nerdfighter

coinage · in 71 videos (2007–2024)

The word for a member of the community around the brothers' videos: people who fight for awesome, love learning and celebrate unironic enthusiasm; anyone who wants to be one is one. It comes from an airport arcade game John found in 2007, Aero Fighters, which Hank gave him for his birthday in 2013.

Spin-offs: Nerdfighteria

Videos by year: 2007: 33 · 2008: 13 · 2009: 7 · 2010: 4 · 2011: 2 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 4

Also known as: nerdfighting

In the lexicon: nerdfighter

Threads

• John's 'Nerd Fighters' arcade game at the Savannah airport (2007) — running joke (last seen 2013), 2007–2013
• Tasks for becoming a nerdfighter (2007) — project history, last documented in 2007, 2007
• John asks what the opposite of a nerdfighter is (2007) — ask, reported back, 2007–2009
• John asks Nerdfighters to recruit more nerdfighters and more Kiva lenders (2007) — ask, the project it belongs to reported its result, 2007
• Hank asks Nerdfighters to make things with the word 'nerdfighter' and send them in (2007) — ask, reported back, 2007
• John invites Nerdfighters to write Merriam-Webster that 'nerdfighter' should have been word of the year (2007) — ask, reported back, 2007
• Hank: a video soon discussing the future of nerdfighting on YouTube in 2009 (2008) — promise, open (no report in 2008–2026), 2008

Also named in the threads: Daniel Biss runs for Illinois state representative (2007) · Carbon-neutralizing Brotherhood 2.0 through carbonfund.org (2007) · Brotherhood 2.0 is half-featured on YouTube and draws YouTuber comments (2007) · John: eat a blenderized Happy Meal, wax a leg and lick a cat, for a textual communication (2007) · John asks viewers to donate to Daniel Biss's Illinois state-representative campaign via ActBlue (2007) · Winner, South Dakota: the brothers' midpoint and a Nerdfighter commune (2007) · Secret project: Nerdfighters' birthday greetings for John (2007) · Hank finds and reads John's childhood book 'It Just Isn't Fair' (2007) · John asks whether he and Sarah should get a puppy and what to name it (2007) · Vlogbrothers in 2008: the channel after Brotherhood 2.0 (2007) · DFTBA Records: founding of Hank and Alan's label for YouTube musicians (2008)

Often together

What comes up in the same parts of the videos; the number is how many parts.

made of awesome (7) · Brotherhood 2.0 (15) · world suck (7) · in your pants (5) · YouTube (12) · Stuff on Heads (2) · DFTBA (4) · Paper Towns (6) · Brotherhood 2.0 forum (3) · Maureen Johnson (3)

What the videos say

The most important statements of each year; all statements.

2007

• 2007-02-01 · Brotherhood 2.0, February 1, 2007 — John: The good news: an airport arcade game that seems to be called 'Nerd Fighters', his favorite kind of fighters; he chooses Sweden and plays a 'Viking nerd killer'. (playful, hedged) — 00:00:54
• 2007-02-15 (said on 2007-02-16, implied) · Brotherhood 2.0: February 17, 2007 — John: Columbus Airport had the 'Nerdfighters' game; John asks whether it is about people fighting nerds or nerds fighting others, and concludes it is nerds who tackle 'the scourge of popular people'. (playful) — 00:00:14
• 2007-03-15 · Brotherhood 2.0: March 15: Decreasing Suck — John: Everyone will accidentally increase suck levels at times; John says a true nerdfighter admits the mistake, apologises and changes course to decrease suck in future. — 00:02:15
• 2007-07-02 · Brotherhood 2.0: July 2nd: The Law of Compound Nerdfighting — John says the Nerdfighters are probably getting tapped out, so what is needed is more nerdfighters: there is an 'acute nerdfighter shortage', and many are nerdfighters without knowing the term. (hedged) — 00:01:57
• 2007-07-03 · July 3: Decepticons — ask: Hank: Recalling fans' nerdfighter knuckles, an Easter egg and driveway chalk, Hank asks nerdfighters to do things with the word 'nerdfighter' and send them in, likely to appear on the show. — 00:01:17
• 2007-07-25 · July 25: Brotherhood 2.0's Youtube Comments Are Answered! — John defines a nerdfighter as a regular person made out of awesome instead of tissues, cells and organs; nerdfighters hang out on the forum 'in my pants' and embroider pillows. (playful) — 00:01:40
• 2007-08-06 · August 6th: JK Rowling and I Will ... Be Punished — ask: John announces that this week (week of 6 August 2007) they will collect donations to help Daniel Biss become the first nerdfighter ever elected to state congress. — 00:01:34
• 2007-08-20 · August 20th: Winner, South Dakota — John: For the first time John feels the world may contain more nerdfighters than nerdhaters; having long thought himself suited to 'Loser, South Dakota', he now thinks maybe nerdfighting is for winners. (hedged) — 00:02:58
• 2007-08-30 · August 30th: A Secret Project for Nerdfighters — both: Anyone who wants to become a nerdfighter probably already is one; technically you should go to Brotherhood2.com and write a song. — 00:01:14 · also in: John and Hank Hanging Out but they Keep Getting Younger and More Pixelated
• 2007-10-12 · October 12th: Carbon Re-Neutralizing Brotherhood 2.0 — announcement: John: Because he is a nerdfighter, John is spending $63 at carbonfund.org to offset Brotherhood 2.0's carbon emissions. — 00:03:14
• 2007-12-12 · Dec. 12th: w00t is the WORD OF THE YEAR?! — John: In a comic letter to Merriam-Webster's editors, John laments an 'unwoot day' for young people and argues the word they should have picked was 'Nerdfighter'. (playful) — 00:01:04
• 2007-12-13 · December 13: Mailing Shopping Thanking. It Must Be Christmas — announcement: Hank reads a Merriam-Webster reply forwarded by a Nerdfighter: many letters came in about 'Nerdfighter'; the word-of-the-year poll is closed, but they hope Nerdfighter and Nerdfighting go in their open dictionary. — 00:02:34
• …and 33 statements more in 2007 — all statements of 2007

