Towering Mountains of Ignorance

[@allhailskippy]

The worst part is that the more you learn, the more you know about that you don't know.

[@vlogbrothers]

It seems like everywhere I go...the more I see the less I know. Yup...that's the trajectory. In fact, one way of removing someone from an entrenched and incorrect opinion is just quizzing them on related topics until they realize how much they don't know.

[@nadiact-ie5hy]

I think that might be the best thing, actually. I wish we were all (including myself) brave enough to say "I don't know." Being a grad student, it's very difficult to say this and risk sounding "dumb" or inexperienced. I think truly wise people are the ones who can say they don't know. That's one reason I like John and Hank so much. They're willing to say that they don't know; they're open to having their minds changed or listening to other opinions. It's really refreshing, particularly as I am not always willing to entertain other opinions myself.

[@ragnkja]

nadiact1000 There are quite a few things I know, and also a fair number of things I know that I don't know. However, both those categories together are (probably) vastly outnumbered by the things I don't know that I don't know, and because I don't know it, I have no idea where to look for the answers.

[@wXingVinny]

I studied philosophy to get answers, I got out with more questions. But I learned that knowing more detailed, precise, and relevant questions is more important that knowing answers to them. It's questions that make you see the world more complexly, and in the end, that might be what true wisdom is.

[@Vulcapyro]

nadiact1000 I concur. Knowing that you don't know is the best thing!

[@vlogbrothers]

This was a somewhat challenging topic to take on in four minutes, so here's a little more explanation. I'm not saying that we don't know things...we know lots of things. But particularly when it comes to social and cultural and economic stuff, we really don't. It's so hard to run experiments on the real world, that we tend to do the studies and then no one changes their mind and everyone explains the data in a different way. But you can run the "Harry Potter" experiment again with different inputs because "Harry Potter" can only happen once. Of course, there are people who are much better at guessing than other people because they know much more about the situations. People who understand, at least, what is and is not possible (which is an excellent place to start if you're trying to, say, create an independent Palestinian state.) Same goes for running a business...you will never take the most successful course, because there are infinite courses and only one maximum one. But some people are very good at finding good courses because they understand their customers and their markets and their employees and have fairly accurate constructions of reality as it relates to their business. But the idea that it is the responsibility of every person to have an opinion on everything that matters...and then cling to that opinion as an important part of their identity, sucks. I don't like it. I would rather we discuss these things in terms of values, which is really where our opinions tend to arise from anyhow. So when asked "how do we create more jobs in America" we don't really try to answer that question. We try to answer the question "How do we create more jobs in America while promoting our own personal values?" For things like "How do you end a war" or "How do you feed hungry people" or "How do you eliminate poverty?" I'm going to admit straight up that I don't know...and defer to the experts because they know a heck of a lot more than me. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. So, yay, I DON'T KNOW!!!

[@ccubed215]

"Boyfriends vs. the world" was my preroll. It was kind of strange; I'm not even sure what it was advertising.

[@annamatsen3201]

Well said! Socrates would be proud! :-D

[@jimnyenhuis560]

If it's not a responsibility to have an opinion, it might well be helpful -- and in more ways than just you figuring out who you are that you have X opinion instead of Y. Opinions (as the Internet has so terrifyingly shown us) energize other people; they provoke engagement; they show others possibilities for thinking that they might not have considered. They are, in a sense, proof that there are other thinking beings out there. Of course, they can produce ill effects -- mob mentality, perhaps, or something like it, the sense that the field of opinion is arbitrarily large or small (depending on the environment) and the hopelessness that might go with those conclusions. But the thing about opinions is that they both are influenced and influence; it is in their nature to take up concern and to concern. And that is a feedback loop: there is an imbalance there that keeps the system of opinion-making moving. At the very least, that fact is deeply fascinating and points to something extremely powerful.

[@skyepollard5951]

love your shirt!

[@unappropadope]

well.. maybe we don't know things. not with any absolute certainty at least. all knowledge requires faith; I suppose everything but the statement "there are thoughts."

[@ZoggFromBetelgeuse]

"I know that I know nothing." -- Socrates

[@samboy05]

Zogg , I am still waiting for your uploads ! Earthlings are't known for their patience ;)

[@jennmarie4969]

But I think, therefore I am

[@Edson07bs]

...Jon Snow?

[@ThatZommy]

I know one thing; That I know nothing. If this statement is true, it is also false"

[@demianhaki7598]

Zogg from Betelgeuse It should be pointed out though, that the emphasis by Socrates is on the "know" and not on the "nothing". The translation is meant to say "I know that I don't KNOW", not in the sense that he doesn't have any information, but in the sense that whatever knowledge you have can never be regarded as absolutely certain. Hence, the original statement is not a statement about his ignorance, but about the epistomological nature of knowledge.

[@CharlotteAshlock]

I wish this particular vid could be mandatory viewing for the whole Internet.

[@INSTALEARN]

are you sure?

[@jamesterkelly21]

Wouldn't it be nice if we could give the whole internet video-watching homework assignments? Like they have to watch this video, and Hank's video on human sexuality, and Charlie McDonnell's "I'm Scared" video. Things like that.

[@Tylerthety]

It's the same with many of many of their videos.

[@AtemiRaven]

CGP grey talked about this: You should think of your beliefs as if you carry them around in a box like they are things that are replaceable, rather than defining yourself on them and becoming jaded and ignorant. Believe in them, defend them, but if something better that makes more sense comes around, be willing to change them.

[@michaelahart904]

But then what is the point in believing in them? The very point of having beliefs is having something to stand behind, and it can give you the very meaning of your existence. Beliefs are comforting, but the only way to know why you believe what you believe is to challenge them! Too many people "Don't know" why they believe things. Personally I don't think having strong deep rooted beliefs makes you ignorant or jaded. But props for Hank for making me think, question and challenge!

[@APaleDot]

michaela scott The point of belief can't be to have something to stand behind. If that were true, then you would have to stand behind any random belief you've had since you were a child. And we would all be immovable in our beliefs. The reason we form beliefs is to inform our actions. I agree that it is very important to know why you believe something, but in the same way, it is important to know when you have no reason to believe something so you can clearly see when another belief is true.

[@TheSocialIrony]

michaela scott You shouldn't stand behind just plain old opinions, you should stand behind opinions with supported by evidence, and the strength of your belief should be proportional to how much evidence you have for it. edit: Good belief: Spending excessively is usually bad and should be avoided. Bad belief: The reason for blueberries existing is...aliens.

[@michaelahart904]

I agree with that! Being too quick to believe in something without evidence or strong personal experience can be a very bad thing, knowing why you believe something is very important. And hey! how do you know there aren't any alien blueberry farmer/manufacturers haha :)

[@TheSocialIrony]

michaela scott Well there we go, internet resolution reached :D I'm a little wary of that last part, though...haha

[@ethanabelar]

I feel like these kind of videos are being posted much more frequently on Vlogbrothers. I love it.

[@vlogbrothers]

Hmmm...I felt like I hadn't done one like this in /months./

[@ashtuatara]

I really like videos like this. Probably my favorites!

[@ethanabelar]

***** What I meant was the revival of the Nerdfighter book club, resulting in the really great analysis of Behind the Beautiful Forevers earlier this week - followed up by this video. These (two) recent videos really caught my interest and I am just glad they are there. That's what I was talking about.

[@alisawilson6342]

I really hate saying I don't know. Admitting my own ignorance is not what bothers me. It is the reaction I get. In the school I go to, if you say "I don't know"then you are considered stupid. I also feel stupid when I say I don't know. Sometimes it feels like everybody knows the answers but me.

