Your Attention

[@vlogbrothers]

Hello! A few things: 1. I changed the title of this video from "The Lions Roar" to "Your Attention." Why? I don't know. Rosianna and Sarah both liked it better. 2. Both pronunciations of gif are correct. 3. Many of you have expressed similar concerns to the ones I talk about in this video, but many of you also have said that you've built spaces on the social internet that are carefully curated and do not occupy too much space in your life. I want to be like this latter group of people, so I am reading their comments to learn from them. 4. I do think, even if it's a bit utopian, that the social Internet can be (and has often been) a force for good in the world. 5. Many of you have pointed out that the comments here in nerdfighteria have always been pretty good, and that is mostly true, aside from a bad period in 2015/2016 that was mostly caused by KZbin's comment ranking system. We have been very lucky, and I hope this is--and remains--a place you feel deserves your attention, and a place that feels nourishing and encouraging. -John

[@NGEternal]

yes

[@Skyrocketpenguin]

Well said. Now, what's going on with that crease around the top button of your shirt? Are you wearing a shirt to small for you? I'm outraged!

[@OAmoretNoctis1Izzy]

vlogbrothers +

[@emilyadder1574]

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[@janexylin]

Does building your own curated corner mean you're only going to see and hear opinions that agree with your own? How do you invite diversity of discourse without also letting in the trolls? That's what I have trouble with.

[@BloomwinxSuper1]

The lion metaphor was scary because it brought so many things into perspective tbh

[@vlogbrothers]

Thanks/sorry! -John

[@beckyharris2621]

"If we refuse to roar on cue they will notice and they will change"

[@ThisNarrowboatAdventure]

Becky Harris +

[@JasonKurtz1992]

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[@evandavis5223]

Too many people today have been conditioned to overlook the enticements to roar and to simply enjoy the roaring itself. I don't see this cycle ending any time soon.

[@Knightlyfrog]

Or they will cater to those who still roar. You tube has too many people, with too many points of view to be a monolith.

[@dennisbergkamp1553]

I recommend watching Dave Chapelle's newest Netflix specials, in particular the final story he tells in bird revelation. His analogy for why he left showbiz for so many years is fascinating and this video kind of touches on a similar topic.

[@mariemcmullan121]

“Your attention is yours, and it is powerful.” this has always been my favorite corner of the internet. Nerdfighteria, you have my attention.

[@vlogbrothers]

Thanks for sharing your attention with us! I know how valuable it is, and I appreciate it so much. -John

[@UncannyDoge]

Views and attention are (now literally) money. Be careful where you spend it and how much you are sacrificing to spend it. This is some of the most powerful and intelligent discourse surrounding the internet today. Thank you, Nerdfighteria for consistently making me feel like I am investing in a good thing. DFTBA Best wishes, Paulina

[@vlogbrothers]

That means a lot to me. Thanks.-John

[@christinareimer1977]

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[@philiptouw3623]

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[@Luvs2read33]

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[@MrBlublur]

Paulina S +

[@Orikron]

I personally like to pronounce GIF as "GIF". The people who pronounce it as "GIF" confuse me since it makes absolutely no sense to pronounce it that way. And don't even get me started on the people who say "GIF". They send shivers down my spine.

[@meanttobe3872]

So original and funny. it's the first time in my life that I've seen this joke and it's so entertaining.

[@Horus633]

“Djeyef” for live

[@yaumelepire6310]

The Suicidal Muffin, I... uh... I mean, I... hum... uh... On another subject, I like your pseudonyme, it's original!

[@Orikron]

Yaume Lepire Thanks! Took some brain storming and reference digging but I got it!

[@danielamacias6778]

Jif

[@SapphireSparrowFilms]

"Your attention is powerful. And it is yours."

[@carsonbarlow348]

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[@carlaafonso6194]

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[@Discostew2]

K.J. Sparrow +

[@kevinwells9751]

My gut reaction to this was that the internet doesn't suck and is a great place to get reliable information and nuanced discussion, but then I realized that the only reason that is true for me is that I've purposefully curated the channels I watch, the people I respond to on social media, and the outlets for news that I trust. Luckily the algorithms that are made to keep us engaged are highly personalized and by behaving in certain ways online you can teach the algorithms what you like. If you respond engage with content that is nuanced and important you'll soon find that that is what the internet machine will feed you. It is hard to resist the urge to join into the outrage cycle, but once you start down that road you can quickly become inundated with nothing but outrage fuel. I guess what I'm saying is that there is hope for any individual person who wants a better internet experience, even if it kind of sucks for other people.

[@connierobinson1090]

Yes! I find it's hardest to let go of the things on the internet that give you some value, or give value but with a downside. The only way to make it work is to make each thing you choose to give attention to really worth it.

[@tranquility1967]

This is the exact philosophy I have used from the beginning, thus... The Internet is awesome to me. Choose wisely people. In all that you do.

[@CybershamanX]

Well put, Kevin. :) This is something that I know deep down in my heart and mind, yet for some reason, I still dip my toes into the current. All the while knowing that the lurking algorithm is lying in wait like some gelatinous predator; ready to slowly grasp my attention with _just_ the thing I need to distract me from doing other things. As someone who is disabled and lives alone (with my trusty sidekick cat buddy), it's so disheartening to fall into the maelstrom only to come up for air hours later wondering where all of my time went. Time that could be spent doing things to better myself. Knowing that my life expectancy is going to be fairly below average due to my condition doesn't help the depression that follows. Asking myself things like, "What did I just accomplish? Have I changed the world in any significant way? Have I retained any of the knowledge that I saw presented in the numerous Science videos that I just binge watched?" I'm almost to the point where I don't even want to go near my computer. Life is just too precious to have it gradually yet steadily slurped away by allowing the nebulous subroutines and algorithms to take hold of my attention. :/

[@melodysmash]

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[@LauraLumos]

That's a good point. I really need to curate my consumption more carefully.

