I-dosing

I chose to "i-dose" for this assignment. Having never heard of i-dosing, I selected the first video that appeared in a youtube search: Millenium Bug (url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDjOnQddaB4). The video was basically a techno/trance track with a kaleidoscope-like visual. The music increases in pace and tempo as it progresses. It was pretty boring. I didn't feel under the influence of anything, just a bit annoyed with the repetitive 8-minute beat. Perhaps the clip is supposed to simulate being at a dj show or a night club, but it never gave me an out-of-body experience.

What I found more interesting were the videos in youtube's Suggestion tab. Users have uploaded personally video-taped reactions to i-dosing. Many of these are short clips of people fidgeting, giggling, or dancing as if they are under the influence. The majority of the users seem to be teenage boys and young men. I-dosing seems to have found its niche on the internet and as gained a huge following. Through these videos, I found the site i-doser.com, "the leader in binaural brainwave technology". Apparently i-doses play beats that match the users brainwaves and alter their state of mind. This site actually requires you to download software to access the i-doser videos. Then, you must pay to download each i-dose. The doses on this site are pretty varied and include stimulant, hallucinogenic, perscription, sexual, anti-anxiety doses. The fan-generated youtube videos frequently reference the "Gate of Hades" I-doser, which, get this, is being sold on idoser.com for $199.95!!!!!

After my experience with the i-doser on youtube, I didn't want to slow down my computer by downloading i-doser.com software, let alone pay for a "hit". Although it would be interesting to see if these videos were higher-quality, I don't think the time or money would be worth it. I can't say I will be adding i-dosing to my Super Saturday line-up.