[@Doomsday-yo7lh]

The answers to what?

[@madotsuki_mk1]

I have an opposite problem - adding stuff like "probably", "I think", "In my opinion", "as far as I know" even when I'm pretty confident in what I'm talking about. For me being proven wrong when I'm overconfident is worse than simply admitting that I don't know for sure and that it's just my opinion.

[@vlogbrothers]

Being confidence in your lack of knowledge, surprisingly, might take you farther than you think. Whenever I hear an employee of mine say "I thought X, but she knows better than me so let's do Y" I get more excited about that person's ability to do their job very well. Knowing what you don't know is a life skill that not a lot of people develop, I think purely because there's this expectation that we should be able to take on anything and know everything. That's a messed up POV...much better to actually reflect reality.

[@evan]

"Why is Iggy Izalea popular" You really missed your opportunity to reply "I DON'T EVEN KNOOOOOOOW"

[@soupdilf]

I've never heard of her before, but thanks * unzips pants *

[@MrLimptar]

It´s because she´s so fancy, which is the one thing we already know, as she is in the fast lane from L.A. to Tokio

[@Bluejay42]

MrLimptar ...Tokyo*

[@Synthillator]

who is Iggy Izalea?

[@Bluejay42]

The "Fancy" one...

[@vocaloid4ever]

Hank has this super power, where he takes complicated deep thoughts, that everyone has had at some point, but couldn't pin point them, and somehow manages to explain them with the best words possible... GENUIS

[@zequeecho]

My motto for a long time (and it is still kind of my motto) was "I don't know, but I will find out." That is the main reason I use my iPhone. I use it to learn and find. Having the internet at my fingertips has increased my want for learning. This is the main reason I am the Trivia Queen of my family and friends. This is the reason I love hanging out with my co-workers kid: he always asks the best questions and we explore the answers together if I don't know. I don't know, but I will find out.

[@ilittlegecko7845]

That's great

[@Nortarachanges]

Ze QueEcho That sounds like the most fun (funnest?) division of labor! Wait, which is correct? Edit: Right the first time, though funnest isn't wrong. Side note: Funned is a word. That makes me happy ^_^

[@vlogbrothers]

Hey...so, we've got pre-rolls now. Let me know what your pre-roll was for. I am le curious. EDIT - Also, let me know where in the world you live...might be interesting to see if there are correlations. EDIT #2 - It's totally normal not to get a pre-roll. KZbin only shows you one for every few videos you watch (I think.)

[@yeyewonsomething]

"Cardfight Vanguard: a card game that has taken over the ENTIRE WORLD" Edit: I live in Manitoba, Canada

[@MichaelMMorganm984638]

POST HOC ERGO PROPTER HOC

[@peytonellis4053]

No joke getting better at guitar.

[@nadiact-ie5hy]

Oxiclean (sp?). I live in Ohio.

[@AndrewG0901]

Tilly's Summer Tour, New Jersey. Makes sense.

[@windsock]

I used to feel like I needed to have a strong opinion on everything so I would be able to analyze any situation that arose with values I had already determined. Then I realized there's no way I'm right about everything, so it's not worth having set opinions on everything. It was such a relief to just accept ignorance and not feel like I had to have the answer to everything.

[@alisawilson6342]

This reminds me of these classes we had in school where we had to find the meaning in a story or poem. The people in my class that didn't have an answer to the hidden meaning of the story were considered ignorant by the people who thought they had answers.

[@EveHallows]

I wish my boyfriend would realize he's not always right :P

[@Chouetterargentee]

I think this is what people are complaining about when they complain about Tumblr. Or rather, what they should be complaining about instead of saying "omg everyone on Tumblr is so easily offended, chill." I think the problem, which is not at all specific to Tumblr, is that people forget that all of these important questions are things that humanity has got to figure out together. Because we all want the same things, essentially. But instead of treating it like a collaborative effort to solve the world's problems, people get stuck in the idea that it's a competition and that their job is to defend their position at all costs, and so nobody is willing to consider the pros and cons of anyone's argument, and it devolves into a counterproductive shitstorm. I don't know why this happens. I don't know, but it's frustrating and I think we can do better.

[@PrinceZappa]

It's evolutionary psychology. In history, if people ever backed down and sided with the enemy, that would automatically mean either being assimilated into the opposing group most likely as slave labor, or being killed. It's a survival thing basically- and that's why people don't back down in arguments- it's in the dna

[@LKxxROXSTAR15]

Sigh yeah..but like what PrinceZappa is saying, collaborating is like "giving in" to some people. because we're so used to treating things like competition, it's hard to be the first one to compromise/try to understand without feeling like others will take advantage of you for doing that. people don't trust everyone to give in at the same time so they think they should just avoid the risk of being the only one that's going to be exploited (by giving in first) and keep working for their own ideals...

[@KannikCat]

This is powerful Hank, thanks for this video. I think too often in nerddom/geekdom we turn knowledge into a currency or a domination tool. Inside that we can end up more concerned about being right (or at least appearing right) than learning or examining or saying "I dunno!" Raising the value of inquisitiveness and fascination loosens the noose to do exactly what you say above and say "I don't know! Let's get to it and play and learn and adjust and work and learn more and adjust some more!" We can avoid dogmatism, adapt quickly, and not get stopped from taking action in the face of not 100% knowing (as it is not 100% knowable).

[@saf271828]

I find he's not as good a presenter as his brother is. He rambles a lot, and was very distracting. He diverged pretty far from his point too, only to snap-return to it without any closure at the end. He gets an A for effort though. :)

[@easte36]

This is really super true. It's always been said that knowledge is power, (which, according to John Locke, we crave) so in an effort to become more powerful, we express our knowledge. So as a result it's really hard for humans, especially intelligent humans, to say that we simply don't know.

[@saf271828]

Part of this might be social influence though. *I* have never had a problem saying I don't know. However, I know first-hand from experience that as soon as I admit as such, many communities I am part of will not look as positively on me as I might otherwise. In other words, I *want* to admit that I don't know many things, but the communities I'm forced to participate in (e.g., work) will often react negatively if I admit ignorance of certain topics. Worse, I've encountered many situations where I've admitted ignorance, and my words were just ignored, and people just "assumed" I knew but was being bashful. I think saying that we're just "afraid to say I don't know" is greatly over-simplifying things. In many case, there are external forces which influence our decision whether or not it's even a good idea to say so. A solid prerequisite to getting more people to admit ignorance is to remove the negative pressure society places on such ignorance, and replace it with an understanding, if not nurturing, environment instead.

[@KannikCat]

Samuel Falvo II Well noted and it nicely points to what I was saying about how knowledge and what you/we/I know is turned into (ie, viewed as) a positioning tool (or as Nici said, "power"). Any afraidness to say "I don't know" only arises in context to why one would be afraid, which here are the social queues in which one is swimming. Even if someone isn't "afraid" in the traditional sense, they may not say it because of the "consequences" (which is another fear). Social queues, norms, and group dynamics are invented affairs -- once we know we have (likely unwittingly) turned knowledge into a cudgel, we can put a stop to that and instead leave knowledge as knowledge, and instead celebrate not knowing! It's One in Ten Thousand Day! Let fascination run triumphant!

[@t.leslie4512]

Can’t sleep, so going through old videos. And gah I love this so much. What a good.

