A Propensity for Mischief

Question of the Day

2008-06-19T17:57:00.000-07:00

So it seems a lot of us are curious...

What did Much actually end up achieving through this?

Why did they bail halfway through? There was NO big hack.
They even bailed on the whole 'phind the phreak' contest.

Let me know what you guys think. What did YOU want them
to do? Anything? How could they make it better?

How do they make it better now?

Have you written off Much now,
or are you just glad this annoyance
is over?

Let's discuss this briefly while I tweak my format.

[shoutouts to Mad Mark]

I still think I want to caddleprod these fuckers, and I shall.
Just because their phreak is gone doesn't mean this one is.

Something needs to be done about the state of the nation...'s music station.

2008-06-16T17:01:00.001-07:00

well, i guess someone has decided to pack up his ball and go home.

such a cop out.

bait and switch, bait and switch.

phreak out, eh?

cute. admit to everything.

renag and repent.

right?

i'll be around.

you were shit.

All's Quiet

2008-06-09T12:20:00.001-07:00

BREAKING NEWS!! HEADLINERS FOR MMVAS!!!

i fucking wish i was joking.
was the funky bunch busy?

SOURCE:
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080609/entertainment/music_mmvas_nkotb

boycott this, kids...
phreak would want you too...

where is he, by the way?

at home? washing his tights?

What's the matter, phreaky?

Did it get too hot on the frontlines?
I've been saying my piece, what
about yours? where is it?
what is it?

oh... it's still en route from much?

sorry about that.

hey, i heard you guys are moving soon.
where you gonna hold these giant clusterfucks
when CTV is all that's in your building?

Fandom

2008-06-05T18:57:00.000-07:00

oh, phreaky... i always knew it would come to this.

looks like not EVERYONE has their thumbs up their asses.

appearances can be decieving

2008-06-04T13:51:00.001-07:00

does this look like media savvy popculture activism to you?

does it look like a scathing review of canadian media as we stand?

[look closer]

nope, that's right. it's just some dustin diamond looking motherfucker, pretending to be a fan of the phreak. niiiiiiiice.

does that guy look young enough to watch Much?
does that guy look like he has a clue as to who's nominated?
does his facial hair make you throw up in your mouth a little?

know what it looks like to me?

looks like somebody's still selling the MMVAs.

so think about it this way;

either, this guy [we're talking about phreak now, not screech up there] is too stupid to realize he's plugging a show that's using his image to coerce the pocketchange away from poor little canadian teens, OR...

... he KNOWS that his image is being used to shill a shitty awards show, WITH a subpar lineup.

so, either he KNOWS this and is trying to cash in off the fame,

OR

as we've already discussed, he's a prick that works for much, quite likely an already known veejay [oh, see what i did there? video jockey? vee jay? does anyone see where this is going? i see a video jockey.] who got suckered into being the company's latest bullshit mascot.

either way, i CONTINUE to call bullshit and continue to urge you to NOT WATCH.

crazy idea, i know... but listen kids, all the little youtube comments you post about him being an 'annoying jerk who ruinz all mi fav showz' are doing nothing but giving him hits.

you want MUCH to listen to YOU? hit them where it hurts.

DON'T watch their bullshit show.

Get a wristband, sure - that's fine.
Atleast then there's a perishable going to charity, and if you must actually attend the silly little event, make sure to spit on somebody.

you guys want to see the face of pop-culture activism, and shunning the mainstream?

oh, right... that's me.

http://www.youtube.com/seeveejay

dubba bubba

2008-06-03T19:34:00.000-07:00

things have been moving slow lately.
something tells me the pawns aren't
shuffling in the ways they were
expected to. for shame.

12 days.
12 days, and no manifesto. no point to this activism. just some chump flapping his gums about faux rebellion, then gaining imaginary vengeance through garnering extra viewership.

anybody give a shit?

BOYCOTT it.
DO NOT watch it.

after all, phreakshow doesn't want you to.
your videos are all on the commercials after all [oddly enough produced by much]
and if you're really good... really, really good,
he'll put you on the blog. much is selling out your beloved icon of rebellion anyway!
they're using him to make money!
[they're using you while they're at it.]

so be like me, baby.
go off to some cabin in the woods, and don't STARE AT A SCREEN.
then get inebriated beyond belief, maybe you'll come up with a good idea.
maybe the good idea is NOT WATCHING. either way, you may learn something....

[...maybe even something about yourself]

AS MARSHALL MCLUHAN STATED;

"the medium is the message."

well, let's see... the medium was hacks, the message is to hack, and the guy doing it is a FUCKING HACK.

[and for those of you who've read, and know what i'm talking about, the phreak is one cool fucking cucumber - am i right? {i slay me}]

think for yourselves.
turn that camera around and do something useful.

speaking of not useful....