[@MicahBuzanANIMATION]

The idea that we own our attention is liberating. The only thing you truly own is your mind.

[@untappedinkwell]

I really like the way you phrased this. Best wishes!

[@emmahacker4020]

"I am the one thing in life that I can control." -Arron Burr, *Hamilton*

[@Windrake101]

...Until mind-altering technology becomes the norm.

[@Jackcabbit]

Counterpoint: I have attention deficit disorder. And some other mental illnesses. My mind... Is not always my own.

[@benaaronmusic]

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[@Discostew2]

I feel like being aware of the value of our attention is a great first step in noticing where we spend it. Seeing how KZbin and other places on the social internet want it so much has helped me realize that value. Since discovering this little corner of the internet some call Nerdfighteria, I now have a new perspective and ideas on how I want to spend my time in life. Helping others and improving the lives of those around me has so much more meaning to me, and I can do that by learning so much from the internet. This place has helped me realize how important I can be. Thanks Internet

[@vlogbrothers]

That's really great to hear. I was so heartened by your comment. Thank you. -John

[@MarcusTyler]

Nathan Gonzalez, well said.

[@MarcusTyler]

vlogbrothers, have you considered hosting your channel on SteemIt?

[@plow8654]

John, I support your decision to be more aware of your attention online, but I wonder if, “we need to get better as a species” approach can really work. Taking it upon ourselves to stop binge watching our favorite cat videos is admirable and mature, but the internet also hosts our worst selves, and we sometimes need the kind of systems or people to help us recognize that when we are most vulnerable. I wonder if you have any thoughts or opinions to this critique.

[@MrBlublur]

Nathan Gonzalez +

[@thewinterizzy]

You could say... it’s backlash... all the way down... 👀

[@nataliealfera7225]

Yeah ok you win

[@mineola_]

Kudos, I tip my hat to you.

[@kristinmikles]

+++ i hope this becomes a new running joke

[@Fisherfan48]

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[@andrewmartinez987]

I'll see myself out

[@striga3810]

In a recent attempt to make my procrastination more productive, I deleted my Twitter app and downloaded the amazon ebook app and every time I would normally go on Twitter I go and read a bit. Been working out well for my productivity/happiness, and now it also makes me feel like I’m sending a (very small) message. Take that, Twitter!

[@vlogbrothers]

It's not a small message, though. It is YOUR attention, which is incredibly valuable--especially to you. So congrats! -John

[@thewinterizzy]

I LOVE this. Good for you!

[@vanedow2]

Striga Great idea I might give that a shot as well.

[@tass466]

I also deleted all social media from my phone and have found that not only do I interact with it more intentionally now - I have to choose to pull out my laptop and log on - but I also have almost eliminated the constant urge to check my phone, because there's nothing there. My phone is boring, and it's wonderful, because the world isn't.

[@ciaranpmryan]

I’m also one who deleted social media apps from my phone (except for KZbin. Does that even count as a social media app?) and my life has felt all the better for it.

[@SteveRamsey]

I was feeling the same way in 1995 following threads on Usenet! It hasn't changed much...just a lot more people in the town square. The key to internet bliss seems to be finding avenues that allow you to be productive. It's easy to get sucked into endless Twitter debates but in the end, nothing is solved and we are just that much older. I choose to spend my time creating what I love and supporting others who are productive.

[@vlogbrothers]

This is great advice from one of my favorite channels on KZbin. (And I feel the same way about the journey from usenet to here. Nothing changed except it got more crowded.) -John

[@SteveRamsey]

vlogbrothers Thanks John. And Happy New Year! 🙂

[@old-moose]

For me the internet is filler & colour. I get my news from real news sources (that tell you were the information comes from and print retractions when they get something wrong). I get my knowledge from trusted sources which used to be books and magazines. They are still there but more and more I my starting point for new ideas is from KZbin. Places like Crash Course, Sci Show, Vertasium & Woodworking for Mere Mortals just to name a few. John is right that there is bad with the good. But it has always been that way. I've retired after 50+ years of college as student and teacher, I can tell you that there never was a time of 100% reliable information and totally polite discourse. It is just easier to get and add to. This means more people with less training add their say too, and yes this can be a problem, but I also follow a young year old girl who does amazing things with science and technology. How could she add to my life without this new improved internet? The Net may have problems but thing are infinitely better than they were 50 years ago.

[@climbingnurse]

Thanks Steve for being a bastion of usefulness in a see of tripe. I think I've been watching your channel and vlog brothers for well over 5 years now. You guys rock!

[@SteveRamsey]

Keith Roussil Thanks Keith!

[@recelehberger1603]

Agreed. I continually find myself spiraling deeper and deeper into the abyss that my phone presents to me. I have the desire to resist, but yet I seem to fail consistently. I start looking at Instagram or Snapchat, and then 5 apps later, I look up and 4 hours have passed, 4 largely wasted hours. Sometimes I waste even more time. It’s not healthy, and I do not enjoy this reality.

[@vlogbrothers]

You're not alone in that struggle. I am really struggling with it, too--as evidenced by how many videos I've made about it in the last year :) These companies are incredibly good at building stuff that will hold our attention, and they're getting better at it all the time. I don't have an easy solution for how to be a better steward of one's attention, but I think being aware of the problems is important. -John

[@saracarr3382]

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[@llamafromspace]

Rece Lehberger + I hear you!

[@IntentionalEnglish]

I'm on a twenty one day abstinence from TV, movies, Facebook and KZbin.... Except I'm cheating. See you all in eighteen days.... Unless I cheat again. I'm seriously addicted to this shit. It's rough but I'll get better.

