Agloe, New York

[@ashlynvelte1574]

In Spring 2013 my two best friends and I drove from our college in Ithaca, NY to Roscoe, NY in search of Agloe. While there we found an abandoned castle (no joke), and it was one of the most magical experiences of my life. At the end of the year one of my friends who came on the trip with me passed away suddenly in a car accident. Agloe had been one of her favorite memories, and one of mine too. I can't imagine Agloe without picturing her there, and without thinking of what that place means to us. Thank you, John. I hope you know how Paper Towns affected her life, and mine.

[@youraveragefan45]

I don't know why but this gave me goosebumps too! I am sincerely sorry for your loss, but so very happy that you have such special memories to hold onto and revisit. It's amazing how much a fictional work can bring people together and have so much individual meaning to everyone who enjoys it.

[@vlogbrothers]

In which John Green talks about Paper Towns, Agloe New York, the strange relationship between the real and the fictional, and the great gift of seeing the imagined become real.

[@AmritaMohan]

Oh my gods, wow! Firstly, I'm really glad the movie will be out soon now that the shooting's over. And secondly, I REALLY WANNA VISIT AGLOE, NEW YORK.

[@marnier0driguez2003]

when will the trailer be released *****

[@akshatprakash871]

***** Your video was extremely condescending about how young people have never seen maps. You have to see them in school right.

[@redefiningphrase]

You don't have to take your surname literally, John in-a-green-shirt-in-front-of-a-green-wall-Green.

[@superCJ11]

But green is his favourite colour !

[@cloudycloudi631]

To think, what people could do with all this green

[@Scifiguy11th]

Through human curiosity and exploration, a real thing was made from fiction. That's pretty special. 

[@mykadassano438]

Ooh deep!

[@AbbieElizabeth13]

Humans can be pretty speical.

[@cloudycloudi631]

Abbie Wells some are specialerer than others...

[@AbbieElizabeth13]

Well I don't think that's necessarily true.

[@cloudycloudi631]

Abbie Wells depends :()() this guy has two open mouths +) and this guy had his only eye put out, not saying who or why...

[@Gyroglle]

I think Paper Towns is John's best work. It's, like, almost as good as Looking for Alaska.

[@jordynspoo]

I would argue that it is better.... lol

[@Tigermond1]

Please don't kill me, but (maybe) I would argue that the whole vlogbrothers "project" is his best work. It is very important to a lot of people, it is deep, funny, educational, entertaining and absolutely unique and it defintely changed many lives all over the world. I am a huge fan of all of his books (and I generally read a lot) but I don't know any book that ticks all those boxes.

[@TheVlog]

Tigermond1 I never thought of it that way but I completely agree

[@Gyroglle]

Now that I reread my own comment, I surely didn't mean to imply that Looking for Alaska is not John's work. I don't know... it sounded funny in my head.

[@MilesReiter]

***** I don't know if I'd agree. The premise of each book is different, Alaska is largely about how others can affect our lives and the desire for a simplistic way to view things. Paper Towns goes into the imagining others complexely field. We didn't need to understand Alaska to drive home the premise of the book, none of the other characters did, and the reader being in the same place as most of the characters really drives home the empathetic connection with them and makes them and their reactions much more real.

[@kimberlyheagerty547]

I am so going to take a weekend trip to Agloe

[@GemmaElkins]

Awesome! Have fun!

[@mykadassano438]

I live in New York. We should organize a meet up!

[@__RD14533]

Myka Dassano I live in Pennsylvania. I think I can take a drive :).

[@teodorapolgar]

I wanna go toooo !!! Someday ...

[@mykadassano438]

The entire 48 hours!!!!!

[@meganwolter95]

And now all I can imagine is a bunch of Nerdfighters holding an event in Agloe...

[@mykadassano438]

I live in New York. I want to arrange a meet up!

[@brynnmccune7924]

Can this happen???

[@hazelgrace048]

I live in germany...someday:)

[@CatGirl9867]

I live in NY

[@CatGirl9867]

um what ***** Ny is in Ny state

[@sackclothandashes998]

I'm so excited for the movie to come out! Especially after everything John has gone through to get Paper Towns to be made into a movie!

