“Why would you work so hard to create a business that you do not benefit from financially?” Thanks for standing for these values, they are important. I hope the world will have a lot more awesome clubs in the future.
I wish more capitalists understood that a rising tide lifts up all boats and that they benefit financially even when they do things for nonprofit related reasons. When the public deals with less worldsuck and is more capable of not even just surviving, but thriving, then it means more profits for businesses and happier customers. A third megayacht is grt and all for them, but if they spent that money on raisin the tide theyd be able to get a third, fourth, and fifth megayacht.
Lots of people benefit financially from this business. They are paying a premium to the coffee growers to ensure the farmers can grow sustainably and get a fair wage for their work. I'm sure the employees are being paid a fair and living wage. And then as an added bonus, excess profits go to help people. It's a model that values benefit over profit. Hank and John have chosen to not personally benefit financially but even if they did receive a fair income I'd be down.
We live in the world, so things we do that make the world better, make our lives better. The benefits might not be as immediate as more cash in our pockets, but in the long run, I think the benefits of a better world are more valuable.
That it's considered such a baffling concept in the business community is incredibly sad, these people who stand for nothing except more numbers on a screen while they burn the world to the ground to get more.
oh yes, my first thought when you two do anything. "what are these boys doing?" it's really fun to see people actually starting businesses and clubs and things to make the world suck less. thank you
Long time nerdfighter here. I was an OG Crash Course subbable subscriber, and seeing it grow has been so so cool. Same with Sci Show. And seeing you guys do good things in the world and not give in to the draw of monetary greed makes me so so happy. I wish more folks were like you.
i may not have been an OG but im glad to have helped contribute to the popularity of these channels (by watching, which makes youtube reccomend them more)! {:
It's really been gratifying to see Nerdfighteria projects like CrashCourse succeed and I hope Awesome Coffee can grow staggeringly successful over time.
"And I feel this way because it's true!" I had the parent of a student this year tell me I was able to make the children I teach feel like champions, and I thought - "but they ARE champions." Glad of you, your ideas, and your ventures that enable so many people to participate in good things.
@@SylviaRustyFae I'm a violin teacher. It's a very challenging instrument. The children ARE champions for sticking with it. They could so easily just give up. My students inspire me.
If you think you are only a champion or worthy of celebration if you are one of the best violinists in the world, you'll think your kid's not a champion, but if you ask yourself "what does it really mean to be a champion?" You can see the champion that was always there.
@@prayingmantis8148 Yeas, very much that too! Theres tons of things that make ppl champions that usually go completely unnoticed. I bet some of their kids are tech wizards and champions there but the parents just dont understand things as much and dont recognise the skill as the same but just seeing it as "wastin time with computers"; as someone who was formerly seen as doin such but is also the one they always called for tech support later in life >.>
I want to thank John again for such a great launch. For someone who’s as reclusive and introverted as he is, his pride in all of us at Nerdfighteria is deeply inspiring for someone who’s reclusive and introverted myself.
I think people who constantly forget what day of the week it is are strange. Almost as strange as people who always know today's date. It really should be the other way around: always know the day, never know the date.
13 years of being a nerdfighter (yes, that's a humblebrag) and I wouldn't be able to tell you which days of the week they upload on. Even though they say that in literally every video
@@IWishIWereAwesome I think it's unlikely but It'd be lovely if they ever decided to stop this (god forbid) maybe they could do a month or two of everyday videos leading up to the last ones
Community is powerful. And what this community has done and continues to do astounds me. And I am definitely proud of this community and am proud to be part of it. Nerdfighteria has definitely not forgotten to be awesome.
Hearing this put into words, it makes me proud of both you and this community, this type of focus on impact is a standard for business I wish carried more weight in the world- Watching this wearing wacky cat socks and drinking an awesome cup of coffee. Cheers!
I went back and watched your 2011 JWST video because you mentioned it below the video, Hank. It was lovely to see how excited you were about something I've grown so excited about more recently, but seeing the astronomers' comments on that video almost brought me to tears. It clearly meant a lot to them, and knowing that it was a difficult time makes it all the more meaningful. Thank you for sharing this story and for continuing to work towards having an impact in all the best ways.
I think a lot of the problems in the world (at least the problem of the vast chasm that is wealth inequality and all the problems that stem from it) come from the fact that those other people in the business world can't simply say "we have plenty". Thank you for not being like them, love you guys and this community :)
I remember YEARS AGO listening to Hank joking on DH&J that buying socks was stressful and he wished he could subscribe to a sock delivery service, and I've watched that idea gradually become a reality, and then the same thing happen with the coffee club, and I'm just so proud of this community's dedication to working together to make cool stuff and do good in the world.
Your description of the best case scenario being it grows beyond you is exactly how I feel about the best case for my ideas. Becoming personally wealthy doesn't excite me nearly as much as the idea of helping to start something that takes on a life of its own.
I feel like ambition and motivation are important...and if we leave them only for people who want wealth we're selecting for not the best group of people to have quite a lot of power.
@@vlogbrothers that's a really interesting idea. I want to create a business someday (and have already tried), but I don't want to end up greedy and unethical like a lot of CEOs. So it's nice to hear that ambitious goals for a company aren't tied to unethical practices.
@@vlogbrothers I was reminded of Peter Petrawicki in this video, about businessmen clamoring for more wealth and power even though they already possess plenty of it. Although it just wasn’t Peter… it was Carl’s brother, too… I was thinking that if either of you lost your minds and started chasing the fame like April and the power like PP, I would be so heartbroken…
The fact that Hank knows about Cristine and Holo Taco is somehow mind blowing to me. I think both communities would lose their minds if there was a Vlogtaco crossover episode or something. Of course, that would require John to go to Canada. lmao
I love her openness about her struggles with UA-cam and that she is aware of the privileges she has because of her success. She seems more relatable than many UA-camrs closer to my age (24).
@@kelzbelz313 To add to this, she has given a lot of money to scholarship funds and animal charities as well. I don't know that she would ever be in a place to do a club like the awesome clubs, but I hope one day she is, because I would love to have an Awesome Holo club!
