# Ben Going
> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ben_Going
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ben_Going.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Going
> Source revision: 1316738119
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
{{short description|American YouTuber}}
{{advert|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox youtuber
| name = Ben Going
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|6|15}}
| birth_place = [Cocoa, Florida](/source/Cocoa%2C_Florida), U.S.
| website = {{URL|http://www.boh3m3.net/}}
| pseudonym = ''boh3m3''
| youtube_handle = boh3m3
| youtube_display_name =
| youtube_years_active = 2006–11, 2013–present
| youtube_genre = {{hlist|[Vlog](/source/Vlog)s|[stunt performance](/source/stunt_performance)}}
| youtube_subscribers = 27.2 thousand
| youtube_views = 1.51 million
| stats_update = 17 July 2024{{nu|date=October 2025}}
}}
'''Ben Going''' (born June 15, 1985), is an American [YouTuber](/source/YouTuber) who was prominent during 2006 and 2007. He was based in [Torrance, California](/source/Torrance%2C_California), and is one of the site's earliest [YouTube Partner](/source/YouTube_Partner)s.[{{cite news |first=Janet |last=Kornblum |title=These guys draw a YouTube crowd |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-10-29-youtube-stars_N.htm |publisher=[USA Today](/source/USA_Today) |date=October 30, 2007 |accessdate=2007-11-02 }}]
Most of Going's videos are shot in [black-and-white](/source/black-and-white). He has claimed to be "the only person on the ''([YouTube](/source/YouTube)) Most Subscribed List'' that swears excessively".[''[http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=84746936 The Hill] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112232134/http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=84746936 |date=2007-11-12 }}'' on Ben Going's [MySpace](/source/MySpace) blog as of August 12, 2007] He wears a signature black hat often in his videos.[{{cite news|title=Top YouTube videographers descend on San Francisco |url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1025_3-6160390.html |publisher=[CNET](/source/CNET) |date=February 17, 2007 |accessdate=2007-06-13 }}] Subjects of Going's vlogs have included [pop culture](/source/popular_culture), the [news media](/source/news_media), and the state of the YouTube community, in addition to personal anecdotes.
==YouTube==
Going intended that his first submission to YouTube, posted in May 2006, serve as an audition tape for [MTV](/source/MTV)'s "Jackass".[{{cite news |first=Bob |last=Tedeschi |title=New Hot Properties: YouTube Celebrities |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/26/technology/26ecom.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5124&en=9670fbf567afd78d&ex=1330232400 |work=New York Times |date=February 26, 2007 |accessdate=2007-06-13}}][Hoffman, Scott [http://www.moviepicturefilm.com/inter.php?itemid=1162 "ExcChatting With Ben Going (Boh3m3 On YouTube)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008130959/http://www.moviepicturefilm.com/inter.php?itemid=1162 |date=2007-10-08 }} [http://www.moviepicturefilm.com/ "The Critic" at moviepicturefilm.com], March 17, 2007] That failing, he went on to adopt a vlogger personality that has worked to give him over 44,000 subscribers and a top spot on YouTube's ''Most Subscribed'' list.[[https://www.youtube.com/members?s=ms&t=a&g=0&p=2 Official YouTube Most Subscribed List], [YouTube](/source/YouTube) as of June 15, 2007]
Two of his videos, ''No Swearing!'' (posted June 6, 2006), and ''Why Do YouTube?'' (posted November 29, 2006, but has since been removed), were featured on YouTube's homepage and each has a view count over 900,000. Various news outlets have approached Going for his opinion on the state of the YouTube community or YouTube in general.[{{cite news|first=Anna |last=Kuchment |title=Technology: Want to Be a Video Star? |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14869770/site/newsweek/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070520054744/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14869770/site/newsweek/ |archive-date=2007-05-20 |publisher=[Newsweek](/source/Newsweek) |date=September 26, 2006 |accessdate=2007-06-17 |url-status=dead }}][{{cite news|first=Peter |last=Lauria |title=Video Venom Popular Posters Revolt Against YouTube |url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/11122006/business/video_venom_business_peter_lauria.htm |publisher=[New York Post](/source/New_York_Post) |date=November 12, 2006 |accessdate=2007-06-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223084559/http://www.nypost.com/seven/11122006/business/video_venom_business_peter_lauria.htm |archive-date=February 23, 2007 }}][{{cite news|first=Jake |last=Coyle |title=Users wonder about the future of YouTube |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/15227651 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203172522/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/15227651/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |agency=Associated Press |date=October 11, 2006 |accessdate=2007-06-18 }}]