[@nadiact-ie5hy]

Lacey? Is that you? (Your screenname is awesome.)

[@Calkor13]

doodlepony2 Like ITWASAKIDNEYINFECTION or OMNICTIONARIAN96? That would be cool.

[@sarahelizabeth3551]

I love that the plots of your books are not only original, they teach me about things I never realized existed, like paper towns.

[@Weasleyforever]

Paper Towns is my favorite Green novel and I'm glad the movie is working out well.

[@eloiselastname4089]

Paper Towns has to be my favourite John Green book, hands down. Reading it, I was so fascinated by the concept of something fictional becoming real. I'm so glad to see a story that once only existed in paper and ink, reconstructed into a movie, with colours and real faces, that will be watched with so many pairs of eager eyes.

[@ElondriaGrey]

It amazing when you consider what reality really is and what makes something real. I love videos like this one, I know I will be thinking about it for awhile. Congratulations again on the Movie for Paper Towns, and Merry Christmas. Enjoy the time with you family!

[@astra_music]

I am so unbelievably excited for this movie. Paper Towns is the my favourite book and this is a dream come true for you and I both, John.

[@PKTechie0703]

I hope you feel better soon John! Happy Holidays! Also, might I point out that Agloe is a town on a minecraft server that I know and love. Nerdcrafteria. So it is real in that sense as well, if you take real to mean that people can inhabit it, and fill it with their imagination, and make something amazing out of it. Agloe exists for me, and a good many other people, and I think in a way it is more real than many actual towns on the map.

[@Sostoryperfect]

I know you'll probably don't answer to my comment because you have so many but I hope you'll at least read it. You can't imagine how thankful I am to see your videos every week talking about paper towns. Because you see it becoming reality but we do too and It's the best gift we could ever had. Your book isn't just a "bestseller" like they usually call it , it's a real lesson of life. I am only 15 and I grow up with your books everyday, on the one hand with the values you taught during your whole life. Thanks to write. Thanks to be part of this. nerdfighters forever

[@wannabeMLGpro]

I hope the paper towns videos end soon. I'm happy as hell for you John, and I can only imagine the amazing feeling it must be to have something you created come to life, but nothing but paper towns is killing me. I need some original John Green content, tell me what's up man? I mean, other than the Paper Towns movie that is...

[@jb1234love]

John green oh how I love you so. Please continue to do what you do- you inspire me daily and endless less to not only write but to imagine others complexly. Thank you.

[@noellesbeauty1]

It always makes my day to hear John's puberty-sounding voice, especially when it's on Christmas eve! Merry Christmas to both of you!

[@paddingtonluvr]

When I met John at VidCon in 2013 I thanked him for writing books (which was the only thing I had been wanting to do for a long time) and in return, he thanked me for making them real. So, this video made me very happy and sad and just very emotional in general. Thank you, John. For everything.

[@RistrettoReader]

I read Paper Towns again yesterday, for the first time since I first read it in 2009. So much of myself and the world changed in those 6 years that the book was almost an entirely new book to me. I read it in a completely different way. It deeply and profoundly left something inside me. Thank you, John. I hope the movie goes past the big mystery and adventure and really makes people think. I think it will, like how TFIOS was a love story but it was also another story.

[@Scheurthiaume]

Does anyone else remember seeing John tell that exact same "Agloe, NY" story on a TEDTalk? Please tell me I'm not just going crazy...

[@benperche]

I watched that talk yesterday! It's a thing!

[@mykadassano438]

Yep! He's also mentioned parts of that in other VB videos.

[@rolfthewolf42]

That was a good Ted talk.

[@anjmehra]

Knew I wasn't going mad!! That's where I'd heard it before!

[@ibqtubu]

I didn't know he did a TED talk on this. Thanks for the 411, going to watch it now.

[@jenniferleeland8315]

I think that's the real reason that I love you and Hank so much. You both have taken things that seemed...almost impossible and made them real. So real, that P4A made a million dollars. I know that at some point during some conversation you and Hank said "Wouldn't it be great if..." and the fight against World Suck began. So, thank YOU John Green and Hank Green for making OUR imagined world of Awesome real. Merry Christmas, guys.