[@Trucker_Josh]

You describe my thoughts so well here. ..I DON'T KNOW EITHER! lol

[@bloison]

Weren't you just on the shaytards channel? I see you everywhere

[@Trucker_Josh]

Description Checkit I'm everywhere lol

[@MrSquishedsquashed]

Trucker Josh VLOGS Everywhere except the real world! (AI)

[@incarnadinedream1099]

MrSquishedsquashed The real world? You mean that scary place with *shudder* normal people?

[@SWatercolour]

I'll have what he's having

[@sion8]

I think is called "Real-life"? We should all have it sometime, it may humble some and assure others yet equalizing all.

[@adnan7698]

He doesn't know

[@KayleeMorgannn]

This remains one of my favorite vlogbrothers video of all time.

[@RealMKproductions]

Sometimes people (including myself) have such a problem admitting we don't have all the answers that we end up showing our ignorance through protest. The fact that you as an educated, intelligent, role model are brave enough to come out and say "I don't know" is extremely refreshing and makes me (and I hope others) feel more confident in doing so as well. Thank you!

[@lindsgirl5622]

Is it weird that I enjoy watching the vlog brothers because I just enjoy listening to them talk? They have a wonderful vocabulary so I find them refreshing to listen to. It's also fun to learn new things when I watch their videos!

[@EntinludeX]

I distinctly remember a clever Calvin & Hobbes strip regarding how history was just the lies we tell ourselves to pretend that events are graspable & knowable. Or something like that. I don't know.

[@EntinludeX]

"distinctly remember"...."I don't know"...erm....

[@TRBLarsen]

Almost everybody is aware that they don't know, but almost everybody thinks that they at least know better.

[@FIFTYWISHES]

Yeah, I'm a KZbinr and I think it's about self-narcissism

[@cookieaddictions]

THIS

[@bilalmemon3480]

Or better yet maybe everyone thinks everybody knows everybody doesn't know but they also think no one knows everybody that everybody knows that everybody doesn't know, except them, of course.

[@annjanelpenaflor5356]

So me. So effin true, and it's frustrating.

[@AdorianDeck]

Your energy was so high in this and it was great

[@cassiekorn8496]

I have to watch this video every once in a while to remind myself of my own towering mountain of ignorance. It seems all the more important now to acknowledge it. I am so grateful for this video!

[@broadwayVGC]

Several months ago, I started watching vlogbrothers from the beginning of Brotherhood 2.0, and now I've finally made it to the most current video. Thank you both so much everything; these videos are so important. I love the message of this video. It's important to take a step back sometimes and realize that there's a lot of unknown out there.

[@Xenolilly]

Thanks so much for the bloopers at the end. I often make my videos thinking "I'll never speak as fast as Hank Green." You make mistakes too! Thank you for showing us. :)

[@vlogbrothers]

Oh God...ALL I MAKE IS MISTAKES

[@user-me8ix9lc3u]

You should watch the CrashCourse bloopers aha

[@CassesVultus]

"The only true wisdom is in knowing that you know nothing." -- Socrates

[@ThatSayYou]

I think Palestinian and Israeli nerdfighters should organize a Google Hangout to discuss what's going on in a peaceful matter. Let's do something to spread awesomeness and love!

[@queenofgames314]

I would love to see this...But I don't think people in Gaza have regular access to the internet right now.

[@ThatSayYou]

queenofgames314 I think it would even be sweet if people who were just Palestinian who might not live over in Gaza were apart of this.

[@queenofgames314]

Oh! Lol good point. That would be awesome.

[@ThatSayYou]

Even people of Isreali descent too. It would be an equal opportunity thing. Cuz that's how we do it in Nerdfighteria!

[@Edson07bs]

***** what do you guys think?

[@notlikewater]

Hank, this was one of my favorite videos ever. I went to college this past year and it opened my eyes to the ideas that you are addressing here and it is so confusing and maddening and insane the things we humans create, even if without really knowing that we are constructing them.

[@thelojay]

This is still my favorite KZbin video of all time, it's so important. I wish I could get this message across to everyone in the entire world. Thank you, Hank. ❤️

[@Skip6235]

Simply based on the subscribers to the Vlogbrothers channel, if Nerdfighteria was a city, it would be the 4th largest city in the United States, close behind Chicago! If it were a whole metro area it would be the size of Baltimore!! That's incredible!!

[@arshakaillithid6578]

Fantastic!

[@austinpowers3404]

I'd think I'd like that city. Well.... depending on the demographics...

[@DJRAMO4LYF]

There are, however, many random people who subscribed for no reason, and aren't nerdfighters. That city would be awesome though. (PS nerdcraftaria on minecraft is a virtual version of said city)

[@Avatar013]

DJRAMO4LYF what are the qualifications to be a nerdfighter?

[@hannahr.906]

Salvador Suazo If you want to be a nerdfighter, you are a nerdfighter.

[@mollyd]

Well why is it so frowned upon in schools to not know? A student saying to a teacher "I don't know" is for some reason not acceptable. I cannot tell you the amount of times I have told a teacher that I don't know and then they tell me I have to give them an answer when i already said, i do not know. They just expect you to automatically know once they've told you that 'I don't know" is not an acceptable answer; as if that makes any sense. Just one of the many reasons I hate the torturous prison called school

[@horsegirlb7120]

As a teacher, that hits home

[@lucymoon]

I wonder what this video was alluding to

[@Magniflorious]

I believe it may be related to the fact that someone on Tumblr asked Hank to make a video about the Israel/Palestine conflict. Hank said he tried to write this video several times, but ended up deciding not to go through with it for various reasons, not the least of which being that the situation is so complex and unknowable. Of course, I don't know any of this for sure.

[@lucymoon]

Magniflorious Ahh you see, now you have understood what I was alluding to

[@Jarzyniak]

meowitslucy He added in text in the end of the that it has been partially inspired by a book "Everything Is Obvious: *Once You Know the Answer", so I don't think he was alluding to any particular event, but rather just sharing some thoughts he has gathered recently as a result of reading that book and his personal experience.

[@Magniflorious]

meowitslucy Derp, I mistook your original post as a real query instead of the sly *winkwinknudgenudge* that it was. Apologies.

[@Logan912]

I don't know.

[@levidugger9080]

I love hearing you and John talking in these videos because it even helps me out with my life. I am a 13 year old boy and listening to these are just amazing. Thank you so, so much!

[@Georgepopham1]

Beautifully done. You brought up to many of my favorite topics for me to even make a short comment. But I will say that you have clearly articulated the reason philosophy remains an important subject. No matter how much people seem to hate it.

[@grnlfe01]

I really love it when Hank gets deep.

[@helenstirling2610]

It was really good - haven't watched as much of them as I would like

[@bailaeisen5166]

Is it me, or did Hank just make a very John video?

[@alisawilson6342]

It's not only you.

[@jennahj_]

Yes, it felt very quoteable, like many John videos.

[@tootz1950]

I think it's a brother thing. Sometimes I see a video by John and say 'hmm, very Hankish'.

[@Elanchana]

The big question is why people say they do know something they don't. I don't think you know what you think you know baby...

[@Lazerblade95]

I know that you don't know what I know

[@crystaldestiny8006]

LOL I see what you did there ;) Yea I hate that so much. If you don't know something just say so don't go around acting like you know everything it honestly makes you sound a lot more ignorant than if you just admit that you don't know.

[@themerchantofdennis2937]

I get it. It is a reference to one of Hank's songs.

[@aussietom85]

social anxiety is my guess

[@n3rdgirl_17]

...But baby don't you think that I know what I know maybe...

