Hi. Four things! 1. Gentle reminder that educational videos are allowed to be over 4 minutes long. 2. Big thanks to my son Henry for suggesting this video. 3. You can learn more about Margarete Steiff here at the official Steiff site: www.steiffusa.com/press-releases/the-fascinating-story-of-margarete-steiff-1847-1909/ or at wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margarete_Steiff 4. I first learned about Margarete Steiff while researching the strange history of the teddy bear for The Anthropocene Reviewed. If you're interested in learning about that part of the Steiff story, you can listen here: www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/anthropocene-reviewed/episodes/anthropocene-reviewed-teddy-bears-and-penalty-shootouts Thanks for being here with us. -John
I cannot, in good conscience, believe that a single one of your videos are NOT educational, whether it be about something tangible, metaphysical, or metaphorical. There’s always something learned, even if it’s only learning something new about myself. Still, can’t believe that was actually over four minutes - the time really does fly when you’re having fun.
@@anniabalcazar1885 I don’t know that the video where John threw himself at a wall to see if he was an octopus was strictly educational (except in the knowledge that John in fact is not an octopus).
I think this channel and this community has outgrown the punishment trope, and, for that matter, the 4 minute rule. While I do enjoy small videos (a lot of "bread tube" gets insufferably long in their videos), I don't think John and Hank should be bound by 4 minute videos anymore. It was cute in 2009, but it's kinda pointless now.
I’m 19 years old and I will NEVER outgrow stuffed animals. People have said to me, “do you really still want these???” The answer is yes. Yes I do. So thank you, Margarete Steiff, for your wonderful contribution to the world :3
I am from Southern Germany and her story is well-known and loved around there, along with her stuffed animals. I was pleasantly surprised you picked that over an American story, and love that you found a balance between telling her story and pointing out the community effort at the same time. Great video!
My mother watches the (German) movie made about her life basically every year around Christmas. One thing I remember the movie including is her horrible bad luck when it came to romantic relationships, though I don't know how much of it is based in reality.
Also from Germany. Never knew the story. Always thought they were called Steiff because they are stiff, not plushy/fluffy :) (To the non-Germans: "steif" means "stiff")
As a physically disabled person who lives in the area where Margarete lived and who owns a Steiff teddy bear, thanks for telling the world about this wonderful human being.
Nowadays, Steiff animals are considered to be these prestigious items :) Having a stuffed animal with the famous Steiff button in the ear is considered to be of the highest quality in Germany. They have quite the reputation. But I had never heard of Margarete! Thanks for telling us about her :)
I think Margarete Steiff and her stuffed animals are the perfect example of how humans have an innate want to share knowledge. She took designs made by others and made them into toys that everyone loves. Humans love to work together, even in ways we cannot see.
As someone with a disability, I find this truly inspiring. Just because things might be harder, doesn't mean you should give up on them! Im going back to college this week, after 3 years off because of uncontrolled seizures. Im SO ready to get back on track with my dreams, no matter what other people say!
i may only be 15 years old but I believe in you! as an autistic person i feel like disabilities are annoying but you seem to know how to live with one. go achieve whatever you want and i believe you can change the world
Good for you! Sending you all of the encouragement as you resume your studies. You can absolutely do this, and I hope that you've got loads of supportive voices cheering you on with me. Best wishes!
1:29 Omg, my grandpa who died a year ago owned the exact same zither! He bought it in an antique store a few years ago. Seeing this made me super excited! I also owned a plush donkey by Steiff when I was little. I called him Schlafesel (Sleep-Donkey) because he was asleep with his eyes closed and resting his head on his front legs. Greetings from Germany!
i still HAVE a Steiff teddy bear. it has lasted me 30some years and i've taken it from home to college dorm to my very own home and it's still one of my most cherished items. bought one for my niece and the quality, even now, is still some of the best i've ever seen. wonderful to know the backstory behind it all, so thank you Henry for suggesting this video and thank you for making it John.
I’m disabled and have low hand strength and also love stuffed animals. I have a ton on my bed, on shelves, on my bookcase, in baskets by the window, next to my computer etc. it’s always awesome hearing about one of my people doing something important. Loved this video! 💙💜
It’s so wild to me how we idolize people in history - I think it’s because we’re so far removed from them. I think that history becomes so much more interesting and impressive when you realize that every big milestone and revolutionary invention was created by a person. I guess I’ve never met a normal person, though.
Really? Ever since I was introduced to this idea of individualist stories vs collective endeavors (from a video hank made a while back) I've thought that history is more interesting *because* it's not just about individuals.
@@kalpbhavsar I don’t mean “person” as an individual idea - I mean it more in the sense that once you humanize the people that are responsible for these big milestones it becomes way more interesting :)
We idolize people now, too. We idolize owners of large corporations, for instance, even though their success is built on other inventors and everyday workers. We idolize artists, who borrow and learn from past and contemporary artists and benefit from countless assistants. We idolize athletes, who benefit from new technology and training and teachers and family and a resource rich environment.
I don't think being so far removed really is the issue. We do the same thing with contemporaries like Elon Musk for Tesla and Space-X, Jeff Bezos for Amazon, Bill Gates for Microsoft, etc. Sure those are definitely all foundational people in their respective companies but they weren't the _only_ people and none of them could have done what they did without the help of hundreds or thousands of others. I think its more our need to compartmentalize and simplify things. Its easy for us to understand that "Elon = electric cars". Its very difficult for us to even find never mind memorize the thousands of people who work for Tesla never mind the innumerable people that raised, taught or otherwise influenced Elon's life such that he became the kind of person with the kind of money willing to gamble on an EV company at a time when everyone else thought it was a loser's bet. And then add on the even more innumerable people that raised and taught all of the people who work for/with Elon, the people who invented the base technologies that he jammed together into a single vehicle and the people who _they_ built off and so on and so on. The list is practically endless. That's all way too much for us mere mortals to keep track of. But assigning one name to one outcome? That's much easier. Even the whole "Edison didn't invent the lightbulb" discussion that started this video likely wouldn't be well known (or maybe not known at all) if it wasn't for his battle with Tesla and the (much later - as in 1990s if Wikipedia is to be believed) revival of Tesla's name in popular culture.
I was approaching an anxiety attack and trying to distract myself with UA-cam when I saw this video. It was just what I needed, just the right length, and I feel so much better now. John, thank you for challenging how I look at the world. I love the anthropocene reviewed (book and podcast) and I’m sad you’re done making new episodes. I look forward to whatever you do next!
