Ben Going

Infobox Internet celebrity
name = Ben Going


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birthdate = birth date and age|1985|6|15
birthplace = Cocoa, Florida
United States
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webalias = "boh3m3"
period active = May 4, 2006-present
host service = YouTube
genre = Vlogging, stunt performance
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homepage = [http://www.boh3m3.net/ www.boh3m3.net]

Ben Going (born June 15, 1985), username boh3m3 (pronounced bo-heem) " [http://youtube.com/watch?v=X0qZ08TXyHs "Proof"] " on YouTube, is a video blog personality based in Torrance, California.cite news |first=Janet |last=Kornblum |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=These guys draw a YouTube crowd |url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-10-29-youtube-stars_N.htm |quote= |publisher=USA Today |date=October 30, 2007 |accessdate=2007-11-02 ] According to the Associated Press, Going is "one of the best-known members of the YouTube community." cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Examining the Path to YouTube Stardom |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=2826538&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312 |quote='It's really about finding out what you do best and putting it out there,' says Ben Going, a 21-year-old Alabama waiter who as "boh3m3" is one of the best-known members of the YouTube community. |publisher=Associated Press |date=January 26, 2007 |accessdate=2007-06-14 ]

Most of Going's videos are shot in black-and-white. He has claimed to be "the only person on the "(YouTube) Most Subscribed List" that swears excessively". [" [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=84746936 The Hill] " on Ben Going's MySpace blog as of August 12, 2007] Often in his videos, he wears a signature black hat. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |quote='I don't have any groupies yet,' said Ben Going when asked whether his Internet fame has changed his life. The 21-year-old waiter from Huntsville, Alabama, has a regular YouTube audience that numbers over 43,000 subscribers. Two minutes after making his joke, Going was approached by two red-haired teenagers who asked him for an autograph. Going, known at YouTube as Boh3m3, shrugged at a reporter and appeared simultaneously thrilled and embarrassed. Lowering his hat, the one Going wears in many of his videos, he signed away. |title=Top YouTube videographers descend on San Francisco |url=http://news.com.com/2100-1025_3-6160390.html |work= |publisher=CNET |date=February 17, 2007 |accessdate=2007-06-13 ] Subjects of Going's vlogs have included pop culture, the news media, and the state of the YouTube community, in addition to personal anecdotes.

YouTube

Going intended that his first submission to YouTube, posted in May 2006, serve as an audition tape for MTV's "Jackass".cite news |first=Bob |last=Tedeschi |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=New Hot Properties: YouTube Celebrities |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/26/technology/26ecom.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5124&en=9670fbf567afd78d&ex=1330232400 |publisher=New York Times |date=February 26, 2007 |accessdate=2007-06-13“Ben Going, creator of Boh3m3, another of YouTube’s most popular channels, started his YouTube series in part because he aspired to work with the Jackass team. Mr. Going, a waiter in Huntsville, Alabama, who shoots videos from his bedroom, now says he hopes 'video blogging might become some kind of career.'” ] Hoffman, Scott [http://www.moviepicturefilm.com/inter.php?itemid=1162 "ExcChatting With Ben Going (Boh3m3 On You Tube)"] [http://www.moviepicturefilm.com "The Critic" at moviepicturefilm.com] , March 17, 2007] Failing this, he went on to adopt a vlogger personality that has worked to give him over 44,000 subscribers and a top spot on YouTube's "Most Subscribed" list. [ [http://www.youtube.com/members?s=ms&t=a&g=0&p=2 Official YouTube Most Subscribed List] , You Tube as of June 15, 2007] Two of his videos, " [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egat8JwGpos No Swearing!] " (posted June 6, 2006) and " [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPl6QeK87sM Why Do You Tube?] " (posted November 29, 2006 but has since been removed), were featured on YouTube's homepage and each has a view count over 900,000. Various news outlets have approached Going for his opinion on the state of the YouTube community or YouTube in general. [cite news |first=Anna |last=Kuchment |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Technology: Want to Be a Video Star? |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14869770/site/newsweek/ |quote="People are looking for an emotional connection," says Ben Going, a.k.a. boh3m3, a 21-year-old from Huntsville, Alabama, who vlogs about music at MySpace.com and YouTube. Discuss your passions, but keep it short: no more than two or three minutes. |publisher=Newsweek |date=September 26, 2006 |accessdate=2007-06-17] [cite news |first=Peter |last=Lauria |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Video Venom Popular Posters Revolt Against YouTube|url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/11122006/business/video_venom_business_peter_lauria.htm |quote='I'm starting to feel some twinges of betrayal,' said Ben Going, better known to YouTube users as Boh3M3. 'They seem to be more money-oriented than I imagined.' |publisher=New York Post |date=November 12, 2006 |accessdate=2007-06-18] [cite news |first=Jake |last=Coyle |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Users wonder about the future of YouTube |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15227651/ |quote=A prominent figure of the YouTube community, boh3m3 said, “Come on, man. Google is good. If it had to be bought by any company, I have to say Google is a ... great choice.” |publisher=Associated Press |date=October 11, 2006 |accessdate=2007-06-18]