[@renthakidd216]

Thank you Hank, you've literally just made my existing a little more bearable in perspective. Admitting you don't have the answers feel just as good as knowing you know. And nothing in between can rival that.

[@ColynBowman]

I struggle to understand how this only has just over a half million views. I've shared and rewatched this video dozens of times. I think it's a really special and important video.

[@enirya]

I think there's something beautiful regarding this topic embedded in the Japanese language, where "I don't know" is considered direct and impolite, and the more indirect "I don't understand" now functions as "I don't know". Because maybe it's not that we don't know, it's just that we don't understand.

[@BaresarkSlayne]

I often times find myself in a debate where I have to reassess what I'm doing. I have to find my mistakes from past arguments, listen to the input of the person I'm debating with, and then figure out whether I still have a point. But we get dragged into defending what we said as if it's an absolute truth, and lose sight of the big picture.

[@alisawilson6342]

Once I had an argument an eventually the person convinced me I was wrong but I still kept arguing because I was stubborn and refused to believe I was wrong.

[@BaresarkSlayne]

Alisa Wilson Exactly. We get so attached to our ideas because they are "ours". It's often hard to let go of what we think because we see ourselves having arrived at it by logical and rational means. But like you said, the other person convinced you but you felt the need to keep going. It's CRAZY!

[@TheCode52]

BaresarkSlayne I would even say that not only do we feel that the ideas are "ours", we feel like our ideas are "us". We feel like we are our ideas.

[@KarateShotokanKid1]

Personally I see debate as a game, an opportunity for honing my communication/convincing skills. I often find myself debating for a side I don't believe in. But I do get where you're coming from.

[@KarateShotokanKid1]

Haha. Totally relate. I tend to bore people with excessive argument (those weirdos.)

[@genesisthis]

I too, think the world would be a better place if we could be friends with those whose ideas we find ignorant. We often hear people say terrible things, and instead of talking and education them, we turn around and call them racist, sexist, homophobic, ect. behind their backs and on social media. That ignorant person continues on being ignorant, while you could have played a vital role in changing their preconceived notions. "Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others." - John F. Kennedy

[@West_Kagle]

Atom Eve I think most of us agree with the being friends=a better world concept. However, it's very difficult (if not impossible) to be friends with, or even coexist with, people who want to kill you. Those folks may be on the extreme fringe of fanaticism, but there are many, many more who aren't extremists, yet will never accept anyone with a different perspective because they can't believe that there even is any other perspective. They have an almost OCD driven need to order the world as they see it in their mind. They are sure that they know better than you (or I, or anyone), what's best for us. Then starting from a desire to do good, they become the embodiment of intolerance, resulting in more push back from others, which in turn forces them to become more radical in their attempt to 'save us form our selves'. Leading to a self feeding, downward spiral, that looks like someone flushed the universal toilet. This outcome is inevitable if you embrace, and try and befriend that type of arrogant mind. They will never change, they will never accept other possibilities, they will never be content to coexist, and they will forever strive to 'save' the foolish masses. Only by isolating, and squashing such delusional thinking can you truly be safe from it. Like cutting out a cancerous growth before it metastasizes This is a tuff path for me to indorse, because I don't believe in silencing any opinion.......... ...........With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably. The first time any man's freedom is trodden on, we're all damaged. However, someone (like these self appointed saviors), will always be with us, waiting for the right climate in which to flourish, spreading fear in the name of righteousness. Vigilance is the price we have to continually pay. That last bit is something I wish I had said, but it wasn't me. It was from Jean-Luc Picard, on an episode of TNG entitled, 'The Drumhead". I couldn't have said it better ..........so I didn't bother.

[@jenniferleeland8315]

I love this. I was just thinking recently how much I miss those days when I was in college when I was confident that every situation had a solution. I was often saying things like "I can see this. Why can't our government/religious leaders/other body of people who offended me see it." The reality is that I saw the world in black and white/right and wrong, instead of the messy, complicated place that it is. Yet, seeing both sides is a practice I've cultivated because it opens my mind to other ideas and other visions of the world. I still have definite opinions. It's just now I recognize that there's no easy answer to "fix" problems in the world and I know this on a level that would have given that younger me an anxiety attack. Getting older kind of sucks that way.

[@helenmcguinness6063]

Thank you so much, I really needed this right now, I'd been arguing with my dad on a topic, (coincidentally, about John Green) My dad, knowing nothing about John Green, feels qualified to say that he is a terrible writer, and that his books are "Mind fill" etc, (keep in mind that before our argument, he had never heard of John Green or any of his books) and it got to the point where I tried to dump a salad bowl full of water on his head. I really feel that it is important for people to admit they don't know things, but I suppose Hank Green is right, it's very closely tied to our sense of self, and it's very difficult to make decisions if you know nothing. It's like a big game of pretend, we have to make some stuff up, and believe in it wholeheartedly, or else the illusion falls away and the game stops.

[@MyLifeIsAnRPG]

1) Mario was named after one of Nintendo's original warehouse landlords, Mario Segale, who gave them a break early on in their video game development years. 2) Guitars are shaped the way they are to produce different resonant sounds inside their bodies. 3) Iggy Azaela's popularity is largely speculated as a function of her race. She is white she has appealed to a greater portion of the white hip-hop fanbase thus boosting her popularity numbers. But in reality I'm with you here. I don't know. Maybe its the incredibly complicated base line in I'm So Fancy. :) But yes, not knowing is... kinda liberating at times.

[@vlogbrothers]

OK but...c'mon. Let's just start with the first one. Why did Nintendo people think that Mario would be a good idea for a name really. If that guy had been named "Clarence" do you think they would have gone with it? My guess is there's a lot more at play here. They probably wanted a western name, but one that sounded somewhat "cool" to them, the creators...and what was it about the name that sounded cool? And beyond just why is he named that, why is he popular. What are all of the social and economic and technological reasons why Mario is the character (and not any of the tens of thousands of other video game characters) that became MARIO, y'know?

[@CreatrixTiara]

***** That is assuming that they vetted their names based on what would make it popular. For all we know the name could have been a last-minute addition.

[@MyLifeIsAnRPG]

