Happy 8th Siftiversary

posted by Brian Houston (dag) 1 decade 9 months 1 week ago • 14,020 views


This is the second version of this post I've written. The first one was titled "You Won't Believe the One Crazy Thing That Happened on VideoSift's 8th Siftiversary". It was complete shit. The title was an allusion to click-bait sites and "viral" titles. The post had lots of clever digs at sites like Upworthy and Viral Nova. But what's the point.

The truth is that I'm very proud of VideoSift. It's the thing that I talk about if people ask "what do you do?" at a barbeque. Outside of my family - it's the best thing that I've ever started. It's this big deal that, even though I have little to do with on a daily basis - I get to point at and say "I started that". Me. me. me. It's fucking great. I put a damn VideoSift sticker on the back of my car and I drink from a VideoSift mug.

So I'd like to thank everyone who has made VideoSift possible -and in turn made me feel like a proud SOB. I hope that I've been at least a benevolent founder - and to many of you, a friend.

Thank you to everyone who makes this place a real community. The posters, the *promoters, the *banners and crazy commenters. I know there are other sites you spend time at - me too. But I'm really happy that we have a core group of dedicated Sifters who make this place great.

I like that people sometimes don't "get" VideoSift for a while. The crazy badges, in-jokes, history, regulars and problems. I like the rich complexity that we've built together - and I've come to realise it's not a common commodity on the Internet. So instead of snarking at other newer sites that have sprung up during our 8 years of existence- right now I choose to revel in the amazing thing that we've all built together- a unique entity that cannot be replaced or duplicated. VideoSift is VideoSift. We're a tautology baby.

What does the future hold for VideoSift in its 9th, 10th and 11th years? You tell me. One nice thing about VideoSift is that we're not beholden to a board, investors or any other outside parties. It's just me, @lucky760 and you guys. The people who run VideoSift are the people who know VideoSift. Most of the changes have come from the community. We can do anything. Turn VideoSift into a porn site? Sure we can do that. (though I'll be sleeping in the back of a van in a park). Only cat posts allowed? - sure and maybe we should - it works for Reddit. (zing! OK allow me one dig) I'd like to yield the floor to you all - but I may chime in with some ideas too. (when I wake up - midnight here)

Thanks again to everyone who does all the great work on VideoSift to make it a unique institution -and thanks as always to my partner in Sift @lucky760. Long live VideoSift!

62 Comments

dag says...

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

One of the crazy ideas I've often had - is to turn off member registration. I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but as the real value of VideoSift is being part of a community, I feel that this privilege should be earned.

Deano says...

I was going through my bookmarks(!) yesterday. Some real old gems there. It's fun to open a few and see if the site is still there.
I guess Videosift must easily be as old, if not older, than any of those.

Congratulations to dag and lucky for creating something that's been so useful and satisfying. I've said it before, I have never been so invested in something like this. For someone who's not that into social media that's saying something. You created something special here.

As for what the site is/can become? I say don't rest on your laurels. This is still *the* place to find interesting and quality video. But like I've said before it could be better. Make it better, refine/hone and redesign if necessary.

Happy Siftiversary!

lucky760 says...

Happy birthday, siftbot! And congratulations @dag for reaching this milestone. You sure created something great here.

Happy siftiversary to all you members who have made this place so wonderful and special over the years.

@promote!

I am definitely interested in hearing ideas from our wonderful community. I would love to see how our valued members think we could and should evolve VS next.

chingalera says...

Tiring and satisfying, brutally rich in manure...ahem, fertilizer.

One mans shit is another man's cornrows, thanks for putting up with all comers....kind of.
From choggie, chingalera, Sallyjune, blsomething, something, eliza, Peckinpaw, others....

To all the ladies of the sift, we salute each and every one

Still got me a little a bone to pick with chicco though, you ain't done bruhh...

PlayhousePals says...

Where was I eight years ago? Avoiding most social media. It only took six years for you to seduce and entice me here. And that was after a referral from a trusted friend. I'm not a lost cause [just a late one]. Happy to be here by gum, Thanks @dag and @lucky760 for your noteworthy achievement. Onward and Upward.

alien_concept says...

Holy shit, we're heading towards a decade of sifting! I can't believe I've been here 6 years! I've made some great friends here and even met some in person too. This site is like an old faithful.

dag and lucky, I applaud your dedication, patience and creative genius wholeheartedly! Well fucking done

ant jokingly says...

I wonder who is that trusted friend.