I've been watching lots of the Paralympics coverage, and it's so important that we see and learn about people the mainstream tend to ignore. The legacy of the Paralympics, particularly since it started gaining proper media coverage in Beijing and especially in London, is that it shines a light both on the skills of the people who participate, but also the roadblocks they face. I think the UK Paralympics trailer did a really good job of highlighting this, showing athletes doing amazing things in their respective sports, but still not being able to get into a business because there's no ramp to get in. So here's to adaptive technology, the doors it unlocks and all the people it benefits.
John, I got my first dose of vaccine today! I know that's not relevant right now but I was so scared and now I'm just happy! Edit: thank you for the nice comments!! 💖
I think the move away from "great man" history is helpful for appreciating my purpose as a teacher. I'll almost certainly never be well-known for one big achievement, but I can still contribute by making tiny investments in other people who will move the story forward.
Yeah it's very hard to quantify impact/change in human lives, but my personal experience has been that almost no one has more impact than good teachers. It's an impact that lasts for decades, and even for generations. It's such a hard and often thankless job, but the difference you can make lasts a lifetime for the kids you teach. I know I am still benefiting from the care my teachers showed me. -John
Same. So much of my life is the result of some teacher I had being super enthusiastic about something or believing in me or helping me improve or understand something. It's fed into the choices I make, what I value, what I contribute to the world. I've never reached out and told them so, but my teachers are some of the most important people in my life. I mean, multiply that by the hundreds of people you'll teach in your lifetime. So, thank you for what you do, you're probably making a much bigger difference than you realize.
Some of my teachers literally changed the course of my life. I'm very grateful to teachers as a whole and I wish humans valued teachers more because no matter how much we appreciate good and great teachers, it's not enough.
Thank you for those investments! I think the move away from "great man" history also helps me notice more when I am helping move the story forward. Sometimes history feels so high on a polished pedestal, but seeing the ways everyday people and subtle chains of decisions made the history I care about makes it so much more accessible to me. Seeing the complexity of the past helps me appreciate the intricacies of the present.
Just when I feel like my admiration and love for my fellow human is at an all time low, in swoops John with story time of humanity and it's perseverance and strength and ability to overcome it's wretchedness. Thanks John for the thoughtful tears on a Tuesday morning.
I believe I somewhat owe my life to anyone who had a part in the creation of stuffed animals. I have a collection of 104 (and counting) turtle/tortoise plushies. When I started collecting them I was in High School and having a very difficult time mentally, and as I was getting myself back on my feet I started bringing one to school everyday. I'd been diagnosed with a social phobia, among other things, but bringing the turtles in gave me a comfortable thing to talk about with strangers and learn how to be more social. They also gave me something to focus on and enjoy when doing anything else was too difficult. Each one of my turtles has a name and they mean the world to me.
So glad this video is over 4 minutes long. I needed a 6 minute 12 second video about perseverance and something soft and cuddly right now. I love teddy bears (and other soft toy animals). They help me when I struggle, just as this video has. Thank you, John.
The first stuffed animal I ever got was a Steiff Teddy Bear from my great grandfather. He got a different one for every one of his eight great grandchildren (yes, he got to meet all of us, he died at 97 years old). I still cherish the bear to this day. Greetings from Germany :-)
As a disability studies teacher and disabled person myself this video brings me great joy. Thank you for this John. We need to hear these stories. A small note "despite her disability" is not great langue. I would call what she did adapting that's all.
i know what you mean but "despite her disability" isnt inherently negative language. I'm disabled and I enjoy doing many things despite my disability and despite people's ideas of my disability
Oh, you're right! That's a phrase I've heard all my life, and so often, it slipped right past my awareness. A better phrase might be "Despite the barriers she faced."
I carry six stuffed animals with me everywhere. I’m 26. Sometimes cuddling a stuffed animal is exactly what you need in the moment- they certainly help me when I’m having a mental health crisis and I’m not at home. and btw, one of those stuffed animals is a Hanklerfish. Hank is my comfort famous person, so it’s a nice thing to carry around.
I learned about her when I did a project on the history of teddy bears. Fascinating woman! Edit, I did this project when I was 11...I am now 35. Her story really impacted me.
"Only the best is good enough for children." This entire story is incredible, but as someone who struggles daily with my mental health in the service of becoming a better parent, *this* is the part that made me tear up.
I wouldn't expect any less from you John, but thank you for not only mentioning this historical person's disability but making it an integral part of this story. We are so often erased, and so many have the belief that we never contribute anything to the world, Together we are stronger and can create wonders.
nothing like a good existential wonder by john green to change one's day. thank for this, even though i knew the story already, because feeling part of the bigger anthropocene is much better than overanalyzing every single decision i make.
One of my family’s heirlooms is a Steiff teddy bear from around 1900. Its cuddling days are past and mainly sits on top of the family picture albums but it’s still soft and huggable.
Some additional facts about Steiff animals: - You can always recognize a Steiff toy by a button in their ears. In Germany the phrase "Knopf im Ohr" is synonymous for Steiff products. - They became one of the more expensive stuffed animals on the market, but quality wise they are still the best you can buy. - That's why it's often a tradition to gift a Steiff animal at birth as they will probably survive a life time.
This is amazing 😭 I have erbs palsey in my right arm and have often struggled with tasks that others are capable of, sewing being one of them. Margaret is just an inspiration
I'm from Southern Germany and went to visit the Steiff factory when I was a small child. Since then I forgot basically everything about Margarete's story so I'm so happy you brought it back to me. Also, I have a bunch of Steiff toys, some that my parents got and some that I got over the years and they fill me with joy just looking at them, they are absolutely wonderful.
At 25 years of age, I still have all my stuffed animals, even though I've gotten rid of basically every other trapping of my childhood: school trophies, my once-prized Pokemon card collection, even most of my childhood books (passed on to deserving youngsters). Every time I contemplate getting rid of them, I open up the tubs where I keep them and all the feeling I poured into them as a child comes flooding out, and some of it splashes on me, and I lose the will. I'm not sure I'll ever manage to go through with it, but at this point I think that's okay. It's good to change, to grow away from some things and toward others, but it's also okay to keep loving what you've always loved. Anyway, thanks, Margarete (et al.), for giving me things to love.