***** IDK, Mario at least is pretty well documented, if only because the story about Mario Segale is frequently retold by Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario himself. According to Miyamoto, Nintendo owed back rent, Segale cut them a break,and an agreement was made to name their previously made character, "Jumpman" after him. Miyamoto's original idea was to name the character "Mr. Video" and make him kind of a blanket mascot for all Nintendo video games. As for why Mario is the character he is. Well his mustache and overalls were a function of graphical limitations (you couldn't draw a face in very few pictures so the mustache gave it definition, and the overalls were made to show arm movement and to contrast him with the background.) Mario's more modern day appearance is a function of Doki Doki Panic's limited palette that effected his appearance in Mario 2. The M on his hat was used on his hat in order to make him distinguishable in promotional art from other generic arcade protagonists and, more importantly, Luigi as they were originally drawn the same size. Look at the original arcade panel art for Mario Bros to see what i mean. www.nintendoagemedia.com/users/3255/photobucket/EE1A8934-CF1D-7AA0-0A76FD3B0E14F0EC.jpg Mario's occupation can also be explained by the original games that he was put in. Originally, jumpman was a carpenter, since Donkey Kong took place at a construction site. However, Mario Bros. took place in a sewer where they fought crabs and spinies, and so Mario was redesigned to be a plumber. Since the pipe motif was kept for Super Mario Bros. his occupation stuck. As for Mario's popularity, that's twofold. The popularity of the original Mario Bros. and Donkey Kong can be attributed to the time in which it came out. Nintendo had made a game, Radar Scope, which wasn't doing so hot. So Shigeru Miyamoto was assigned by Nintendo to convert the game into something that would appeal to a larger American Audience. The original concept was to create a game licencing the Popeye IP, but when Nintendo could not obtain the licence, Miyamoto converted Popeye, Olive Oil, and Bluto, to Jumpman, Pauline, and Donkey Kong. Miyamoto has gone on record saying that King Kong was, in fact, influence for the conversion, and since the 1976 film had come out just five years before Donkey Kong's first release, the arcade cabinet was able to pick up a small popularity boost because of it. In addition, the game was very advanced for it's time. It controlled extremely well and was one of the first "platforming" titles to ever hit arcades. IT also had a family friendly theme, Miyamoto himself saying that an Ape was "nothing too evil or repulsive." Arcades at the time were experiencing a boom and Donkey Kong became one of the most sought after cabinets on the market, putting Mario square in the face of any arcade goer. As mentioned before, Miyamoto had decided, at Mario's conception, that he would be in basically every Nintendo title, as a way to make him the face of Nintendo. While the original Mario Bros. in the arcade was met with a mediocre response, it was Super Mario Bros. that actually catapulted him to popularity. Super Mario Bros. was packaged with the original NES in many different forms, so nearly everyone who purchased an NES in America was introduced to Mario. Not only that, but SMB basically set the tone for game development on the NES. Platformers were the genre du jour, and the platformer formula was decided by Mario. Mario became synonymous with the NES because of these two reasons (he came bundled with the console, and every other platformer felt like it was a derivation of the original Mario formula.) So Nintendo backed this popularity with a huge push of marketing and licencing. Mario appeared in commercials, anime, Saturday morning cartoons, breakfast cereals, and even other video games. They thought nothing of putting him in Punch Out as a referee or completely re-skinning Doki Doki panic to make use of the Mario licence as Mario 2. A lot of Mario and Luigi's personality were actually taken from these second hand interpretations of him. For example, the Super Mario Bros. Super Show was the first instance of Luigi being portrayed as a coward. By the time Mario 3 came out (and had the hilariously awesome movie The Wizard made as a marketing tool for it) Mario was already a household name because you couldn't talk about videogames without discussing him. As for why Mario stays popular, that comes down to three things. 1) Mario is synonymous with Nintnedo, which at this point is the ONLY FIRST PARTY DEVELOPER THAT EXCLUSIVELY MAKES VIDEO GAMES. Sony and Microsoft have their tech and software divisions but Nintendo is only about games They are a huge part of the game and they are committed to the character, so any new Nintendo console will feature new Mario games. 2) Nostalgia. In today's market, pitching a new game with a mushroom eating itallian plumber that steps on turtles would get you laughed out of a publisher's office. Mario, on the other hand, has become something of a video game myth or icon. When we, the 30 year olds of the of the world, were 5, we were playing the original Mario on the NES and we have fond memories of that. Now, when we have kids, we get to introduce them to the same character that brought us joy. His existence is handed down, almost like video game tradition, and that keeps him alive. 3) Simplicity. Mario is, at his base, kind of an empty character. He is happy, he jumps, he uses a hammer sometimes, but that's about it. His personality is actually kind of a tabula rasa for both gamers and designers to fill in. While Luigi and Wario and even Bowser have defined personalities at this point, Mario is kind of whatever Nintendo wants him to be. Angry hero? Sure. Goofy RPG protagonist? Why not? Sports star that goes to the Olympics with Sonic? Sounds legit. Mario not only fits in basically anything Nintendo wants to put him in (Platformers, RPGs, Sports Games, Racing Games, Puzzle Games, a barebones paint utility!) but he is also an empty vessel for the player to see himself in. Mario doesn't say much, even when he is in RPGs where everyone else is talking. Mario speaks through his actions and his actions are YOUR actions, the gamer's actions. As such, Mario is the hero that we want him to be. in a way he is a reflection of ourselves as gamers. Other mascot characters weren't made this way. Sonic and Crash Bandicoot had an "extreme attitude." Sparkster was goofy and chivalrous. Samus Aran was cold, stoic, and strong. Everyone from Spyro to Ristar, from Earthworm Jim to Aero the Acrobat, from Bubsy to Cool Spot had a defined personality that was trying to appeal to a certain generation or theme. Mario, on the other hand, did not. He was just an avatar for you to see yourself in. There's a lot of other factors that play into Mario's popularity. He has the whole big eyes cartoon character thing going on that plays off of our emotional empathy for the baby face. His games have always been simple to control, opening them up to a wider audience. He is one of the only franchises that has kept consistency in level and enemy design (goombas and question mark blocks have showed up in nearly every Mario game.) But these factors are eminently researchable, as much as any other historical event is. I have to disagree with Creatirx Tiara's use of "for all we know." We do know! There are tons of interviews and articles and resources that document the history and growth of the video game industry. We can research the rise of Mario into popularity just as much as we can research the rise of any world leader to power or the creation of any civilization. We can examine psychological and social factors that add to his popularity. It's science and history and academia by any other name, but it's just applies to a video game character with a mustache and overalls. Don't get me wrong, I very much agree with the sentiment of the video. Being able to say "I don't know" is a good thing. In particular your statement "But the idea that it is the responsibility of every person to have an opinion on everything that matters...and then cling to that opinion as an important part of their identity, sucks. I don't like it." particularly struck a chord with me. But Mario's existence isn't really a matter of opinion. Like, you wouldn't call all of John's Crash Course History episodes opinions or, as you said about Mario's creation in another response "creation myths." They are documented events with documented factors that lead up to them taking place. You wouldn't say that we have no idea why Elvis was popular or The Beatles were popular. You could just research that and find, once again, tons of factors from Elvis's hips and interpretation of a music style that was traditional African American in origin, to The Beatles' optimistic sound in a post World War II era. So why is it that Mario's popularity is a thing that we just "don't know" about? Mario was created far more recently than the popularity climaxes of Elvis and the Beatles. Hell, we can literally just ASK Shigeru Miyamoto these things, and we do, at nearly every E3 and every other opportunity where game journalists get to talk with him. I think, of equal importance to our ability to recognize our own ignorance, is our ability to recognize when things aren't a matter of opinion or myth or debate. Documented evidence is a real thing. Climate Change is happening, vaccines do not cause autism, and... much less importantly... Mario's creation and name and rise to popularity are well documented. They are facts, not opinions. Sure, Mario's existence and popularity might be cooler as some sort of interesting unknowable thing, but it's not. I'm a game journalist by trade and have worked in the gaming industry for over 7 years now. This is my work, my life, and my passion. It is my job to know these things. If these things were unknowable, I'd be out of my already crappy paying below minimum wage gig ;P. Sorry, we got on the topic of video game history which is a very passionate topic for me. Still loved the video and the point you were making though! Hope this shed some light on the social and economic reasons why Mario is who he is. Given a larger space and longer time to discuss, I'd probably have kept rambling till I suffocated. And what is the internet for if not for a bunch of thirty year olds to debate the deeper ramifications of Mario's existence. ^_^ tl;dr Yes I think they probably would have named him Clarence.

