Analysis of the Unspoken Change to the Fundamental Video Blog Structure
I know a lot of nerdfighters are concerned with how John and Hank's videos have kind of changed lately. By lately, I mean in most of 2009, and probably starting in 2008.
In the original Brotherhood 2.0, when John and Hank were vlogging on their own, with mostly themselves and not the huge nerdfighter community (at least for the first few months) their videos were daily and pretty personal. They didn't have much time to make videos, and didn't really do much fancy; it was just them sitting in front of a camera/computer and talking about their lives. Neat.
Slowly, though, their videos have been getting more idea-based and thematic -- more about entertaining and sustaining the massive community they've built. It's not that the videos are impersonal or of lesser quality or not them; it's just that it's different. I think John and Hank feel that it's their duty to entertain and maintain certain standards for their videos, so that people still watch them, and the nerdfighter community never dies. I love how concerned they are for the community, which is really one of the best products of their project.
But that's the thing: it's a product. A by-product, rather, from them talking to each other personally through video: being nerdy and awesome and intellectual and concerned about the world. Community is and has been something that just springs naturally. I mean, I know from experience that derivatives of the videos have inspired blogs and youtube channels and skype conversations at 3 a.m. like the one I'm currently in and discussing the very matter of which I write now. Entertainment is just something these two brothers are insanely good at, and have mastered, too.
I know they talk about stuff that matters and that they aren't going to, like, blow our minds by documenting every aspect of their personal lives, but I just want some of their 2007-style. 2010 is upon us, and John and Hank have a new routine and probably new changes, so let's see if it's all for the better :D
I want this thread-thing to be a discussion, because I've seen the small comments or tweets, like the mutterings in coffee-shop corners before the French Revolution. I know nerdfighters are concerned, or at least kind of aware of this slow, subtle change that was never addressed, so GO AT IT, GUYS!!!
In the original Brotherhood 2.0, when John and Hank were vlogging on their own, with mostly themselves and not the huge nerdfighter community (at least for the first few months) their videos were daily and pretty personal. They didn't have much time to make videos, and didn't really do much fancy; it was just them sitting in front of a camera/computer and talking about their lives. Neat.
Slowly, though, their videos have been getting more idea-based and thematic -- more about entertaining and sustaining the massive community they've built. It's not that the videos are impersonal or of lesser quality or not them; it's just that it's different. I think John and Hank feel that it's their duty to entertain and maintain certain standards for their videos, so that people still watch them, and the nerdfighter community never dies. I love how concerned they are for the community, which is really one of the best products of their project.
But that's the thing: it's a product. A by-product, rather, from them talking to each other personally through video: being nerdy and awesome and intellectual and concerned about the world. Community is and has been something that just springs naturally. I mean, I know from experience that derivatives of the videos have inspired blogs and youtube channels and skype conversations at 3 a.m. like the one I'm currently in and discussing the very matter of which I write now. Entertainment is just something these two brothers are insanely good at, and have mastered, too.
I know they talk about stuff that matters and that they aren't going to, like, blow our minds by documenting every aspect of their personal lives, but I just want some of their 2007-style. 2010 is upon us, and John and Hank have a new routine and probably new changes, so let's see if it's all for the better :D
I want this thread-thing to be a discussion, because I've seen the small comments or tweets, like the mutterings in coffee-shop corners before the French Revolution. I know nerdfighters are concerned, or at least kind of aware of this slow, subtle change that was never addressed, so GO AT IT, GUYS!!!
Tags: CHANGE, french, green, hank, john, nerdfighteria, of, philosophy, revolution, the
Views: 137
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Arka on -
It reassures me that you guys think about this as much as we are :D
I hope 2010 works out for you both as well as the community and people at large.
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Permalink Reply by Dunklekuh81 on -
John, I posted this on Livestream because I was in the discussion at 3AM and found it was important you read our thoughts. I really appreciate you two reading this and taking it into consideration! It's why we love you guys!
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Permalink Reply by Lynn Jenkins on -
I haven't been a Nerdfighter for long, so this might sound completely irrelevant to anyone reading this; but seeing the change is an interesting characteristic itself. I actually went way back to some of the older videos and watched a few of them, then went to the middle, and again to the beginning.
It's exactly like watching a community or family grow. As more and more family members are added to a family dynamic, the interactions change, the flow of conversations and patterns change, and sooner or later, new grooves are made to encompass the new additions. Of course, I'm not against the idea of the conversations going back to the way they were before, way back in the beginning.
That, too, will be interesting to see, because it's like taking a trip back down memory lane and giving the whippersnappers a taste of the old life. Going up the hill. Both ways.
(If you get that reference, you earned 10 points of Awesome.)
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Permalink Reply by Becka on -
While I miss the old dialogue between John and Hank, I think that the sort of conversation they used to have isn't possible any more- largely because there are so many more participants in the conversation now. If they did speak directly to each other, and excluded the audience, we'd have so much less to talk about and discuss here and in the youtube comments, as fewer topics for debate would come up.
That said, the way they interacted in the first year, and the discussions between them was what first drew me in, and as I said, I do miss it.
I'm hoping that this years format will give us the best of both worlds. John and Hank certainly seem to think so, and I trust their opinion, so... :D
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Permalink Reply by Alex Orchard on -
I agree that parts were better when they commented on eachothers videos and i realy miss that. But thats not to say that what they do now isnt good, i mean, if they totaly reverted it would in most ways be boring but it would be good if they had slight changes to the way they were.
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Permalink Reply by Huff Ashley on
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I wonder if them individually talking about topics instead of responding to each other does limits the way they tackle topics does it leave it one sided? yeah they are able to reach more topics and please more of there audience but does it leave some of the things they talk about half spoken for? it seems that is how there doing things now with so many channels and some much content it's hard to watch it all. Is it impossible to watch it all?
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