I first want to say thank you John. As always your videos and Podcast are a delight to listen to. Reminiscent to John Denver telling stories. My great grandmother bought one of their lamb dolls. It's fluffy snowwhite fur, & floppy ears had the little round bells that jingle. Next to the hand stitch quilte blanket she'd made for me the day I was born. It was my favorite stuff animal. They were the two best gifts she gave me. Back then I took them both everywhere, & could never goto bed without them. Not to be Cathargic, but unfortunately during nap time at preschool the principal took upon himself to take my blanket while I slept, & dispose of it in the burn barrel out back behind the school. I'm sure my lamb doll would have suffered the same fate if I had remembered to have taken her that morning. He must have thought I was too old to be carrying a blankey around. I woking up and to my horror I found my blanket was gone! For a little guy I was distraught so much to the point that all the other kids there were upset with me. It's seems so strange looking back on it now. That was my first experience with a panick attack. All the other kids moved in on the search. They had struggled so hard with me. Sharing in my pain to find my blanket. It's amazing the support children have for each other. When my dad showed up one of the teacher had pulled my dad to the side to tell him what had happened. The teacher found out what the principal did sooner during the search, and told my dad about it. Dad managed to calm me down, took my hand, and with a few reassuring words help out to his truck. My dad waited outside with me till finally the principal came out. He and my dad exchanged words briefly. Then I seen a side of my father I'd never experienced before. It was the first time I'd ever seen my father strike someone in my life. Evidently the man thought that he was doing us a service to keeping other kids from making fun of me, but after my father struck him he then explained to him that I wouldn't be coming back anymore. Immediately afterwards we went to my great grandmother's. She took me to her room. Opened a chest and showed me that she still had the material left over from when she made my blanket before. With her aged and crackled sweet voice she said that I would have my blanket back before I went to bed. I'm not sure when exactly I fell asleep, but it was in between two big warm radiators in the living room on the day bed. I remember waking up a little later with my blankets twin wrapped around me. Hard to believe now that she did every stitch by hand. I kept it and my lamb doll with me up into my 20's till them lost them both. But I'll never forget them. Especially in the stories I tell about them to my children.
this past year, I was really sad and missing my family because _you know_. anyway, for my birthday, my parents mailed me my childhood teddy bear, and it was amazing how much ~home~ was still stuffed inside. to be clear, this was my 29th birthday. teddy bears still rule. thanks Margarete et. al.
"Here's to Perseverance" sounds more like a Hank of Dear Hank and John's "lastly, news from..." segments thing to say than a John of Vlogbrothers thing to say... I appreciate that both brothers appreciate perseverance in all its forms and live utilizing/embodying it in the form that is so highly admirable when humans exhibit it! :P
Great video! I lived in Germany and Steiff would often have beautiful and elaborate displays in the department stores, featuring gigantic stuffed animals. They were always the most expensive (and best quality) stuffed animal.
Something I love about vlogbrothers is the constant theme of collaboration. I love that Hank and John constantly reflect on the importance of the individual in collaborative efforts. Whether it’s a video like this one or P4A or any other project that spurs out of this community, I always walk away feeling weirdly inspired and with admiration for the individuals who help form a system
I’m so tired I want to cry, I’m overwhelmed with a new job and balancing finishing my teaching degree…. I didn’t get to watch this when it was posted and I’m beyond grateful to have it to watch right now. Thanks John.
Always good to hear stuff like this from you John. And it's cool you say "disabled" instead of on of the absurd euphemisms for it. If someone says I'm "living with disability" one more time I'm going to ask them why it's not paying rent lol.
The book “How to Fly a Horse: The Secret History of Creation, Invention and Discovery” by Kevin Ashton does a beautiful job expanding on the subject of communal creation over time.
my grandparents have been Steiff dealers my entire life and I’ve been to the Steiff factory and museum in Margarete’s hometown of Giengen, Germany a few times! not many people are familiar with this story so seeing this video pop up made me so happy!
We like to imagine alternate histories where "had this person not existed, our world wouldn't have had X", whether X is lightbulbs, stuffed animals, smartphones, special relativity, either of the world wars, etc. But, while it might be true that X would not have happened in exactly the same way, it is far more interesting to focus on the ideas and contexts behind X rather than speculating on personal details that made this person "uniquely able" to cause X.
John, you manage to make me cry every single video regardless of content. Every Tuesday is cathartic, and I am thankful for this history lesson. Now I need to go hug a stuffed animal 🖤
John: “I’m ready to write fiction again and I Will put The Anthropocene Reviewed on hold for a bit.” Also John: “ Hey, have y’all ever heard of this lady called Margaret?”
Another wonderful person I had never known. Always love to hear stories like hers since I know there are so many other kind, hardworking people who never get remembered
This is really heartening to hear as a disabled crafter- one of many who continue to craft to this day. The tradition of disabled people making a living because of stuffed animals specifically continued long after and that's a nice ending to the story that maybe not everyone knows about
My mother, as an inveterate stuffed animal knitter - she would love this. She donates all those stuffed animals to a non profit that supplies less fortunate families in South Africa with equipment to help raise their new babies. Thank you
(1) Am I the only one who part-way through this wanted to scream "Connections" ‽ (2) THANK YOU for treating disability properly, as part of a WHOLE PERSON!
I grew up in germany and had a steiff teddy gowing up - my grandmother told me that it is a special stuufed animal and the company is really old and well known for great quality. I am so thankful to you that I now know a lot more about steiff and Margarete Steiff.
A book we have about Black inventors has a great metaphor about inventing - it's like a fire brigade line, you don't say the person that throws the water on the fire the person that puts out the fire, you need all the people who pass the bucket from the water to the person who throws it onto the water. That has stuck with me.
Thanks for another great story John Green. I wouldn't have chosen this story out of a stack of stories but the fact that you chose it & shared it with me added value to it. I'm glad to be pleasantly surprised about how interesting stuffed animals got as a result. You really know how to make these things stick with us.
This video gave me the motivation I needed to ask my boss if I can rock up at school in a princess dress for Casual Day. Thanks, John! And thanks Henry! You have good ideas: keep them coming :)
@@FawkesRawkes731 having watched it I also think John made great points about how we think about history and how individuals affect/are effected by it, which is educational!
As a felt and textile artist, this was a joy to watch 🥰 I wonder if her first stuffed animals were needle felted, or felt fabric with stuffing inside. Working with felt, is a lot of fun, very versatile, And makes me appreciate what I wear. I don't knit or crochet, I mainly needle felt and make yarn. Needle felting is a lot like molding and clay, but really slow so it forces me to have patience and calms me down ....just like your circle drawings 😉
Wow. This feels like some of the most meaningful 6 minutes of my life this week. It’s really inspiring to me because I hope to do some of the things she’s done. I hope to get good enough at sewing and designing that I can sell dresses. And I felt like subscribing to fashion magazines and looking for patterns was so relatable!!! Nowadays much of this stuff gets shared online but oh my lord she was alive a long time ago but I’m here today doing stuff like this online.