[@jake-sf4yr]

this video reminded me how much i appreciate the corners of the internet that are full of people being nice and doing good things, because while there aren't many of them, they remind me that the internet doesn't always have to suck, and that people don't always take advantage of the anonymity that internet spaces can offer

[@emptythecan3793]

KZbin and Twitter have genuinely made my life better and more nuanced, and I enjoy spending time there. I am very selective about what I read and watch though, and I am too busy with other things to spend excessive amounts of time there. I personally like my corner of the internet, but I agree that overall it can look pretty bleak.

[@vlogbrothers]

This is a great point. I think a carefully curated social Internet experience can be tremendously enriching. It's giving in to the algorithm's wish to own a LOT of your attention that I find problematic. (And I find it very difficult personally not to give the algorithm all my roars.) -John

[@emptythecan3793]

vlogbrothers I agree with you, it is definitely not easy and requires a lot of effort. And especially when one is not well it is hard to put in that kind of work. I wish for you that you will find helpful strategies of dealing with this situation. Good luck:)

[@mg2jj]

emptythecan completely agree. I’d be hard pressed to say social media sources are fully terrible because smart people use them too! The amount of knowledge I obtain from scientific researchers, vloggers (ahem), and subject matter experts is more often than not so much to take in!

[@terraresa9469]

I just love the way John says 'yours' in a way that instantly makes me feel like I truely matter. Not that I'm doubting it. Just that it's easy to not be aware of it at all times and that Hank and John always manage to remind me of it.

[@kevinwells9751]

I think this is one of the biggest reasons why nerdfighteria feels like a real community. We feel like we can connect with John and Hank personally and like they really care about us

[@terraresa9469]

You'd think it's impossible to care for and about what and whom you do not know but they somehow managed. :-)

[@estelwenethiriel6075]

wow to this day i'm still amazed how you two can make videos whose meanings extend far beyond what you say in the best way possible, like your content isn't hurtful or devisive and you say so much in such a short space of time 👍

[@carlaafonso6194]

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[@hopesnyder9032]

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[@zintisinde5126]

In the same way that we talk about teaching “internet literacy,” it seems like there’s increasing need for resources to teach “internet mindfulness”: tools and techniques for 1) increasing your awareness of how you interact with the social internet and its associated algorithms and 2) with that awareness in place, making choices that promote your values. It would be great if y’all could spotlight people who are thinking productively about this or have useful advice for achieving those goals

[@vlogbrothers]

This is a great idea. I don't know who's doing a good job of "internet mindfulness" (I'm not!) but I'll be on the lookout. I love that phase! -John

[@raykenney5713]

Tristan Harris is a former Social Media employee who helped design some of the algorithms to get clicks and attention. He turned his powers to good and has done a TED talk about it as well as started a project called Time Well Spent to help people reclaim their time. Link below. www.timewellspent.io/

[@qwertyTRiG]

Zintis Inde Ooh. Interesting.

[@Pandaemoni]

Yeah...but the collective action problem feels insurmountable. I can change what I pay attention (he said, in his KZbin comment), but the algorithm doesn't care about any one of us, or even any 100,000 of us. The self-programming AIs (and they really programming themselves) will only adapt insofar as they will at beast ignore us and at worst find new and better ways to rope us in. We're not really rational actors in control of our every action...not to the extent we like to think. We are animals driven by strange appetites that have created AIs who are even better at figuring out our triggers than the humans around us are. That is not to say there is no hope and, of course, our choosing to do something about the situation is key, but I think the solution may be more agreeing to give up control than choosing to exercise it wisely. Odysseus had to lash himself to the mast (and his companions had to plug their ears) to avoid being seduced by the siren's song. They gave up the freedom to do as they wanted because they knew in advance they'd make the wrong choice. It is far easier to be rational in that way, before the fact when one can be contemplative, than we can be in the moment, with the temptation right in front of us.

[@vlogbrothers]

Really interesting to consider that the needed choice might be to have less control, because we (or I, anyway) may lack the resources necessarily to exercise control wisely. That's certainly what I do when it comes to not smoking cigarettes: I do not walk around all day with a pack of cigarettes, because I know if I did I would smoke them. (...even though I quit smoking 15 years ago.) So maybe that is the choice that we need to make. I hadn't looked at the problem this way. -John

[@emilyadder1574]

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[@Aussiedwarf]

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[@20so]

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[@reepicheepsfriend]

If you mean to give up control as in, getting off Facebook or KZbin for your own reasons, excellent. If you mean giving up control as in bringing in some kind of government regulation.............NO.

[@McJuggerNuggets]

Well-said!! Awesome video, John! :D

[@oigressergio.]

This channel never fails to inspire me, you present your information so calmly and rationally that it's impossible not to listen. I honestly want to be like you, not just when I grow up, but now as well ❤

[@lyddiayannuzzi5564]

When you speak for one minute it feels like you've spoken for five, which isn't bad because I don't want the conversation to end.

[@camelopardalis84]

It's always funny to skip back five seconds because you didn't understand what one of those two said and then to think "No, I don't want to hear the last three sentences you made, just the last three words".

[@lukemathews1574]

John Green has been inspiring me for years now and he hasn't stopped yet

[@thekylemarshall_]

Absolutely! We need to vote with our views. That doesn't mean that we need to only consume stuff that makes us blind to the realities of the world, but if you find yourself constantly being outraged it's time to find the things you love and celebrate them. Thanks John!

[@redkb]

This evening John, you had my attention.

[@thewinterizzy]

As one of my resolutions this year I gave up Facebook for January and I gotta say I don’t miss it at all. We’ve been conditioned to think we need constant feeds but... we really don’t. The only inconvenience I’ve noticed is not being able to use it for coordinating events. Come February 1, I’m completely whipping out all my Liked pages and leaving JUST friends on my feed (and I’m gunna purge my friends list, too).