[@jackiebrochu1432]

It's so sad that John has to explain what a map is...

[@nadiact-ie5hy]

He was joking. Everyone knows what a map is.

[@nadiact-ie5hy]

***** :) I have a five-year old here. We could test that theory. Although, as an avid lover of Dora, I don't think she'll have any trouble.

[@nadiact-ie5hy]

qerr dwqerf See, we're having this nice conversation, and then you have to insult the OP, and with that word much less. Not good.

[@Pat121V]

Why is it sad. Technology improves all the time. Feeling nostalgia for the technology you grew up with is normal I suppose but hanging on to it is also a bit silly. For example, it is nice to admire the quadrant or the astrolabe but saying it's sad that kids don't know of them anymore is silly. Big fold out paper maps have relevantly little use for most people now when compared to the efficiency of a map app so I won't be surprised when young people are as puzzled by them as we are by the telegraph.

[@TheVlog]

Pat121V You remember Astrolabes? Wow, you must be really old!

[@haleyeck2339]

Paper Towns was the first novel I ever read by John, and I still remember the librarian complimenting on such a great pick. The book is still pretty dear to me: it was comforting on a long trip from home, and it really was instrumental in helping me to love reading. I'll be a long way from home when I see the movie on opening day, but that feels fitting for the context. Thanks for doing what you do, John.

[@rcleggscool]

accomplishment is watching john's video when youtube says it was posted "a few seconds ago" and has no views.

[@sarahlevine9959]

Am I the only one who loves when John is talking and his voice dips down into that low, husky voice at the end of each sentence?!

[@helenruan1043]

John has serious husky voice today. This video is like a throwback to John's TEDTalk he did a while back, I remember it inspiring me so much

[@youdollpete]

I sent John copies of my two books for his kids. I look at the shelves of the bookcase behind him to see if he placed one there in acknowledgement like Carrie Hope Fletcher did for nearly a year. But John remains true to his word when he says that he does not reply to snail mail and I respect that (sigh). In any case, I remain a proud nerdfighter and I wish you all a happy holiday and a fantastic new year. DFTBA people.

[@erinweber7441]

I appreciate profound topics in vlogbrothers videos. Thumbs up for you, John.

[@abigailchorley8118]

I find myself feeling inexplicably good after watching a vlogbrothers video. After all the craziness of this year on youtube alone with all the sexual harassment allegations and all the hatred that is spewed out in comment sections, I love that I can go to a channel with the expectation that creators will be kind and generous and that the content will be worthwhile. John and Hank are simply the best and the world is made better because of them and what they create. I am so very proud to consider myself a nerdfighter. DFTBA

[@TrappedinaTardis]

This video was so intelligent and profound. I feel like sharing this with people who haven't read John Green books or seen Vlogbrothers videos and not explain a thing.

[@SomeoneCalledDana]

I love the story behind Agloe, I love Paper Towns, and I love how Vlogbrothers have expanded upon the two. And, most importantly, I am getting very excited for the Paper Towns movie.

[@yaneryventura9705]

This is freaking awesome. The power of nerdfighteria :) oh and merry Christmas guys for those who have just woken up to Christmas Eve.

[@mikaylarowan5849]

I really can't wait for this movie to come out. I love all of John's work.

[@devilpsycho5]

Goddamn Mr. Green you're the best. The story of Agloe is very similar to a Jorge Luis Borges story from Labyrinths called "Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius." From the Wikipedia page: "In the story, an encyclopedia article about a mysterious country called Uqbar is the first indication of a massive conspiracy of intellectuals to imagine (and thereby create) a world known as Tlön. Relatively long for Borges (approximately 5,600 words), the story is a work of speculative fiction. One of the major themes of "Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius" is that ideas ultimately manifest themselves in the physical world and the story is generally viewed as a parabolic discussion of Berkeleyan idealism - and to some degree as a protest against totalitarianism." Similarities are eerie, huh? Also, I'm in law school, and if you could do a crash course for common law school courses, you would find your subbable subscriptions shoot through the roof. I know it's not gonna happen, but hey, here's hoping. DFTBA

[@annawenthome]

Tomorrow night I fly home to Wisconsin from Utah for Christmas festivities. And per my usual flying tradition, Paper Towns is my book of choice. This will be the first time reading it since the movie was announced, and I'm quite excited to read it with the movie in mind. Thanks for writing such an excellent book about people and places and imagining them all complexly.