This totally disproves an idea that is rampant in capitalism - namely that people only work for individual profit. No - people work to survive, and when that is guaranteed, they work for community, and the betterment of society, and the love of good coffee and great socks. I love that this is possibly for you guys, and I hope that you can do the work that you love, and rest abundantly. :)
+++ I am perfectly happy to donate my skills and my time in my community because my needs are met. If I needed that time in the form of money so I could make ends meet, the story might be very different.
Well, I don't think this really proves anything about capitalism. If anything, this is more of the exception that proves the rule. Under capitalism, the fundamental economic incentive is the profit motive. You extract surplus value from the labor and materials, and then either further leverage that profit to make more profit, or use it for personal uses. Charity and philanthropy under a capitalist system falls under the latter category. "People work for community" as a generalization, rather than the exception, is a state of affairs only possible when the fundamental coercive nature of the capitalist system is no longer present.
Most people in charge of large corporations don't work for any of those things unfortunately. Those roles select for certain kinds of people. This community (and also some small or local businesses) are able to still be this way, and are special cases.
Exactly. And the idea that people wouldn’t work if their base needs were met doesn’t work either . People will always have things they want. Sure some might not work but most people will work to buy things, go places and more. But the problem is the bear minimum being met
my boyfriend and i were just talking about how much we appreciate they way both of you have used your influence / wealth. it's so beautiful to see people someone doing something this big, especially something going towards maternal health. we love moms! like, we can't (currently, at least. maybe someday) make these huge, life-changing, ethically made products that you two can, but we can support it. and it's a joy to do so. love you both! 💛
I'm not an active member of the community, but I've been lurking since the second P4A. I love what this community has built, and you have all made this life just a bit better for all of us.
Thank you Hank for this community. I’m stuck at home with covid atm, but watching your videos from all the channels in the community you and John have built are a great way to get through it.
@@vlogbrothers Yeah it’s not great. It’s the first time I’ve had it, but thankfully I’m fully vaxed and reasonably healthy, so I’m the most prepared I can be.
One of the most respectable things in this world is a person recognising that they have plenty and others do not. Thank you Hank and John both for being good people that help inspire good people.
Purchased the mystery sock and also subscribed to the monthly sock surprise in M/L until I get the notification that S/M are back in stock and I can switch it! I hate wearing socks. Hate. (it’s a sensory thing) BUT. I love what you’re doing and want to support it! I may hate wearing socks, but when I need to wear them, I want them to be funky ☺️💕
I've only been following you two for a handful of years, but I love what this community can accomplish. I don't really feel like a Nerdfighter yet, but I hope that one day I will.
@@UmbreonLibris I still feel the same way after several years, which is weird because this is the least gatekeepy community on the Internet! I’ve certainly never been made to feel unwelcome, so I can’t fully explain it. Hopefully one day we’ll both be able to confidently call ourselves Nerdfighters (or maybe we won’t, but that’s OK too)!
I became a nerdfighter in 2010 and it felt like I had an unmanageable amount of lore to catch up on. But once you declare yourself a nerdfighter and promise to try not to forget to be awesome, and to do your best to decrease worldsuck, you’re in. But if you want to know all the deep cuts you will have no trouble finding someone to show you around 🤟🤟dftba
As awesome as these clubs are, I think the other big impact of impact you have had is building a community that has internalized the impact of long term sustainable giving and systemic change by participating in it. I may have come for the P4A perks, but I stayed for the amazing feeling of creating change. :)
Hi boys! One of my favorite things about you guys (and what makes you two my favorite people on the internet) is that you create things that create value. I get so overwhelmed by all of the "fluff" on the internet and its really wonderful that there are things like Vlogbrothers and Crash Course and Study Hall that create SO MUCH value and add SO MUCH to my life and the lives of others. Thanks for being awesome :) p.s. Study Hall and the "How To College" course is really helping me right now as an incoming high school senior trying to decide her next steps. You always seem to know right when something is needed and this course came in perfect timing for me. extra thank you's for that!!
That's so amazing about inspiring the JWST team! I still feel I hang on the outskirts of this community but both of you measuring what you create in terms of what impact it can make inspires me tremendously.
"So it's a company..." "Yes." "And it makes money..." "Very much yes." "But you aren't taking any of that money for yourselves?" "Correct, giving it all away." "I'm confused." Business people talking to the boys probably...
I grossly underestimated how much joy the Awesome Socks would bring me on a near-daily basis (can't wait until I have 7 pairs so I can wear one every day without doing laundry). Knowing the good that the ASC does is a not insignificant part of that joy. 🧦💙🌍
Thank you, both of you, for not only being you and doing good in the world, but for talking about why it's important to you. There is so much "get rich, buy a big house and 50 cars, always want more" stuff out there, the alternative is so needed.
Hank I’m not sure why you stating “We have plenty now.” Made me so happy. Y’all could be so much better off, yet you choose to help many others. From the videos that have educated me for years now to the help that’s being done around the world. Y’all have done so much, many are grateful for you.
I discovered Crash Course first, then Sci show, then John Green books. It took me a while before I realized the author was one of the brothers, and I got really excited when I realized it. I keep following, and you both never let me down. Thank you!
My BFF and I always give each other fun socks for presents. She has no idea who you two are and I got her the Awesome Socks subscription last year for her birthday. I wrote a note with them that said something like, "Icing on the cake? All the profits go to charity! Though I doubt you care what happens to the money I spent as long as you get awesome socks." She loves them. There is definitely already reach beyond your community, and I hope it continues to grow.
I'm constantly in awe of you and John for your kindness, creativity, and compassion. You are both fantastic person and you give me hope every day that the world can be better 💗 thanks for never forgetting to be awesome
Not to make this sound like an ad or anything but I gave my parents the first bag of coffee from my subscription and they were very impressed! They do not impress easily so I'll definitely be giving subsequent bags to my friends as holiday and birthday gifts!
Hank and John you both rock. The only time someone ever recognized my socks (I think they were P4A socks) they excitedly pointed at them, did the Nerdfighter hand sign, and ran away. It made my day and baffled everyone around me.
And this is why I’ve been a avid nerdfighter for over 11 (omg) years. Always knew you boys had a good head on your shoulders. Thanks for being a constant inspiration for doing good.
As sad as I am that the coffee club can't deliver internationally (for completely understandable reasons), I am even more excited to hear it's off to a great start. Here's to even more success for great causes.