[@MarkThePage]

Hello, person who comments on everything I watch. I've almost completely dropped Facebook and Twitter, and have deleted from my phone all the social media apps I noticed myself compulsively checking. Sometimes I'll straight-up disable my internet for a few hours a day. It's done wonders for my anxiety and concentration--it's good to check these websites once or twice a day. But we have nothing to gain from becoming obsessed with them. The internet has evolved much faster than humans have learned to adapt to it and know how to use it in moderation.

[@thewinterizzy]

MarkThePage baha! Hey. Yeah, I totally agree. I deleted FB and Messenger from my phone a bit after midnight on NYE/morning and it was so freeing. Definitely the first day or two I noticed its absence because I’d go to absently check it and realize it wasn’t there. Really makes you check in with yourself how much mindless scrolling you do, and how much you don’t need it.

[@MarkThePage]

Messenger's essential for me. But if I'm not currently texting anyone, I tend to move it off my home screen. Facebook I've obliterated because it accesses your microphone and listens to your conversations.

[@starpasta]

AMEN. Seriously, life without Facebook is awesome. I unintentionally gave it up because my phone was having storage issues, and I had to delete it. So I could only use it on my laptop. Then I started noticing that spending a lot of time there didn't make me happy, and I realized why. Pretty much all my friends and the pages I liked are into social justice, and you would think that would feel helpful, but it really didn't, because it was just all this information coming in at once, and it felt like I had no way to process any of it in a meaningful way. So now I only go there occasionally to check my notifications, and I resist the urge to aimlessly scroll. With KZbin, I feel like I have a lot more agency. I can decide whether or not to watch something, and the subscription part means I, for the most part, only see content I want to engage with. I also feel like there are pockets of fun and interesting places on KZbin, like smaller channels and Vlogbrothers videos. At the same time, I also get to engage with creators I like on important issues, and it overall feels like a much more positive experience. Obviously KZbin also has a ton of problems, but knowing people are so engaged with them and want to actively make the site better gives me hope. OMG, I didn't realize this was going to be a giant wall of text. Your comment just brought up a lot of stuff for me, so thanks for that. :)

[@r3v3rbs0ul]

I did something similar on Facebook, but instead of just limiting the business feeds I follow I unfollowed(not unfriended) all of the people on my Facebook account. I now have to actively be interested by what someone might be doing and put in the effort to go to their page. It's been one of the best social media decisions I've ever made. I only get information from brands that I genuinely care about, and only see what friends write when I care enough to look for it.

[@keelyriggs1097]

Hey, I just wanted to say that coming home after a long day at school and seeing a new Vlogbrothers video or a new Dear Hank and John really makes my day. Keep doing what your doing, it makes me smile!

[@untappedinkwell]

Awww, this is so sweet. Well said!

[@vlogbrothers]

Thank you! :) -John

[@MattyPigott]

Trash Yahoo answers all you want, but KZbin comments have never given me the answers to my homework

[@vlogbrothers]

Fair enough :) -John

[@LauraLumos]

You know, that's actually a compliment toward KZbin. 🤔

[@margotwiehagen4986]

"Your attention is powerful, and it is yours." This is a really good reminder, and it really resonates with me. Thank you John.

[@radagastwiz]

One of the reasons I use a third-party Twitter client - everything is chronological and there are no 'suggestions' or 'if you missed' or other distractions from the straightforward discourse I signed up for. When I'm caught up on my feed, I close the app.

[@sarahburgess7306]

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[@janexylin]

How do you do that on a desktop browser?

[@dragonflies6793]

"There have always been powerful people who misuse that power and there have always been people who feel powerless and vengeful and use the cloak of anonymity to attack others." That second part in particular really stood out to me. It's a really great description.

[@Ifyouhaveyestosee]

Thank you for your insights, John. I always leave your videos thinking more complexly and I appreciate it.

[@benjaminwilson9007]

When you said "Your attention is powerful, and it is yours" means a lot. It makes me feel empowered and meaningful. Thank you. I will try to be a good person online.

[@mrfreddorenton]

It is hard to pay attention to comments at all if you know they're going to be as toxic as the stereotype. I think the ratio of watchers to commenters might be a bigger indication that the youtube audience largely doesn't want to engage in terribleness

[@vlogbrothers]

this is a great point. It takes relatively few toxic comments to poison the well for everybody; if there are three or four awful comments on the front page, most people think, "Don't really want to add my voice to this conversation" and opt out. Within this channel, we've always been extremely lucky. -John

[@mrfreddorenton]

Thanks John

[@MiracleMira]

Not even naming names but still managing to have a deep discussion - i love Nerdfigteria and John and Hank, this truly is one of the best corners of the internet that i will keep coming back to to feel sane.

[@strylyf2382]

The one day I realized I was watching way too much TV, about 4 hours every single night. So I made a list of things I could do instead of letting The Walking Dead raise my pulse (and stress!). The best option on the list was actually: "learn stuff on YT". I've been working on hard-stepping, scriptwriting structure, and nutrition. I LOVE YT! lol which I know doesn't add much to the conversation... but I just wanted to add another pro to the Pros and Con list! :j

[@connierobinson1090]

Wait, this is an essential contribution. You are explaining how you solved the problem for yourself that we are discussing here. Thanks for setting an example!

[@LauraLumos]

I have a bad habit of coming on KZbin to watch a very useful or educational material and then- oops, 2 hours later I'm watching Taylor Swift behind the scenes videos....