[@Battleteapot]

before watching this video, I had never thought to read Paper Towns, even though I had read all of John Green's other books, but the idea of a paper town really fascinated me. I got it from the library and finished it yesterday. Great book. I really identified with it, I wish I had read it when I was still in high school. Thanks John for writing such a thought provoking book.

[@sillystrings]

Paper Towns is definitely my favorite of the John books. Thanks, John. I can't wait for the movie!

[@michellehayes91]

Paper Towns is my favorite of John's books. I'm so pumped for this movie! I just love the theme of imagining people complexly and as people. It's such an important concept that I think is lacking from much of traditional Hollywood.

[@twelge15]

John. I went to SUNY Oneonta and have a degree in Geography. I've driven through Roscoe, (ate at the Rosco Diner 3 times) and driven by Agloe probably over 100 times. Never once did anybody, including professors tell me about the Agloe story. What a great peace of Cartographic lore. Thanks, John!

[@Kissarai]

"Image each other complexly" is a phrase that has shaped my life for the better.

[@elmo2488]

Ok, I'm crying. Because Paper Towns is a beautiful book and hasn't had the whirlwind of TFIOS, and to hear John talk about how special it is to see it come to life is awesome. I just hope that PT is not given the TFIOS movie treatment, because it is a very very very different story. Both made me cry, of course, but for very different reasons.

[@rareroe305]

Ah, good ol' Husky Voice John. Merry Christmas to you, and all Nerdfighteria!

[@mchllme]

First thought when I saw the title: HOLY SHIRT. I'm so excited for this movie and I love Paper Towns to no imaginable end.

[@doodlepony2]

No actually thank you for Paper Towns because I learned so much from that book I actually had to sit and rethink my life. Last year when I was reading more than breathing (this year I've had a harder time focusing enough to finish a book which is frustrating), I read a number of books that have sort of shaped me into this person I'm growing into and Paper Towns was one of them. So I'm really excited for this movie to come out and also strangely excited for the press to get ahold of this movie because it'll be like, "just last year we had an epic romance from John Green and this year we have... Wait is this romance or not? Well we only report on romance. So it's probably romance." And idk I just want to see what they'll say about it.

[@Scheurthiaume]

Why do I feel like in every other Vlogbrothers video, John prefaces it with something along the lines of "I'm sick and my voice sounds weird"...?

[@mykadassano438]

Dude gets sick a LOT.

[@HannahTarr]

I expect one day a video will start with something like "I'm not sick, but my voice still sounds weird because I've grown accustomed to my sick voice."

[@danheidel]

Myka Dassano John always goes on about how he's a hypochondriac. John, it's only paranoia if they're not actually out to get you!

[@lizkasper]

*Whispers* Shhh. John's something of a hypochondriac. Let's not encourage it.

[@alannar.8701]

Children. That's why.

[@hellobookworms3083]

I love reading your books and I love that I can learn something by reading them. I appreciate that you do not question my intelligence or my ability to comprehend the concepts intertwined in you books.

[@lukestager8953]

John Green, why are you so awesome? How is it that you've been posting videos since 2007 and I've only just discovered you and Hank and everything else you two do only this past year?

[@TrueBookWorm]

I'm getting paper towns for Christmas! Also looking for Alaska and an abundance of Katherine's!! You're one of my favorite authors!

[@dellaando1287]

happy holidays john!!! I hope you have a wonderful time with your family and friends.

[@CatsandDragons7]

I can't wait to see the movie! I got the book for my birthday this year and finished it over the course of just a few days, and I am so excited!

[@ocbchick]

Never underestimate how much John Green will blow your freaking mind. Amazing video. Thank you for letting us experience this crazy existence with you *****

[@ghost_curse]

Happy holidays Nerdfighteria!

