The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Medical Library (video)
This nine-minute video introduction to the University of Bristol Medical Library starts out a bit humorous, then becomes a fairly standard orientation film with oddly anachronistic music.
Is anyone else a little uncomfortable with the use of the word “idiot” in referring to patrons? I mean…if the whole video continued the joke (following Alan Moron around as he makes foolish-but-instructional mistakes) it might work. Because the joke is so brief, the video just seems to suggest (to me, anyway) that a person who confused by the library’s labeling system or who is simply unfamiliar with how the library does things must be an idiot.
What do you think?
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August 13th, 2007 at 9:22 am
Personally I would rather use dummy, tribute to the … dummies series.
No, seriously I would not call a freshman or new patron idiot – but I wouldn’t put an introduction to our library on youtube. So I might be too conservative.
August 13th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
I think that this is a typical example of British humor (humour) that is less “sensitive” (if that is the right word) than our american brand of humor. The music is a good example of the background music used for any number of instrurctional films produced in the 50’s and 60’s and is, in itself, a pretty humorous touch.
I don’t find any of it objectionable.
August 13th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Hi David. I get the joke of the music, it just seems out of place after the video’s one joke (”This is an idiot…”) has passed.
I don’t find it objectionable either. I just think it is a poor idea for a library to refer to its patrons as idiots.
August 13th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Maybe it’s just internet connection but the front page took forever to load. Could it be that the video downloads while the page is trying to load?
August 13th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
Hi Mike.
I dunno’…it seems to be loading at a normal speed for me.
Anyone else seeing problems?
August 14th, 2007 at 10:49 am
And you are concerned because the patrons ARE idiots and will take offense or because they all have such low self esteem they will now perceive themselves as idiots because the film implied it?
Please.
I think we spend TOO much time being PC. I’m an idiot and proud of it
August 14th, 2007 at 11:01 am
CJ, you know me too well to think I am in favor of political correctness.
I just don’t think that patrons will find the library friendly and support it if they see the library staff equating “confusion” with “idiocy.”
I think it sends a counter-productive message.