Stemming from his video channel's exposure, YouTube paid Going to produce two videos for use in holiday themed, corporate sponsored promotions in December 2006. The first to be released was part of the YouTube and Coca-Cola Holiday WishCast, sponsored by Coca-Cola. [ [http://www.thebusinessedition.com/youtube-and-coca-cola-introduce-video-greeting-cards-for-the-holidays-572/ "YouTube and Coca-Cola Introduce Video Greeting Cards for the Holidays"] Joint YouTube and Coca-Cola press release December 12, 2006 For the first time people will be able to send their own personal videos as a holiday greeting card online. Visitors can share their holiday spirit by uploading their own videos, customizing video greetings created by popular YouTube personalities, Geriatric1927, Boh3m3, Terra Naomi, Renetto, thewinekone and LisaNova, or sharing holiday-themed videos from Coca-Cola including clips from vintage Coke advertisements.] According to Adweek, this promotion marked the first time YouTube made an ad deal with its top users. [Morrissey, Brian [http://www.adweek.com/aw/iq_interactive/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003494877 "Coke Uses YouTube Stars for Holiday Campaign"] Adweek, December 13, 2006] The second was featured on YouTube's homepage for the YouTube New Year's Eve Countdown, which was put on in partnership with Warner Music Group and sponsored by Chevrolet. [Reardon, Marguerite [http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-6146319-7.html "YouTube hosts New Year's Eve Bash"] CNET [http://news.com.com/8300-10784_3-7.html?tag=blogHed News Blog] December 29, 2006 Special video messages from YouTube celebrities, such as Boh3m3, Smosh, Terra Naomi, Renetto, Chad Vadar, and thewinekone, along with artists from WMG labels Atlantic Records, Warner Bros. Records and Warner Music International will be featured on the home page.]
Stickam has credited Going for bringing 1,000 new users to its video networking website hours after he advertised his presence there on YouTube. [Stickam press release [http://webmaster.stickam.com/2006/10/youtube_stars_prove_real_ident.html YouTube stars prove real identity live on Stickam] Stickam, October 5, 2006 "...genuine high-profile video bloggers like boh3m3, who creates YouTube's 9th most subscribed channel, are using Stickam’s unique broadcasting and social networking site as a valuable tool for confirming their true identities live....“I think it's quite an awesome site,” boh3m3 said about Stickam. “I wouldn’t be surprised if more YouTube people started using it as a tool to talk to the fans.” boh3m3 achieved instant popularity on Stickam after announcing his plans to “Go Live” on the site. Just hours after his post appeared on YouTube, nearly 1,000 new Stickam accounts were created, and hundreds of members signed onto boh3m3's friend list. His profile received almost 10,000 views in just two days."] In January 2007, he hosted a live, 24-hour Stickam broadcast to raise awareness for the Darfur conflict. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUck09BT1fQ "Boh3m3, YouTube & Darfur"] [http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=neddotcom the YouTube channel of neddotcom] of [http://www.darfurby.com darfurby.com] , January 6, 2007]

In addition to several other popular YouTube users, Going contributed with Barenaked Ladies to produce a music video for their single "Sound of Your Voice" in February 2007. [Moses, Asher [http://www.theage.com.au/news/digital-music/youtubers-star-in-barenaked-music-video/2007/02/21/1171733816120.html YouTubers star in Barenaked music video] The Age, February 21, 2007] The video has been featured on the Barenaked Ladies' homepage.