Also named in: Brotherhood 2.0: February 27, 2007: Horseradish Challenge, Brotherhood 2.0: March 13, 2007: Denver, March 20th: Dancing and the Idiocy of Age, May 1st: Neil Gaiman in Helena, September 25th: TMBG and NYT, Oct. 30th: My Name Is John Green. And I'm a Nerd.

2008

• 2008-03-21 (said on 2008-03-22, implied) · Twitter After School Time — Hank admits he cannot complain, since this is largely what Brotherhood 2.0 and Nerdfighting are about, but finds it confusing and asks whether this is how we define ourselves now. — 00:02:12
• 2008-05-18 · A CUTETACULAR INTRODUCTION! — John wanted to name the puppy 'Bubbles the Nerdfighting Puppy', but the Yeti said a boy named Bubbles would be weird to explain; John adds people would ask if Nerdfighters are for or against nerds. (playful) — 00:00:54
• 2008-05-20 · Guys Love Giraffe Love — John: Asked the key to YouTube popularity, John says YouTube's new demographics feature shows Nerdfighters are extremely loyal, which he thinks is because nerdfighting is something they all do together. (hedged) — 00:01:10
• 2008-06-16 · Maine Inspires Deep Thoughts — Hank: Responding to a comment on the Obama's Idiots channel about 'environmental and Democratic propaganda', Hank partly agrees on the Democratic part: he doesn't want that to be what nerdfighting is. (hedged) — 00:00:40
  • Hank says he is 100% in favour of there being Republican nerdfighters. — 00:00:40
  • But Hank doubts he wants anyone anti-environment in the community, because being a nerdfighter is about respect and caring for others. (hedged) — 00:01:09
• 2008-07-30 · Audiobooks and 8 8 08 — John shows himself recording the dedication, author's note and acknowledgements of Paper Towns for the audiobook, including Hank's name and the word Nerdfighters. — 00:01:17
• 2008-09-25 (said on 2008-09-24, implied) · Obama llama Duck — Hank: For newcomers, Hank explains that he is Hank, his brother John writes books, and anyone enjoying the video is probably a nerdfighter, made of awesome. (playful) — 00:02:08
• 2008-10-08 · J Scribble Goes to Borders — John's cards invite readers to meet the author at the store on October 18, say they may be a nerdfighter, which is a good thing, and are signed 'Jay Scribble'. — 00:01:17
• 2008-11-27 · Thanksgiving in Asheville — John says it is weird what can become normal: talking to his brother by video blog before thousands, crowds singing Hank's songs, caring for people in Bangladesh like family, being a nerdfighter. — 00:00:00
• 2008-12-29 · Comment Haters and Christmas — Hank explains Nerdfighters: people who watch John, Hank and other Nerdfighter programming, made of awesome inside, fighting for nerds' rights, intellectualism and accepting people. — 00:00:00
  • Hank says he will see John soon in a video discussing the future of nerdfighting on YouTube for 2009, with amazing plans. — 00:03:27

Also named in: Marion the Nerdfightarion, Metric Sabbath, INTERNET SENSATION B$%CH, Berlin and Let it Snow (in Your Pants)

2009

• 2009-02-03 · Five Parts — Hank says he thinks the book has a lot to say about nerdfighting, in several different ways. (hedged) — 00:01:20
• 2009-04-21 · Question Tuesday — John: Asked what a Nerdfighter is, John jokes that people haven't spent the 24 hours needed to watch all 465 videos, and says Nerdfighters are made out of awesome instead of bones and organs. (playful) — 00:00:00
  • John says seriously that anyone who wants to be a Nerdfighter is one. — 00:00:40
• 2009-06-23 (said on 2009-06-22, implied) · Fighting the Flame War! — Hank defines Nerdfighters as people who fight for awesome, love learning and discovering, and try to understand others complexly; anyone who wants to be one probably is. — 00:02:54
• 2009-07-14 · Sell Outs! — John tells Nerdfighters they never have to buy anything to be a nerdfighter. — 00:03:36
• 2009-12-27 · How To Be a Nerdfighter: A Vlogbrothers FAQ — John defines a Nerdfighter as a person made entirely of awesome instead of bones, skin and tissue; Nerdfighters don't fight nerds but are pro-nerd. (playful) — 00:00:14
  • Asked whether anyone is too young, old, fat, nerdy or even dead to be a Nerdfighter, John answers that if you want to be a Nerdfighter, you are one. — 00:01:29 · also in: John and Hank Hanging Out but they Keep Getting Younger and More Pixelated
  • John defines a Decepticon as the opposite of a Nerdfighter. — 00:02:16
• …and 1 statement more in 2009 — all statements of 2009