Zithers are the last thing I expected to be related to the invention of the stuffed animal, yet here we are. The world is such a weird and wonderful place
I like to imagine an alternate version of this video where the sentence 'The truth is, no one invented the light bulb' led into a bizarre conspiracy theory about how light bulbs don't actually exist
Thanks for this video. It reminded me that I once had a favorite stuffed animal. His name was BoBo. My BoBo Bear. He was a brown Gund bear. I had once loved him so much and that he was flatted from me resting my head on him every night to sleep or hugging him so tight when I was so scared or sad. Oh how I loved him so. I haven't thought of him in years. I looked him up and come to find out his name is actually Snuffles and Gund still makes them, just not in my BoBo Bears honey brown color. My honey brown BoBo Bear is listed on ebay as "vintage" and sells for 50$. If I didn't live on a shoestring budget, I'd most certainly buy him to hug when things are bad, just as I used to. Thank you Margarete for your contribution to the world.
Huzzah to not giving up, to collaboration and competition. What an amazing woman, thank you John, for this well told story of Ms Steiff and stuffed animals
It’s amazing to think about how everything that has happened has been set up by a bunch of inter-crossing stories and pure circumstance. Everything affects everything
Sitting in the dark in New Orleans. So glad I used that precious battery life to watch the video. Reminds me of all that we can do if we give everyone an equal participation in the story.
Two quibbles of pronunciation: She was German so: 1) Her first name is pronounced ma(r)-ga-RAY-tuh. The first two syllables "a" rhymes with the a in fa. the (r) and the R are the French R, the former is optional if you speak English. Ray, a drop of golden... 2) Her last name is pronounced Shteyf. the "ey" you got right.
Thank you John. I really needed this right now. We're working through tying to figure out why I'm having multiple dislocations and don't have a diagnosis yet. Currently I have been down for 3 days with a dislocated rib (during the healing time just laying here my shoulder, ankle, and two toes have gone out). Three days of just laying have made me feel worthless. Thank you for the hope that I can still make something of myself.
my favorite stuffed animal is a turtle i got from the tatwd local book launch. my friends (who threw the event with me) have them as well and everytime i look at mine i think of them
What a badass. ❤️ this made me feel like I can accomplish anything. Also, totally gonna go buy some Steiff stuffed animals because they’re cute AF and look like they’re the softest things on earth. Thanks for such a cool story, John!
My mom collects Steiff and they were a huge part of my childhood and life more generally, but they always felt like something that was kind of unique to my family - I knew they were a big deal, but I didn't know anybody else who made a big deal out of them. Seeing them mentioned in a vlogbrothers video is a crazy and pleasant surprise. I knew about Margaret, but it's nice to hear the story again and in such detail. If you get the chance you should check out the Steiff museum in Giengen - It is a marvel to the senses, and it will not disappoint!
Thank you for that summary at the end clearly illustrating what people mean when we say you need to view things from a system perspective. People who still believe in the "great men of history" narrative are also usually the ones who push against any kind of societal improvements because everyone should just "take personal responsibility" as if those two things are mutually exclusive. If you improve societal safety nets and systems, you actually empower people to take personal responsibility more. Not everyone can be as amazing as this woman, but with better systems not everyone has to!
This kind of stories are why I love studying history so much. Finding out how cool people take the world they live in and make cool things out of it is always wonderful. Falling into research black holes is very fun c:
Hi. Four things!
1. Gentle reminder that educational videos are allowed to be over 4 minutes long.
2. Big thanks to my son Henry for suggesting this video.
3. You can learn more about Margarete Steiff here at the official Steiff site: www.steiffusa.com/press-releases/the-fascinating-story-of-margarete-steiff-1847-1909/ or at wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margarete_Steiff
4. I first learned about Margarete Steiff while researching the strange history of the teddy bear for The Anthropocene Reviewed. If you're interested in learning about that part of the Steiff story, you can listen here: www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/anthropocene-reviewed/episodes/anthropocene-reviewed-teddy-bears-and-penalty-shootouts
Thanks for being here with us. -John
I cannot, in good conscience, believe that a single one of your videos are NOT educational, whether it be about something tangible, metaphysical, or metaphorical. There’s always something learned, even if it’s only learning something new about myself.
Still, can’t believe that was actually over four minutes - the time really does fly when you’re having fun.
@@anniabalcazar1885 I don’t know that the video where John threw himself at a wall to see if he was an octopus was strictly educational (except in the knowledge that John in fact is not an octopus).
i love that the educational / 4 minutes thing is the last thing in the description but the first thing in the comments
When you first mentioned the inventor of the stuffed animal I was like " I get an expanded Anthropocene Reviewed story!!"
P.S. Hi John!!
I think this channel and this community has outgrown the punishment trope, and, for that matter, the 4 minute rule. While I do enjoy small videos (a lot of "bread tube" gets insufferably long in their videos), I don't think John and Hank should be bound by 4 minute videos anymore. It was cute in 2009, but it's kinda pointless now.
"only the best is good enough for children"
I sure wish we took that approach to children's products today, especially when it comes to food.
Or even when it comes to public policy! -John
@@vlogbrothers True!
A good recent victory on that front recently in that the EPA banned chlorpyrifos finally!!
Food, toys, education, care, the list goes on!
"only the beAst" was the original quote; hence, stuffed animals… XP
I’m 19 years old and I will NEVER outgrow stuffed animals. People have said to me, “do you really still want these???” The answer is yes. Yes I do. So thank you, Margarete Steiff, for your wonderful contribution to the world :3
I love stuffed animals too!!!
I'm 38 and still have my stuffed walrus hanging out on a shelf. I will never give it up.
I'm in the same boat as the rest of you. I'm 34 and I collect them.
I'm 27 and I still have too many Beanie Babies. Never let go, friend.
Same
I am from Southern Germany and her story is well-known and loved around there, along with her stuffed animals. I was pleasantly surprised you picked that over an American story, and love that you found a balance between telling her story and pointing out the community effort at the same time. Great video!
Stories like this deserve to be heard 'round the world.
I learned about her in primary school, too
My mother watches the (German) movie made about her life basically every year around Christmas. One thing I remember the movie including is her horrible bad luck when it came to romantic relationships, though I don't know how much of it is based in reality.
Same! Thank you for telling her story.
Also from Germany. Never knew the story. Always thought they were called Steiff because they are stiff, not plushy/fluffy :)
(To the non-Germans: "steif" means "stiff")
As a physically disabled person who lives in the area where Margarete lived and who owns a Steiff teddy bear, thanks for telling the world about this wonderful human being.
