Hi there! Ellie here (aka DaThings) with some frequently asked questions, mostly regarding my YouTube channels.
As a YouTuber with a modest audience, there are questions I get often. Hopefully this clears some of it up!
What are your pronouns?
She/Her mostly. For the DaThings branding specifically I don’t care as much.
How old are you?
30 (as of the date at the bottom of the page)
What is DaThings?
DaThings is a YouTube Channel where I make YTPs.
What is YTP?
YTP is short for YouTube Poop (incredible name I know). It’s a sort of video remix where outside sources are edited in bizarre ways to create something new.
What software do you use?
I use Adobe Premiere Pro for video and audio editing. Yes, even for mashups (though I’ll sometimes use Audacity, FL Studio or Reaper for things Premiere can’t do.) For custom images, I use PowerPoint, Paint, Photoshop, and Irfanview.
Wait, PowerPoint?
Yep. That’s what I make my signature polygon art in. Microsoft PowerPoint 2007, to be specific.
You should use Adobe Illustrator or some other software instead.
No ♥
You should use a newer version of PowerPoint.
No ♥
Where do you get your video sources?
All over the place! I get most of them off of YouTube, but sometimes DVDs or streaming services etc.
How do you choose your sources?
All over the place! Some things just look and feel "poopable" when I watch them. For the video essays, I like to pick things that other people generally aren’t talking about.
Can I make a request for a source?
I won't stop you from recommending things to me, but I very rarely take requests.
You should have done this joke differently/You missed a joke opportunity.
Feel free to tackle the source in a YTP of your own, I'd love to see what you come up with and add to the source!
Why do you make clean videos?
When I started watching YTPs it was difficult to share them with my friends and family because of the general abundance of tasteless, off-color jokes. A year or so into creating, I decided to make them cleaner so I could show them to friends and family without worrying about them being wildly inappropriate. I don't have to fret about that as much anymore, but it's a staple of my style now.
I don't think your videos are as clean as you say. Why do you call your videos clean?
In general I think it’s up to the viewer to decide what’s acceptable as clean for them. Picking your poison, so the saying goes. Newer videos have content warnings at the start so people more-or-less know what they’re getting into.
Do you have a problem with "unclean" YTP?
Not at all! I'm glad they exist. My own humor can be a bit blue sometimes, so I enjoy them just as much as anyone else! I might not show them to all of my friends and family, but I get a good chuckle out of ones that are done tastefully.
How do you sentence mix?
Take similar sounds from other words and piece them together in a sensible order. Rinse and repeat until you're happy with the resulting sound. Having a transcript handy is also pretty useful.
Who are your favorite YouTube Poopers?
Some of my favorites are Lulu Luvscats, Geibuchan, cs188, noisepuppet, VastareMetal, Krobo, and TheAwesomePandaLPs - just to name a few!
How do I become successful on YouTube?
I’m not big on this question, because mileage varies wildly from channel to channel, as will your definition of “success”. Luck will always be a factor. For me, continuing to make things I like and hone my craft over a decade was enough, but it isn’t always. You’ll want to be open to engaging with good communities, sharing with friends, and promoting yourself where sensible. Don’t go into this craft expecting to make Big Bucks because you probably won’t.
Why is [video] removed or unavailable?
Copyright takedowns most likely - it’s a common occurrence given the nature of YTP unfortunately. I also remove videos myself from time to time if I've remade them or otherwise don't want them public anymore. Consider visiting the graveyard or DaThings Archives
How do I prevent copyright takedowns for my videos?
A good rule of thumb is mix methods together, like warping the footage, flipping it horizontally, adding noise, removing contrast, inverting the audio waveform, and ensuring that no more than 3 consecutive seconds of unaltered footage play. It’s not a one-size fits all solution, especially because a copyright holder can issue a takedown themselves even if you manage to fool the detection algorithms. Make sure your video legitimately falls under Fair Use laws if you intend to dispute any claims.
Are you a furry?
I mean, I have a fursona now so I guess so.
Are you a brony?
I was for a while. I don’t know if I identify with that label nowadays, but I made some great connections through that fandom and I don’t intend to throw those away.
How many of your comments do you actually read?
Most of them! I read nearly all of the comments I get - especially on new videos.
How long does it take to edit a video?
Lots of factors determine how long editing a video will take. How much time do I have? How much of that will I spend editing? Am I working with a source that lends itself to my style well? Do I have any good ideas in mind from the jump? It will usually take me about a week or two to make a video of decent length and quality, and even then it depends.
What's your favorite sauce?
A mixture that is 40% marinara, 60% Alfredo.
Why do you do reversing so much?
It's easy, and for some reason I still find it funny.
Do your videos have captions?
Most of the YTPs have English captions, and new uploads have them immediately. For non-English viewers, auto-translate isn’t a perfect solution but the option should be available natively through YouTube. The video essays and Act Promptly episodes don’t all have captions, but they will eventually. Unless I find myself with a ton of free time, I’m most interested in paying someone a decent wage to caption them manually - which isn’t financially feasible for me at time of writing.
Will you make a sequel to [video]?
It's never impossible!
Can I add you on [gaming platform]?
No. I don't really enjoy playing games with people I don't already know well.
Why didn't you respond to my message/comment?
I get a LOT of messages from a lot of places. I don't always get around to every one. Even if I do, there isn't always a good response I can give. Please try not to take it personally.
Do you make money from YouTube?
I do. In 2021 YouTube started putting ads on my videos without my consent, and since there wasn’t anything I could do about it I decided to monetize DaThings and take a cut. It’s not a huge amount, so if you’d like to support me directly, check out the support page!
When are you going to upload new videos?
Creating online things is my full-time job (thanks to my supporters) and there are a lot of facets to it. YTPs are typically uploaded every 1-3 weeks. Act Promptly episodes tend to come out every 2-3 weeks during the on-season. Ellie-mentary episodes are not on a schedule. I drop new mashups about once a year. You probably won’t have to wait long new stuff!
Where can I watch your streams?
I stream on Twitch.tv/EllieSpectacular. Schedule is very much sporadic so you never quite know when one will happen.
What is Act Promptly?
Act Promptly is an improv game show - Think of it like Whose Line Is It Anyway? or Dropout’s Make Some Noise but more casual and with animated avatars instead of on-camera talent.
I have a suggestion for a prompt that could be on Act Promptly!
Love to hear it! You can leave suggestions here! (Please make sure to read all of the rules)
Can I be on Act Promptly?
We’re not actively on the lookout for new talent. We try to keep it among friends and folks we have an existing connection to, so there’s no application or audition process.
What is Ellie-mentary?
A video essay series I make! It’s mostly media-driven, but I’ve opened myself up to discussing certain non-media topics that are interesting or not being talked about as much.
Will you be focusing more on DaThings or your other stuff?
DaThings is the project that definitely gets the highest priority right now. New videos go there regularly. The other stuff has had to take a bit of a backseat as a result, but I still have ideas for them in mind at any given time.
Last updated June 18, 2025