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Register 2015: hedges and bits

Statements from 2015 that are not plain sincere assertions: sincere claims the speaker hedged or marked as uncertain (with the hedge words quoted), and statements made as a bit. Plain sincere, unhedged statements are on the video pages. Back to the overview.

John

1000 statements · sincere 82% · playful 18% · other bits 1% · hedged or unsure 14%

Sincere but hedged (108)

Split by hedge type (derived from the quoted hedge words with a fixed word list — see the overview): epistemic doubt 54 · wish / hope 12 · opinion marker 30 · other hedge 10 · hedge words not recorded 2.

Epistemic doubt (54)

real uncertainty about whether it is true

  • 2015-01-04 · The Best Worst Thing — John says a draw against Manchester United, Arsenal or Chelsea could have earned Wimbledon more from one game than 20 years of Nerdfighter sponsorship. — hedged: “could have” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:14)
  • 2015-01-27 · Will Life Get Better for the Poor? — John says that despite this progress we still kind of live in two worlds. — hedged: “kind of” [epistemic doubt] (00:00:23)
  • 2015-01-27 · Will Life Get Better for the Poor? — John says access to cheap injectable antibiotics could save 300,000 kids a year. — hedged: “could” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:27)
  • 2015-01-27 · Will Life Get Better for the Poor? — John says inexpensive hand-pumped oxygen masks could prevent a third of infant deaths. — hedged: “could” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:31)
  • 2015-02-03 · Beards, Birds, and the Paper Towns Release Date: Question Tuesday! — John says he is kind of growing a beard, because Sarah wants him to. — hedged: “kinda” [epistemic doubt] (00:00:13)
  • 2015-02-03 · Beards, Birds, and the Paper Towns Release Date: Question Tuesday! — John says his favorite Taylor Swift song is probably Blank Space, which Henry calls 'Boys Love Torture'. — hedged: “Probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:24)
  • 2015-02-10 · Understanding Boko Haram — John says it is hard to understand the evil of an army that conscripts people, uses child soldiers and forces preteen girls to be suicide bombers, but while he may not need to understand it, he does need to know about it. — hedged: “I don't know if” [epistemic doubt] (00:05:26)
  • 2015-03-10 · Travel Tips (and Paper Towns Movie Updates) — John says a Looking for Alaska movie now seems like it might actually happen because the team has gotten back together. — hedged: “it seems like” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:03)
  • 2015-03-17 · What Are Paper Towns? — John says every map company does this, usually with paper streets or bridges; Google Maps probably created a paper town called Argleton in England. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:07)
  • 2015-03-17 · What Are Paper Towns? — John tentatively says it is humans' official responsibility to imagine the world as complexly and interestingly as possible, and urges: let us not be esquivalient. — hedged: “I guess I kind of think” [epistemic doubt] (00:02:46)
  • 2015-03-24 · Is Obamacare Working? The Affordable Care Act Five Years Later — John writes that the law does seem to be improving health, at least for young adults and in colonoscopy screening rates, but much is still unknown. — hedged: “It seems so” [epistemic doubt] (video description)
  • 2015-03-24 · Is Obamacare Working? The Affordable Care Act Five Years Later — John writes that 44, or maybe 46, million Americans were uninsured in 2009. — hedged: “or maybe” [epistemic doubt] (video description)
  • 2015-03-24 · Is Obamacare Working? The Affordable Care Act Five Years Later — John says the ACA does not seem to hurt the job market and has brought labor-market freedom: Sarah Green could leave her insurance-providing museum job to start an art show with PBS Digital. — hedged: “doesn't seem to be” [epistemic doubt] (00:04:22)
  • 2015-03-24 · Is Obamacare Working? The Affordable Care Act Five Years Later — John says insurers adding plans to the exchanges indicates the ACA will probably keep working, unless the Supreme Court eviscerates it in a few months. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:06:27)
  • 2015-03-24 · Is Obamacare Working? The Affordable Care Act Five Years Later — John says health care policy experts across the political spectrum seem to acknowledge this complex reality of trade-offs. — hedged: “seem to” [epistemic doubt] (00:07:10)
  • 2015-04-07 · John Reviews Kids Movies — John says it seems to him Penguins of Madagascar is really about the Anthropocene seen from a non-human perspective, which he finds totally fascinating. — hedged: “it seems to me” [epistemic doubt] (00:03:15)
  • 2015-05-19 · Pain Destroys Language: John after the Dentist — John cites Elaine Scarry's great book The Body in Pain: pain doesn't just defy language, it destroys language. — hedged: “kind of” [epistemic doubt] (00:00:45)