Following your journey from brotherhood 2.0 to watching the beginning of and supporting scishow and crash course. I want to say you make feel the world is a hopeful place! Makes me want to do better and put my dollars towards endeavours like yours! More power to you! And more power to decreasing world suck! Thank you brothers!
Found y'all in 2007 when I was ~15 (I think my first video I saw was one where John was writing in hotel room with Scott Westerfeld and Maureen Johnson?) and I just turned 30 this year. The reason I've continued watching and participating in the community all this time is precisely because y'all do stuff like this. If I ever manage to have plenty, I plan to do the same thing. Thank you both for building the model.
Why is this making me cry. Currently working to make my work place more equitable and I am fighting against greed. Knowing you two are doing something from a place of impacting for good over producing more wealth for yourselves.
I totally understand. I am trying to do a similar thing on a smaller scale for my own business -- value before profit. It's lovely to surround oneself with people who share that same mentality. You have built an amazing community, and it is doing wonders for the world. Congratulations :)
You two are honestly some of the most magnanimous and wonderful people I've had the pleasure of watching on UA-cam. I aspire to the level of awesome you are. I love that you have such a big community that holds the same values as you. Just knowing that you, and people like you, exist, gives me hope. For the humanity. For the planet. All of it.
I got a little teary when Hank spoke about what the community is capable of. I am so, so happy to be able to be a part of this awesome community doing awesome things… I got in on the soft launch of the Coffee Club and the coffee… is awesome. If you’re on the fence about it, you should go for it and sign up. You’re drinking coffee every day anyway. Make it a daily cup of awesome!
I have never been one to just buy something unless it's a real need, partly because I usually have very little money to spare and partly because I don't feel like contributing what little I have to mega corporations, but I feel zero trepidations about contributing to these products. I can't afford the monthly subscriptions, but I can afford to donate to P4A and Pizzamas because I trust you guys are going to get those funds where they need to go and also I love the artistry! My favorite t-shirt is my Pizza La Mort.
Sci Show and Crash Course helped me, way back in 2012 and I'm always grateful for that. I love the idea of businesses designed to do something awesome just to make the world a better place. Seeing all of the good you both (and the community) put out into the world give me hope when sometimes the world seems a bit scary.
I love how honest and genuine the both of you are. I'm proud to support both of your projects here and even prouder of you both that as leaders in this Influencer world you continue to put the world over yourself. We need more selfless people and more selfless demonstration. Thanks John and Hank!
Those are some of my favorite Vlogbrothers videos, I wish they would do another one! I actually want to make my sister do a quadragacon with me, even though she would have no idea what it was all about.
The most delightful thing keeps happening to me. I always watch vlogbrothers uploads over breakfast, and since most of the content has Awesome Coffee Club promos worked in of late, that means that i am 100% without fail drinking a cup of Awesome Coffee when they start talking about it (can confirm, it IS delicious). And knowing that the ~100 dollars I've spent on it so far is a part of the 100k that's already being used to decrease world suck in Sierra Leone is pretty neat! Yay coffee, yay community!
I'm probably not the only one to say this in these comments, but the attitude you both have gives me so much hope for the world. Love that I've got to be a small part of the journey to increase world awesome with you for the last decade 😊
I was so happy to hear you mention Holo Taco. Cristine is such a role model for influencers. Keeping her day job, giving out a scholarship every year, telling her young viewers that school is important and they shouldn't drop out to become UA-camrs, and then just making really high quality nail products. I bought a Holo Taco nail kit just to support her, but ended up buying a second one because it contained the absolute best pair of nail clippers I have ever owned in my life. I assumed it would be a silly thing because they were "holo" nail clippers, but they're actually just super high quality as well as beautiful. She didn't have to do that, but she did and I'm so happy about it. Anyway I'm seriously considering trying your socks (even though I normally buy fancy socks with lots of cushioning and moisture wicking), largely because I'm ready to believe that the Awesome Socks Club could conceivably provide me with the "holo nail clippers" of socks. :-)
I love this community so much, I'm so grateful for the thoughtfulness and ethics that Hank and John have worked so hard to promote here. This community truly gives me hope in a world that can be so difficult and draining. Alas I live on a tropical island where I do not need Awesome Socks, and currently Awesome Coffee does not ship here, but SOME DAY. SOME DAY maybe I can subscribe to one of these... or some future Awesome company! Until then I support via other means. (I did get a sock subscription for a friend one year, which was great for both of us.)
I don't think I've ever said it yet " you guys are awesome...the entire community. You have made a difference in my life and that matters to me. Thank you!
This reminds me of the idea of pebs from Becky Chambers's "A Prayer for the Crown-Shy." Instead of working to make money, we should be working to benefit our communities. Love you guys so much!
I often struggle with feeling hopeless and helpless, wondering what good any humans have done, but any time I watch a VlogBrothers video on the amazing work you guys are doing, and the community Nerdfightaria has built, those go away. Thank you for caring about the world we live in, and thank you for your work.
Thank you for creating something that would make it easier to help make the world a better place. I hope more individuals follow this. In my heart people want to help but may not think they can or how to help. This makes it clear and easy. Love you both. Thank you again
Hank helped with Dropout? I didn’t know that, I’m not sure if I’ve watched you or college humor for longer, but I’ve been a constant fan since 3rd grade and I’m 23 now. Keep up the awesome work Hank, it’s what inspired me to continue going to college in spite of a lot of family drama around that.
I loved the awesome socks club so much when I was subscribed, unfortunately they started getting stopped at customs after brexit and it cost too much to clear them every month. If you’re in the US I would highly recommend 😢
I may hate coffee and wish it were a tea club instead but I still love that it's yet another project that the community (with more than a little help from you two) has grown. Ethically, of course, just like the coffee.
The Holo Taco shoutout made my day! Cristine is amazing and I love that Hank is familiar with her work. What are these boys doing?! Why, decreasing world suck, of course 🙅♀️
Just out of curiosity, since 100% of the proceeds go to charity, how is the general running of business paid for (i.e. making the socks & the coffee, etc.) I love this community and am so thankful to be a part of it! DFTBA!!
100% of the profits go to charity, so that's the amount they have left after covering all of the costs involved with running the business (paying the farmers etc). Plus I imagine that there's a little bit of money held in reserve to cover unexpected costs. Hope that helps!
