or Curious George can be about kidnapping and “taming” the African peoples. Those things were not put there by the authors, (as far as I know) but readers have been able to interpret the works as such. In Death of the Author criticism, those later interpretations by readers and critics do not need to reference the author to be valid. The work and the reader is what matters, not the author.

[@Andrewtr6]

A lot of ppl and authors hate 'death of the author' because it's often used to justify shit interpretations that make no sense and are usually just that reader projecting. Just a fun fact

[@zacklenin]

At 3:50 mark... he might be talking about a famous Robert Frost poem.

[@sazae]

I'm a huge fan of Alex Melton so it is very cool to see him getting the love from Simon.

[@ernestbywater411]

This was VERY educational as the ONLY item referenced I knew about before this was Hello Kitty - the rest was totally new, despite me having been on the internet and the Usenet before that for 30 years.

[@evillttlimp]

I love internet mysteries. It's a sea of confusion out there. Please do more!

[@KristinaSummersportfolio]

Robert Frost, the road not taken .. 😂 Read at just about every graduation...

[@shadowfox001]

The poem he is referring to that people read at graduation ceremonies is likely Robert Frosts The Road Less Traveled

[@kaylamartin6280]

Simon, I just want you to know that I say the word effortlessly effortlessly and it amuses me to no end that you just can't

[@felbarashla]

I’m subscribed to all of Simon’s channels, but I have to say, this is probably my favorite of his channels. My second would probably be megaprojects.

[@sandybarnes887]

All 13 of them?

[@tsbulmer]

Regarding Kevin saying that creators don't go around telling other people they're funny, I think that comment was a bit misinterpreted. At least, what I took it to mean was along the lines of creators don't describe their own content as funny, preferring instead that others describe it that way.

[@ThatWriterKevin]

Yeah, I try to predict where Simon will go on tangents, and I failed there. It makes a lot more sense when the two sentences are read side by side.

[@JoshSweetvale]

1:30 Actors aren't artists. They're art. _Directors_ are artists. I kid, I kid. Portrayal is art. 3:00 That's not what that is. It means that once you've made art, other people can interpret it wrong and they're allowed to, morally. 4:50 Yes Simon, we know you're an Englishman.

[@joeyr7294]

I'm still waiting for that loc Ness monster vid Simon and Co. I can't wait to hear Simon's tangents about it lol

[@exorcisttank5345]

Fact Boy and Kevin... Two great tastes that taste great together.

[@kmillerdevx3]

Re: the torture theory (AND the discussion about weird crap Netflix produces): isn't that the basic plot of Squid Game?

[@jimmccauley9099]

Kevin's a keeper.

[@st.anselmsfire3547]

I love the random tangents and bloopers. Makes it seem like these are live.

[@BogWitch8440]

Kevin being cynical because he's American? Can confirm.

[@aarondew9118]

The 'deep seeded? / deep seated?' break is what did it for me. Lol. Love it. Absolute class.

[@SergiReyner]

In this episode, nice roasting quality memes courtesy of Jen \o/

[@EmilyJelassi]

I love your tangents and family updates Simon. They're a big part of why I'm subscribed to all of your channels 😊❤

[@V-is4Val]

Jen truly is the unsung hero of CC And DTU. My god. She is so good. Simon: don't let her get away!

[@nlabonte]

It was me. I made Blank Room Soup.

[@otherfanboy]

We need a tangent counter

[@miketobias1821]

Great idea 👍👍👍

[@cobracommander8133]

That guy's email included SO MUCH detail it makes me think he's lying about the costumes being stolen. I think he made those videos.

[@knez-bg]

I don't know about the details, but the drummer from Stolen Babies, who is a friend of Persi, appears in the 3rd video, so I too think Persi did them.

[@TheCrone]

Kevin, keep on getting your creep on. Love your writing

[@ThatWriterKevin]

Thanks, and I will!

[@staytuned2L337]

@@ThatWriterKevin yes 👏🏽please 👏🏽