Do you feel uncomfortable watching someone else's home videos?
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
United States
August 18, 2007 8:23pm CST
Today we were watching some old home videos of our family that we filmed about a year ago. And, as we were sitting around the living room enjoying the entertainment of times gone by a very interesting thought occurred to me. As much as I love watching home movies of our own family, I don't really like watching other people's home movies. Isn't that funny?
Whenever we go over to friends homes and they pull out videos from their most recent trip, inevitably I feel embarrassed or uncomfortable watching them. Almost as if I am intruding on their private family moments. Funny some of the stuff that you end up hearing on other people's home videos. It's kind of embarrassing sometimes, don't you think?
Do you find that you get embarrassed or uncomfortable watching another person's home videos? Do you feel like you are intruding into their personal life or learning things about them that you would rather not know? What's the funniest or strangest thing that you've ever learned about your friends by watching their home videos?
3 people like this
13 responses
@wisconsin26 (3859)
• United States
19 Aug 07
I can't say I have ever watched home movies.. I wish though in the past I had a video camera so I could of taken some video's.. Not that I was want to be embarrassed or anything like that but when we look back at some of the things we did we do have a good laugh, having it on tape it's even funnier... I think though it would be pretty neat to watch them.. Just my oppion!!
2 people like this
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
19 Aug 07
Oh, sure, definitely! Watching oneself or one's own family on video is always enjoyable. That's what we were doing today. But, I never really enjoy watching other people's videos. Except maybe the wedding videos or kids birthday parties or such. Those are always adorable.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
19 Aug 07
I haven't watched any of my friends' home videos. To be honest, I'm not comfortable watching other families' home videos because it is kind of boring - if you weren't there, you don't really know what was going on or why everyone else seems to find a certain thing funny.
1 person likes this
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
20 Aug 07
That's sort of the same feeling I get. Like, what's everyone laughing about? It's sort of like walking in on the last part of a joke. You never quite get it.
@rogue13xmen13 (14402)
• United States
20 Aug 07
Not really, I get to know other people through watching their home videos.
@AmbiePam (95258)
• United States
19 Aug 07
Well, I don't remember seeing a lot of other people's home videos. I know growing up, my parents never showed theirs. However, I am inclined to think it isn't a good idea to show other people your home videos. And here is why: when I was seven years old I spent the night at a friend's house. Her mother got out the tape where she had had her daughter's birth recorded. Seven years old, and I SEE ALL of the birth process. I had nightmares and my mom got so mad.
1 person likes this
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
19 Aug 07
Oh, my goodness! I have never heard of an adult showing children that type of thing. That stuff would scare anyone, including grown men! Going through labor and delivery was a real painful trip for me. I am so happy the hospital didn't let us video tape the procedures, because they would give anyone nightmares. I have seen some of those birth videos from the Baby Story and Discovery Health (years ago, in preparation for pregnancy and delivery) and they are not at all pleasant. Shame on that woman for showing such a thing to little kids. No wonder your mom was so mad. I would have been mad too!
@khushigyaqoob2 (15)
• Pakistan
19 Aug 07
its boring when you are watching other family videos. i don't like.but in your home and in your personal life you feel you have some one special thing or special person.suddenly you have an idea in your mind. then you catch each moments of your life.i think don't make funny anyone life. its happens with we are all in our personal life.
@DJules (55)
• United States
19 Aug 07
There are two factors that would influence how I felt about watching someone else's home videos, and those are: 1. How close of a relationship I had with them and 2. What the video showed.
If I was rather close to the other people, and it was a video of a generally public event (dance recital, wedding, choral performance, band concert, etc.) then I would feel comfortable watching it. I might not be as interested as I would watching my own family, but I would understand and be happy that they wanted to share a bit of their life with me.
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
19 Aug 07
I really think home video's is for your own family.I don't think it is intruding ,to me its just boring.Other people's video's unless you are in them and they are a part of your family,i just think it holds no interest to you,thats the way i feel anyway...I do not think that is a selfish thing on my part,but if you think about it,you wasn't there,you did not enjoy that vacation so really they are the only ones that will really enjoy their movie.I have had friends,very good friends that has pulled out their vacation video;s and to tell the truth,i can only look at it for a very few minutes and then (BORING)!!!Its sorta like when people pull out a long strand of pictures of their grand kids or kids,yes they are cute but its really not a part of your world,thats their world,so it doesn't really mean a lot to you like it does them..So when the friends pull out their video's i do not get embarrassed,i just rather talk with them and visit rather than looking at what they did on their vacation..It makes me uncomfortable because it is boring...
@youless (112672)
• Guangzhou, China
19 Aug 07
People all like to show their home videos to friends and relatives to have a look. I read a book and I learn not to force others to watch your home videos with you. They may not enjoy it as well as you. I don't feel embarrassed or uncomfortable to watch others' home videos, but sometimes I will feel bored to it.
@saurabhchowdhry (35)
• India
19 Aug 07
it depends on how close u r to the family whose home videos u r watching. it also depends upon what u r watching :-)
@xiongyijun (171)
• China
19 Aug 07
it depends. if the video is just about something in daily life that would seen by most people, such as a video for a trip or wedding,it doesn't matter. but if there is something a little pravite or not proper to seen by others, it will make me feel wired and embarrased to watch it. my cousin once told me that he would let me see the picture of his girlfriend. but when he gave his cellphone to me, it was a little clip in which they are in the bed and play. although they were not doing something relavent to that kind of things, bed did make me embarrsed. i wish i could find a hole to put myself in that time.
@surajpkn (582)
• India
19 Aug 07
no matter whose video it is, as long as it is funny i think i would definitely be interested in watching. And when the people you are watching are actually your close pals or family relatives or etc, it is more fun when u see some jokes and blunders on screen. But otherwise, if it is not exactly a comedy oriented one, it definitely depends on who you are watching and how close they are to you!
@Laurla98 (786)
• United States
19 Aug 07
I think it just depends on how close I am to the person and how the person seems to feel about it. If they look uncomfortable..then I'm definitely going to feel out of place watching it. I think I"m more of a look at other peoples pictures type of person.