I've seen a few spot from people promoting Awesome Coffee Club in particular, but they've never mentioned Hank or John, and I'm just now learning that they're behind it. It's working!!!
It's always nice to hear this said explicitly but the fact that so many of us here value impact over wealth, even when it feels like the proportion is reversed in broader society, shows that you guys have also done a remarkable job projecting these values all along
I neither wear colorful socks nor drink coffee, but I love that you guys are doing this!! If there's ever a club for something I would use, I'll be right there buying it!
Proud of you! And you have built something that has a voice! JWST proved to be a milestone and i am glad that you (and this community) played a part in it during its initial stage! Sometimes hope comes from a UA-cam video and sometimes it comes from a picture that is looking 13 billion years in the past.
I really appreciate how you guys are helping to realize a way to function in a deeply flawed system more ethically. While we all dislike the injustice of our current system, it's impossible to avoid tainting yourself as well. You're giving us more options, and, perhaps, showing other companies that they can follow your example.
I’ve been a part of this community for damn near half my life at this point (insane to say) and I am so so proud of what it has accomplished. Year after year it proves to me that good, actionable, selfless change is still possible and it’s FUN.
The question "why would you pass up the opportunity to acquire wealth?" demonstrates such a depressing disparity between those who have too much and those who don't have enough. Do you acquire wealth to survive and build a life? Or do you acquire wealth for the purposes of building a fortune?
Every time I go out (usually to physio or massage or something) I ALWAYS get compliments on my socks! The new and the old ones. Everyone always likes to ask what DFTBA stands for and they are always touched when they hear "Don't Forget To Be Awesome". It's been a great experience all around! I love to see the joy this discovery brings to the people around me. I am very much looking forward to my coffee!!
Hank, you and john are truly awesomesauce!!!The way you continue to use your influence to create a positive impact makes me feel so happy and inspired!!
Just wanted to highlight this really cool and really inspirational little blip from the description of this very video "Today I was reminded that my video about the James Webb Space Telescope from 2011 turned out to be a big deal internally for people working on JWST. It had undergone a lot of setbacks and not hitting budgets and there were a number of people who were starting to feel that maybe it would never happen, or wasn't worth the costs. That was dragging on the people working on it, and then this rando UA-camr makes a video about how you can make the world better by decreasing suck, but also by increasing awesome. That seems to have become a big deal among some folks who worked there, and they even passed out "I Decrease Suck" and "I Increase Awesome" buttons to people working on the project. Another way this community sneaks around and has impacts far beyond its size." This is really awesome to hear about and fills my heart with a whole heap of awesome feelings
I discovered Crash Course long before I knew who John or Hank Green were. I discovered the community by first discovering the amazing things you've built. So, uh, Hank, mission accomplished!
There's a lot of bad stuff in the world right now. I'm really glad that Hank and John are here to stand on the opposite side of the spectrum to help balance things out. It gives me hope.
thank you so much I needed that, I'm building a buissness trying to change the world for the better. I've put everything into it financially and mentally and struggling 🙏. I needed to know that I wasn't the only one fighting for a better future.
I support this !!!! I support this 100% My mom and aunt get rly confused when i talk about this bc their immediate reaction is: that's not possible. Which is sad. But i love this. I want this forever
I want to see people like this in power. Community leaders should be those who-in action, not just words-value having a positive impact more than acquiring wealth for themselves, who are able to say “I have enough.”
Currently wearing some of my awesome socks - feels great to give money to charity each month and get cool ethical clothing! I also have plans to turn my awesome socks into a patchwork tote bag when they begin to get holey because the patterns are so pretty
![[UA] NAVI vs MOUZ | BO5 | IEM Rio 2024](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/CMBYk0cbGoA/mqdefault.jpg)
“Why would you work so hard to create a business that you do not benefit from financially?” Thanks for standing for these values, they are important. I hope the world will have a lot more awesome clubs in the future.
+
I wish more capitalists understood that a rising tide lifts up all boats and that they benefit financially even when they do things for nonprofit related reasons.
When the public deals with less worldsuck and is more capable of not even just surviving, but thriving, then it means more profits for businesses and happier customers.
A third megayacht is grt and all for them, but if they spent that money on raisin the tide theyd be able to get a third, fourth, and fifth megayacht.
Lots of people benefit financially from this business. They are paying a premium to the coffee growers to ensure the farmers can grow sustainably and get a fair wage for their work. I'm sure the employees are being paid a fair and living wage. And then as an added bonus, excess profits go to help people. It's a model that values benefit over profit. Hank and John have chosen to not personally benefit financially but even if they did receive a fair income I'd be down.
We live in the world, so things we do that make the world better, make our lives better. The benefits might not be as immediate as more cash in our pockets, but in the long run, I think the benefits of a better world are more valuable.
That it's considered such a baffling concept in the business community is incredibly sad, these people who stand for nothing except more numbers on a screen while they burn the world to the ground to get more.
oh yes, my first thought when you two do anything. "what are these boys doing?"
it's really fun to see people actually starting businesses and clubs and things to make the world suck less. thank you
Decreasing world suck, one "Good morning Hank it's Tuesday" at a time
My first thought is, "what are these boys doing?"
And my second thought is, "and where do I sign up?"
Long time nerdfighter here. I was an OG Crash Course subbable subscriber, and seeing it grow has been so so cool. Same with Sci Show. And seeing you guys do good things in the world and not give in to the draw of monetary greed makes me so so happy. I wish more folks were like you.
Oh man, subbable!! Blast from the past!
i may not have been an OG but im glad to have helped contribute to the popularity of these channels (by watching, which makes youtube reccomend them more)! {:
It's really been gratifying to see Nerdfighteria projects like CrashCourse succeed and I hope Awesome Coffee can grow staggeringly successful over time.
Same! Watching since early 2008, og subbable subscriber, etc - it's truly amazing to see this community mature and become even more awesome
"And I feel this way because it's true!" I had the parent of a student this year tell me I was able to make the children I teach feel like champions, and I thought - "but they ARE champions." Glad of you, your ideas, and your ventures that enable so many people to participate in good things.
That sounds like the parent of a disabled kid, as a former disabled kid myself; they far too often manage to miss the pt but come rly close to it.
