Deeply Troubling WikiHow Articles (w/ Ryan Trahan)

Danny Gonzalez

15 Dec 201818:27

Summary

TLDRIn this entertaining video, Danny and Ryan Trahan humorously dissect WikiHow articles, focusing on the absurdity of guides like 'How to Pretend to Have Ice Powers' and 'How to Act Like You're Possessed'. They critique the impractical advice, such as reading winter stories to gain ice powers or exhibiting bizarre behavior to feign possession. The duo also touches on the potential consequences of following such advice, like causing concern among family and friends. The video is a lighthearted exploration of the strange and sometimes nonsensical nature of certain online how-to guides.

Takeaways

🎥 The video is a collaborative effort between Danny and Ryan, discussing the peculiarities of WikiHow articles.
🧊 They humorously critique a WikiHow article titled 'How to Pretend to Have Ice Powers,' highlighting its unrealistic promises and impractical advice.
📚 The video points out the absurdity of needing to study ice and snow to pretend having ice powers, as if knowledge of these elements could confer supernatural abilities.
🎬 Ryan and Danny make light of the article's suggestions to watch movies and read stories related to ice powers, mocking the idea that such activities could lead to acquiring these powers.
👻 The duo also pokes fun at another WikiHow article, 'How to Act Like You're Possessed,' questioning the logic and potential consequences of following the advice given.
🤔 They express concern about the intentions behind such articles and the people who might take them seriously, potentially leading to harmful or disruptive behavior.
🕵️‍♀️ The video also touches on a 'How to Be a Girl Spy Kid' article, speculating whether it might contain sexist advice or unnecessary gender distinctions.
😹 Danny and Ryan use humor and sarcasm to critique the articles, suggesting that some of the advice borders on the ridiculous and could lead to more confusion than enlightenment.
👀 They highlight the disconnect between the articles' claims and the reality of the situation, noting that pretending to have powers or being possessed doesn't actually grant them.
🔍 The video encourages viewers to question the credibility and usefulness of the information they find online, especially from sources that may not be reputable or reliable.
👋 The video concludes with a teaser for future content and a reminder for viewers to subscribe and engage with the channel for more entertaining and insightful videos.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the video?
-The main topic discussed in the video is the humorous and absurd nature of certain WikiHow articles, particularly those about pretending to have ice powers and acting like you're possessed.
What is Ryan Trahan's role in the video?
-Ryan Trahan is a guest in the video, helping Danny make a video about WikiHow articles and providing commentary on the absurdity of the content.
What is the general sentiment of the hosts towards WikiHow articles discussed in the video?
-The hosts express amusement and disbelief at the content of the WikiHow articles, finding them to be strange and nonsensical.
What is the title of the first WikiHow article they discuss?
-The first WikiHow article they discuss is titled 'How to Pretend to Have Ice Powers.'
What is the rating of the 'How to Pretend to Have Ice Powers' article on WikiHow?
-The 'How to Pretend to Have Ice Powers' article has a three-star rating on WikiHow.
What is the hosts' reaction to the suggestion of reading 'The Snow Queen' to learn about ice powers?
-The hosts find the suggestion to read 'The Snow Queen' as a way to learn about ice powers to be irrelevant and nonsensical, as it does not provide practical steps for gaining such powers.
What is the hosts' opinion on the step involving adding white to your hair to pretend to have ice powers?
-The hosts mock the idea of adding white to your hair as a means to pretend to have ice powers, suggesting it is a superficial and ineffective method.
What is the title of the second WikiHow article they discuss?
-The second WikiHow article they discuss is titled 'How to Act Like You're Possessed.'
What is the hosts' view on the practicality of the steps in the 'How to Act Like You're Possessed' article?
-The hosts believe the steps in the 'How to Act Like You're Possessed' article are impractical and could lead to negative consequences, such as being sent to a mental hospital.
What is the hosts' reaction to the comments section of the WikiHow articles?
-The hosts find the comments section concerning, as it shows that some people are taking the advice too seriously and experiencing negative outcomes.
What is the final video that Danny mentions they will be making next time?
-The final video that Danny mentions they will be making next time involves a humorous and absurd scenario where he cuts off his dad's hand.
What is the title of the WikiHow article that Danny and Ryan find intriguing but also question its necessity?
-The title of the intriguing article they find is 'How to Pretend to Faint,' which they question as a catch-all solution for avoiding tasks.
What is the general advice given in the 'How to Pretend to Faint' article?
-The general advice given in the 'How to Pretend to Faint' article is to mimic a real fainting spell and decide on a harmless reason for the fake faint to avoid raising too much concern.
What is the title of the article that Danny and Ryan find sexist and question its content?
-The title of the article they find sexist is 'How to Be a Girl Spy Kid,' which they question for its potential gender bias.
What is the hosts' opinion on the advice given in 'How to Be a Girl Spy Kid'?
-The hosts mock the advice given in 'How to Be a Girl Spy Kid,' particularly the suggestion to use tiny notebooks and not write anything revealing on the cover to maintain a cover as a spy.
What is the hosts' reaction to the idea of blending in with surroundings using camouflage?
-The hosts find the idea of blending in with surroundings using camouflage, as suggested in the 'How to Be a Girl Spy Kid' article, to be unrealistic and humorous due to the exaggerated imagery.