[@MyLifeIsAnRPG]

***** I'm also sensing a bit of a communication breakdown here. The first time I heard your statement I, as it appears others have, read it like this "Why is a plumber named Mario, Mario one of the most popular video game characters in existence?" As if you were asking why he was named Mario and affirming his popularity. Whereas it seems as if you meant "Why is a plumber named Mario Mario one of the most popular video game characters in existence?" Referring to "Mario" as his last name. I TOO HAVE ANSWER FOR THIS CONUNDRUM! According to an interview with Shigeru Miyamoto done by Game Informer, (www.nintendolife.com/news/2012/09/shigeru_miyamoto_mario_and_luigi_dont_have_last_names) Mario and Luigi officially do not have any last names. Mario is just Mario and Luigi is just Luigi. So I think people, including myself, are getting confused when you refer to him as Mario Mario. One comma makes all the difference I suppose. DAMMIT! COMMAS! MY MORTAL ENEMY! I hope I have managed to answer both questions though.

[@DrawLove]

At least you know that you don't know. I wish more people knew how to know that about themselves.

[@2bsirius]

This was both amazing and philosophically interesting...I don't know why exactly, but it was.

[@crossesandhellfire]

Thank you SO MUCH for this video. People all summer have been trying to pick arguments with me by asking for my opinions on various topics, and refuse to accept "I do not know enough about [insert topic here] to form an intelligent opinion, sorry," as a valid response. THANK YOU.

[@weezerchi]

My pre-roll was for IOPE, a high-end makeup brand. I'm in South Korea and the commercial was in Italian with Korean subtitles. I've noticed that for the most part, Korean YT pre-rolls aren't tailored very specifically to the video they preceed. I will get the same commercial over and over on a variety of channels and videos. They are also very loud. When the World Cup was on, I was subjected to a Cass beer commercial over and over again. The worst! Very thoughtful video, btw. These kinds of videos are my favorite from you guys!

[@AllisonJanicki]

This is slightly irrelevant, but did anybODY SEE THE NERDFIGHTER ON JEOPARDY THE OTHER NIGHT LIKE I WAS SO PROUD.

[@alexella9689]

Wish I could see this!

[@DigiFanKira]

Norn wen You can see her talking about nerdfighteria using this URL. Her name is Selena: /watch?v=7I5MqI_qB9s

[@MattPalka]

I'm so grateful that we got Hank to find the thing on Tumblr.

[@badgerbythewater]

I was pointing at the TV and yelling so much. "MOM. DFTBA. NERDFIGHTERIA. DECREASING WORLDSUCK. MOM. MOM." She must have been so concerned for my sanity oh my goodness.

[@MattPalka]

My mom laughed out loud and loved it with his subtle "Okay, Good for you..." I love my parents.

[@raraavis1532]

I wish I can just download this video. We need a Nerdfighteria podcast!

[@ashtuatara]

That's a good idea.

[@harshael]

There are ways.

[@INSTALEARN]

keepvid dot com In star trek next generation it was said wisdom begins with the words 'I don't know'. While it is true that many forget they don't know and have oceans more mental failures and that it is wise to recognize when you don't know, is it perhaps also wise to realize that this particular glorification of I don't know has something to do with how attractive Grace Helbig is :)

[@raraavis1532]

Dan Frederiksen I mean download via more legitimate means. But thank you for the suggestion.

[@milliehutchings]

This video feels good after just getting aggressive hate comments shot at me for expressing an uncommon opinion on another video. I'm gunna keep my opinions to myself from now on. Nobody really gives anyway.

[@FIFTYWISHES]

Yeah, finally people on KZbin working together instead of just being hateful. I like this. :-)

[@MrRizeAG]

Everyone has uncommon opinions. I have opinions that some people would put me in jail for having. Never be afraid to share them, because if you don't, you'll never find the one person who agrees with you.

[@seigeengine]

I don't understand why people have this conceptualization of arguments, or often, KZbin arguments specifically. I have probably been in thousands, and plenty of them ended with one party or more ceding that they believe their prior views were errant, and have, as a result of the argument, become better informed.

[@darkrush908]

I really really enjoy videos that get me thinking in this sort of way. It makes me feel like im getting smarter, not by giving me more information exactly, but by allowing me to be more self aware. More videos like this please! I love all you guys do please keep helping me get smarter!

[@remuslupinrules]

This video was kind of...awesome. It's one of the most eye-opening and thought-provoking vlogbrothers videos I've seen in a while. Sooo...thanks, Hank!

[@Rulerofwax24]

This was like an Idea Channel video for me. I started to get very lost at the significance of the entire video, but I enjoyed it and I feel like I know more about it than I did 5 minutes ago. But hey, how do I know that I know more?

[@vlogbrothers]

IdeaChannel videos are always like "Wait...what?" PAUSE...think think think...OK...PLAY.

[@skates3540]

yeah, i got lost picking out books from Hank's bookshelf...

[@em-lp7fw]

You should change your bookshelf around, hank, as a social experiment. See how many people notice the difference....

[@fabulermo3428]

***** Yep. I've done with just about every video.

[@peytonellis4053]

Hank do you think that the reason that there is no other "Harry Potter" is because over time people think that everything isn't as good as it used to be, whether it's music, TV, movies, and yes books have "run out of ideas" or "gotten stale"?

[@nadiact-ie5hy]

There also seems to be this idea that things perceived as derivative are not as good as "the original." However, everything is derived from other things. These people don't seem to see the difference between copying and being influenced by something.

[@ianking7511]

You're assuming Harry Potter was the first instance of a thing like Harry Potter, which while I am not going digging for examples is almost certainly not true. For what it's worth I suspect HP is popular for very much the same reason there are so many McDonalds in the world. It is the most common well executed example of a particular formula. There are other burger places, there are better burger places, there were certainly burgers before McD's, but a sufficiently good product with a sufficiently broad appeal will push other competitors aside and grow on its own success.

[@insertnamehere42vids]

nadiact1000 Harry Potter itself has a few similarities to Neil Gaiman's "The Books of Magic" series. P.S. Nice profile-pic-thing. Chrono Trigger is one of my favorites

[@MiIIiIIion]

Mongo Dongo And then, once it's achieved ubiquity, it becomes the codifier of all things like it including itself, leading to people basing their views of other things like it off of it.

[@nadiact-ie5hy]

insertnamehere42vids Thanks! CT is such a good game. Tolkien had a nice metaphor for tales from his essay "On Fairy Stories." He said that stories are like leaves on a tree. They are never new, but each author adds something to his/her leaf. (Hopefully I remembered that right; I don't have my Tolkien with me.)

[@TheLifeofEmily1]

I love your Doctor Who/Tangled poster. :D

[@vlogbrothers]

Me tooooooo. Karen Hallion FTW

[@ColeGrieshop]

I usually don't comment on videos, but this is far and above the best vlogbrothers video I've seen in a very long time. Thank you, Hank.

[@jennkimb2016]

Thanks for this, Hank. Often times I find myself almost feeling a dislike toward someone because they don't hold the same view as I hold. I feel ashamed of that feeling. Really, though, what I know is no more correct than what they know. I totally get this video. We're all in this life just trying to make the most accurate guesses based on our own personal experiences.

[@OMGEpyonistaken]

Discussing climate change with relatives that believe the Earth is 6000 years old is a doozy.

[@drkmwinters]

I generally agree with your views. I would say,however, that since opinion is insufficient that we should look to external data. Yes, no one study is perfect but if the studies continually produce the same results in explaining, say the economy or climate change, then opinion should defer to the best available facts at hand. I think the problem really comes down to people with valid data presenting it to people who hold opinions and the people with opinions rejecting the facts because they do not confirm their opinions. That is seriously problematic for human advancements.