Stemming from his video channel's exposure, YouTube paid Going to produce two videos for use in holiday-themed, corporate sponsored promotions in December 2006. The first to be released as part of the YouTube and Coca-Cola Holiday Wish Cast, sponsored by [Coca-Cola](/source/Coca-Cola).[[http://www.thebusinessedition.com/youtube-and-coca-cola-introduce-video-greeting-cards-for-the-holidays-572/ ''YouTube and Coca-Cola Introduce Video Greeting Cards for the Holidays''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929151835/http://www.thebusinessedition.com/youtube-and-coca-cola-introduce-video-greeting-cards-for-the-holidays-572/ |date=2007-09-29 }}]
According to Ad week, this promotion marked the first time YouTube made an ad deal with its top users.[Morrissey, Brian [http://www.adweek.com/aw/iq_interactive/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003494877 "Coke Uses YouTube Stars for Holiday Campaign"] [Adweek](/source/Adweek), December 13, 2006 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911051046/http://www.adweek.com/aw/iq_interactive/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003494877 |date=September 11, 2007 }}] The second was featured on YouTube's homepage for the YouTube New Year's Eve Countdown, which was put on in partnership with [Warner Music Group](/source/Warner_Music_Group) and sponsored by [Chevrolet](/source/Chevrolet).[Reardon, Marguerite [http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-6146319-7.html ''YouTube hosts New Year's Eve Bash''] [CNET](/source/CNET) [http://news.cnet.com/8300-10784_3-7.html?tag=blogHed News Blog] December 29, 2006]
[Stickam](/source/Stickam) has credited Going for bringing 1,000 new users to its video networking website hours after he advertised his presence there on YouTube.[[Stickam](/source/Stickam) press release [http://webmaster.stickam.com/2006/10/youtube_stars_prove_real_ident.html YouTube stars prove real identity live on Stickam] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926234910/http://webmaster.stickam.com/2006/10/youtube_stars_prove_real_ident.html |date=2007-09-26 }} [Stickam](/source/Stickam), October 5, 2006] In January 2007, he hosted a live, 24-hour Stickam broadcast to raise awareness for the [Darfur conflict](/source/Darfur_conflict).[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUck09BT1fQ ''Boh3m3, YouTube & Darfur''] [https://www.youtube.com/profile?user=neddotcom the YouTube channel of neddotcom] of [http://www.darfurby.com/ darfurby.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611081547/http://www.darfurby.com/ |date=2009-06-11 }}, January 6, 2007]
In addition to several other popular YouTubers, Going worked with [Barenaked Ladies](/source/Barenaked_Ladies) to produce a music video for their single "Sound of Your Voice" in February 2007.[Moses, Asher [http://www.theage.com.au/news/digital-music/youtubers-star-in-barenaked-music-video/2007/02/21/1171733816120.html YouTubers star in Barenaked music video] [The Age](/source/The_Age), February 21, 2007] The video has been featured on the Bare-naked Ladies' homepage.
In May 2007, YouTube entered Going as one of the first users to take part in its partnership program. As a YouTube partner, Going can capitalize on "promotional opportunities" and advertiser-based revenue sharing.[[https://www.youtube.com/blog?entry=4b3PkL8HQcw YouTube Elevates Most Popular Users to Partners], [https://www.youtube.com/blog The YouTube Blog] May 3, 2007 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307104020/https://www.youtube.com/blog?entry=4b3PkL8HQcw |date=March 7, 2009 }}][{{Cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/05/technology/05tube.html?ex=1187841600&en=ae6940b91e2b4aac&ei=5070 | title = Contributors on YouTube May Share Advertising Revenue | date= 2007-05-05 | accessdate = 2007-08-21 | author = Miguel Helft | work = [The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)}}] He was one of the first twenty to thirty YouTubers to have this status. Although ''[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)'' once quoted Going's saying that he hopes "video blogging might become some kind of career,"[{{cite news |first=Bob |last=Tedeschi |title=New Hot Properties: YouTube Celebrities |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/26/technology/26ecom.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5124&en=9670fbf567afd78d&ex=1330232400 |work=New York Times |date=February 26, 2007 |accessdate=2007-06-13}}] since becoming a YouTube partner he has retracted that statement.[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uATn5_t_8jw ''Boh3m3 and Thehill88 are official & the Journey of Vblogging''] [https://www.youtube.com/user/Businessboomer Businessboomer's channel] on [YouTube](/source/YouTube), June 11, 2007][{{cite web |title=How I started my own successful YouTube channel reviewing tech products |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/30/how-i-started-my-own-successful-youtube-channel-reviewing-tech-gadgets.html |website=CNBC |date=30 July 2020 |accessdate=27 October 2020}}]
=== YouTubers for net neutrality ===
On August 17, 2006, Going posted [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhBzPV9FOgA ''Save the Internet!''] to [YouTube](/source/YouTube). Described by Newsday as "a one-minute, black-and-white, tech-age public service announcement", the video, which Going scripted, presents a short argument for [net neutrality](/source/net_neutrality) that includes video appearances by YouTube users Tony Huynh, Barats and Bereta, and [Brandon Hardesty](/source/Brandon_Hardesty), among others. {{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}