❤️
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Nowadays, Steiff animals are considered to be these prestigious items :) Having a stuffed animal with the famous Steiff button in the ear is considered to be of the highest quality in Germany. They have quite the reputation.
But I had never heard of Margarete! Thanks for telling us about her :)
I love that most of them have a name, my stuffed rabbit must still be somewhere at my parent’s house.
I was half expecting John to say "I give stuffed animals four and a half stars" at the end.
+
"It was a bit of a bummer to be tailoring pants all day long"
I'm not 100% sure if that dad joke was intentional, but I'm borrowing it.
Gotta keep them subtle to make a stark contrast with Hank :) -John
i didnt even notice that oh my i love that
I am still missing it.
@@thewave1983 Bummer = Bum = Butts = Pants for your butt is the way I'm interpreting it.
Indeed, back in my day, a tailor of pants was called a "bummer" for this very reason! Also, that is a lie that I just made up.
As a person with ADHD and Autism, and feels so incapable of being successful in this society, this is INCREDIBLY inspiring
I think Margarete Steiff and her stuffed animals are the perfect example of how humans have an innate want to share knowledge. She took designs made by others and made them into toys that everyone loves. Humans love to work together, even in ways we cannot see.
I'm really glad that we will still be getting Anthropocene Reviewed content, even if it's here rather than on the podcast feed 😉
As someone with a disability, I find this truly inspiring. Just because things might be harder, doesn't mean you should give up on them!
Im going back to college this week, after 3 years off because of uncontrolled seizures. Im SO ready to get back on track with my dreams, no matter what other people say!
i may only be 15 years old but I believe in you! as an autistic person i feel like disabilities are annoying but you seem to know how to live with one. go achieve whatever you want and i believe you can change the world
Knock 'em dead.
Good for you! Sending you all of the encouragement as you resume your studies. You can absolutely do this, and I hope that you've got loads of supportive voices cheering you on with me. Best wishes!
Yeees!! I wish u all the best
love and disabled solidarity ♥️
I’m 20, laying in bed, and holding a stuffed bunny I’ve had since I was little. Thanks Margarete
Omg yas! I have a bear that’s the same age as me!
Yes thanks Margaret I love mine alot it's been with me for years
I’m 25 and still love my stuffed bunny that my grandfather gave me when I was 3 right before he died. ❤️❤️
I’m 21 but sameeee
Me too but 27❤️
1:29 Omg, my grandpa who died a year ago owned the exact same zither! He bought it in an antique store a few years ago. Seeing this made me super excited! I also owned a plush donkey by Steiff when I was little. I called him Schlafesel (Sleep-Donkey) because he was asleep with his eyes closed and resting his head on his front legs. Greetings from Germany!
I got to go to the Steiff factory a couple of years ago! It was amazing and, as a fan of stuffed animals, one of the coolest places I’ve ever been to!
As a disabled woman, this story is really meaningful to me. 💜
Same ❤️
Me too
i still HAVE a Steiff teddy bear. it has lasted me 30some years and i've taken it from home to college dorm to my very own home and it's still one of my most cherished items. bought one for my niece and the quality, even now, is still some of the best i've ever seen. wonderful to know the backstory behind it all, so thank you Henry for suggesting this video and thank you for making it John.
In Germany it's tradition to gift a Steiff 'Teddy' to a childs birth. I still have mine 😊
I’m disabled and have low hand strength and also love stuffed animals. I have a ton on my bed, on shelves, on my bookcase, in baskets by the window, next to my computer etc. it’s always awesome hearing about one of my people doing something important. Loved this video! 💙💜
It’s so wild to me how we idolize people in history - I think it’s because we’re so far removed from them. I think that history becomes so much more interesting and impressive when you realize that every big milestone and revolutionary invention was created by a person. I guess I’ve never met a normal person, though.
Really? Ever since I was introduced to this idea of individualist stories vs collective endeavors (from a video hank made a while back) I've thought that history is more interesting *because* it's not just about individuals.
@@kalpbhavsar I don’t mean “person” as an individual idea - I mean it more in the sense that once you humanize the people that are responsible for these big milestones it becomes way more interesting :)
+
We idolize people now, too. We idolize owners of large corporations, for instance, even though their success is built on other inventors and everyday workers. We idolize artists, who borrow and learn from past and contemporary artists and benefit from countless assistants. We idolize athletes, who benefit from new technology and training and teachers and family and a resource rich environment.
I don't think being so far removed really is the issue. We do the same thing with contemporaries like Elon Musk for Tesla and Space-X, Jeff Bezos for Amazon, Bill Gates for Microsoft, etc. Sure those are definitely all foundational people in their respective companies but they weren't the _only_ people and none of them could have done what they did without the help of hundreds or thousands of others.
I think its more our need to compartmentalize and simplify things. Its easy for us to understand that "Elon = electric cars". Its very difficult for us to even find never mind memorize the thousands of people who work for Tesla never mind the innumerable people that raised, taught or otherwise influenced Elon's life such that he became the kind of person with the kind of money willing to gamble on an EV company at a time when everyone else thought it was a loser's bet. And then add on the even more innumerable people that raised and taught all of the people who work for/with Elon, the people who invented the base technologies that he jammed together into a single vehicle and the people who _they_ built off and so on and so on. The list is practically endless.
That's all way too much for us mere mortals to keep track of. But assigning one name to one outcome? That's much easier. Even the whole "Edison didn't invent the lightbulb" discussion that started this video likely wouldn't be well known (or maybe not known at all) if it wasn't for his battle with Tesla and the (much later - as in 1990s if Wikipedia is to be believed) revival of Tesla's name in popular culture.
I was approaching an anxiety attack and trying to distract myself with UA-cam when I saw this video. It was just what I needed, just the right length, and I feel so much better now.
John, thank you for challenging how I look at the world. I love the anthropocene reviewed (book and podcast) and I’m sad you’re done making new episodes. I look forward to whatever you do next!
This felt very wholesome. Not like cute or moral, but like nutritious. I feel healthier in my soul. Thank you, John.
This was one of my family's ancestors! Definitely the most in depth telling ive ever heard of her story!
I have both a small Steiff bear and a zither but I didn't know any of this history. Thanks for sharing the story of Margarete Steiff!
I've been watching lots of the Paralympics coverage, and it's so important that we see and learn about people the mainstream tend to ignore. The legacy of the Paralympics, particularly since it started gaining proper media coverage in Beijing and especially in London, is that it shines a light both on the skills of the people who participate, but also the roadblocks they face. I think the UK Paralympics trailer did a really good job of highlighting this, showing athletes doing amazing things in their respective sports, but still not being able to get into a business because there's no ramp to get in.