In May 2007, YouTube entered Going as one of the first users to take part in its partnership program. As a YouTube partner, Going can capitalize on "promotional opportunities" and advertiser based revenue sharing. [ [http://youtube.com/blog?entry=4b3PkL8HQcw YouTube Elevates Most Popular Users to Partners] , [http://youtube.com/blog The YouTube Blog] May 3, 2007] Cite news | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/05/technology/05tube.html?ex=1187841600&en=ae6940b91e2b4aac&ei=5070 | title = Contributors on YouTube May Share Advertising Revenue | date= 2007-05-05 | accessdate = 2007-08-21 | author = Miguel Helft | work = The New York Times] He was one of the first twenty to thirty YouTube users to have this status. Although The New York Times once quoted Going's saying that he hopes "video blogging might become some kind of career,"cite news |first=Bob |last=Tedeschi |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=New Hot Properties: YouTube Celebrities |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/26/technology/26ecom.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5124&en=9670fbf567afd78d&ex=1330232400 |quote=Ben Going, creator of Boh3m3, another of YouTube’s most popular channels, started his YouTube series in part because he aspired to work with the Jackass team. Mr. Going, a waiter in Huntsville, Alabama, who shoots videos from his bedroom, now says he hopes 'video blogging might become some kind of career.' |publisher=New York Times |date=February 26, 2007 |accessdate=2007-06-13] since becoming a YouTube partner he has retracted that statement. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uATn5_t_8jw "Boh3m3 and Thehill88 are official & the Journey of Vblogging"] [http://www.youtube.com/user/Businessboomer Businessboomer's channel on YouTube] , June 11, 2007]

On September 29, Boh3m3 uploaded a video [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv1ls0mI-YI "Raiders of the Lost Crock"] where he discusses the popularity of Chris Crocker while suggesting quote, "Chris Crocker is an attention whore....the Chris Crocker experience is getting fucked in the ass by another dude in the deep south......watch "Deliverance".

On January 25 2008, Going announced that he would not be making videos on YouTube for personal reasons. But on February 14, Going had returned with a new video entitled " [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9VaCboHVeg&feature=user | Ominous Anonymous] ", in which he discussed his return to YouTube and the protests against Scientology perpetrated by the internet group called "Anonymous". Most recently, he has posted a video stating he will stop making video blogs and focus more on artistic pieces, though he has a new channel, 3m3hob, in which he will continue to post blogs, though he says there will be very few.

YouTubers for net neutrality

On August 17, 2006, Going posted [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhBzPV9FOgA "Save the Internet!"] to YouTube. Described by Newsday as "a one-minute, black-and-white, tech-age public service announcement", the video, which Going scripted, presents a short argument for net neutrality that includes video appearances by YouTube users Tony Huynh, Barats and Bereta, and Brandon Hardesty, among others. Free Press blog " [http://savetheinternet.com SavetheInternet.com] " subsequently featured it, [ [http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2006/08/24/youtubers-support-net-neutrality/ "YouTubers Support Net Neutrality"] , [http://www.savetheinternet.com SavetheInternet.com] as of August 24, 2006] leading the video to gain a view count in excess of 500,000. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhBzPV9FOgA "Save the Internet!"] [http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=boh3m3 Boh3m3's channel on YouTube] , as of April 17, 2007] [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Grassroots Movement Wants Laws to Keep Big Media from Controlling Internet |url=http://www.freepress.net/news/18198 |quote=A 21-year-old waiter from Huntsville, Alabama, Ben Going, wrote the script, got a few figures from the online video site YouTube to participate, and posted the clip on the site. With more than 536,000 views by YouTube users, the video demonstrates how the seemingly obscure topic has transformed into a grassroots movement that claims its goal is to keep the Internet free from interference by telecommunications giants. |publisher=Newsday |date=October 10, 2006 |accessdate=2007-06-19 ] Of the video, Salon.com quoted Ben Scott, one of the coordinators of "SaveTheInternet.com", to have said that Going's “"Save the Internet!"” "is doing the work of 30 full-time communications professionals". [cite news |first= Daniel W. |last=Reilly |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=The telecom slayers |url=http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2006/10/02/slayers/index.html |quote=In the first week after it was posted on YouTube on Aug. 17, the video was viewed over 350,000 times, according to figures provided by the site. By comparison, the infamous "macaca" video of Virginia Sen. George Allen calling a man of Indian descent the racial slur, was viewed 200,000 times in roughly the same amount of time. A testament to the power of viral marketing, the Net neutrality video "is doing the work of 30 full-time communications professionals," Scott says.....Going says he pieced the video together because he feels that his hobby, his business, his way of life, is under attack. |publisher=Salon.com |date=October 2, 2006 |accessdate=2007-06-20 ]