[@bumblebeargirl]

A good old fashioned vlogbrothers video where John gets sentimental while modeling gratitude and a green polo shirt.

[@xxGoddessArtemisxx]

I felt like Steve Rodgers in The Avengers for a second when I saw the title of this video because in that moment, I said to myself, "I get that reference," and it made me proud. I just finished reading Paper Towns yesterday after getting it for Christmas, and this video made my day.

[@conjecturemm]

Wow, Agloe literally sounds like the stuff of legends. And I guess that's partly because it is, haha. Glad to see the community being awesome!

[@ohjoannabanana]

John, I hope you will find some time to rest and take care of yourself now that the movie is done. You deserve a break. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.

[@RenaaeeTD]

I'm actually so excited to see the road trip on film, and not just in my head!

[@greysection]

There's the pictures I took of one of my friends at Agloe!! We stopped there on a trip back to college about 2 years ago! This is great!!

[@gigismile1]

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Germany to all the awesome Nerdfighters!!! dftba.

[@freakette555]

I'm so happy you made this video!

[@thatmaia]

Only nine comments? I don't know what to do with myself. Hi, Nerdfighters!

[@hannahhowlter7883]

Hello! DFTBA!!

[@mjc3bb]

Yo!

[@JosephClayson]

21 now

[@MaybugzButterfly2010]

Hi friend. :)

[@TheVlog]

Hello!

[@yayitsmadi]

I TRULY wish i could've met you while you were in NC, but I am SO excited to see Paper Towns come to life on the big screen!! By the way WOAH I never thought Agloe NY was ever a real place...I mean, until now...COOOOOOL.

[@jordanrenae5131]

This is still one of my favorite vlogbrothers videos

[@skrich2]

The harm that comes from imagining people to be more or less than human seems to be at least part of what several of John's books are about.

[@MessiSeconds]

What a wonderful video. Thank you John!

[@emilypalmer-hill4989]

Reminded of the HP quote 'it's real for us'...anyway, great video, cannot wait to see Paper Towns!

[@CourtneySloan1994]

Yesss. Rockland,NY is my favorite place.

[@heavantedder1395]

You are so brilliant john! Thank you for the paper town!

[@eddiegruver946]

Thank you John and Hank for bringing me sanity twice a week as my life is particularly insane.

[@cloudycloudi631]

($_=:!_/# a cow MOOOOOO

[@EpicJellyCake]

this video breaks my heart. I love Agloe so much. I love Paper Towns.

[@lorddarphyve]

To hear a writer as skilled as yourself say "I can't even begin to explain what a gift its been for me" really says it all.

[@johnorwill2888]

I love this story of Agloe, I swear I have had John tell it to me 9 million times. This story, much like a bedtime story from your parents, it gets better everytime. DFTBA nerds!

[@johnorwill2888]

also why is there eight dislikes

[@ElizabethWaid]

After reading the book (and loved it) I still didn't understand agloe and what "Papertowns" meant. After watching this I understood what "Papertowns" meant and how amazing the book was. Thank you for writes amazing books. You are absolutely amazing and my favorite author. Don't EVER stop writing books.

[@catrinagrace7483]

cant wait for papertowns to come out!

[@NWPaul72]

hope you feel better soon, John!

[@Gillmojo]

A very touching video. Now I'm hoping John can get back to making vlogbrothers videos that do not contain constant references to his films as it is getting wearing. He has so much more to say, so much knowledge (and daftness) to share, but it has become more and more buried under the films. John, you are more than just Hollywood, so brush out the glitter, wipe off the make-up and get back to thoughts from places and crazy, interesting videos, please? Meanwhile, have a fabulous holiday season and here's to 2015 and being home ;)

[@youtubeonwheels9390]

What a wonderful, perplexing video. So true as well. Thanks John, for writing this book and being a producer on set. Movie will be really good I think. Also, I love the AFC Wimbledon shorts in the background :) DFTBA!

[@jayan.s.1672]

Paper Towns is definitely my favorite of his books. But basically all of his books break my soul the way you fall asleep, though-slowly, and then all at once.

