#nerfighteria

I found the Vlogbrothers around 2008. I was in middle school at the time, which, as we all know, is the worst. The idea of there being a community that was dedicated to making life better for people was so exciting and refreshing to me.

It still is, honestly. Maybe even more so now.

Now that I'm in college, the “real” world seems like it sucks even more, so I've become even more dedicated to making it better, not just for myself, but for as many people as I possibly can. On a more specific note, John (specifically his Thoughts From Places videos) helped me think about life on a broader scale than “what am I doing this weekend?”

I feel like that was so important for me as a preteen and young teenager. And finally, Hank is one of the main people that helped me embrace my love of science.

Enjoying science and the way things work isn't necessarily one of those things that people celebrate in middle school and high school. Watching Hank's videos made me realize that it's okay to be excited about science. I embraced that idea, and I'm thrilled that I'm a biology major now. I can't imagine doing anything else. I have no idea what kind of person I would be without John, Hank, and the Vlogbrothers. That doesn't matter though. What does matter is that they helped shape an impressionable teenager into a compassionate thinker.

Creators are internet citizens with an up-to-date understanding of social issues. They’re less likely to say/do something dumb.

When they inevitably do, because no one’s perfect, immediate audience feedback causes an apology and learning experience.

The creators are tied to the work. You can’t learn about one without the other, so it’s impossible to end up liking one but not the other.