  • 2015-05-26 · Sixteen Parts — The Paper Towns film comes out in about 56 days in the US, at different times elsewhere; John will travel to support the release, at least to Brazil and the UK and probably other places. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:02:58)
  • 2015-05-26 · Sixteen Parts — John warns VidCon tickets will probably sell out in the next couple of weeks, so no one can say he didn't warn them. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:03:21)
  • 2015-06-02 · Let's Go Outside — Loving tiny trees and trees leaning over water that are doomed but keep going, John says most of what he likes about nature is its ability to go on no matter what, which he finds inspirational. — hedged: “I guess” [epistemic doubt] (00:02:19)
  • 2015-06-08 · Monday Bonus Video! — John says we might be in another Engels pause amid a technological revolution, or something entirely different may be happening, because history's sample size is tiny. — hedged: “it's possible I guess” [epistemic doubt] (00:02:41)
  • 2015-06-09 · What Does It Mean to Be Human? — The description says the contest is organized by Bill Gates and Big History: videos made before July 8th could win $5,000 and a contract to make more videos. — hedged: “could” [epistemic doubt] (video description)
  • 2015-06-09 · What Does It Mean to Be Human? — John says this is not just history: today being treated as fully human may require an ID card attesting citizenship, and wealth, race, sex and class affect how human the world treats you. — hedged: “may” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:56)
  • 2015-06-09 · What Does It Mean to Be Human? — John says a universal yet specific claim needs weirdly careful wording, e.g. that when able to access and comprehend our ancestors' teachings, we tend to value them. — hedged: “It seems to me” [epistemic doubt] (00:02:21)
  • 2015-06-09 · What Does It Mean to Be Human? — John concludes that being human is both something we are and something we must always aspire to be. — hedged: “I guess” [epistemic doubt] (00:03:12)
  • 2015-06-30 · Some News — Weber and Neustadter, screenwriters of the TFIOS and Paper Towns films, have written a Looking for Alaska script, and Becca Thomas, director of Electric Children, has been hired to direct, so the film will probably happen. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:02:58)
  • 2015-06-30 · Some News — The film might still fall apart, but John hopes not, because he really likes Becca Thomas and thinks she understands the book completely. — hedged: “might” [epistemic doubt] (00:03:12)
  • 2015-07-07 · Understanding the Financial Crisis in Greece — John says 'drachma' probably meant 'handful', because three thousand years ago a drachma was a handful of six metal sticks used as currency. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:00:35)
  • 2015-07-07 · Understanding the Financial Crisis in Greece — Explanations differ: some point to higher labor costs after joining the Eurozone, too much debt from the start, tax evasion, and the 2008 recession hitting Greek shipping and tourism. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:57)
  • 2015-07-07 · Understanding the Financial Crisis in Greece — Without payments Greek banks face a liquidity crisis: they may have only 500 million euro left, about 45 euro per person; many ATMs are empty and others give only 10 euro notes. — hedged: “may” [epistemic doubt] (00:05:57)
  • 2015-07-14 · On Exhaustion — John is leaving Birmingham for New York City, probably for press, though he doesn't exactly know why. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:00:38)
  • 2015-07-24 · From the Main Stage of VidCon! — John is incredibly anxious and feels maybe VidCon and the movie shouldn't have been scheduled on the same day. — hedged: “maybe” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:58)
  • 2015-09-01 · The Road Less Traveled By — Though he knows it isn't consistently good advice, John suspects that at his next fork in road or river the iambic lines will return and bias him, however minutely, toward the road less traveled. — hedged: “I suspect” [epistemic doubt] (00:03:21)
  • 2015-09-01 · The Road Less Traveled By — John calls this one example of how poetry can really matter in real people's lives, and why poets and readers alike must be very careful with language. — hedged: “I guess” [epistemic doubt] (00:03:37)
  • 2015-09-08 · Understanding the Refugee Crisis in Europe, Syria, and around the World — John adds that Stalin probably never said the line about one death being a tragedy and a thousand or a million a statistic; he quoted it the way a Soviet historian did. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (video description)
  • 2015-09-08 · Understanding the Refugee Crisis in Europe, Syria, and around the World — John calls Australia's refugee record truly abysmal and possibly in violation of international law. — hedged: “possibly” [epistemic doubt] (00:05:49)