@@SylviaRustyFae I'm a violin teacher. It's a very challenging instrument. The children ARE champions for sticking with it. They could so easily just give up. My students inspire me.
If you think you are only a champion or worthy of celebration if you are one of the best violinists in the world, you'll think your kid's not a champion, but if you ask yourself "what does it really mean to be a champion?" You can see the champion that was always there.
@@prayingmantis8148 Yeas, very much that too! Theres tons of things that make ppl champions that usually go completely unnoticed.
I bet some of their kids are tech wizards and champions there but the parents just dont understand things as much and dont recognise the skill as the same but just seeing it as "wastin time with computers"; as someone who was formerly seen as doin such but is also the one they always called for tech support later in life >.>
@@prayingmantis8148 Exactly.
I want to thank John again for such a great launch.
For someone who’s as reclusive and introverted as he is, his pride in all of us at Nerdfighteria is deeply inspiring for someone who’s reclusive and introverted myself.
8 years of being a nerdfighter and still whenever I get the notification I think, huh, is it Friday/Tuesday already? Have they got the wrong day?
I think people who constantly forget what day of the week it is are strange. Almost as strange as people who always know today's date.
It really should be the other way around: always know the day, never know the date.
13 years of being a nerdfighter (yes, that's a humblebrag) and I wouldn't be able to tell you which days of the week they upload on. Even though they say that in literally every video
Been watching since 2007. Still waiting for the daily videos to come back....
@@IWishIWereAwesome I think it's unlikely but It'd be lovely if they ever decided to stop this (god forbid) maybe they could do a month or two of everyday videos leading up to the last ones
@@miacoss9809 No, no, no, we’re not even going to think about “the last ones”. That is going to be the worst day ever
Community is powerful. And what this community has done and continues to do astounds me. And I am definitely proud of this community and am proud to be part of it. Nerdfighteria has definitely not forgotten to be awesome.
❤
Do I remember it wrong that I have watched your videos, or have you privated them?
Hearing this put into words, it makes me proud of both you and this community, this type of focus on impact is a standard for business I wish carried more weight in the world- Watching this wearing wacky cat socks and drinking an awesome cup of coffee. Cheers!
Nice!!!
I went back and watched your 2011 JWST video because you mentioned it below the video, Hank. It was lovely to see how excited you were about something I've grown so excited about more recently, but seeing the astronomers' comments on that video almost brought me to tears. It clearly meant a lot to them, and knowing that it was a difficult time makes it all the more meaningful. Thank you for sharing this story and for continuing to work towards having an impact in all the best ways.
I think a lot of the problems in the world (at least the problem of the vast chasm that is wealth inequality and all the problems that stem from it) come from the fact that those other people in the business world can't simply say "we have plenty". Thank you for not being like them, love you guys and this community :)
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Agreed
Greed is the greatest evil in this world. I stand by this. Seeing nonprofits like this with the open acknowledgement of "enough" is wonderful.
The cause of wealth inequality is people who have literally nothing to give and say “let’s have kids” anyway
I remember YEARS AGO listening to Hank joking on DH&J that buying socks was stressful and he wished he could subscribe to a sock delivery service, and I've watched that idea gradually become a reality, and then the same thing happen with the coffee club, and I'm just so proud of this community's dedication to working together to make cool stuff and do good in the world.
Your description of the best case scenario being it grows beyond you is exactly how I feel about the best case for my ideas. Becoming personally wealthy doesn't excite me nearly as much as the idea of helping to start something that takes on a life of its own.
I feel like ambition and motivation are important...and if we leave them only for people who want wealth we're selecting for not the best group of people to have quite a lot of power.
@@vlogbrothers that's a really interesting idea. I want to create a business someday (and have already tried), but I don't want to end up greedy and unethical like a lot of CEOs. So it's nice to hear that ambitious goals for a company aren't tied to unethical practices.
@@vlogbrothers I was reminded of Peter Petrawicki in this video, about businessmen clamoring for more wealth and power even though they already possess plenty of it. Although it just wasn’t Peter… it was Carl’s brother, too… I was thinking that if either of you lost your minds and started chasing the fame like April and the power like PP, I would be so heartbroken…
Someone might think you're... up to something... ~Alan Rickman
We are, Alan...we are.
Me, listing to Hank make points about the power of community: so lovely and important
Also me, in John's shocked voice: You have a tattoo!
Thought I was the only one who noticed! I was like, wait did I miss something?! 😅
Omg same. Hank Green, show us your ink!
I almost don't recognize him with the tattoo!
@@lemnfresh it was in John's tictok
The fact that Hank knows about Cristine and Holo Taco is somehow mind blowing to me. I think both communities would lose their minds if there was a Vlogtaco crossover episode or something.
Of course, that would require John to go to Canada. lmao
I find her tremendously impressive.
I love her openness about her struggles with UA-cam and that she is aware of the privileges she has because of her success. She seems more relatable than many UA-camrs closer to my age (24).
@@ninamarie177 she’s also kept her day job. UA-cam was always a hobby, albeit a lucrative one.
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@@kelzbelz313 To add to this, she has given a lot of money to scholarship funds and animal charities as well. I don't know that she would ever be in a place to do a club like the awesome clubs, but I hope one day she is, because I would love to have an Awesome Holo club!
This totally disproves an idea that is rampant in capitalism - namely that people only work for individual profit. No - people work to survive, and when that is guaranteed, they work for community, and the betterment of society, and the love of good coffee and great socks. I love that this is possibly for you guys, and I hope that you can do the work that you love, and rest abundantly. :)
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I am perfectly happy to donate my skills and my time in my community because my needs are met. If I needed that time in the form of money so I could make ends meet, the story might be very different.
Well, I don't think this really proves anything about capitalism. If anything, this is more of the exception that proves the rule.
Under capitalism, the fundamental economic incentive is the profit motive. You extract surplus value from the labor and materials, and then either further leverage that profit to make more profit, or use it for personal uses.
Charity and philanthropy under a capitalist system falls under the latter category.
"People work for community" as a generalization, rather than the exception, is a state of affairs only possible when the fundamental coercive nature of the capitalist system is no longer present.
this is so well put. echoing all of it!
Most people in charge of large corporations don't work for any of those things unfortunately. Those roles select for certain kinds of people. This community (and also some small or local businesses) are able to still be this way, and are special cases.
