SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A YouTube video insulting some of Yellowknife's better known dining establishments and its residents has been creating a stir around the city.

A computer video posted on YouTube last week has the city abuzz with its references to "Little Newfoundland" at the south end of the city, and suggestions that downtown convenience stores are a good place "to score some crack." - video available at YouTube.com

Since its launch on Oct. 5 the video, titled Helping a Tourist in Yellowknife, has been viewed more than 4,000 times as of Monday.

The computer animated video depicts a woman visiting Yellowknife who asks a male resident for directions so she can meet her cousin. After pointing to some "nice, drunk fellows" beside the Gold Range bar, the digital man begins spouting a tirade of negative comments about city businesses and residents.

The commentator refers to Bullock's Bistro as "bull-crap," and regarding houseboaters, says: "They are stinky, have beards, sing songs together and don't pay taxes."

It remains unknown who posted the video; the YouTube user name accompanying it is "Yellowkniferable."

"I have mixed feelings about it," said city councillor Paul Falvo, when asked what he thought of the video.

"We have to laugh at ourselves but it is mean-spirited."

Falvo said the video does highlight some of the city's problems, such as substance abuse and the high cost of living.

The video prompted mixed reviews from viewers who posted their comments on Youtube.

"Good for you ... social commentary is a tough? row to hoe ... I look forward to your next issue," posted one user.

Another had this to say: "If you hate it so much why live here? You sound like a guy who is not happy unless he is unhappy. Get a life."

Mayor Gord Van Tighem said he has been ignoring the video up to this point.

"It draws on the negatives rather than the positives," the mayor said. "It's just probably made by someone who thinks they're having fun."

Van Tighem said it's not the best representation of Yellowknife, adding it's completely different from other videos on YouTube that show Yellowknife in a more positive light. Nonetheless, he said he doesn't think it will deter all people who view the video from visiting the city.

"It might make them curious," said Van Tighem. "I see the positive in everything."

Two videos have already been posted in response to the original using the same computer animation generator.

In one of the videos two office workers roast the creator of the original video, refering to him as a "cynical southern hipster" and "a cultural imperialist who is self-righteous."

Yellowknife resident Greg Loftus made a video Saturday night after seeing the original.

"I didn't like the other video," said Loftus, who has been living in the city since 1973.

"It only mentions the negative and there's a lot more positive ... there's a lot to this place."

You can view the video at YouTube.com.

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