[@strylyf2382]

Laura, that's the worst! lol But obviously we all fall into it. For me personally, there are 3 simple ways I try to prevent those fails- 1:Say what I'm going to do, and do it. PERIOD! lol. It feels good to be a person who keeps their word (especially to themselves) 2: Obsess with becoming great at something! (I have been writing for a long time now and even though I still haven't published, I write everyday. Also, I started my YT channel this year as a means to FORCE myself to write every day. Haven't missed a day yet!) 3: remind myself that I really am going to die, and that I would hate myself if I spent my entire life watching people do the things I wanted to do. Those are probably cliches, or maybe won't work unless you come to them yourself, but there they are. Maybe they will help! Good luck. Also, subbed to your channel :j

[@AllyMay]

I periodically take breaks from the social internet due to being out of signal or just that I’ve had enough of it for the time being. Keeps me sane.

[@nunyabusiness164]

I just deleted all my social media a few months ago, save snapchat, where I only talk to one group of friends. I don’t miss it and I like being alone when I’m alone.

[@literarycircle]

When this was posted with the title “The Lion’s Roar” I thought it would be about the Mountain Goats song “Lion’s Teeth” which has that lyric. And then it was not. Which is all to say: vlogbrothers still manages to be a surprising and nice place to spend my time on the Internet. Thanks.

[@gephc4]

Are we still talking about America? I'm not good with metaphors.

[@sarahmccullough7056]

geph c, I think so? I’m not really sure, that wasn’t helpful... sorry

[@vlogbrothers]

I mean, we're not not talking about America. :) What kind of news stories we read, how we interact with each other, et cetera...all that has shaped the really troubling state of political discourse in the U.S. And if you look at the way that politicians and news networks alike are currently trying to hold our attention and win our support, it does seem similar to how people get lions to roar. -John

[@yellochikenpox]

i think it's a way responding to the logan paul backlash

[@mxm1117]

Clay Johnson wrote about this issue in his "The Information Diet: A Case for Conscious Consumption". As you may guess from its title, your video and its comments think many the same thought.

[@janexylin]

Grace Cooper Which is not dissimilar to the Trump backlash

[@johnfultz3420]

Holy shit I hated you in high school because of crash course but honestly you’re an amazing author / intellectual who just wants to see the world become a better place...we need more people like you

[@Xenolilly]

I choose to listen to you and your brother. :) roar roar

[@elliottbrockman4070]

I just finished Turtles All The Way Down (beautiful, by the way), and while reading it I thought Aza sounded like an exaggeration of what you think your audience sees ( spiraling, self-doubting, obsessive). However, watching this has given me the realization that who you are, or at least who you put out there for us, is the kind of person Aza would probably need to meet. Someone who can go "well yeah, you might get C.diff, but you also might not and hey to take your mind off it let's go make the world a better place." You're that person. Although Aza's intrusive thoughts probably wouldn't have stopped for that sentence, I think it would have given her a perspective she needed. My point is that you are an amazing person and your straight-on, mostly positive view of the world has certainly helped shut up my intrusive thoughts, If no one else's. Thank you, John.

[@philiptouw3623]

I have only two comments, Logan Paul is immediately what came to mind, and I love when John and Hank post somewhat connected videos.

[@untappedinkwell]

I think they're definitely addressing a larger problem (there's been a lot of discourse re: YT's algorithm in particular, especially with regard to their kids app and some other demonetization problems) but the situation you mentioned plays into all of that larger problem too. And I love when they post somewhat connected videos too. It's nice. Gets into that real conversational feel of early vlogbrothers.

[@philiptouw3623]

untappedinkwell Yeah, for sure. The "responce to a responce to a responce" Was mostly what made me think of the Paul beothers, I feel like I'm always angry at them for something dumb, you know?

[@untappedinkwell]

Yeah--but I think there have been enough issues with many, many youtubers who've fallen in that trap that John's discussing a much larger arc of behavior. And, I don't know exactly the feeling you're describing, because I don't give those people any of my time or thought or my views in the first place. I think it's safe to believe someone when they show you who they are and just walk away from it. That's not to say that what those people did isn't wrong, or isn't worthy of talking about why those kinds of things are not okay, but sometimes you just gotta close the tab and spend your time elsewhere.

[@lizmoss]

is john more so taking about youtube as a company or creators on youtube?

[@philiptouw3623]

elisabeth moss In all honesty, I think he talks about both. Algorithms (read company controlled things) feature some really awful and toxic people some times. I think john was talking about how a bad system and some bad discourse that happens between people, but is strengthened because of how algorithms work.

[@davetoms1]

John remains one of my favourite KZbinrs. Starts by poetically describing how awful everything is, remains reasonable and fair to those in charge then finishes by empowering us to make real, impactful, positive change. Thank you.

[@riskitforthetriscuitt2548]

Awesome video, thought provoking as always. Love that purple shirt. You’re killin’ it

[@lawrencecalablaster568]

"If we refuse to roar on cue, they will notice and they will change" has got to be the most powerful statement I have heard all year.

[@angrysnailsounds7604]

All true and profound and whatnot, but there is a silver lining: Mamrie and Grace's aunts did KZbin today.

[@ultravioletunicorns]

Thank you for reminding me that even in a world and an internet that often makes me feel powerless and helpless that I get to determine if I buy into that message or not.

[@52bluey71]

Wait a minute, has Hank made a video about the Nerdfighteria survey results yet?

[@Punk·Fisch]

I don't think so. Am curiously waiting myself!

[@Christy777222]

+

[@DemiDragonQueen]

I HAVE BEEN COUNTING THE HOURS I"M BECOMING DELIRIOUS

[@juliemarie3082]

You did it again. You made me click the "like" button on another of your videos. I feel intellectually stimulated. I feel enlightened. I feel inspired. Thank you.

[@EliseLogan]

This is a great video that gives a good analogy with which we can identify. Thank you.

[@fitzgerald4744]

This is great, John. One of my favorite recent Vlogbrothers videos. Let's all try and understand the influence we have, and the factors trying to capture as much of our eyes and brain as they can. And let's try to roar for what matters.

