To anyone who knows me, it is not a surprise that I spend countless hours on the main video website, YouTube. I watch a variety of videos from How-To's to Let's Plays to video game theories. I know that at either 11 a.m. or noon EST (depending on whether or not he was prepared), Markiplier will post a video of one game or another, another video at 2 or 3 p.m., and at exactly noon and 3 p.m. EST each day, Jacksepticeye has his videos up. I can catch a GTLive stream at 7 p.m. EST on The Game Theorists channel and participate in a good hardy "clap and a half" when things are going well for MatPat. To some, those names are familiar; they are a part of a daily routine. To many others, they're confusing or silly. "What's a septiceye?" To me, they're lifesavers.
This may come to a surprise to many people who know me, but for the last couple of years, I've wished my life to end. Mind you, I have not sought out ways to kill myself, I merely wished for an accident to occur and take me away from the mortal realm. It's not right, it's not good, and I'm glad to say that I am finally past that point in my life, feeling much better. It took a lot to get me out of that stage of my life. There were four major players in the end of that stage: YouTube, Markiplier, Jacksepticeye and MatPat. Here are three reasons how YouTube saved my life.
1. Markiplier
Mark Edward Fischbach is known online as Markiplier. He is such an open, honest goof who happens to have an insane obsession with dick jokes. Just a few years older than myself, he is both much more mature than me at times and, other times, he has the maturity level of a 12 year old boy. His humor brightens my day each and every day. He knows exactly which games he can apply humor to and which games require a more serious tone. I've laughed alongside him when he's played games such as "Google Feud" or "Happy Wheels." I've jumped in fear when attacked by Freddy in "Five Nights at Freddy's," even putting up Markiplier's defense when I've felt tense watching him play games (and in some real-world situations as well).
And most importantly, I've cried alongside him when something in a game is really moving. I had to continue to pause "That Dragon Cancer" as he played and talked about his father's battle with cancer; it showed me that I'm still struggling with the death of my brother. Whenever I'm going through something, I watch a Markiplier video and do one of two things: allow myself to feel sad and cry or laugh and laugh and laugh until I feel much better.
To top it all off, Markiplier is my daily reminder that there are still good people in this world. He cares deeply. He's passionate. And he is charitable. He frequently does live streams to raise money for various charities where he makes some sizable donations himself. He encourages others to do what they can for charity. If they can't donate money, then donate time. He has shown me that there are still many people willing to help others for the sake of helping others. His fan base has a strong heart to follow and the hearts of his fans are large like his. I may or may not say his outro when watching his videos...Thank you everybody so much for watching (reading) and as always, I will see you in the next video (or, you know, the next paragraph) buh-bye (don't go, there's more to read).
2. Jacksepticeye
What is a septiceye anyway? Seán William McLoughlin might be able to tell you. Seán is more commonly known by his online personality, Jacksepticeye, or more simply, Jack. Much like Mark in many ways, Jack is both mature and child-like in many ways. While Jack might have many things in common with Mark, his channel is in no way the same as Mark's. I described Mark as being open and honest, but Jack is more so.
He is super real, knows when to be more serious and takes time to respond to as many comments as possible (and also does Reading Your Comments vlogs). He plays some of the same games as Mark, but he also finds some interesting games that I have never seen before. When watching Jack, headphone users beware (RIP headphone users)!
From his intro (top of the morning ta ya laddies!) to his outro (But thank you guys for watching this video. If you liked this video, punch that like button in the face, like a boss! But thank you guys! And I'll see all you dudes in the next video!), Jack is quite loud.
His smile is contagious, as is his laughter. While some find his voice to be annoying, I find that Irish accent of his to be magical. I always eagerly await his next video. He also has an extremely friendly fan base.
3. The Game Theorists
Matthew Patrick is a gamer that does theories on video games. I became hooked on his channel thanks to "Five Nights at Freddy's." He has some interesting theories on various games. Some of his theories are less than serious while others really get one thinking. On top of his theory videos, he has also started live streaming video games each week night.
I love watching the streams both live and after the fact because I love watching MatPat solve his way through puzzles, do silly challenges while playing the Impossible Quiz and interact with his wife, Stephanie (aka Cordy Patrick) and his friend Jason (#BlameJason) behind the camera.
Will this be the stream that CatPat actually manages to chew through a cord and ruin everything? Watch out for the table, Mat! VR safely! With their live streams, there is more of an interaction "with the chat" and "on the twits" that makes MatPat and Paris more relate-able. Clap and a half to you, Mat and Steph. Clap and a half.
So I got through a dark time of my life by watching YouTube videos.
Don't ever mock someone for something they enjoy; you never know what they could be going through or what they're using to cope. You never know what is keeping someone out of a dark period in their lives.
To Mark, Jack and Mat, if you see this, thank you!
