The Modern YouTube Divorce 

When Alec Baldwin’s angry voicemail spat with his daughter (something which should be a private matter) was leaked to the TV media by “someone from the other side,” I felt pity for him because I like Alec Baldwin (as an actor; I don’t know him as a person, sadly) and I genuinely believe that he – like all parents of bratty kids – just lost his cool.  But I do NOT feel bad for the “major Broadway theater operator” whose pretty blond wife sought out YouTube to burden her anger.  

Then again, I don’t feel bad for the wife either.  I feel bad for the sixteen year-olds trapsing around YouTube in search of some Family Guy clip or scantily clad girl and instead stumbling upon some scorned woman’s revenge tape.  

I highly doubt this was what Al Gore had in mind when he (claimed to have) invented the Internet.  Is this REALLY the future of the Information Super Highway?  Is this REALLY where we – as an industrialized modernized nation – want to be heading?  What’s next?  Angry YouTube break-ups, where one side records themselves throwing the other person’s Alicia Keys albums out the window, and then to retaliate the other side sets their partner’s pants on fire – all while fourteen years olds WhO TyPe LikE diS are commenting below?  Then what?  YouTube custody hearings?  

Seriously.  In a former journal of mine I made a pathetic plea to women everywhere to stop acting like teenage girls (and while you’re at it, stop trying to LOOK like teenage girls, but that’s another story).  And I think I may have to repeat myself.  I cannot envision in my head what divorce judge would say, “Well Jane, I was going to side with your husband but since I saw your YouTube rant I’ve changed my mind.”  

I also don’t think that people will think your husband is a giant tool and you’re a serious and mature but upset wife.  I think people will think your both idiots and go about their business with nothing more than an eye-roll.  So save yourself (and your dignity) some embarassment and leave YouTube to the younger generation.  Feel like venting?  Just come here!