[Free Press](/source/Free_Press_(advocacy_group)) blog ''[http://savetheinternet.com/ SavetheInternet.com]'' subsequently featured it,[[http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2006/08/24/youtubers-support-net-neutrality/ "YouTubers Support Net Neutrality"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017135355/http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2006/08/24/youtubers-support-net-neutrality/ |date=2006-10-17 }}, [http://www.savetheinternet.com/ SavetheInternet.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618050941/http://www.savetheinternet.com/ |date=June 18, 2012 }} as of August 24, 2006] leading the video to gain a view count in excess of 500,000.[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhBzPV9FOgA ''Save the Internet!''] [https://www.youtube.com/profile?user=boh3m3 Boh3m3's channel] on [YouTube](/source/YouTube), as of April 17, 2007][{{cite news |title=Grassroots Movement Wants Laws to Keep Big Media from Controlling Internet |url=http://www.freepress.net/news/18198|publisher=[Newsday](/source/Newsday) |date=October 10, 2006 |accessdate=2007-06-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190551/http://www.freepress.net/news/18198 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead }}] Of the video, [Salon.com](/source/Salon.com) quoted Ben Scott, one of the coordinators of ''SaveTheInternet.com'', to have said that Going's "''Save the Internet!''" "is doing the work of 30 full-time communications professionals".[{{cite news |first= Daniel W. |last=Reilly |title=The telecom slayers |url=http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2006/10/02/slayers/index.html |work=[Salon.com](/source/Salon.com) |date=October 2, 2006 |accessdate=2007-06-20 }}]
===Vegemite wars===
In February 2007, Australian news program ''[A Current Affair](/source/A_Current_Affair_(Australian_TV_series))'' picked up Going's January 27, 2007, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdDzITytrjc ''The Australians are Fooling Us All!''] and used it to springboard a mock defense of [Vegemite](/source/Vegemite). In his video, Going imagines the substance to be made of "yeast, salt, and pain." To counter, ''A Current Affair'' enlisted media personality [Peter FitzSimons](/source/Peter_FitzSimons), who suggests Vegemite comprises, rather, "the distilled essence of [Australia](/source/Australia)".[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW7wlyeajSY ''YouTube on OZ News: Vegemite Wars''] [https://www.youtube.com/profile?user=badbarb badbarb's channel] on [YouTube](/source/YouTube), February 8, 2007] Although the segment focuses on Going, it also features Australian YouTubers who profess a fondness for Vegemite, including [Natalie Tran](/source/Natalie_Tran)[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKHQS04Oooo private video]][{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4OUVT5zaBM |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070131122017/http://youtube.com/watch?v=R4OUVT5zaBM |archive-date=2007-01-31 |url-status=dead|title=Re: The Australians are fooling us |accessdate=2009-03-14 |publisher=[YouTube](/source/YouTube) }}] and [Caitlin Hill](/source/Caitlin_Hill).[{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt_2gJmdezM |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061220234449/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt_2gJmdezM |archive-date=2006-12-20 |url-status=dead|title=Vegemite 101 |accessdate=2007-06-19 |publisher=[YouTube](/source/YouTube) }}] A reporter for ''[The Age](/source/The_Age)'' responded by questioning ''A Current Affair'''s journalistic integrity.[Ed [http://blogs.theage.com.au/lastlaugh/archives/2007/02/last_laugh_vege.html "Last Laugh: Vegemite Wars (or How to Get on National TV in Australia Without Really Trying)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151108084039/http://blogs.theage.com.au/lastlaugh/archives/2007/02/last_laugh_vege.html |date=2015-11-08 }} [http://blogs.theage.com.au/lastlaugh/ "The Last Laugh"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629093339/http://blogs.theage.com.au/lastlaugh/ |date=2011-06-29 }} blog, [The Age](/source/The_Age), February 8, 2007]
==Personal life==
Going grew up in [Cocoa, Florida](/source/Cocoa%2C_Florida), and lived there until just before he started high school.[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuVK06hIo-8 ''Memoirs Of a Childhood Asshat''] [https://www.youtube.com/profile?user=boh3m3 Boh3m3's channel] on [YouTube](/source/YouTube), December 7, 2006] He waited tables in [Huntsville, Alabama](/source/Huntsville%2C_Alabama), at 1892 East throughout the earlier part of his YouTube career.[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkK1gixQUoY ''The California Chronicles: Packing, Madness, and TV's Death''] [https://www.youtube.com/profile?user=boh3m3 Boh3m3's channel] on [YouTube](/source/YouTube), April 5, 2007] after accepting an offer to apprentice under a professional music video director.[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Bz9MVGOl8 ''The BIG Secret Revealed!''] [https://www.youtube.com/profile?user=boh3m3 Boh3m3's channel] on [YouTube](/source/YouTube), as of May 30, 2007] The move was facilitated by fan contributions exceeding $1,000 made through [PayPal](/source/PayPal).