----------------------------------------------
hubba bubba
[money, money]
who do you love?

y'know kids, there are a lot of little jerks out there, and they tend to act as though they're important peoples. they tend to think that just because they put up a video that got a little linkage on a slow day that their shit don't stink... ooh la la. let's all make videos and record alternate audio tracks and synch them up so we can hide our voices.

the seevee don't need to hide his voices kiddies. for two reasons, really.

i] i'm not a little pussy afraid of some attention. you'll notice that i've given out my name... even my home address. cletus v. jenkins. 500 murray ross, toronto on.... hell, you can see most of my face, most of the time. i just wanted to look cool like the guy with the blue face [not the guy with the gas can on his head]

ii] secondarily, i'm an audio engineer by trade. i set up mics and work faders all friggin' day, dudes and dudettes... you've got to in my biz. that's how bands make bucks, and seevee has a band or two. when i get home, the last thing i want to do is stare down the barrell of another mic.

ignore the IMPERSONATORS, honey.

this one's for real.

there's only one kid that's been directly addressed in video-format.
there's only been one love-letter/marriage-proposal/"smackdown"

and it was to me.

i'm the chosen one bitches.

I am the conduit.

phreaky chose me.

...

2008-06-02T10:14:00.000-07:00

i stopped by your work on sunday...
popped my head in the door.
i even wore the hat.

i guess you were too busy writing up
waybills to send out packages.

that's okay.

i only wanted to say hi.

i had some awesome crepes though,
and i gotta say - digging the signage.

when is the stage going up?
i was a little surprised not to see it already.

what's the matter, folks?
your slow little gamers making you
wait for the next step?

[the next great reveal?]

or did fed-ex lose another package?

the guys in the stores have to let you know they've got them.
i know you've got the guys in the stores.
i tried.

buddy from plan b is a real prick, by the way.
but i guess you already knew that.

or told him to be.

tick tock....tick tock.....tick tock...

Phans of the Phreak:
------------------------

Avert your eyes from the idignation of tween rebellion this year.
Much has a subpar line up this year. Sean Kingston, what the fuck
is that? Some nerd from Dougie's hometown? Jabber Wockeez?
I read the book, but some guys that dance? Doesn't seem very literal
None of you care anyway.

BOYCOTT THE MMVAs!
THEY TURNED YOUR PRECIOUS HACKER INTO A CONTEST!!!

A BLOODY CONTEST!!!

[this message proudly brought to you by the concerned viewers organization. proudly calling your bullshit for about two months, or since whenever the hell you started it, phakes.]

80s nostalgia seems over the head of your fanbase

2008-05-29T16:47:00.000-07:00

so what do we have?

aside from various pirated quotations from 80's films it would seem quite little.

however, keep this in mind.

madmark had a mask left for him at a place called influence u, in montreal.
apparently, there's 'mail' waiting for someone at a place called plan b, in calgary.

...likely a mask.

so, the phreak is leaving people masks at trendy clothing stores.
bizarre, yea?

BUT...

Influence U,
Plan B...

methinks i see a tie-in.

do you?

oh shit... somebody's looking!

phreak615 is the saviour of all who think out[in, actually]side the box.
do as he says. DO NOT LOOK BEHIND THE CURTAINS! THERE'S NOTHING
TO SEE HERE!

Boycott the MMVAs, kids... They're abusing your favourite little phreak!

The frontier needs your defense against Xun and Ko-Dan!

2008-05-28T13:30:00.000-07:00

right?
right?
am i headed in the right direction?

just like the park?

red herring, red herring.

clever ploy, i must admit.

interesting, considering a heard something very similar from a little birdie on my shoulder.
of course you guys would plant this story to seem less like a scam. It makes perfect sense.

But you're not somebody who walks past me on the street corner.

You're a faceless and fraudelent machine, hoovering the loose change out of the disposable income laden pockets of teens nation wide. The ad revenue you'll make off the show alone will pay off for he measley second rate american trash you haul up here to parade across the stage on your annual wankfest.

Are we wearing suits again this year? Is it under the sea prom time already?

You've sidestepped, but I'm gonna tango along beside you folks.
You didn't think this game was that simple, did you?

FANS OF THE PHREAK:
-------------------------

Do not let Much falsely portray your idol in such a manner to benefit themselves and only themselves! He is a real pop-culture activist! You can tell by his...uhhh... mask! This is an outrage! Stand along side CVJ, defend the PHREAK! BOYCOTT THE MMVAS!!!

calm?

2008-05-24T17:10:00.001-07:00

you want me to calm down?

ney -

you want me to come the heck down?

c'mon. you think i'm worked up about this?
i'm pretty sure i've been more upset over
pepsi commercials.