  • 2015-09-15 · John Gets a Tattoo — Anxious and scared at first, John finds the inkless tattooing doesn't hurt at all and thinks he might sort of like getting tattoos. — hedged: “I think I might sort of” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:17)
  • 2015-09-22 · Is Poverty Necessary? Looking back at the Millennium Development Goals — John says world leaders earlier agreed to the eight Millennium Development Goals to change the world's history, and surprisingly enough it sort of worked. — hedged: “sort of” [epistemic doubt] (00:00:21)
  • 2015-09-22 · Is Poverty Necessary? Looking back at the Millennium Development Goals — John will look back at the eight goals and suggests Hank might look forward to the new ones in his Friday video. — hedged: “maybe” [epistemic doubt] (00:00:32)
  • 2015-09-22 · Is Poverty Necessary? Looking back at the Millennium Development Goals — John says the goal of halving hunger will probably be missed, but barely: 23% of the developing world was undernourished in 1990, under 13% today. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:09)
  • 2015-09-22 · Is Poverty Necessary? Looking back at the Millennium Development Goals — Young people watching may be among the first humans to see a world where extreme poverty and hunger are rare. — hedged: “may be” [epistemic doubt] (00:03:47)
  • 2015-09-29 · Writing, Walling, Racing, and Wizard Schooling — John notes there is, apparently, occasionally flowing water on Mars; the SciShow people got so excited they made shirts and posters. — hedged: “apparently” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:03)
  • 2015-10-06 · Question Tuesday: My Social Media Hiatus, My Excellent German, and Books! — Asked for unpopular opinions about classic literature, John sides with W. H. Auden: some books are undeservedly forgotten, none undeservedly remembered. — hedged: “kind of” [epistemic doubt] (00:00:42)
  • 2015-10-06 · Question Tuesday: My Social Media Hiatus, My Excellent German, and Books! — Asked whether everyone should take a social media hiatus, John doesn't know, but he hasn't missed social media as much as he expected; it had become a really unhealthy place for him. — hedged: “I don't know” [epistemic doubt] (00:00:56)
  • 2015-10-20 · Nerdfighteria's Resident Comptroller? — John says Daniel has kind of made him believe in politics again: in an age of American ideologues he is practical and sensible, wants to make lives suck less, and avoids inflammatory rhetoric. — hedged: “kind of” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:43)
  • 2015-10-27 · Understanding YouTube Red: Paid Subscriptions and the Future of Online Video — John says YouTube Red launches the next day, which may or may not change online video forever. — hedged: “may or may not” [epistemic doubt] (00:00:01)
  • 2015-10-27 · Understanding YouTube Red: Paid Subscriptions and the Future of Online Video — Answering the most-asked question, John says YouTube Red is good for creators: some of the fee goes to them and per viewer it earns them more than advertising. — hedged: “I don't really know how much yet” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:33)
  • 2015-10-27 · Understanding YouTube Red: Paid Subscriptions and the Future of Online Video — John is not sure he wants YouTube to grow up into cable TV; he wants it driven by fan communities and the direct creator-audience relationship, something you're part of. — hedged: “I'm not sure” [epistemic doubt] (00:03:21)
  • 2015-11-03 · Monkey Hangers — John says what probably actually happened is that an old folk song was adapted into history. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:56)
  • 2015-11-03 · Monkey Hangers — John admits it is kind of a sad story, but finds being in the middle of history encouraging and remains 'weirdly optimistic'. — hedged: “I guess” [epistemic doubt] (00:03:34)
  • 2015-11-12 · Cheez Doodles Guy, Ringo Silver, and Dad Jokes (Pizzamas Day 4) — On becoming well-read, John says he doesn't know; he mostly reads books recommended by people he trusts, and recommends the amazing, weird sci-fi book Midnight Robber. — hedged: “I don't know” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:53)
  • 2015-11-16 · On Our Way to the Dance (Pizzamas Day 6) — John says the men very likely ended up fighting in the war and may well have died in it. — hedged: “very likely” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:10)
  • 2015-11-24 · Crime and Outrage — John argues the hikes stem not from one person's 'asshattery' but from a huge web of problems in US pharmaceutical markets; outrage may have slightly cut one rarely prescribed drug's price but did nothing for the larger issues. — hedged: “may have” [epistemic doubt] (00:02:29)
  • 2015-11-24 · Crime and Outrage — John argues that when we casually move from one outrage to the next, from pennies to Martin Shkreli, nothing really changes, except that maybe we become more afraid and pessimistic. — hedged: “maybe” [epistemic doubt] (00:03:03)