Also named in: Brotherhood 2.0.0.9

2010

• 2010-02-19 · Henry's Pee and My Gut — John concludes the world can celebrate emotionalism and gut instincts, but he will be a nerdfighter by getting fit and avoiding pee with his brain. (playful) — 00:02:52
• 2010-04-16 · The Patron Saint of Youtube — John thanks Hank for his video reminding them that nerdfighting is important but needs to be fun; it inspired him to make a fun video, about saints. — 00:00:00
• 2010-06-21 · You're Gonna Die — John chooses nerdfighting, books and, though it's silly, the World Cup, because it transcends geography, ethnicity, wealth and politics and puts the world on the same grass. — 00:01:36
• 2010-12-27 · To: You - - From: The Vlogbrothers — ask: Hank asks anyone who got or bought vlogbrothers, DFTBA or Nerdfighter t-shirts to send photos of themselves wearing them to hankandjohn@gmail.com, which may go on the website. — 00:00:39

2011

• 2011-02-09 · NERDFIGHTERS UNITE! (in your pants) — John argues no one can tell you whether you're a Nerdfighter, nor you anyone else: it is a chosen identity, collectively defined by living it, not by talking about it. — 00:02:59
• 2011-08-05 · Vidcon: Thoughts from Places — John says that through nerdfighting, DFTBA Records, helping YouTubers and planning conferences, Hank has built a career making places where people can fall and get caught: he builds communities for a living. — 00:02:20

2012

• 2012-07-31 · Nerd Olympics — John says there is at least one known Olympian Nerdfighter, British gymnast Jennifer Pinches, who did the Nerdfighter sign in front of the world after her floor exercise. — 00:00:29

2013

• 2013-09-10 · Secrets of the Movies: Thoughts from The Fault in Our Stars Set — John says that although the brothers agreed Hank wouldn't get him a birthday present (since John got Hank nothing), the original 'Nerd Fighters' arcade video game arrived at their office. — 00:00:00
  • John's description: Hank gave him Aero Fighters, the arcade game that created the word nerdfighter, for his birthday. — video description

Also named in: Thoughts for Nerdfighteria

2014

• 2014-01-28 · Question Tuesday! TFIOS Movie Trailer, Penguin Knees, and Backflips — John says that if you want to be a Nerdfighter, you probably already are one. (hedged) — 00:03:02

2016

• 2016-02-26 · Things You Don't Know About Us (REUNION!) — Hank: Asked for a Nerdfighter emoji, Hank shows the one he uses, the gesturing lady. — 00:02:21

2018

• 2018-04-17 · John Green Answers Your John Green Questions — John: Hank and John have made Vlogbrothers videos for more than 11 years; the community around them calls themselves nerdfighters because they fight for intellectual engagement and celebrate unironic enthusiasm. — 00:03:08

2021

• 2021-11-05 · We Have Invented Something Marvelous — Hank says the community didn't invent socks but, with its values and excitement, a new way to do socks: expert-picked monthly surprises, compostable packaging and all profit for a better world, instead of an awkward Target aisle. (playful) — 00:02:55

2023

• 2023-12-24 · John and Hank Hanging Out but they Keep Getting Younger and More Pixelated — both: In an FAQ, the brothers say a nerdfighter is made of awesome, and Nerdfighteria is the community around their videos doing awesome things and fighting world suck. — 02:17:44
  • both: A Nerdfighter dictionary lightning round defines puppy-sized elephants, stuff on heads, French the llama, puff levels, Decepticons, the Giant Squid of Anger, tiny chicken disease, secret siblings, in your pants and the gang sign. — 02:18:41

2024

• 2024-02-16 · How Much Does it Cost to be a Nerdfighter — Hank repeats words they used to say often: wanting to be a nerdfighter makes you a nerdfighter, and signing up costs zero dollars. — 00:03:53
• 2024-04-30 · Not Doing That Great — John will be home in Indianapolis in 72 hours, back to being a middle-aged dad and nerdfighter; for now he does the press because he wants people beyond nerdfighters to see the movie. — 00:02:26
  • John says the film is better if you are a nerdfighter, because it has so many little love songs to the community. — 00:02:26
• 2024-05-28 · A Midlife Crisis — John says making these videos for 18 years and posting in Nerdfighter spaces is super important to him: it fosters important connections between people, and they do amazing things together. — 00:01:56
• …and 1 statement more in 2024 — all statements of 2024