You all know that I am a fan of the theory of dysgenics. I spend more than my fair share of time engrossed in stories or seeking new trends that support the theory that humans are perpetuating defective and disadvantageous genes from one generation to the next. Have you ever seen Idiocracy? The theory is pretty much explained in the film’s opening sequence. Our future is not going to be more civilized and more intelligent; we are being dumbed down.
Take, for example, this new trend I learned about by clicking through YouTube sometime last year. There is a generation of young kids who upload what are called “Dip Vids” to the video-sharing service. In most of these videos, young kids are shown chewing tobacco and (for the most part) making ridiculous statements about world events that show little-to-no intellect. Many of these kids are from the South. They embrace Confederate ideologies. Watching a Dip Vid can be a gut-wrenching experience, if only because it depicts a part of American society which unfortunately accounts for a majority of our population. To say that Dip Vids are sobering is a huge understatement.
Recently I saw a video on CurrentTV about Dippers in which the host — without saying so much — alludes to these traits without outright saying so. After more YouTube searches, I came across one Dipper who actually appeared well-intentioned. His videos rarely depict him actually chewing tobacco. Instead he spends his time calling out members of his community who say overtly racist or anti-Semitic things. Although he prides himself on being a member of their community (which is something I personally do not condone), he’s almost like Robert DeNiro in Taxi Driver. His wants to wash the trash off the sidewalk. He wants to bring justice to those who think racial slurs are part of our everyday parlance. Part of me likes to think he understands the theory of dysgenics, and his videos are an attempt to stave off a future where these kids are in control of our country. It’s a frightening thought, sure, but it’s not unfeasible. Just look at Idiocracy.
MassDIPPAH’s YouTube Channel (via DIGG)
The Dipper I speak of is named MassDIPPAH. He’s from Massachusetts but recently moved to Canada. He received an opportunity to move to Hollywood to work on some Dip/TV related project. When I saw his video stating he was coming to town, I made it my business to try and score an interview with him. After all, this is the most important blog in Los Angeles. It would only be fitting if I obtained the inside scoop on this Dip Vid phenomenon. Thanks to the transparency of YouTube, it was easy to get in touch with MassDIPPAH. Last night he called me after a long day of driving which brought him from Moosejaw, Canada across the American border. Although he seemed hesitant to discuss my devolution theory as it relates to the Dip Community (in fact he took great offense when he thought I lumped him together with those who are dragging down our society), he was fairly candid in the interview. I had no epiphany, there were no revelations about the Dip Community, its place in modern society, or its potential impact (intellectually or politically) on our future. It was just kind of a normal phone chat with a respected, feared and often loathed Dipper.
Evan: Where are you right now?
MassDIPPAH: I’m not really sure. I’m somewhere outside of Idaho Falls.
Evan: Are you driving straight through?
MassDIPPAH: Yeah, I’m driving straight through. I’m actually in my car right now with a blanket and my laptop. I pulled into a neighborhood and found some WiFi. I’m going to work on this video about JihadAgainstDip right now.
Evan: Is that one of your new enemies?
MassDIPPAH: I don’t know about “enemies.” I found what he was doing to be very inappropriate. He burned an american flag on cam, and everybody thinks that I’m him. He conceals his identity.
Evan: Why would they think you’re him?
MassDIPPAH: I have no idea, to be honest. I don’t think people really think that I’m him. People say that I’m him because they’re trying to ruin me. They’ve been trying to ruin me from the beginning, and really all I’ve been trying to do is make good dip vids.
Evan: People looking to “ruin” you?
MassDIPPAH: I think it was because I was from Massachusetts. You know, the people down South are still fighting the Civil War. They don’t respect Northerners because they fear northerners. We’re stronger, we’re much, much smarter — that’s not to say we’re better, we’re just smarter — and we’re more decent people. But we are in no way superior.
Evan: Maybe it is because they sense condescension and arrogance from your videos?
MassDIPPAH: Of course they do. When people sense condescension or arrogance it is because it’s intended to be against people who deserve it. I only made a mistake once as far as attacking people goes. And that was JLemify, who I have apologized profusely to. Now…everybody ends up…I don’t attack people any more than anybody else. I just do it a lot better, and I think that’s what’s gotten people so upset. But it’s not even close. I’m appreciated much more than I am hated. I am admired by most dippers. Much more than probably any other dipper.
Evan: Do you think the Dippers are happy or pissed to have you as a member of their community. You showed up out of the blue and really got a lot of responses to your tactics.
MassDIPPAH: I’m surprised that you’re so interested in that aspect.
Evan: Sorry, what should I be more interested in?
MassDIPPAH: Well, it’s about dipping. That’s…what this community is about, and that’s what this community will always be about. The little fights that pop up here and there are just like little earthquakes, because the community is changing. It is evolving rapidly, and that is because of me.
Evan: Don’t you think the community promotes some negative things though? There’s the uneducated political rants, the use of an unhealthy product like tobacco, and probably most of all the frightening prejudices and discrimination commonly espoused in the videos.
MassDIPPAH: When you deal with tobacco, you deal with the South. When you deal with the South, you deal with a lot of racist people and a lot of mentally challenged people. But you’re also dealing with a lot of wonderful, sincere — we’ll say natural — people. So, just because of that, you’re gonna have some shit to deal with. I’ve taken on, you know, members of the Klan, I’ve taken on people that have called me a nigger, a faggot, a spick, a Jew, a kike — and, you know, I’ve just always had the ability to defend myself. But again, I don’t think that that’s really what I’m known for as a dipper.
Evan: What are you known for, the production of your videos?
MassDIPPAH: Yeah, I would say the high-end production value. Not so much the editing, just…just the style. And that I’ve obviously been dipping for a long time, and can pack a hog digger like no one else.
Evan: Well, the first videos you made were subject to a lot of harsh criticism from people who said you couldn’t pack a lip…
MassDIPPAH: Um…no, that was just like once or twice, and I’m pretty sure they were kidding around. Yeah, that wasn’t a big deal.
Evan: So, what are your plans in LA?
MassDIPPAH: Well, I got some connections there. Saul Dispstein from New York has a lot of connections out there. He knows a lot of powerful people with a lot of money in the entertainment and banking industries. He used to work for Skoal and Skoal is trying to come up with a whole new marketing campaign to sell more dip. They wanted to find a charismatic dipping persona to take that over and possibly do a show that could actually air about the dipping world called “Dipping & Ripping,” or at least that’s what I want to call it. So yeah, I’m going to do that. But I pretty much just gotta make it happen. And I will make it happen. Because that’s what I do. And fuck anybody that says that I can’t. If you say that I can’t, I will destroy you. If you try to break my confidence, I will simply dismantle you in every way that I can. You can go ask the Bastardly Dippers what MassDIPPAH does when he gets upset. You can go ask Smithcycles, and you can go ask Outlaw, and pretty soon you’ll be able to ask JihadAgainstDip too, what happens when MassDIPPAH gets upset. You end up on the side of the road in a ditch fingering your dick.
Evan: Pretty much where you are right now?
MassDIPPAH: Yeah, pretty much where I am right now, except I’m not fingering my dick.
So…that was our conversation. It was short, I didn’t really receive any answers to the real questions I have regarding this underground community of tobacco chewers, and I probably will not have an opportunity to ask any more questions. I’m just left to hope that this is but a fad and not a sign of things to come. If it is, I guess I’m just happy I won’t be around long enough to feel the effects, however negative they are.
UPDATE: massDIPPAH’s aggressive style often draws the attention of YouTube officials. As of today his account has been frozen until the 28th of January. His videos (for the most part) are still available, but he has been quarantined for the time being.