[@Razbeariez]

For a couple months now I've wondered what a social media site that was meant to be an escape would look like. A social media site whose goal and emphasis was for users to share memes, jokes, funny stories, or what they had for lunch. The kind of stuff people used to associate with social media before we entered this new era. Or if a site like that could even exist these days.

[@untappedinkwell]

I think that many of the social media places that are literally the worst still have these corners and pockets, and as Hank said previously, I don't think the solution is to escape or go somewhere else, I think the solution is to fix what's broken on the sites we have.

[@Razbeariez]

untappedinkwell There are absolutely areas of every social media site that still have these aspects. And I'm not suggesting we scrap any specific social media site in favor of a new one. I've just wondered if there's a place in our society for an additional website with a different function. Sort of how Instagram was new in that it emphasized images instead of text based posts.

[@untappedinkwell]

That's fair. I dunno what that would look like, but I would like to see it. Could be fun. I vote we do that /and/ work on improving all of the other sites to get them into a better working order.

[@Razbeariez]

I like it. This is something I can get behind!

[@untappedinkwell]

+++

[@stephenmorton6732]

Thank you John for your amazingly compassionate and eloquent words. This video made my heart happy. Your videos (along with crash course) demonstrates how social media CAN be used to better inform us and expand our humanity.

[@Shenanigames101]

"Rise and rise again, until lambs become lions"

[@meg5762]

Love when John just starts throwing great quotes out there

[@paddyodonnell3975]

It's quite scary how much algorithms can utilise our own emotions to calculated calculatedly encourage us to do things that are not necessarily in our own interests. It makes you question how "Free" our choices really are. Google controls most of what I and many around me see via our data spheres, is Google formulating my opinions before I do? Algorithms should be designed to bring out the best in people, not the outrage.

[@vlogbrothers]

This is very true, and it's also very true that because we don't really know how the algorithms work (due to machine learning), we cannot reverse engineer them to figure out why they are so good at doing what they do. That said, I don't believe that our choices are no longer "free." Our choices are circumscribed by circumstance, as they always have been; it's just that right now the circumstances for those of us who live a lot of our lives online are very weird and new and difficult to navigate. -John

[@r3v3rbs0ul]

Information on how machine learning works, how algorithms work, and how we can utilize them to our advantage does exist. People just have to choose to be interested in those things because no algorithm is going to put them on the front page.

[@paddyodonnell3975]

@vlogbrothers So true. CGP Grey did a great video on the technical side of machine learning which you've probobaly seen. Not to say that we are being controlled in a strong sense of the word. But the fact remains that corporations, though I accept that they are profit driven, understand my mind, in some ways, better than I do, and they actively utilise that advantage in ways that are not necessarily in my best interests. They make it extremely challenging to disentangle oneself from the spiders web of distractions which they have constructed in ones data sphere, and though I understand that this goes hand in hand with using their services I can't help but feel uncomfortable with the manner in which they censor and feed information to me.

[@whatsbehindthesky]

"Your attention is powerful...and it is yours." That's something I need to keep reminding myself of.

[@tylerratwood]

Umm... John Green 2020? Honestly not even a joke... His type of insight and world view would be great for our country.

[@MissWhatever123]

This was exactly what I was thinking about. I feel that a lot of us don't see the power in our own choices because we are just one out of many, but when everyone makes the same conscious choice not to consume mindlessly, we can cause a shift towards what we want to consume.

[@PatrickShand]

I love this. Thanks, John.

[@carsonbarlow348]

+

[@MireyaRivera]

You and Hank make lots of great videos, but this one shines very brightly for me. Thank you for putting into clear language what I have thought but struggled to express clearly myself.

[@cupofmocah]

Although I completely agree the internet has gotten worse. I believe as youtube has grown communities like nerdfighteria have a place to make a good comment section. The "trending" channels will always have problems, but the channels with strong communities are the reason I go to KZbin or Twitter. If a place has enough people to exist, even if you have to look for it, you can find fulfilment.

[@vlogbrothers]

This is very true. The comments in nerdfighteria have almost always been good, except for a brief period in like 2015, when a variety of factors (including bad changes to KZbin's comment sorting) made things a little bleak around here. But yeah, I think there are many places like nerdfighteria on KZbin--but there are also lots of places where toxicity, trolling, and abuse are the norm. -John

[@connierobinson1090]

So there's an important divide here...public community and private community. This is a great public community. Where do people make good private communities? Facebook has failed me, but somehow email listservs haven't???

[@444renaldo]

Knowing John is a very eloquent man comes to my attention every time I watch one of his videos... And yet this video I feel just solidified his eloquence and thought process in a brad new light. Well said John and thank you for the insight.

[@Enzo500S]

OMG that’s the first time I have been near first and it’s as meaningless as I would have expected :/

[@cupofmocah]

Enzo500 you are one of the people who keep this channel growing. By being here early and commenting it helps, but yeah totally meaningless.

[@RainaRamsay]

I was scrolling past and thought "hah". Then I realized *I* got hear earlyish, and was like, "YES! My chance to say something profound that John will notice and reply to!" And then realized I had nothing profound to say. So. Yeah. Meaningless.

[@FrancescaGeorgiou]

"Your attention is powerful and it is yours" I'm gonna try and remember this for basically always.

[@mengjunwei1169]

Backlashes all the way down

[@barkingsheep5224]

Yes. This is... difficult for me with having 4 (soon 5?) autoimmune conditions. Im so tired nearly everyday (and have been for 20 years), reading is too strenuous, music makes my autistic brain itchy, i have no energy to do anything I'm interested in (drawing, coding, playing my mandolin, cooking, plant care, training my cat,etc) but i can manage to scroll through twitter. I'm always one step away from deleting twitter, but then I would be stuck there staring at the wall...which does happen. Too tired to play video games, too tired to even color.... :deep breath: Still though, what you say is true and it's up to me to keep poking around until I figure this out. I have been very concerned by the relationship of social media and the internet with society and our future growth as a species. Thank you for making the internet worth my attention, and thank you for this reminder. My boyfriend and I both love this channels content.