[@PrinceZappa]

The problem with studies is they might be skewed to reveal a finding or outcome that is in line with the study author's beliefs, so then the authors can purport it to validate their way of thinking, their course of action- all entirely depending on the way the original question of the survey/study is phrased, and the information it's designed to elicit

[@firelunamoon]

PrinceZappa And so it becomes necessary to educate yourself about how to critically analyse the studies you read - or at least be prepared to listen to people who are capable of critically analysing the studies. It IS possible assess the usefulness, validity and limitations of a study. And just because some (many?) studies are poor does not means that looking at studies and data is a BAD way to go about informing ourselves. It's probably one of the best ways (maybe even THE best way) - it's just not fool proof, but I rather suspect there IS no fool proof method. Hence, the necessity of critical thinking skills.

[@drkmwinters]

PrinceZappa Speaking as someone who has published in and reviewed for political science peer-reviewed journals, reviewers are well aware of wording effects. Also academically funded public survey data and other types of data must be made available to the public for the article to be accepted because science demands transparency and replication. Studies with neither hold less sway that studies that do, because they can be examined and replicated with new data or even the old data to test the results and are therefore more valuable to researchers.

[@FroMaestro]

"Nobody's opinions are correct. In the world!" ... so that includes this one. That self-defeating assertion portrays how I feel about this video. I like the train of your thoughts (curiosity good, perfection unattainable) but I thought you went way too far with it, and so I hopped off. Or is that just a feature of the 'rant video' genre..

[@APaleDot]

Derp. Hank isn't saying that everyone is wrong all the time including himself. He's saying that opinions fall into a separate category which the true/false dichotomy doesn't properly define. All opinions have a bit of truth, and bit of falsity, and a bit of good ol' fashioned human interpretation which may not be true or false (it may just be what that person prefers). He's taking a position against black and white thinking.

[@FroMaestro]

I mostly agree with your representation of his comments. And that *is* what I disagree with. I think there exists a B-&-W in any given situation, but its so hard to find/prove that it's near unattainable. So I can't accept that all opinions necessarily sit outside a 'true-false dichotomy' (which is what I take his quoted words, above, to mean). Of course, we need not agree...and on either of our views, that's just fine =]

[@iCherrryz]

FroMaestro you're basically saying that opinions can be fact. so saying cheese is good would fall into the same category as the earth is a planet. that's the point hank is making: that our opinions are not fact even though we sometimes believe so strongly in them that we convince ourselves they are facts when in actual fact our opinions are just constructed in our own minds.

[@KellyNaylor]

This is brilliant, Hank! Thank you! It's truly liberating to be able to say, "I don't know." Here's a thing I learned about a few years back: 1. There are the things you know you know (I know that I know how to program in many languages) 2. There are the things you know you don't know (I know I absolutely DO NOT know how to speak Cherokee) 3. There are the things you DON'T know that you don't know (My brain sort of went WHOOOOSH at the fractal nature of possibilities inside possibilities inside possibilities)

[@tallybee9091]

This is the most honest video I've ever seen. I try the whole "thinking" & "opinions" based on my values thing a lot too, but lets be real, Idk, you don't know who knows who will ever know

[@kaizersoze]

"All I know, is that I know nothing" Socrates. Another thing about this is people ego. Good luck getting people past that....

[@N3rdfightermom]

There are some beliefs that because they can cause injuries to others, we can call just plain wrong. Some, sure, can be argued either way, but when you have beliefs that cause injury to others or take rights away, well those are just wrong.

[@vlogbrothers]

I mean...playing devil's advocate...you're pretty much basing that perspective ENTIRELY on your values and not on objectivity. Not that I think you're wrong, but yeah...I guess the question is "what is wrong" which is not an easy question to answer :-)

[@N3rdfightermom]

***** I guess what I mean is, my decisions should not infringe on another person's right to make a decision, nor should my choices hurt another person. I believe that gay marriage should be legal because my believing otherwise would infringe on someone's right to choose to marry. I don't believe in gun control because that infringes on another person's right to own something (I do believe in background checks because - much like raising children - people should loose privileges if they show they are not capable of not hurting others). Also, I don't get to burn coal in my backyard because that could make the people around me sick. If my doing something infringes another person's rights or hurts them, I shouldn't get to do it. We need to understand we ALL - each person as an individual - has rights to beliefs without a value judgement on them.

[@N3rdfightermom]

***** I think it is easy to explain why it is wrong to hurt others; because they are not that different from you and you would not want to be hurt. This is where empathy comes in. You put yourself honestly in their shoes and think, "would this feel good or would it hurt or infringe". If the answer is hurt or infringe, then you shouldn't do it.

[@N3rdfightermom]

***** Take state funded welfare: In this instance there is a hurt - the state takes money from people (a hurt) and gives it to people who have not "earned" it. (an oversimplification, but go with me). Now we need to put ourselves in the place of the "giver" (the person being taxed). That person by percentage is hurt very little, the amount taken is relatively small. Now to the person who benefits from the welfare. A small amount of welfare can save children from living on the streets or starving, can help people to get back on their feet. If I was the person being taxed, yeah, I'd be a little annoyed, but if I was the person benefiting, well the good would be overwhelming. The net good created is most definitely positive and I can see myself in both positions.

[@googoosmd]

Sure, they're wrong. But that doesn't mean that I, holding different views, must be exactly correct.

[@GabeNewellDFTBA]

Hank wears a belt with a buckle that says Hank.

[@makeartsteph919]

Vlogbrothers's videos should be 10 minutes minimum! I just can't get enough of you guys. Specially Hank and his wisdom or in this video... I can't get enough of the lack of it. Yes? I don't even make sense to my self but I love you guys.

[@sheaelliott942]

This reminded me of Hank's old song "I Know" which actually was one of my introductions to the vlogbrothers channel. It was "I Know" and "A Song About An Anglerfish." And ever since I've been obsessed, I'd never go back.

[@8Metaphysicist8]

"The one who tastes, knows; The one who explains, lies." Rabiʿah al-Basri (رابعة البصري‎), woman saint of Islam

[@8Metaphysicist8]

You might remember her, Looking for Alaska fans ;)

[@Th3NutCas3s]

In my opinion this is a good video.....or is it my opinion?....i don't know.

[@vlogbrothers]

Right?!

[@jessblack6807]

I'm now doubting my love for Harry Potter

[@ashtuatara]

Why???

[@Miranox2]

Ashley Meijer Because of complicated reasons.

[@vinnycollins2305]

Why does everyone love Harry Potter? I mean I read it and I didn't find it amazing, I was like, oh, a book about child wizards.

[@ashtuatara]

London Pigeons it depends on the person I guess. It just Harry characters that I could relate to, an amazing story that I liked and taught me things about life and love. that's why I like it. I don't know. I don't know why it became what it did, I guess a lot of people just read it and liked the story.

[@somethingstuffles9084]

London Pigeons I'm guessing some mixture between nostalgia and it recently being hyped (by the Vlogbrothers themselves I think)

[@DaltonVann]

Well reasoned point! It's important to separate opinion from fact and to identify the underlying assumptions upon which opinions are based. On one hand, the opinions of some are exceptionally valuable, which is why certain folks are sought out (successful people for example). But it seems that way too many people act as though they have an answer when it is based upon hearsay, tradition, or values (gut reaction).

[@sn0wflake]

One of my favourite vlogbrothers videos so far. Thank you for this, Hank!

[@Alexs321432]

The smartest people, are the ones who don't know.

[@WingsofDestiny123]

Or the ones that believe they don't know and take it into account when doing something?