Exactly. And the idea that people wouldn’t work if their base needs were met doesn’t work either . People will always have things they want. Sure some might not work but most people will work to buy things, go places and more. But the problem is the bear minimum being met
"At this point, we are more interested in impact than in wealth." What a lovely and sadly rare idea. Thank you, guys.
my boyfriend and i were just talking about how much we appreciate they way both of you have used your influence / wealth. it's so beautiful to see people someone doing something this big, especially something going towards maternal health. we love moms! like, we can't (currently, at least. maybe someday) make these huge, life-changing, ethically made products that you two can, but we can support it. and it's a joy to do so. love you both! 💛
What a sweet message, I hope the brothers see it
I'm not an active member of the community, but I've been lurking since the second P4A. I love what this community has built, and you have all made this life just a bit better for all of us.
Thank you Hank for this community. I’m stuck at home with covid atm, but watching your videos from all the channels in the community you and John have built are a great way to get through it.
Covid sucks so bad!!
@@vlogbrothers Yeah it’s not great. It’s the first time I’ve had it, but thankfully I’m fully vaxed and reasonably healthy, so I’m the most prepared I can be.
I love getting here and knowing other nerd fighters are watching at the same time
Yes!! All together!
Greetings, simultaneously watching nerdfighter! Where are you atm? I'm in nothern Germany.
@@lonestarr1490 I’m in the United States of America
One of the most respectable things in this world is a person recognising that they have plenty and others do not. Thank you Hank and John both for being good people that help inspire good people.
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Purchased the mystery sock and also subscribed to the monthly sock surprise in M/L until I get the notification that S/M are back in stock and I can switch it!
I hate wearing socks. Hate. (it’s a sensory thing) BUT. I love what you’re doing and want to support it!
I may hate wearing socks, but when I need to wear them, I want them to be funky ☺️💕
I've only been following you two for a handful of years, but I love what this community can accomplish. I don't really feel like a Nerdfighter yet, but I hope that one day I will.
The entrance requirements are not high...
Anyone who wants to be is a nerdfighter! 😄
@@HelenRosemarySmith yes! But I just don't feel like I'm part of the community yet, y'know?
@@UmbreonLibris I still feel the same way after several years, which is weird because this is the least gatekeepy community on the Internet! I’ve certainly never been made to feel unwelcome, so I can’t fully explain it.
Hopefully one day we’ll both be able to confidently call ourselves Nerdfighters (or maybe we won’t, but that’s OK too)!
I became a nerdfighter in 2010 and it felt like I had an unmanageable amount of lore to catch up on. But once you declare yourself a nerdfighter and promise to try not to forget to be awesome, and to do your best to decrease worldsuck, you’re in. But if you want to know all the deep cuts you will have no trouble finding someone to show you around 🤟🤟dftba
As awesome as these clubs are, I think the other big impact of impact you have had is building a community that has internalized the impact of long term sustainable giving and systemic change by participating in it.
I may have come for the P4A perks, but I stayed for the amazing feeling of creating change. :)
Hi boys! One of my favorite things about you guys (and what makes you two my favorite people on the internet) is that you create things that create value. I get so overwhelmed by all of the "fluff" on the internet and its really wonderful that there are things like Vlogbrothers and Crash Course and Study Hall that create SO MUCH value and add SO MUCH to my life and the lives of others. Thanks for being awesome :)
p.s. Study Hall and the "How To College" course is really helping me right now as an incoming high school senior trying to decide her next steps. You always seem to know right when something is needed and this course came in perfect timing for me. extra thank you's for that!!
I buy socks and coffee, so this works out really well.
That's so amazing about inspiring the JWST team! I still feel I hang on the outskirts of this community but both of you measuring what you create in terms of what impact it can make inspires me tremendously.
Lots of salient points from this video but I keep going back to HANK HAS A TATTOO?! It's nice!! DFTBA
Just a lil one
"So it's a company..."
"Yes."
"And it makes money..."
"Very much yes."
"But you aren't taking any of that money for yourselves?"
"Correct, giving it all away."
"I'm confused."
Business people talking to the boys probably...
Literally had that question yesterday. She was like "But how do you sell it?"
"What's your escape strategy?"
I grossly underestimated how much joy the Awesome Socks would bring me on a near-daily basis (can't wait until I have 7 pairs so I can wear one every day without doing laundry). Knowing the good that the ASC does is a not insignificant part of that joy. 🧦💙🌍
This has always been what make me love you (and this community) so much (platonically of course). Thank you, DFTBA
Y’all truly restore my faith in human beings 😊
Thank you, both of you, for not only being you and doing good in the world, but for talking about why it's important to you. There is so much "get rich, buy a big house and 50 cars, always want more" stuff out there, the alternative is so needed.
Hank I’m not sure why you stating “We have plenty now.” Made me so happy. Y’all could be so much better off, yet you choose to help many others. From the videos that have educated me for years now to the help that’s being done around the world. Y’all have done so much, many are grateful for you.
I discovered Crash Course first, then Sci show, then John Green books. It took me a while before I realized the author was one of the brothers, and I got really excited when I realized it. I keep following, and you both never let me down. Thank you!
My BFF and I always give each other fun socks for presents. She has no idea who you two are and I got her the Awesome Socks subscription last year for her birthday. I wrote a note with them that said something like, "Icing on the cake? All the profits go to charity! Though I doubt you care what happens to the money I spent as long as you get awesome socks." She loves them. There is definitely already reach beyond your community, and I hope it continues to grow.
I also gave 12 months of the awesome sock subscription to my mom who loves fun socks. Pretty sure she knows nothing about nerdfighteria
I'm constantly in awe of you and John for your kindness, creativity, and compassion. You are both fantastic person and you give me hope every day that the world can be better 💗 thanks for never forgetting to be awesome
Not to make this sound like an ad or anything but I gave my parents the first bag of coffee from my subscription and they were very impressed! They do not impress easily so I'll definitely be giving subsequent bags to my friends as holiday and birthday gifts!
Hank and John you both rock. The only time someone ever recognized my socks (I think they were P4A socks) they excitedly pointed at them, did the Nerdfighter hand sign, and ran away. It made my day and baffled everyone around me.
