PLEASE ANSWER. Effects of Nerdfighteria on its Members and the Wider World Survey.

[Maya Granger]

Hello!

For school I am doing a project that includes a 5 page paper, a multi-media/technology presentation, and an oral presentation.

MY topic is the effect the organization and community known as Nerdfighters has had on the world through charity events such as the Project for Awesome and on teenagers with an interest and passion for academics, charity, world events, etc.

For my technology component, I'm planning on a video in the style of Hank and John that will describe certain aspects of Nerdfighters and some of its effects. It will be on YouTube, and I'd really love to include some comments by Nerdfighters about the effect Nerdfighters has had on them, and whatever I missed about the group.

 

Mainly, however, I would love it if you would answer ANY of the following questions for me, although of course I would appreciate it if you could answer most or all. Please, just one would help an awful lot. The ones starred would be the most useful, but absolutely any of them would help me out a LOT. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS. (:

 

Where would you suggest I go for more information on this topic?

What are the key components of Nerdfighters?

Why is Nerdfighters a topic that merits research?

What do people need to know about Nerdfighters?

Many people are concerned that young people today are meeting and talking to people just through the internet, and are worried about internet safety and cyber-bullying when the teens in their life interact with people they never would have come into contact with otherwise. Do you consider these valid concerns? What is your response to their fear?

Nerdfighters combines charity with peer support to make projects more affective. Do you think this is a good way to raise money or popularity for a certain organization? Why or why not?

Has Nerdfighters helped you feel like you can make a difference?

What is your opinion on the Harry Potter Alliance, and the idea of an organization based off of a piece of literature?

Many Nerdfighters have said that the group (Nerdfighters) is a great way to make friends and interact with people who share similar interests with you. Do you agree with this statement? Why is it necessary to use the internet to find these friends as opposed to more traditional methods, like meeting someone in a group at school or a local Rec Center?

*What effect has Nerdfighters had on your understanding of the world outside of your local area,  current events around the world, and people who live in different cultural situations from yours?

*What effect has Nerdfighters had on your understanding of history, science, and education?

*Do you consider either Hank Green or John Green your role model? Do you think of any one else related to Nerdfighters as a role model?

How effective do you think the Project for Awesome has been in the past few years?

What projects done by Nerdfighters have affected you the most, and which, if any, have you participated in? Please list any projects done by the group that you can remember.

*What effect do you think Nerdfighteria has had on the wider world? (This could involve Hank’s music, John’s literature, or their combined charity work.)

*What effect do you think Nerdfighteria has had on teenagers involved in the group? (Music, literature, charity work, or something mentioned in the regular videos.)

What is your favorite topic Hank or John has talked about? What segment do you enjoy the most? (Thoughts from Places, etc.)

*Is there anything else you think someone unfamiliar with the topic should know about it?

 

 

I'll let you know when I post the video so you can watch it and comment if you would like. Thank you if you read this far, and thank you an insanely large amount if you went to the trouble to answer the questions.

 

DFTBA and DLTMGYD.

 

[Jilly]

Where would you suggest I go for more information on this topic?

Wikipedia?  I think the forum here is a good place to start

What are the key components of Nerdfighters?

Increasing world awesome, and just being good, nerdy people.

Why is Nerdfighters a topic that merits research?

Nerdfighters isn't just a thing or an idea, it's an entire group of people the rallies around the joys of simply being awesome and doing awesome things to decrease world suck.

What do people need to know about Nerdfighters?

Anyone can be a nerdfighter. I'm pretty sure most of us are nerds, but nerdfighters come in all forms. You should also be committed to increasing world awesome (or at least not decreasing world awesome).

Many people are concerned that young people today are meeting and talking to people just through the internet, and are worried about internet safety and cyber-bullying when the teens in their life interact with people they never would have come into contact with otherwise. Do you consider these valid concerns? What is your response to their fear?

These are definitely valid concerns. We have seen in the media what cyber-bullying can do. However, we need to consider the other side of the argument: that online socializing can benefit teens. It's great to get honest, semi-anonymous advice from those outside of your life. Nerdfighters especially is a supportive community.

Nerdfighters combines charity with peer support to make projects more affective. Do you think this is a good way to raise money or popularity for a certain organization? Why or why not?

This is a good idea because support isn't just monetary, it comes from communities that actually want to help. Combining charity with peer support increasing the good an organization can do.

Has Nerdfighters helped you feel like you can make a difference?

I haven't been a nerdfighter for that long, so it's hard to say. I would say that nerdfighters has made a difference in my life by simply making me laugh and think about things that I otherwise wouldn't have considered.

What is your opinion on the Harry Potter Alliance, and the idea of an organization based off of a piece of literature?

I'm not familiar with the harry potter alliance, but it sounds awesome! I think an organization based off of literature is a good way to bring people together.

Many Nerdfighters have said that the group (Nerdfighters) is a great way to make friends and interact with people who share similar interests with you. Do you agree with this statement? Why is it necessary to use the internet to find these friends as opposed to more traditional methods, like meeting someone in a group at school or a local Rec Center?

I personally make stronger friends in-person, but having on-line acquaintances is useful and fun.

What effect has Nerdfighters had on your understanding of the world outside of your local area,  current events around the world, and people who live in different cultural situations from yours?

My knowledge of current events has definitely increased, and I love that John and Hank are both awesome guys that show empathy and understanding for those around the world that are different from themselves.

What effect has Nerdfighters had on your understanding of history, science, and education?

I am a science major, and I love all the science-y stuff. My knowledge of history has definitely increased, and the videos make it more memorable than if I had just learned it in a textbook.

Do you consider either Hank Green or John Green your role model? Do you think of any one else related to Nerdfighters as a role model?

I would absolutely consider John and Hank as role models, but maybe more for the younger nerdfighters. They are the kind of guys I would love to get a drink with or hang out with.

How effective do you think the Project for Awesome has been in the past few years?

I just found out about the Project for Awesome this year, and I hear that a lot of money was raised for good causes. I would call that effective.

What projects done by Nerdfighters have affected you the most, and which, if any, have you participated in? Please list any projects done by the group that you can remember.

I haven't done any yet, but I am very likely to do some in the future

 

Okay, I got bored :) Maybe narrow down the questions for other people.

 

[Maya Granger]

Thank you so much! You are brilliant and amazing, and this will be a huge help on my paper. I did edit the main post to make it more clear that you don't have to answer all the questions; hopefully that will help.

 

It's proving slightly difficult to find as much information as I was hoping for, so it would be a huge help if others would follow your fantastic example and respond!

[Maya Granger]

Shameless bump.