Vegemite wars

In February 2007, Australian news program "A Current Affair" picked up Going's January 27, 2007, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdDzITytrjc "The Australians are Fooling Us All!"] and used it to springboard a mock defense of Vegemite. In his video, Going imagines the substance to be made of "yeast, salt and pain." To counter, "A Current Affair" enlisted media personality Peter FitzSimons, who muses Vegemite to comprise, rather, "the distilled essence of Australia". [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW7wlyeajSY "YouTube on OZ News: Vegemite Wars"] [http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=badbarb badbarb's channel on YouTube] , February 8, 2007] Although the segment focuses on Going, it also features Australian YouTubers who profess a fondness for Vegemite, including [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKHQS04Oooo communitychannel] and Caitlin Hill. [cite web |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt_2gJmdezM |title=Vegemite 101 |accessdate=2007-06-19 |format= |publisher=YouTube ] A reporter for the "The Age" responded by questioning "A Current Affair"'s journalistic integrity. [Ed [http://blogs.theage.com.au/lastlaugh/archives/2007/02/last_laugh_vege.html "Last Laugh: Vegemite Wars (or How to Get on National TV in Australia Without Really Trying)"] [http://blogs.theage.com.au/lastlaugh/ The Age's blog "The Last Laugh"] , February 8, 2007]

Off YouTube

Going grew up in Cocoa, Florida, and lived there until just before he started high school. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuVK06hIo-8 "Memoirs Of a Childhood Asshat"] [http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=boh3m3 Boh3m3's channel on YouTube] , December 7, 2006] He waited tables in Huntsville, Alabama, throughout the earlier part of his YouTube career.cite news |first=Bob |last=Tedeschi |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=New Hot Properties: YouTube Celebrities |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/26/technology/26ecom.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5124&en=9670fbf567afd78d&ex=1330232400 |publisher=New York Times |date=February 26, 2007 |accessdate=2007-06-13“Ben Going, creator of Boh3m3, another of YouTube’s most popular channels, started his YouTube series in part because he aspired to work with the Jackass team. Mr. Going, a waiter in Huntsville, Alabama, who shoots videos from his bedroom, now says he hopes 'video blogging might become some kind of career.'” ] In April 2007, Going moved to Torrance, California, [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkK1gixQUoY "The California Chronicles: Packing, Madness, and TV's Death"] [http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=boh3m3 Boh3m3's channel on YouTube] , April 5, 2007] after accepting an offer to apprentice under a professional music video director. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Bz9MVGOl8 "The BIG Secret Revealed!"] [http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=boh3m3 Boh3m3's channel on YouTube] , as of May 30, 2007] The move was facilitated by fan contributions exceeding $1,000.00 made through PayPal.Hoffman, Scott [http://www.moviepicturefilm.com/inter.php?itemid=1162 "ExcChatting With Ben Going (Boh3m3 On You Tube)"] [http://www.moviepicturefilm.com "The Critic" at moviepicturefilm.com] , March 17, 2007]

See also

* YouTube celebrities
* YouTube gatherings

References

External links

* [http://www.boh3m3.net snarky bastard films, Ben Going's official website]
* [http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=boh3m3 Ben Going's account on YouTube]
* [http://www.livevideo.com/video/BikiniNews/BF7E57AD94304901BF24167772712D01/episode-61-boh3m3-in-a-bikini.aspx Interview, in a bikini, on Bikini News vodcast ]