[@Hussiens]

Can we collectively do anything about that though? As long as these websites are ad supported, how can we expect them to have any other incentive other than keep us on their pages as long as possible? It just seems like an infrastructure problem that can't be fixed retroactively.

[@JokesInBase13]

I think we could make a significant difference just by practicing some Mindfulness as consumers of content. Avoid the clickbait as much as possible, turn off the autoplay everywhere, only consume things that you *actually* want to consume, not just whatever is offered to you, and actually STOP consuming content when you are finished. If needed, you can fill the resulting noise void with curated music playlists, or audiobooks you check out from the library, or that podcast you've been meaning to catch up on, or even just letting yourself be bored for a little while (boredom is the place where ideas come from!).

[@vlogbrothers]

I share this concern--maybe these problems are just baked in to an advertising-funded Internet. But that takes all agency away from us, and I don't think we need be passive participants here. -John

[@valerieblackwood9777]

vlogbrothers Somehow we'd have to stop the bad aspects of the Internet from making the companies money. The problem is that negativity = attention and attention = money, ergo negativity = money. I don't think it's possible to prevent negativity bringing attention (human nature and all that), but is it possible to change the attention-money link? I would have to think about that...

[@JoshuaHillerup]

I have a hope that someone could make a social site that actually improves people's lives and still make money, because I think if someone got actually positive feedback from it instead of fake stuff like likes and views it would be even more popular, but I have no idea what that first step looks like.

[@Aldowyn]

there's a longstanding fear that the ad-economy on the internet will completely collapse, and there are some clear examples that it's weakening. Look at Patreon, or just the prevalence of paywalled content, particularly at news outlets like the New York Times. Hopefully if it does collapse we can build a better internet, but in the mean time we make do with what we have.

[@Nexarae]

The world makes more sense and seems less terrible when you and Hank are there for me to listen to. Every one of your videos comforts me. Thanks for filling me with hope :)

[@alainart]

Truth.

[@andremadethis]

"Your attention is power, and it is yours." Thanks for that.

[@abbymiller8774]

Ever since your "Leave it in 2017" video i've been thinking a lot about how the internet is designed to keep us scrolling. I feel like you focused on the outrage and rush of emotions in this video - but I really loved in that previous video how you discussed that parts of the internet are INTENTIONALLY unsatisfying. I'm not sure how these two things mesh together to make the internet, but in both cases we are left less informed, less productive, and less happy. How do we leave that in 2017?

[@sarahburgess7306]

Learn not to roar if it's not food. I guess we all have to figure out how to do that.

[@cutelittledevil88]

Thank you John, I needed to get back to studying, this could have been the start of a rabbit hole that cost me a full morning, in stead you told me to out my focus where it matters. Love you :)

[@mr.dr.genius2169]

I just call it a gif.

[@Berycg]

+

[@Rawr0s]

John Green is absolutely one of the most insightful and aware human beings I've had the pleasure of listening and giving my attention to

[@centreoftheselights]

I understand the sentiment but saying "you have the power to choose" feels empty when there is no valid alternative. You can choose not to use Facebook, but you will, inevitably, be left out of social conversation as a result. If the zookeeper only feeds you when you roar, then deciding to keep quiet is also deciding to starve.

[@sarahmccullough7056]

centreoftheselights, well dang. Wow

[@HecHocceH]

You can try and have the social conversation outside of the Internet, in real life with real people. Where you have much less reach but also, arguably, much more impact. Aounds like a viable alternative to me. Sure it’s harder than posting or commenting online, but so is hunting compared to being fed in a zoo.

[@Toastwig]

centreoftheselights great comment!

[@speed68rte]

The problem is the zoo needs the lions or they make no money. So maybe you go a little while without food but inevitably they will have to feed you what you want or they will have to close.

[@vlogbrothers]

That's a compelling extension of the analogy, and I think it's a good point, but I also think you can be part of broad social conversations You'll be left out of *a* social conversation, and I understand that's the leverage they have over you. But I don't think you'll be left out of all social conversations (you can still participate in this one, for instance). But what I'm saying is closer to "revolt" than "reform," to put it in the context of Hank's video on Friday, and on that front (and any other!) I might be wrong. -John

[@zeidrichthorene]

Hi John, Thanks for the insightful video. I'm glad that youtube recommended it to me. I didn't realize before how frightening it is that these companies are trying to fight for our attention. You've made me sufficiently anxious that I'm happy that I've subscribed to see more content on what is wrong with the our world and our institutions. I feel oddly compelled to find content that shows me how bad everyone is being to me, and how I need to be on the lookout for that everywhere. I should find more information on this so I can stay alert and protect myself from this threat. It used to be I would prefer to watch interesting videos on disassembling electronics, or chemistry or various other topics that piqued my interest. But I'm glad that youtube was able to bring this video to my attention over those junkfood videos. This is a real threat, and I should be scared of this. I'll make sure to keep up with videos on subjects like this that are more important. I'm kidding of course, but only kind of. I do find it kind of ironic that this was a suggested video, that I feel an urge to comment on this video, and that this is the exact kind of video that you are talking about in the video, and as such, I'm probably biasing youtube's algorithm to let them know in some way that a video like this is going to grab my attention more than a video that actually teaches me something rather than just telling me I need to be scared of something. I mean, this certainly doesn't contradict your conclusion, and may even support it. But I guess the question is, when a guy gets paid for scaring the lion into roaring, is that OK? Is he doing the right thing? Even if his goal is to raise awareness about the mistreatment of lions? When I visit this video I get an advertisement. I would ask you to please turn off monetization of this video. It's a day old, you've got most of your views already, but I think it's poor form to tell the lion scary stories about how the circus industry is profiting off of its roars in order to cause it to roar to profit off of it.