So here's to adaptive technology, the doors it unlocks and all the people it benefits.
John, I got my first dose of vaccine today! I know that's not relevant right now but I was so scared and now I'm just happy!
Edit: thank you for the nice comments!! 💖
Making good public health decisions is always relevant. Good for you!
happy for you!
Hi! Good on you! I also got one today (2nd dose), the nurse told me to flex one thigh to distract from the needle and good news - it worked! 😁
Huzzah! That’s always relevant! Proud of you for doing the thing. #NerdfighterMom
Thank you!
I think the move away from "great man" history is helpful for appreciating my purpose as a teacher. I'll almost certainly never be well-known for one big achievement, but I can still contribute by making tiny investments in other people who will move the story forward.
Yeah it's very hard to quantify impact/change in human lives, but my personal experience has been that almost no one has more impact than good teachers. It's an impact that lasts for decades, and even for generations. It's such a hard and often thankless job, but the difference you can make lasts a lifetime for the kids you teach. I know I am still benefiting from the care my teachers showed me. -John
Same. So much of my life is the result of some teacher I had being super enthusiastic about something or believing in me or helping me improve or understand something. It's fed into the choices I make, what I value, what I contribute to the world. I've never reached out and told them so, but my teachers are some of the most important people in my life. I mean, multiply that by the hundreds of people you'll teach in your lifetime. So, thank you for what you do, you're probably making a much bigger difference than you realize.
Thank you for your service
Some of my teachers literally changed the course of my life. I'm very grateful to teachers as a whole and I wish humans valued teachers more because no matter how much we appreciate good and great teachers, it's not enough.
Thank you for those investments!
I think the move away from "great man" history also helps me notice more when I am helping move the story forward. Sometimes history feels so high on a polished pedestal, but seeing the ways everyday people and subtle chains of decisions made the history I care about makes it so much more accessible to me. Seeing the complexity of the past helps me appreciate the intricacies of the present.
Just when I feel like my admiration and love for my fellow human is at an all time low, in swoops John with story time of humanity and it's perseverance and strength and ability to overcome it's wretchedness. Thanks John for the thoughtful tears on a Tuesday morning.
I believe I somewhat owe my life to anyone who had a part in the creation of stuffed animals. I have a collection of 104 (and counting) turtle/tortoise plushies. When I started collecting them I was in High School and having a very difficult time mentally, and as I was getting myself back on my feet I started bringing one to school everyday. I'd been diagnosed with a social phobia, among other things, but bringing the turtles in gave me a comfortable thing to talk about with strangers and learn how to be more social. They also gave me something to focus on and enjoy when doing anything else was too difficult. Each one of my turtles has a name and they mean the world to me.
"Here's to perseverance and to stuffed animals" Cheers to that!
So glad this video is over 4 minutes long. I needed a 6 minute 12 second video about perseverance and something soft and cuddly right now. I love teddy bears (and other soft toy animals). They help me when I struggle, just as this video has. Thank you, John.
The first stuffed animal I ever got was a Steiff Teddy Bear from my great grandfather. He got a different one for every one of his eight great grandchildren (yes, he got to meet all of us, he died at 97 years old). I still cherish the bear to this day.
Greetings from Germany :-)
As a disability studies teacher and disabled person myself this video brings me great joy. Thank you for this John. We need to hear these stories. A small note "despite her disability" is not great langue. I would call what she did adapting that's all.
i know what you mean but "despite her disability" isnt inherently negative language. I'm disabled and I enjoy doing many things despite my disability and despite people's ideas of my disability
Oh, you're right! That's a phrase I've heard all my life, and so often, it slipped right past my awareness. A better phrase might be "Despite the barriers she faced."
@@tmntallthewaydw as someone who teaches the subject it just isn't one I'd recommend. My disability isnt the issue society is.
I carry six stuffed animals with me everywhere. I’m 26. Sometimes cuddling a stuffed animal is exactly what you need in the moment- they certainly help me when I’m having a mental health crisis and I’m not at home. and btw, one of those stuffed animals is a Hanklerfish. Hank is my comfort famous person, so it’s a nice thing to carry around.
I learned about her when I did a project on the history of teddy bears. Fascinating woman! Edit, I did this project when I was 11...I am now 35. Her story really impacted me.
"Only the best is good enough for children."
This entire story is incredible, but as someone who struggles daily with my mental health in the service of becoming a better parent, *this* is the part that made me tear up.
I wouldn't expect any less from you John, but thank you for not only mentioning this historical person's disability but making it an integral part of this story. We are so often erased, and so many have the belief that we never contribute anything to the world, Together we are stronger and can create wonders.
I still haven't forgotten you rated teddy bears 2 1/2 stars 😕
Oh yeah! The Theodore Roosevelt tale
I thought it was a bit harsh
nothing like a good existential wonder by john green to change one's day. thank for this, even though i knew the story already, because feeling part of the bigger anthropocene is much better than overanalyzing every single decision i make.
big mood.
One of my family’s heirlooms is a Steiff teddy bear from around 1900. Its cuddling days are past and mainly sits on top of the family picture albums but it’s still soft and huggable.
Some additional facts about Steiff animals:
- You can always recognize a Steiff toy by a button in their ears. In Germany the phrase "Knopf im Ohr" is synonymous for Steiff products.
- They became one of the more expensive stuffed animals on the market, but quality wise they are still the best you can buy.
- That's why it's often a tradition to gift a Steiff animal at birth as they will probably survive a life time.
This is amazing 😭 I have erbs palsey in my right arm and have often struggled with tasks that others are capable of, sewing being one of them. Margaret is just an inspiration
I'm from Southern Germany and went to visit the Steiff factory when I was a small child. Since then I forgot basically everything about Margarete's story so I'm so happy you brought it back to me. Also, I have a bunch of Steiff toys, some that my parents got and some that I got over the years and they fill me with joy just looking at them, they are absolutely wonderful.
"Only the best is good enough for children." You have no idea how much I love this woman.
At 25 years of age, I still have all my stuffed animals, even though I've gotten rid of basically every other trapping of my childhood: school trophies, my once-prized Pokemon card collection, even most of my childhood books (passed on to deserving youngsters). Every time I contemplate getting rid of them, I open up the tubs where I keep them and all the feeling I poured into them as a child comes flooding out, and some of it splashes on me, and I lose the will. I'm not sure I'll ever manage to go through with it, but at this point I think that's okay. It's good to change, to grow away from some things and toward others, but it's also okay to keep loving what you've always loved. Anyway, thanks, Margarete (et al.), for giving me things to love.
