As a commercial enterprise YouTube is without doubt a remarkable creation.
This lucrative operation sells advertising that sits alongside videos it gets free.
As a source of entertainment however, it can leave much to be desired.
Such is the case with Joan Ellison, a cheery 51-year-old who has become something of a lo
cal celebrity to the people of Boothtown, Halifax.
Most days she pours herself a cup of coffee and takes up residence on the wall of the village petrol station, chatting to anyone who has a minute; looking after their pets while they go inside the kiosk and waving enthusiastically to the numerous motorists, lorry drivers and taxi drivers who acknowledge her.
Why then would anyone wish to humiliate this harmless woman, whose only crime is to bring a little sunshine into people's lives?
Throwing a bucket of water over her – twice – was bad enough. To film it and post it on YouTube is cruel beyond words. It has, of course, had more than 2,000 hits to date.
There has, however, been a backlash. And the prank, if that is what it was supposed to be, has been roundly condemned, particularly by those who know Joan.
It has been suggested that what happened amounts to assault, however no complaint has been made to the police.
Joan is understandably upset, but has no intentions of changing her routine. Why should she?
The YouTube video is grainy and wobbly, but the bully with the bucket should be indentifiable. We hope someone who knows him lets the police know – and that they then pay this cruel waste of space a call.
The full article contains 277 words and appears in Evening Courier newspaper.