PlayhousePals said:

Where was I eight years ago? Avoiding most social media. It only took six years for you to seduce and entice me here. And that was after a referral from a trusted friend. I'm not a lost cause [just a late one]. Happy to be here by gum, Thanks @dag and @lucky760 for your noteworthy achievement. Onward and Upward.

enoch says...

man..look at all the old skoolers coming out to play.
/waves
and dont sweat it @PlayhousePals took me 4 yrs to make an account and post.i was one of them "lurkers".

this is still the only site i comment on,mainly cuz you guys put up with me.

so thanks @ dag and @lucky760 for utilizing your passion and creativity to give us all a place to play.

i love you guys.
but not in the gay way.
because thats against god.

well,i might go gay for @lucky760,he does look good in jeans.

ren says...

Happy bday to the sift!
Long time since I popped in to say hi, many happy memories although I suspect all my vids have been swept up by the siftbot by now.

Lilithia says...

A few years ago, my boyfriend used to spend a LOT of his time on VideoSift and it annoyed me. I didn't understand the need for a website to embed and rank videos that you could just watch on YouTube. Then there was a Doctor Who contest and, of course, I got interested. I registered and sifted my first video and I even won a t-shirt. I sifted more videos and had fun reading the comments of other sifters, sometimes even trying to take part in discussions while being completely ignored by all the other commenters. I'm glad I found out that there's more to this site than I initially thought. By now, my boyfriend has long moved on to Reddit, but I like it here and I plan on staying.

Happy Birthday!

I really liked the contests, especially the ones with the coffee and refrigerator videos. I hope there will be contests like this again.

dag says...

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

Thanks for the feedback Lilithia - I liked the contests too. Maybe that's something we should look at restarting!

Lilithia said:

A few years ago, my boyfriend used to spend a LOT of his time on VideoSift and it annoyed me. I didn't understand the need for a website to embed and rank videos that you could just watch on YouTube. Then there was a Doctor Who contest and, of course, I got interested. I registered and sifted my first video and I even won a t-shirt. I sifted more videos and had fun reading the comments of other sifters, sometimes even trying to take part in discussions while being completely ignored by all the other commenters. I'm glad I found out that there's more to this site than I initially thought. By now, my boyfriend has long moved on to Reddit, but I like it here and I plan on staying.

Happy Birthday!

I really liked the contests, especially the ones with the coffee and refrigerator videos. I hope there will be contests like this again.

chingalera says...

Thanks for that Lilithia (indirectly promoting my cooking contest!) we dig prizes and contests as well, Pumpkinandstorm won a Videosift T-shirt from me a few months back(which Dag donated when I suggested an earlier VIDEO contest), when I concocted a previous cooking contest FOR the videosift after taking over the cooking channel for another user-Another user actually won first prize, and gifted it to P&S further fostering the spirit of this unique online community, which shows how much it means to some folks to spread the love around here...(or, that some folks just didn't want some stodgy T-Shirt

Encouraging here more sifters to start their own contests-Shipping stuff from down-under is probably pretty cost-prohibitive, eh Dag???

Speaking of which, I would love to get a couple more entries into the cookie-contest, but if the 3 entries so far are all there are, that means everyone who enters gets cookies and prizes. AND remember, your entries WILL be judged by former strippers and female bartenders and filmed for upload to the site....YAY! Everybody wins!

Stormsinger says...

That looks like a lot more work, when I already get fantastic coffee just following Aerobie's instructions. I can be almost done with my cup before this method is finished.

That said, I'll give it a whirl over the weekend.

And back on point, it's amazing how quickly the time passes here. No way does it seem long enough for the Sift to be eight years old...even considering I missed the first year and a bit. Kudos to everyone involved.

dag said:

Quote hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

Inverted is the only way to go - supposedly. I honestly can't taste the difference.

chingalera says...

Yes there is ant-It's called sunlight and and about-towner afternoons, at least twice a week. OH, and you must encounter 3 people physically per walk, and initiate conversation...Perhaps a puppy or kitty might help?? Crafts or hobbies are good, get you a good knot-tying guide or maybe take up toothpick art or philatelic.

ant said:

Me too. Is there a VSAA?

ant says...

Outside is so overrated.

chingalera said:

Yes there is ant-It's called sunlight and and about-towner afternoons, at least twice a week. OH, and you must encounter 3 people physically per walk, and initiate conversation...Perhaps a puppy or kitty might help?? Crafts or hobbies are good, get you a good knot-tying guide or maybe take up toothpick art or philatelic.

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