"part of what makes the history of stuffed animals so important" sounds so much like something the Hank & John Bot would say
I first want to say thank you John. As always your videos and Podcast are a delight to listen to. Reminiscent to John Denver telling stories.
My great grandmother bought one of their lamb dolls. It's fluffy snowwhite fur, & floppy ears had the little round bells that jingle. Next to the hand stitch quilte blanket she'd made for me the day I was born. It was my favorite stuff animal. They were the two best gifts she gave me. Back then I took them both everywhere, & could never goto bed without them.
Not to be Cathargic, but unfortunately during nap time at preschool the principal took upon himself to take my blanket while I slept, & dispose of it in the burn barrel out back behind the school. I'm sure my lamb doll would have suffered the same fate if I had remembered to have taken her that morning. He must have thought I was too old to be carrying a blankey around. I woking up and to my horror I found my blanket was gone! For a little guy I was distraught so much to the point that all the other kids there were upset with me. It's seems so strange looking back on it now. That was my first experience with a panick attack. All the other kids moved in on the search. They had struggled so hard with me. Sharing in my pain to find my blanket. It's amazing the support children have for each other. When my dad showed up one of the teacher had pulled my dad to the side to tell him what had happened. The teacher found out what the principal did sooner during the search, and told my dad about it. Dad managed to calm me down, took my hand, and with a few reassuring words help out to his truck. My dad waited outside with me till finally the principal came out. He and my dad exchanged words briefly. Then I seen a side of my father I'd never experienced before. It was the first time I'd ever seen my father strike someone in my life. Evidently the man thought that he was doing us a service to keeping other kids from making fun of me, but after my father struck him he then explained to him that I wouldn't be coming back anymore. Immediately afterwards we went to my great grandmother's. She took me to her room. Opened a chest and showed me that she still had the material left over from when she made my blanket before. With her aged and crackled sweet voice she said that I would have my blanket back before I went to bed. I'm not sure when exactly I fell asleep, but it was in between two big warm radiators in the living room on the day bed. I remember waking up a little later with my blankets twin wrapped around me. Hard to believe now that she did every stitch by hand. I kept it and my lamb doll with me up into my 20's till them lost them both. But I'll never forget them. Especially in the stories I tell about them to my children.
this past year, I was really sad and missing my family because _you know_. anyway, for my birthday, my parents mailed me my childhood teddy bear, and it was amazing how much ~home~ was still stuffed inside. to be clear, this was my 29th birthday. teddy bears still rule. thanks Margarete et. al.
"Here's to Perseverance" sounds more like a Hank of Dear Hank and John's "lastly, news from..." segments thing to say than a John of Vlogbrothers thing to say... I appreciate that both brothers appreciate perseverance in all its forms and live utilizing/embodying it in the form that is so highly admirable when humans exhibit it! :P
Great video! I lived in Germany and Steiff would often have beautiful and elaborate displays in the department stores, featuring gigantic stuffed animals. They were always the most expensive (and best quality) stuffed animal.
Something I love about vlogbrothers is the constant theme of collaboration. I love that Hank and John constantly reflect on the importance of the individual in collaborative efforts. Whether it’s a video like this one or P4A or any other project that spurs out of this community, I always walk away feeling weirdly inspired and with admiration for the individuals who help form a system
I’m so tired I want to cry, I’m overwhelmed with a new job and balancing finishing my teaching degree…. I didn’t get to watch this when it was posted and I’m beyond grateful to have it to watch right now. Thanks John.
It's 6AM and I'm so glad Im awake for this. What a way to start the morning
Always good to hear stuff like this from you John. And it's cool you say "disabled" instead of on of the absurd euphemisms for it. If someone says I'm "living with disability" one more time I'm going to ask them why it's not paying rent lol.
I had such a go at my physiotherapist about that.
++++
The book “How to Fly a Horse: The Secret History of Creation, Invention and Discovery” by Kevin Ashton does a beautiful job expanding on the subject of communal creation over time.
my grandparents have been Steiff dealers my entire life and I’ve been to the Steiff factory and museum in Margarete’s hometown of Giengen, Germany a few times! not many people are familiar with this story so seeing this video pop up made me so happy!
We like to imagine alternate histories where "had this person not existed, our world wouldn't have had X", whether X is lightbulbs, stuffed animals, smartphones, special relativity, either of the world wars, etc. But, while it might be true that X would not have happened in exactly the same way, it is far more interesting to focus on the ideas and contexts behind X rather than speculating on personal details that made this person "uniquely able" to cause X.
John, you manage to make me cry every single video regardless of content. Every Tuesday is cathartic, and I am thankful for this history lesson. Now I need to go hug a stuffed animal 🖤
John: “I’m ready to write fiction again and I Will put The Anthropocene Reviewed on hold for a bit.” Also John: “ Hey, have y’all ever heard of this lady called Margaret?”
May I remember her inspiring story every time I look at my desk and see Raphael the Corgi, a stuffed dog that was a perk in P4A a few years ago!
I needed a story like the one of Margarete today. Time to see if I can buy a Steiff Stuffed Animal. 😅
Update: woooooah they are fancy 😳 they look like collectors items. Bougie Beanie Babies.
@@sarahmickel4921 If it helps at all, they really ARE top quality. My wife has a Steiff bear, and I'm pretty sure it could survive the apocalypse.
@@derekfnord my mother‘s Steiff animals must be nearly 50 years old but still are as good as new. You’re definitely paying for quality.
@@derekfnord I figured as much, but oh my goodness! I feel like I’d need them to have their own stands and stuff at that point.
I love this video so much! I was literally in the middle of writing a series on the history of inventions when I stopped to watch it haha
Another wonderful person I had never known. Always love to hear stories like hers since I know there are so many other kind, hardworking people who never get remembered
This is really heartening to hear as a disabled crafter- one of many who continue to craft to this day. The tradition of disabled people making a living because of stuffed animals specifically continued long after and that's a nice ending to the story that maybe not everyone knows about
My mother, as an inveterate stuffed animal knitter - she would love this. She donates all those stuffed animals to a non profit that supplies less fortunate families in South Africa with equipment to help raise their new babies. Thank you
“The solution to wrongly worshiping individuals is not to change which individuals you worship”
And just like that, 1000 quote T-shirts were born👚
- Abe Lincoln 1861
(1) Am I the only one who part-way through this wanted to scream "Connections" ‽
(2) THANK YOU for treating disability properly, as part of a WHOLE PERSON!
What a lovely and heartwarming video! Thank you so much for always putting in the effort to create good content with accurate information!