[any equally subpar ad division]

i could care less.

but i know you're watching...

quite a few people are watching, let me
tell you. this is the frontline, and this is
me saying something. let's see you do the
same, phreaky - yeah, that's right.

i KNOW you're reading this.

...you or whoever writes your script.

i also know the game is afoot now.

i saw the other video response, by retiropark...

...weird how people that just signed up for youtube
can upload edited versions of your videos with ALTERNATE
audio.

i heard the part.

"i like you, seeveejay."

"...this is for you, seeveejay."

well, i know retiro park is in madrid...
i saw the madrid screen cap in the static.

i'll keep poking around, sure...
... a lot of random people sure do have interest
in the C.V Mr.J world all of a sudden.

...how bizarre.

dissuaded?

hardly...

...pleased?

not sure.

what i do know is that i plan on making the next 22 days
rather fun... for me atleast, and a select few.

...keep an eye on the videos you're slipping into the mmvas...

you never know if a certain masked individual has infiltrated
and gotten in where they shouldn't be..

...isn't that what you've taught us, phreak-show?

i've said my point, and i'll continue to do so.

...i'm waiting for yours.

wilkommen

2008-05-22T09:26:00.000-07:00

are you tired of being facetiously mislead by a glowing screen?

are marketing firms exploiting you to pad their bottom line?

is a television station selling you lies and prepackaged rebellion under the facade of activism?
[are they really just selling themselves?]

you've come to the right place.

cvj cuts straight through the bullshit and gives you goods.

tired of being lied to?

don't watch them. don't watch their sites and shows.

seriously - how many of you give a shit about the Top40,
recycled american garbage they give you any way?

you can get all the updates you need, right here.

crap free.

they're using you for ratings.
make them work for you - not the other way around

[Edit: This just in... I'm calling it now. Hackburglar from the youtube {i won't give him traffic by linking} definitely works for much as well. His most recent video full out uses the graphics from the phind the phread campaign... the whole thing reaks of much's post production...

There are quite a few plants in this game as well... I'd estimate that atleast half the posters on phreak's blog work for much or the marketing firm... just check out how many of them have internet-industry related jobs on the profile... early guess?

hidesherwings,
alexisonfire92
heatvisionandjack

i could be completely out to lunch on that one though - either way, beware the plants - they may have teeth.]

A Modest Proposal

2008-05-20T12:56:00.000-07:00

boy·cott –verb (used with object)

1.	to combine in abstaining from, or preventing dealings with, as a means of intimidation or coercion: to boycott a store.

2.	to abstain from buying or using: to boycott foreign products.

–noun

3.	the practice of boycotting.

4.	an instance of boycotting.

-------------------------------------

an interesting concept, no?

backing it up, motherfuckers!

2008-05-15T15:29:00.001-07:00

Dear MuchMusic:

Fail.

You're all hip to the interweb, right? I believe that's what you said. Get hip to this;

Fail.

In otherwords, you suck. Plain and simply, this has been a waste of time.

I am not trolling. I am not trying to be cool by making fun of a corporation. I was very prepared to engage in an interesting and entertaining ARG...

You'll note my participation as user seeveejay on the youtube. I believe I had two of the more interesting and creative videos available. I went so far as to register the blogspot account phake615, thus having the domain phake615.blogspot.com... i was originally planning this as the unofficial 'wiki' of the site... you've seen many of these for other ARGs... or so you'd think... I digress however. Simply keep in mind that this critique comes from a fan of ARGs, and not just a naysayer.

This has been a loss since day one. Granted, yes the inception of it was cool. Fake hacks - they looked good! The start of the blog was good too, you really needed a presence in the 'sphere, and you went to it... the abstract dance worked well - at first.

Sadly, what we did notice quite early in - is that you guys had no clue where this was going. We all showed up and jumped on and were cool. There were quite a few 'tweens' brought in under the faux rebellion theme [a marketing ploy which I find cheap and detestable] and these people were clueless as to how implausible this was.

There was also a core audience though, who while understanding the complete lack of plausibility were willing to suspend their disbelief to engage in your game. What we got however, was little more than one half-witted real life hint [the mad mark mask trade] which turned out to be nothing... then the blog diddled along posting pointlessly and frustratingly for weeks... then we got the point that you guys were putting videos on much. neato.

everyone solved the game days into it, and yet you dragged out your big reveal on the mmvas as though it was a secret, and then one day you simply go and prematurely ejaculate it into the blogosphere out of the blue. what do you expect us to think now?