Outlines

00:00

🤣 Introduction to Pretending to Have Ice Powers

Danny and Ryan kick off the video with a humorous introduction to the topic of WikiHow articles, specifically focusing on the absurdity of an article titled 'How to Pretend to Have Ice Powers.' They discuss the article's claim that anyone can have ice powers with enough practice, work, and education, and humorously critique the first steps which involve learning about ice and snow, and reading stories about winter magic. The tone is light-hearted and playful, with the hosts clearly enjoying the ridiculousness of the article's premise.

05:02

😅 The Art of Deception: Acting Possessed

The second paragraph delves into another WikiHow article providing a step-by-step guide on 'How to Act Like You're Possessed.' Danny and Ryan find the instructions both disturbing and darkly humorous, as they include being withdrawn, developing violent verbal outbursts, and leaving incriminating materials around. They highlight the potential negative consequences of following such advice, such as ending up in a mental hospital, and express concern over the article's popularity and the seriousness of some readers' engagement with the content.

10:08

😏 The Perils of Pretending to Faint

In the third paragraph, the duo examines an article on 'How to Pretend to Faint,' which they find to be potentially misused by readers as a way to escape unwanted situations. They mock the idea of using fainting as a method to get out of everyday tasks or responsibilities. The conversation is interspersed with their own improvised enactments of the scenario, emphasizing the absurdity of the situation and the lack of integrity in using such a trick.

15:09

🕵️‍♀️ Contemplating the Differences in Spying as a Girl

The final paragraph shifts to a discussion about the differences between being a spy kid and a 'girl spy kid,' as suggested by another WikiHow article. They read through the guide for girl spy kids, which includes buying tiny notebooks and blending in with surroundings using camouflage. The hosts humorously criticize the impracticality of some of the advice, such as the size of the notebook and the use of full trees for blending in. They conclude the video on a high note, encouraging viewers to subscribe and tune in for their next video.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡WikiHow

WikiHow is a website that offers a collection of instructions on a wide variety of topics, often presented in a step-by-step format. In the context of the video, Danny and Ryan discuss the peculiar nature of WikiHow articles, highlighting their often bizarre and humorous content. The video's theme revolves around the absurdity of certain WikiHow articles, such as 'How to Pretend to Have Ice Powers' and 'How to Act Like You're Possessed,' which are used as examples to drive home the humor and the video's message.

💡Elsa

Elsa is a fictional character from the Disney animated film 'Frozen.' She is known for her ice powers, which are a central theme in the movie. In the video, the character Elsa is mentioned in relation to a WikiHow article titled 'How to Pretend to Have Ice Powers,' which Danny and Ryan find amusing and unrealistic. The mention of Elsa exemplifies the video's focus on the strange and entertaining nature of some WikiHow topics.