I grew up in germany and had a steiff teddy gowing up - my grandmother told me that it is a special stuufed animal and the company is really old and well known for great quality.
I am so thankful to you that I now know a lot more about steiff and Margarete Steiff.
A book we have about Black inventors has a great metaphor about inventing - it's like a fire brigade line, you don't say the person that throws the water on the fire the person that puts out the fire, you need all the people who pass the bucket from the water to the person who throws it onto the water. That has stuck with me.
I own a Steiff Maltese dog my mum bought me as a child and always believed it was a Viennese company! What an interesting and inspiring story! 🐻🥰
Knew about the bears, nothing about the history. Thank you for this video! 🐻
This feel like a mini Anthropocene review, just what I needed after the end of the podcast and having finished the wonderful book
Thanks for another great story John Green. I wouldn't have chosen this story out of a stack of stories but the fact that you chose it & shared it with me added value to it. I'm glad to be pleasantly surprised about how interesting stuffed animals got as a result. You really know how to make these things stick with us.
As a person with disabilities and with an everlasting love of stuffed animals 🧸, thank you for making this video. It made my day :)
This video gave me the motivation I needed to ask my boss if I can rock up at school in a princess dress for Casual Day. Thanks, John! And thanks Henry! You have good ideas: keep them coming :)
I don't know yet if this counts as educational but stuffed animals are important enough to bend the rules
I didn't know any of this information prior to the video! I would count biography as educational 🙂
@@FawkesRawkes731 having watched it I also think John made great points about how we think about history and how individuals affect/are effected by it, which is educational!
@@marcellastname6862 also stuffed animals are just wildly important
Hello students, welcome to stuffed animal class.
As a felt and textile artist, this was a joy to watch 🥰
I wonder if her first stuffed animals were needle felted, or felt fabric with stuffing inside.
Working with felt, is a lot of fun, very versatile, And makes me appreciate what I wear.
I don't knit or crochet, I mainly needle felt and make yarn. Needle felting is a lot like molding and clay, but really slow so it forces me to have patience and calms me down ....just like your circle drawings 😉
wow, you are such an interesting person :o
My aunt passed a few years ago, and bequeathed us her Steiff collection. Thank you for this moment.
Wow. This feels like some of the most meaningful 6 minutes of my life this week. It’s really inspiring to me because I hope to do some of the things she’s done. I hope to get good enough at sewing and designing that I can sell dresses. And I felt like subscribing to fashion magazines and looking for patterns was so relatable!!! Nowadays much of this stuff gets shared online but oh my lord she was alive a long time ago but I’m here today doing stuff like this online.
Zithers are the last thing I expected to be related to the invention of the stuffed animal, yet here we are. The world is such a weird and wonderful place
I like to imagine an alternate version of this video where the sentence 'The truth is, no one invented the light bulb' led into a bizarre conspiracy theory about how light bulbs don't actually exist
Don’t give them any ideas, lol
LOL!
Thanks for this video. It reminded me that I once had a favorite stuffed animal. His name was BoBo. My BoBo Bear. He was a brown Gund bear. I had once loved him so much and that he was flatted from me resting my head on him every night to sleep or hugging him so tight when I was so scared or sad. Oh how I loved him so. I haven't thought of him in years. I looked him up and come to find out his name is actually Snuffles and Gund still makes them, just not in my BoBo Bears honey brown color. My honey brown BoBo Bear is listed on ebay as "vintage" and sells for 50$. If I didn't live on a shoestring budget, I'd most certainly buy him to hug when things are bad, just as I used to. Thank you Margarete for your contribution to the world.
My stuffed animals have been great companions who've helped scare away all types of monsters since I was little. Thank you for this wonderful video!
Huzzah to not giving up, to collaboration and competition. What an amazing woman, thank you John, for this well told story of Ms Steiff and stuffed animals
It’s amazing to think about how everything that has happened has been set up by a bunch of inter-crossing stories and pure circumstance. Everything affects everything
I collect Steiff, I never got one as a child. Now I am into bunnies and bears primarily from pre-1946. They give me such joy
Sitting in the dark in New Orleans. So glad I used that precious battery life to watch the video. Reminds me of all that we can do if we give everyone an equal participation in the story.
Stay safe as you can.
Two quibbles of pronunciation: She was German so:
1) Her first name is pronounced ma(r)-ga-RAY-tuh. The first two syllables "a" rhymes with the a in fa. the (r) and the R are the French R, the former is optional if you speak English. Ray, a drop of golden...
2) Her last name is pronounced Shteyf. the "ey" you got right.
Thank you John. I really needed this right now. We're working through tying to figure out why I'm having multiple dislocations and don't have a diagnosis yet. Currently I have been down for 3 days with a dislocated rib (during the healing time just laying here my shoulder, ankle, and two toes have gone out). Three days of just laying have made me feel worthless. Thank you for the hope that I can still make something of myself.
my favorite stuffed animal is a turtle i got from the tatwd local book launch. my friends (who threw the event with me) have them as well and everytime i look at mine i think of them
What a badass. ❤️ this made me feel like I can accomplish anything. Also, totally gonna go buy some Steiff stuffed animals because they’re cute AF and look like they’re the softest things on earth. Thanks for such a cool story, John!
My mom collects Steiff and they were a huge part of my childhood and life more generally, but they always felt like something that was kind of unique to my family - I knew they were a big deal, but I didn't know anybody else who made a big deal out of them. Seeing them mentioned in a vlogbrothers video is a crazy and pleasant surprise. I knew about Margaret, but it's nice to hear the story again and in such detail. If you get the chance you should check out the Steiff museum in Giengen - It is a marvel to the senses, and it will not disappoint!
Thank you for this amazingly specific history lesson
Thank you for that summary at the end clearly illustrating what people mean when we say you need to view things from a system perspective. People who still believe in the "great men of history" narrative are also usually the ones who push against any kind of societal improvements because everyone should just "take personal responsibility" as if those two things are mutually exclusive. If you improve societal safety nets and systems, you actually empower people to take personal responsibility more. Not everyone can be as amazing as this woman, but with better systems not everyone has to!
This is so clearly and succinctly put and I'm pretty sure I'm going to use this is a warm-up with my middle schoolers, so thank you.
Great video John, thanks. Fascinating to learn the origins of the Steiff company.
I was today years old when I learned the story behind stuffed animals. Thank you John for sharing it with us!
This kind of stories are why I love studying history so much. Finding out how cool people take the world they live in and make cool things out of it is always wonderful.
Falling into research black holes is very fun c:
Wow, one of the best vlogbrother videos ever!
Immediately fascinating and consistently engaging throughout.