"oooh! rebellion man is claiming he's going to commit a federal offense!! he's literally BROADCASTING IT! TWICE! THIS MUST BE REALZORS!"

har har...

my point is simply that your in-game dialogue as to how this task is performed simply isn't enough to base a suspension of disbelief on. particularly after muchmusic.com/phreak claims that all much employees have been investigated and are not the phreak. [ps... it's a bait and switch to not include the actual phreak in the selections.] {pps the subsite claims it's not a "virus campaign" which is good, as we all thought it was a viral campaign anyway}

the capacity to believe was present in each of us early on. i have no access to your traffic logs, but i've got a pretty good idea that traffic is down atleast 50% since day one, right? you lost interest by chatting at us... You guys presented this just like television. Most successful ARG campaigns revolve around getting the user up and out from behind our screens. Yours did nothing to promote this, save getting us to record ourselves and send it in to you...which of course perpetuates the spiral as those who sent in videos to see them on tv likely spent hours at a time watching for themselves.

Granted, as a television station it's no surprise that this is the avenue you choice to exploit alongside the internet. However given all the tie-ins that were possible due to the massive Bell media conglomerate, the minimal amount of cross-coverage was pitiful.

Now, at the beginning, I stated this was a loss, and I'm not sure I clearly explained why. Allow me to break it down:

What has this amounted to?

We know this much...

Ultimately, fan videos are going to be displayed during the MMVAs.
This will be performed under the pretext of some rogue 'pop culture activist' [gross misrepresentation; for shame] placing perfectly timed fan videos in to make some point...[which has never been expressed. what is phreak's goal? can't start kids thinking, can we?]

Kids will feel good about themselves for it?

What We Can Assume:

Somewhere during the show, a conflict will arise between MM and Phreak. It's only natural. Much has admitted in RL and GL that they know Phreak exists. Thus we can expect them to be "watching out" for him at the MMVAs.

During this portion, Phreak will appear on TV, and likely get unmasked to be Devon [if it's not, big whoop...one more swerve]. From here, speculation has things going so far as Devon being fake arrested, and Much deciding [after supposed MMVA rating spikes] to drop any charges and offer Devon a "phreak"-esque show on much wherein netvideos are played. [the only idea in this whole mess i support]

so, essentially what we see is a marketing ploy to advertise and gain awareness for phreak - who in turn brings extra awareness and advertising to the mmvas [the net crowd] which will culminate in extra ratings for the mmvas, and possibly a large audience to see the inception of much's next character based show [that hole ed leaves is quite the void].

Now, my problem is that from day one, everyone has understood this is a ploy for ATLEAST the mmvas. That being said, nothing was done to improve the difficulty of the game. No elements were introduced to get real world participation [how hard would it have been to leave phreak masks around TO and call it a scavenger hunt?] Nothing was done to hide the fact that this was just a giant billboard. You engaged us in an intelligent and interactive manner then, just as your MMVA tv commercials do - shouted at us "WATCH! WATCH! WATCH!"

it's pretty hard to build mystique and pique interest with actions like that.

Now - I'm not saying this won't wind up moderately successful for you.

The little tween and early teen crowd who understand the phreak as some symbol of 'rebellion' and 'activism', they'll eat this up. They'll love this just as much as your media savvy 18+ crowd is hating it.

[save the few who think it's a cool way to get some hits for their myspace. which is a dying breed in and of itself]

This is essentially where I think the problem lies;

In going the direction you have with this game, and making it so juvenile and allowing so little input, you've pandered to a lower age group which is already strongly within your grasp. [you've also continued to misinform them outright]

You also, however, completely lost out on the oppurtunity to snag a portion of the media savvy crowd that first started poking their noses around when this hit the web. The 18-25 demographic is grossly ignored on your channel in recent years, and I believe is currently being courted by some of the more downkey alternative/indie programming on MTV [which is still owned by the same company as you, so i admit its a moot point] in this demographic.

This is still an important field, and one that is continually ignored whenever much gets together for their newest "marketing" campaign.

So herein lies the loss:

You created a game that was so unplayable, it only attracted the passive, ignorant fans you already had and frustrated anyone else who became interested in it.

It's really a shame.
Hopefully some time down the road someone will execute an idea like this properly.

There's still time... I suppose you can still do something... This is cross posted somewhere special, too. So don't go thinking you can delete it and steal the good ideas!*

[*/sarcasm...i doubt you'd know a good idea if it smacked you in the face]

-CvJ

greetings

2008-05-02T20:42:00.000-07:00

it would seem as though we've found ourselves down a rabbithole on this one, no?

well, your good friend CvJ is here to guide you through it.

Watch out for the puppetmasters, and even moreso for their puppets.
Some people want nothing more than to keep on dancing for big brother.

Keep your eyes peeled, things are about to get real.

- [\/] -