And this is why I’ve been a avid nerdfighter for over 11 (omg) years. Always knew you boys had a good head on your shoulders. Thanks for being a constant inspiration for doing good.
Hopefully, the Coffee Club will one day be international (though logistics costs are horrid nowadays)
I'm so proud of how far you've come, Hank. You guys are truly the anomaly
What a world we could have if this behavior became normalized
@@juliesrail6886 yeaa, most of us don't have that tendency naturally
As sad as I am that the coffee club can't deliver internationally (for completely understandable reasons), I am even more excited to hear it's off to a great start. Here's to even more success for great causes.
Following your journey from brotherhood 2.0 to watching the beginning of and supporting scishow and crash course. I want to say you make feel the world is a hopeful place! Makes me want to do better and put my dollars towards endeavours like yours! More power to you! And more power to decreasing world suck! Thank you brothers!
This! This is pure love and community. Thank you
Found y'all in 2007 when I was ~15 (I think my first video I saw was one where John was writing in hotel room with Scott Westerfeld and Maureen Johnson?) and I just turned 30 this year. The reason I've continued watching and participating in the community all this time is precisely because y'all do stuff like this. If I ever manage to have plenty, I plan to do the same thing. Thank you both for building the model.
I got my P4A dice yesterday! I love this community. Thank you Hank, and thank you John. Everything you do have been fantastic
Aww Hank you always know how to make me feel better by being included in this amazing community!! Tysm, we love both of y'all 💖
Why is this making me cry. Currently working to make my work place more equitable and I am fighting against greed. Knowing you two are doing something from a place of impacting for good over producing more wealth for yourselves.
"We have plenty." We need more people like this in positions of power and influence.
I totally understand. I am trying to do a similar thing on a smaller scale for my own business -- value before profit. It's lovely to surround oneself with people who share that same mentality. You have built an amazing community, and it is doing wonders for the world. Congratulations :)
Hank!!!!! The world would be amazing place if more people had your attitude and outlook. I love all the work you do!
You two are honestly some of the most magnanimous and wonderful people I've had the pleasure of watching on UA-cam. I aspire to the level of awesome you are. I love that you have such a big community that holds the same values as you. Just knowing that you, and people like you, exist, gives me hope. For the humanity. For the planet. All of it.
I got a little teary when Hank spoke about what the community is capable of. I am so, so happy to be able to be a part of this awesome community doing awesome things… I got in on the soft launch of the Coffee Club and the coffee… is awesome. If you’re on the fence about it, you should go for it and sign up. You’re drinking coffee every day anyway. Make it a daily cup of awesome!
I have never been one to just buy something unless it's a real need, partly because I usually have very little money to spare and partly because I don't feel like contributing what little I have to mega corporations, but I feel zero trepidations about contributing to these products. I can't afford the monthly subscriptions, but I can afford to donate to P4A and Pizzamas because I trust you guys are going to get those funds where they need to go and also I love the artistry! My favorite t-shirt is my Pizza La Mort.
Sci Show and Crash Course helped me, way back in 2012 and I'm always grateful for that. I love the idea of businesses designed to do something awesome just to make the world a better place. Seeing all of the good you both (and the community) put out into the world give me hope when sometimes the world seems a bit scary.
I had a long day and finding a vlogbrothers video waiting for me at the end of it is the nicest treat ever
I love how honest and genuine the both of you are. I'm proud to support both of your projects here and even prouder of you both that as leaders in this Influencer world you continue to put the world over yourself.
We need more selfless people and more selfless demonstration. Thanks John and Hank!
Always love videos that remind me just how rare and remarkable this community really is. I'm so glad to be part of it
My first thought was: A Quadragacon???? Maybe?
Lol guess not.
BUT SOME DAY!!!
Hopefully!
Those are some of my favorite Vlogbrothers videos, I wish they would do another one! I actually want to make my sister do a quadragacon with me, even though she would have no idea what it was all about.
Yes another quadragacon would be epic
The most delightful thing keeps happening to me. I always watch vlogbrothers uploads over breakfast, and since most of the content has Awesome Coffee Club promos worked in of late, that means that i am 100% without fail drinking a cup of Awesome Coffee when they start talking about it (can confirm, it IS delicious). And knowing that the ~100 dollars I've spent on it so far is a part of the 100k that's already being used to decrease world suck in Sierra Leone is pretty neat! Yay coffee, yay community!
I'm probably not the only one to say this in these comments, but the attitude you both have gives me so much hope for the world. Love that I've got to be a small part of the journey to increase world awesome with you for the last decade 😊
2:54 Love that you mentioned Holo Taco!! Cristine does amazing work, I too have a lot of respect for what she does
I was so happy to hear you mention Holo Taco. Cristine is such a role model for influencers. Keeping her day job, giving out a scholarship every year, telling her young viewers that school is important and they shouldn't drop out to become UA-camrs, and then just making really high quality nail products.
I bought a Holo Taco nail kit just to support her, but ended up buying a second one because it contained the absolute best pair of nail clippers I have ever owned in my life. I assumed it would be a silly thing because they were "holo" nail clippers, but they're actually just super high quality as well as beautiful. She didn't have to do that, but she did and I'm so happy about it.
Anyway I'm seriously considering trying your socks (even though I normally buy fancy socks with lots of cushioning and moisture wicking), largely because I'm ready to believe that the Awesome Socks Club could conceivably provide me with the "holo nail clippers" of socks. :-)
I love this community so much, I'm so grateful for the thoughtfulness and ethics that Hank and John have worked so hard to promote here. This community truly gives me hope in a world that can be so difficult and draining. Alas I live on a tropical island where I do not need Awesome Socks, and currently Awesome Coffee does not ship here, but SOME DAY. SOME DAY maybe I can subscribe to one of these... or some future Awesome company! Until then I support via other means. (I did get a sock subscription for a friend one year, which was great for both of us.)
I don't think I've ever said it yet " you guys are awesome...the entire community. You have made a difference in my life and that matters to me. Thank you!
I've been part of this community for 12 years now and it's just...it's wonderful.
This reminds me of the idea of pebs from Becky Chambers's "A Prayer for the Crown-Shy." Instead of working to make money, we should be working to benefit our communities. Love you guys so much!