[@Nhoj31neirbo47]

Very insightful John. Imagination not only can create reality but is a reality in itself. It would be great if you could explore and expand upon your thoughts voiced herein if not on this channel maybe Crash Course.

[@mykadassano438]

...crash course philosophy!

[@JackDearnley]

Myka Dassano Is that a thing? I don't think it is. I would watch the sh*t out of that.

[@mykadassano438]

It should be a thing!

[@onion115]

CrashCourse Any future plans on launching a new series on philosophy??

[@ML-fw6yh]

This video has come out at a really odd time for me, I just finished rereading paper towns about an hour ago and I've actually spent that hour thinking about agloe and how years back nerdfighters "pilgrimaged" there. I was always amazed, not by their dedication but that others felt that same pull towards that real but not real place.

[@TerezaNedvedova]

this video made me start re-reading Paper Towns so i guess good job, John

[@aliciatopolnycky373]

"The store that was Agloe no longer stands. But I believe that if we were to put it back on our maps, someone would eventually rebuild it." -John Green, Author's Note, Paper Towns. For whatever reason, this line is the line that felt like the last line of the novel to me. It made me cry in the way the last lines of only really good books can make me do.

[@BrandenScottStewart]

I'll have to get one of those maps! I loved Paper Towns! It was a lovely read for the holidays!

[@AdamTheAlien]

As this video started, I at first thought that I'd already watched it. Then I realized I hadn't, and I was just remembering the P4A livestream (and possibly other instances Agloe has been discussed before).

[@CondorsCroft]

This is so neat that you are talking about this now because I'm currently reading Paper Towns and I'm just getting to the part where they're arriving to NY. Also I love all the references to the book in this video. RHAPAW. I'm really loving the book so far, some of the road trip parts had me laughing so hard I'm pretty sure I was annoying my husband who was trying to sleep. 😀

[@opossible_elixir]

It's so fun watching the subtitles struggle with "Agloe". I saw "I go", "a good", "aqua", "Adler", "Tiger", "Anglo", "akgul", and "Daegu".

[@BloggedLifeNina]

This is one of those capital T thoughtful vlogs. Like it takes very meta thing, about like reality and unreality and twists them together in sort of a beautiful spiral. We're all a little bit real and not real, there was a time before we existed and a time will come after, but doing something with the imagined is so very interesting.

[@sn0wflake]

I had no idea that Paper Towns touched on the relationship between real and fictional with such an interesting story. I am now 200% more interested in reading it. (I already was, but you know, reading lists can be so long that you have to prioritize.)

[@Maspolitica]

Awesome info, dude! We love it. So this is what you do with your time, uh? All the best! And merry Xmas!

[@andystanford7117]

This is amazing. I cant wait to read PT!

[@JoeSeverino]

Congrats on wrapping on the paper towns shoot!

[@lilyemmawhalley7103]

Sorry John, couldn't see you, you disappeared in to your wall. Hahah

[@SarahIsAmused]

I absolutely loved reading Paper Towns and I found the stuff about Agloe really interesting

[@StuckInTheClouds22]

I'm so excited about the Paper Towns movie

[@claragiebel]

I love that question, the "what is real?" question. I remember having a passionate conversation when I was 14 about whether dragons were real. Neither of us thought that there are actual living dragons somewhere, but we were trying to figure out if real in our minds, real in a culture or story, having real affect on people was enough to make something real.

[@estellet1406]

Another thing I love about Paper Towns is that the same thing about imagined things becoming real kind of applies to Margo. All her friends see her differently, and while they're all looking for the same physical person throughout the story, they're each looking for a different version of her. Their different Margos are all very real in their minds, and each character sees only their Margo. Also, just found out the the movie release date has been moved off my birthday. The sadness.

[@erikjohansson4275]

i can feel that voice is slowly tearing my soul apart.

[@philipbrownstf]

Studying Baudrillard's Precession of the Simulacrum at college and it's funny to see a case in which the map literally preceded the territory. Great stuff, I'll have to pick up a copy of your book!

[@PatrickSwayge]

So odd, I live about twenty minutes away from "Agloe" and while reading Paper Towns and through seeing this video with a map with my hometown on it I am so perplexed