💡Ice Powers

Ice Powers refer to the supernatural ability to manipulate or create ice, a concept often found in fantasy and fiction. In the video, the term is used to describe the subject of a WikiHow article that claims to teach readers how to pretend to have such powers. The concept is used humorously to critique the article's unrealistic promises and to explore the lengths one might go to in pretending to have such abilities.

💡Possession

Possession, in the context of the video, refers to the supernatural concept where a person is controlled by an external entity, often demonic. The video discusses a WikiHow article titled 'How to Act Like You're Possessed,' which provides steps for simulating this state. The term is used to explore the absurd lengths people might go to for a prank or costume, and it adds to the video's overarching theme of the strange and sometimes dark humor found in certain WikiHow articles.

💡Humor

Humor is a key element of the video, as Danny and Ryan use the content of various WikiHow articles to create a comedic narrative. The humor arises from the juxtaposition of the seriousness with which the articles present their instructions against the absurdity of the tasks themselves, such as pretending to have ice powers or acting possessed. The video's humor is a device to engage the audience and critique the sometimes outlandish nature of the articles.

💡Education

In the video, the term 'education' is humorously used to describe the first step in the WikiHow article about pretending to have ice powers, which suggests that one needs to learn about ice and snow. The mention of education in this context is ironic, as it implies that gaining such knowledge is as formal and necessary as earning a degree, despite the fictional nature of the task at hand.

💡Pretend

The concept of pretending is central to the video's content, as it explores various WikiHow articles that instruct readers on how to simulate certain conditions or abilities. The term is used in the context of the articles 'How to Pretend to Have Ice Powers' and 'How to Act Like You're Possessed,' where the instructions guide the reader on how to convincingly fake these states. Pretending is a recurring theme that ties together the various examples discussed in the video.

💡Rating

Rating, in the context of the video, refers to the star rating system used on WikiHow to evaluate the effectiveness of the articles. The video mentions that the 'How to Pretend to Have Ice Powers' article has a three-star rating, implying that it is somewhat effective according to some users. This detail is used to highlight the subjective nature of the articles' usefulness and adds to the humor by suggesting that some people might actually find value in these absurd guides.

💡Subterfuge

Subterfuge is the use of deception to achieve one's goals. In the video, the term is implied in the discussion of WikiHow articles that instruct on how to deceive others, such as pretending to have ice powers or acting possessed. The concept of subterfuge is central to the video's exploration of the lengths people might go to deceive others for fun or mischief.

💡Slogan

A slogan is a brief and striking phrase or motto used to promote a product, service, or idea. In the video, Danny suggests that WikiHow's slogan should be 'The weirdest place on the internet to learn how to do anything,' which humorously encapsulates the video's theme of the unusual and often ridiculous nature of the information found on the site.

Highlights

Introduction of a new episode focusing on the humorous and bizarre nature of WikiHow articles.

Ryan Trahan as a guest to help make a video about WikiHow's unique approach to teaching.

WikiHow described as the 'weirdest place on the internet to learn how to do anything'.

Discussion on the wide range of topics covered by WikiHow, from practical to absurd.

The article 'How to Pretend to Have Ice Powers' promises unrealistic results, sparking humor.

Critique of the first step in the ice powers article, suggesting it starts too far from the goal.

The suggestion that watching movies and reading books about ice powers could somehow confer real abilities.

Humor in the idea that adding white to one's hair could grant ice powers, questioning if all old people have them.

The absurdity of the ice powers article's steps, such as pretending to practice powers with ice water.

The article's advice on how to act surprised and alarmed to maintain the ice powers pretense.

The humorous and somewhat disturbing nature of the 'How to Act Like You're Possessed' article.

Concerns raised about the potential negative consequences of following the possession acting advice.

The article 'How to Pretend to Faint' and its questionable utility for avoiding everyday tasks.

Finding humor in the 'How to Be a Girl Spy Kid' article and its specific advice for girls.

The video's conclusion with a tease of a future video involving a shocking act.