[@HaleyLikeTheWolf]

I love this video! I don't know a lot of things, but I know I love *****

[@FIFTYWISHES]

Same here

[@Tigermond1]

Well no... what Hank wants to tell us is that you don't even know that...or at least you can't be sure. O_o I know it's distracting. Oh...no, sorry, I don't know that. Aaargh.

[@TheCookiezPlz]

But...Why do you love vlogbrothers?

[@Sophz235]

This is terrifying.

[@PrinceZappa]

so are u tho

[@Sophz235]

PrinceZappa Why thank you, I like to think of myself as rather intimidating.

[@NickLucid]

Indeed! ...and yet, sometimes, terrifying things turn out to be good things.

[@Sophz235]

***** Very true! I think the insights I gained from this video outweigh the scary aspects

[@sritanshu]

Reality check....lol

[@Blessedresiliency]

I LOOVVEEE the recognition of bias. That's pretty important to me, and NOBODY seems to adequately acknowledge it. Thanks so much for this video, maybe people will be a little more thoughtful about this.. hopefuly, hopefully.

[@a.thiren2459]

I know that this is on youtube, and you might never see this comment, but this comes from the heart. I think you are an amazing human being, Hank! Your video seems like a slam poetry session! Brilliant!

[@jsmn5059]

I am a student of the school of Hank Green

[@bernardcornellisvanmeijere4375]

What year?

[@CLEANDrumCovers]

Can't help thinking about religion and superstition.

[@lilkitten545]

me too, but that's because both of those are connected to a lot of other things including a lot of the world's issues, wars, cultures, and why we act the way we do and used to

[@CommentorX]

Atheist butthurt in 3, 2, 1 ...

[@zogfotpik8848]

Whats funny is a lot of what he said can apply to peoples views on religion, which is one of the reasons why science always trumps religion.

[@toyeoladinni7028]

It's not science vs religion though. There are loads of religious scientists. I think that religion and science aim to answer different questions, in different ways.

[@zogfotpik8848]

Well, they do aim to answer the same questions in respect to the origins of the universe, or the origins of different species. Sometimes it is science vs religion when it comes to certain political debates, or if you study human behavior from an evolutionary perspective.

[@toyeoladinni7028]

Jim Gibbs Science can't answer why the universe was created, it can only say how, and that's the same for origins of species. Science can give things meaning, just explain them - to find meaning is religions job - that pretty much goes for all other topics.

[@enlightedjedi]

Toye Oladinni I think religion aims to finish asking questions actually. But this can also be me beeing nasty. Proof for that statement is that many religions have holly books that thay postulate as beeing true. That's not enough to make my statement though!

[@ellebaker3225]

Said the guy with the opinion. That's the point.

[@Whydidijoin18]

One of my favourite videos of yours all-time. Great message, and one that is not addressed enough.

[@Kiranja]

Well put. To be able to have constructive conversations about anything I think that it is really important that all parties realise that we don't actually KNOW. However, some guesses are more educated than others, and I think that the problem most people (including myself) have with being critizised for their deductions is that we value deductive thinking and intelligence highly. And that's a good thing. But we keep forgetting that just because we make mistakes, that doesn't lessen our value as individuals, nr does it indicate that we are less intelligent. It merely indicates that we ar human and capable of error and thet we don't know. Also, that poster is lovely.

[@MrKennyCakemouth]

TARDIS in the background! :D

[@GeekwithaGrill]

Yes. But what else is in the picture?! I can't tell!

[@n3rdgirl_17]

Ally Schirtzinger I believe it's the Rapunzel edition of Disney princesses and the TARDIS.

[@davidshi451]

There's no shame in not knowing. Acting like you do have all the answers can be problematic, after all...

[@rickseiden1]

Hank, you expressed an opinion that no one's opinion is correct. That would mean that you're opinion is wrong, and that some people's opinions are correct. Right?

[@RQLexi]

I think this paradox should be easily resolved: "not a truth Universally acknowledged and/or applicable" is not the same as "wrong".

[@artak8273]

You could go on and on with this.... don't think about it too much

[@jordanmiller2849]

I needed this video today. My grandmother and I recently had a disagreement about religion. And it's important for me to remember that even though I don't share the same opinions as her I should realize that they are important to who she is.

[@terrahbruner]

I've never really thought about it like this, but you're completely right. I love your videos when you talk about scientifical stuff like this.

[@Scheurthiaume]

I think this is where religion comes in. It gives people something to know to be true, as true as the world itself. For you, Hank, the truest thing you can say is "I don't know". But it's different for me, because I DO know. I know the one truth, the truth that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead to save us for our sins. And yes, that truth is tied very closely to me and yes, it has become my life. Yes, it would be hard to have a conversation with me if someone was trying to convince me otherwise. But I don't think that makes me close-minded or bad. Because I know the truth and, to quote Jesus, it will set you free. And if having an "opinion" as you put it that I know to be true and that helps explain the world makes me a towering mountain of ignorance, so be it.

[@jessiejones8279]

pls don't think i am criticizing you or your religion when im saying this (jm a Christian as well) but truth is a very subjective thing, for example there is likely someone who believes just as strongly that there religion is the one "true" religion the only reason he is wrong/right is the personal view of whomever is reading this post. the fact is you believe and "know" things even though you cant prove them and whilst there is nothing wrong with that it does mean that something is only true when you believe its true and since belief is not based on fact it cannot be either true or untrue by an objective viewer when it comes to religion no one can be right and no one can be wrong thank you for taking the time to read this.

[@CODsnakes]

Please don't come in here with that.. You don't know any of that is true, you were told that, and you believed it, don't confuse the two..

[@AthenaChang]

That's why it's called a leap of faith.

[@clairedunning4097]

Michael Cook I think the what the OP meant by truth is that it is true to them. I realise it seems a bit convoluted, but that's just a feature of religion.

[@jessicaeddy5187]

Scheurthiaume Amen! I pray for people hopelessly searching for "the meaning of life" because all they need to do is read God's word. I would much rather be considered "a towering mountain of ignorance" by secularists than not know my Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

[@MajoraZ]

I have the answer to every question: Bacon.

[@AliceQuinnRoseLive]

I don't think you know what you think you know hank, but don't you think i know what i know maybe?

[@Calkor13]

Hank, I know what you think that I don't know; I know, I know, I know, I know, I know.

[@thestippledotter]

And in all honesty, I know that you don't think I know that I know what I know. I don't know what you think I think you think you know I don't.

[@JulesandVannah]

I love Hank and Johns videos because they put my thoughts and wonders, into words in a way I can't.

[@emkleinschmidt]

Hank, I love this video because I've realized that the smartest people are the ones that have figured out that there's a vast amount of things that they don't know. Thanks, I appreciate it :)

[@sarahfoster2242]

But let's be real here: pub trivia is HARD!

[@RQLexi]

Pub trivia makes one question everything about oneself.

[@agnes998]

So....you're saying there is no spoon.

[@mattharris7674]

I feel like all of this video is one big religious innuendo.

[@milliemoo141]

I have been waiting for a video like this. I've never understood how people can have such strong opinions on things such as war and corruption when really we have no idea what is going on. We only know the fraction of the problems that the media chooses to show us, how can that possibly be enough to from such a rigid view. Thank you for expressing this so well. P.S can we please have " I am a towering mountain of ignorance" on a shirt? :D

[@sasakakaLT]

I believe that Socrates was the first (in the written history at least) to say this, however we need people to remind this constantly and you did a great work! Thumbs up!