I often struggle with feeling hopeless and helpless, wondering what good any humans have done, but any time I watch a VlogBrothers video on the amazing work you guys are doing, and the community Nerdfightaria has built, those go away. Thank you for caring about the world we live in, and thank you for your work.
I feel like this is an aggressively Hank video… love it!
Thank you for creating something that would make it easier to help make the world a better place. I hope more individuals follow this. In my heart people want to help but may not think they can or how to help. This makes it clear and easy. Love you both. Thank you again
Hank helped with Dropout? I didn’t know that, I’m not sure if I’ve watched you or college humor for longer, but I’ve been a constant fan since 3rd grade and I’m 23 now. Keep up the awesome work Hank, it’s what inspired me to continue going to college in spite of a lot of family drama around that.
Now this is right up my alley. It's wonderful to see y'all innovating on the ends involved in a business.
I loved the awesome socks club so much when I was subscribed, unfortunately they started getting stopped at customs after brexit and it cost too much to clear them every month. If you’re in the US I would highly recommend 😢
We're trying to work out a solution for this problem!
@@vlogbrothers This is wondeful to hear! I love Awesome Socks and was so sad when I had to stop the subscription
I'm glad the watch time I've spent over the years has been towards people with such awesome ethos! I want to see more of this in the world.
I may hate coffee and wish it were a tea club instead but I still love that it's yet another project that the community (with more than a little help from you two) has grown. Ethically, of course, just like the coffee.
Yup! And this is actually the hardest part. Tea is somewhat shockingly even worse than coffee in how it's grown.
The Holo Taco shoutout made my day! Cristine is amazing and I love that Hank is familiar with her work.
What are these boys doing?! Why, decreasing world suck, of course 🙅♀️
It would the ultimate crossover episode if they collaborated!! Simply’s statistics knowledge and Hank’s science knowledge would mesh well together imo
Just out of curiosity, since 100% of the proceeds go to charity, how is the general running of business paid for (i.e. making the socks & the coffee, etc.) I love this community and am so thankful to be a part of it! DFTBA!!
100% of the profits go to charity, so that's the amount they have left after covering all of the costs involved with running the business (paying the farmers etc). Plus I imagine that there's a little bit of money held in reserve to cover unexpected costs. Hope that helps!
I've seen a few spot from people promoting Awesome Coffee Club in particular, but they've never mentioned Hank or John, and I'm just now learning that they're behind it. It's working!!!
I would 10/10 get the coffee if I lived in the US! Cheers to you all Nerdfighteria. This community is truly incredible.
It's always nice to hear this said explicitly but the fact that so many of us here value impact over wealth, even when it feels like the proportion is reversed in broader society, shows that you guys have also done a remarkable job projecting these values all along
I neither wear colorful socks nor drink coffee, but I love that you guys are doing this!! If there's ever a club for something I would use, I'll be right there buying it!
Proud of you! And you have built something that has a voice! JWST proved to be a milestone and i am glad that you (and this community) played a part in it during its initial stage! Sometimes hope comes from a UA-cam video and sometimes it comes from a picture that is looking 13 billion years in the past.
I really appreciate how you guys are helping to realize a way to function in a deeply flawed system more ethically. While we all dislike the injustice of our current system, it's impossible to avoid tainting yourself as well. You're giving us more options, and, perhaps, showing other companies that they can follow your example.
I’ve been a part of this community for damn near half my life at this point (insane to say) and I am so so proud of what it has accomplished. Year after year it proves to me that good, actionable, selfless change is still possible and it’s FUN.
The question "why would you pass up the opportunity to acquire wealth?" demonstrates such a depressing disparity between those who have too much and those who don't have enough.
Do you acquire wealth to survive and build a life? Or do you acquire wealth for the purposes of building a fortune?
I am so proud and grateful and awestruck that this is a community I am a part of and I grew up with
Every time I go out (usually to physio or massage or something) I ALWAYS get compliments on my socks! The new and the old ones. Everyone always likes to ask what DFTBA stands for and they are always touched when they hear "Don't Forget To Be Awesome". It's been a great experience all around! I love to see the joy this discovery brings to the people around me.
I am very much looking forward to my coffee!!
Hank, you and john are truly awesomesauce!!!The way you continue to use your influence to create a positive impact makes me feel so happy and inspired!!
Just wanted to highlight this really cool and really inspirational little blip from the description of this very video
"Today I was reminded that my video about the James Webb Space Telescope from 2011 turned out to be a big deal internally for people working on JWST. It had undergone a lot of setbacks and not hitting budgets and there were a number of people who were starting to feel that maybe it would never happen, or wasn't worth the costs.
That was dragging on the people working on it, and then this rando UA-camr makes a video about how you can make the world better by decreasing suck, but also by increasing awesome. That seems to have become a big deal among some folks who worked there, and they even passed out "I Decrease Suck" and "I Increase Awesome" buttons to people working on the project.
Another way this community sneaks around and has impacts far beyond its size."
This is really awesome to hear about and fills my heart with a whole heap of awesome feelings
I discovered Crash Course long before I knew who John or Hank Green were. I discovered the community by first discovering the amazing things you've built.
So, uh, Hank, mission accomplished!
There's a lot of bad stuff in the world right now. I'm really glad that Hank and John are here to stand on the opposite side of the spectrum to help balance things out. It gives me hope.
The simple statement of why you do what you do pleases me greatly thank you
God damn this video reinvigorated my hope for a better future. Hank, you and John are truly gems in the rough.
thank you so much I needed that, I'm building a buissness trying to change the world for the better. I've put everything into it financially and mentally and struggling 🙏. I needed to know that I wasn't the only one fighting for a better future.
I love it so much and yet find myself not needing socks or coffee (both of which I don't like).... Eagerly awaiting an expansion to Awesome Tea Club!
I support this !!!! I support this 100%
My mom and aunt get rly confused when i talk about this bc their immediate reaction is: that's not possible. Which is sad. But i love this. I want this forever
I want to see people like this in power. Community leaders should be those who-in action, not just words-value having a positive impact more than acquiring wealth for themselves, who are able to say “I have enough.”
Currently wearing some of my awesome socks - feels great to give money to charity each month and get cool ethical clothing! I also have plans to turn my awesome socks into a patchwork tote bag when they begin to get holey because the patterns are so pretty