The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor Not that long ago, residents who wanted to watch the Flin Flon Bombers drop the gloves had to head to the Whitney Forum and wait for the violence to erupt. How times have changed. Now that same fan of fisticuffs can simply log onto an Internet site that in a short period of time has become a bona fide global sensation Ð YouTube. But hockey fights are only one small part of Flin Flon's alliance with this online phenomenon. Type "Flin Flon" into YouTube's massive searchable database and you'll come up with nearly 600 matching video clips Ð and growing by the week. The emergence of so many videos stemming from one small, remote town is no surprise to YouTube officials. "When we created YouTube, we wanted to create a place where people can connect with others through online video," says the California-based website in an e-mail interview. "Our vision is to make meaningful connections through video among people and communities worldwide." Postings Flin Flon YouTube postings include everything from teenage skateboard tricks to modern day renditions of Shakespeare. There are BMX wipeouts and mud bogging outings along with backyard wrestling matches and amateur musicians sharing their talents. One video, "The Flin Flon Song," has forged something of a cult following. Stills of the city pop onto the screen as a Flin Flon-themed song, performed by Toronto bluegrass band Garrison Creek, is heard. "Flintabattey Flonatin, they gave a town his name," they sing. YouTube is even serving as a gatekeeper of local history. One of the most watched Flin Flon videos is some hard-to-find footage of the 1957 parade welcoming home the Memorial Cup Champion Bombers. Another historic event, the 2009 implosion of the South Main head frame, was captured from several different angles. Recently added is film from the 1967 Gold Rush Canoe Derby, part of the Trout Festival. Laughable Some videos are downright laughable Ð but on purpose. Among them is a commercial parody from CBC's Rick Mercer Report that touts Flin Flon as an alternative tourist destination. The selling point? Tropical destinations put visitors at risk for Hepatitis A and B. "So take your vacation in Flin Flon, Manitoba," says the narrator as a hand pushes aside a fruit cocktail in favour of a brewski. "Come on. Come to Manitoba and have a beer." Surprising to some users is the fact that several of the Flin Flon clips have nothing to do with the city. A few videos are of the American rock band Flin Flon performing, while others appear to have no direct affiliation. Other videos have only a loose connection to the community, such as former residents getting married or singing songs in their living rooms. But it's not all fun and games. At least a couple of videos of bar fights, captured by bystanders with cell phone cameras, caused a stir in the community. (They appear to have since been removed). YouTube says it's up to the users to help keep the content appropriate. "It is our community that polices the site and flags content they find inappropriate," says the site. "Once it is flagged, YouTube promptly reviews the content and removes it from the system if it is in violation of our community guidelines. Real violence on YouTube is not allowed. If a video shows someone getting 'hurt, attacked, or humiliated', it will be removed." Battles Physical fights aside, YouTube has also spawned some keyboard-based battles. User-posted comments beneath certain videos, including a number of Flin Flon clips, are can be insulting to people in the videos or entire communities in general. The Mercer commercial clip, for example, has opened up a whole new avenue for Flin Flon and The Pas to renew their sometimes-unpleasant rivalry. "The Pas is where real men live," one user wrote. "I didn't see The Pas take (the) '57 Memorial Cup," retorted another. YouTube notes that all users choose to let people comment on a video. And if someone leaves an inappropriate remark, the person who posted the video can always delete it. "YouTube will also terminate the accounts of people who harass other users on YouTube," says the site. Despite the negative aspects, YouTube stands by its service 100 per cent. The nearly six-year-old site gets hundreds of millions of views every single day. "YouTube has created a new vehicle for people to share information with a vast worldwide audience in a way that was never possible before," says the site. "We're seeing more and more users share content not just for entertainment value, but also for other practical means. Video is a very compelling and effective way to deliver a message, particularly creative content that is uniquely tailored to the community."