[@miki_cz]

Hard G gif is the best gif.

[@rparl]

Mikuláš Poul Choosy perverts choose gif.

[@miki_cz]

Ross Parlette eh?

[@rparl]

Mikuláš Poul There used to be a peanut butter commercial "Choosy mothers choose Jif!" I quoted a parody of it.

[@miki_cz]

Ross Parlette ok I guess? 😀 Jif isn't sold in my country and I don't watch commercials anyway, to clear up why I didn't understand at all...

[@rebeccanicol3292]

This is such an important video! I’ve struggled off and on with social media spirals and the one plaguing me right now is the Instagram explore page. It’s so endless and addictive... yet completely pointless. As a student I want to learn, take advantage of the time I have, and plug into my communities both local and global. Oftentimes the Internet is helpful for this-and sometimes a straight up necessity. Yet I spend hours scrolling through ultimately unimportant content just because I get an impulse of “ooh, pretty! Keep scrolling for more!” I don’t know how to solve this, but at least it’s good to know I’m not alone, and that no matter how “addicted” I may think I am, that the power to choose what content I consume is ultimately mine alone.

[@alainart]

I disagree that we disagree!

[@lambykins1471]

One of the most wonderful videos I've watched in a really long time. You have my attention.

[@nikkiwilliamson4665]

Gif is gift without the t

[@TheBibliophiliac]

A second

[@aeyvan]

Nikki Williamson The creator says it's pronounced "jif" so there it is. People invent new words and dictate how to spell it all the time.

[@personal8630]

I am still shook by the lion analogy. Simply brilliant.

[@LeoMRogers]

It's gif.

[@seasong7655]

Wrong

[@cupofmocah]

LeoMRogers I think they are both wrong and correct.

[@stellagilbert]

No it's a GIF

[@mellowyellowcello]

Thank you for continuously making content that makes me process, question, and be aware of my place in this complex and beautiful world.

[@SomarMan]

We should all agree that tomato sauce/ketchup belongs in the fridge

[@woodfur00]

But to do that, we'd have to agree that tomato sauce and ketchup are the same thing.

[@andymarleo0414]

I put the Ketchup and tomato sauce in the fridge after its been opened.

[@carlaafonso6194]

Faithful Dinosaur +

[@SomarMan]

woodfur00 I would say they are slightly different, but close enough a product that both belong in the fridge haha

[@aleksfakename7105]

You are a strong speaker. Recently in a conversation with my mother I admitted that she has really been my only female role model, and I coincidentally have been looking up to mainly men. You are certainly one of those men. My mom then asked "Well, what about teachers?" I responded, "John's a teacher..." Love you, DFTBA

[@liaragodfrey7944]

I wonder if twitter will ever become a more civil and less hate filled place. Maybe that's just wishful thinking...

[@lizziemich1914]

Liara Godfrey - Twitter actually is attempting to remove more problematic accounts, including more white supremacist accounts in attempt to calm shit down a little, but I don't really know how well that will work.

[@paperbackpocket1759]

“Your attention is powerful. And it is yours.” I love this and I do not think it could have been better said. (:

[@leahk9943]

I can’t even figure out how to use Twitter.

[@untappedinkwell]

You can probably wait for a good long while until Twitter sorts itself out and then try again, I think.

[@LauraLumos]

Me either. I've been trying for a few weeks now

[@GweenPenguin]

SAME. Once in a blue moon I'll get to a twitter page and I really have no idea how to interact with it. It's timeline structure and fragmented sentences - I just don't know what to DO there. Very little information gets conveyed to me, and it takes a LOT of scrolling.

[@taylort8133]

Leah And 26 Letters same I keep logging into the same account every year or so thinking “okay I’ll try this” and always end up deleting the app and forgetting about it

[@leahk9943]

Laura Lumos I have tried it a few different times and I decided I really don’t care to figure it out so I gave it up. 🤷‍♀️

[@SirSkidMark]

I was fully expecting a Hush Sound reference with that title. Good video as always, John.

[@TSBoncompte]

I've watched VB for more years that I feel comfortable admitting; this might be the best video this man has done

[@Pearl127]

Thanks for being awesome and always being a voice of reason John!

[@alexanderdavidsoncarroll7788]

Wise words John. I've thought about this before, and you summed it up pretty well. I'm glad there are voice like yours on the internet.

[@davelee5995]

You and hank are definitely a perfect representation of how you can use your money and audience in a positive way from crash course to the Wimbledon wommblys your work is amazing.

[@MattRoszak]

I've been super aware of these problems over the last year, and here's some strategies I'm using to fix my habits: I've got a Chrome extension that limits my time on Twitter and Facebook to 20 minutes per day. (uninstalled the apps completely on my phone) I've got other extensions that let me hide parts of Facebook and Twitter that are pointless clutter. I'm a big advocate for using adblockers and instead paying for services I like. I've closed my Adsense and Amazon Prime accounts in protest of shady things these companies do in general. I try to make wholesome social media posts and call out misleading clickbait when I see it.

[@LauraLumos]

Please divulge what extensions hide useless parts of Facebook. Staying aware of my friends' lives is important to me but I hate being sucked down the rabbit hole.

[@MattRoszak]

I use FB Purity. It lets me choose parts of the layout that I want to hide, and it mostly works well. I don't see ads or strange recommended posts anymore. Once you start using it, you'll be weirded out by how empty Facebok looks.

[@jilliangrace2]

Hi guys. I love you both. I’ve been having a hard time lately with both my physical and mental health, and of course social media makes it worse most of the time. But you guys make it better. Just a PSA, DFTBA