Wish / hope (12)

a wish about the future, not a claim about what is true

Opinion marker (30)

marks a view as the speaker's own; not doubt

  • 2015-01-27 · Will Life Get Better for the Poor? — John thinks the Global Citizen idea, that becoming more informed makes us more engaged, is brilliant, and hopes it helps him at least to listen better. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:03:37)
  • 2015-02-10 · Understanding Boko Haram — John says it is really important to learn about Boko Haram and not let its atrocities go unnoticed. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:05:53)
  • 2015-02-17 · Places I've Never Been — John says that a wrongly attributed author failing to notice the misattribution shows how screwed up credit, sourcing and copyright are on the internet. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:02:52)
  • 2015-03-03 · What's in the Box in the Box in the Box? — John concludes from the trip down memory lane that life is not so much about things as about people and what we do together. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:02:48)
  • 2015-03-10 · Travel Tips (and Paper Towns Movie Updates) — John announces the Paper Towns movie's release date has moved to July 24th, the real date, on which he thinks it will really come out. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:00:16)
  • 2015-03-10 · Travel Tips (and Paper Towns Movie Updates) — John says he really feels the Paper Towns movie is about learning to imagine others complexly. — hedged: “I really feel like” [opinion marker] (00:02:05)
  • 2015-03-31 · Hank's Haircut and Related Existential Crises — John thinks realness may be a continuum: selfhood, relationships, experiences and FIFA playing are varying degrees of real rather than simply real or not. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:01:56)
  • 2015-05-12 · Becoming Someone Else — John thinks some kind of loss is inherent to change. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:03:13)
  • 2015-05-19 · Pain Destroys Language: John after the Dentist — John says the only thing he can say about pain is that it sucks; he doesn't think it is romantic or transcendent. — hedged: “I don't think” [opinion marker] (00:02:12)
  • 2015-05-19 · Pain Destroys Language: John after the Dentist — John says that where we can help alleviate pain, we should. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:02:20)
  • 2015-06-08 · Monday Bonus Video! — John thinks wealth inequality is one of the biggest US issues and the wage-productivity decoupling very worrying, but we are mid-history and can collectively decide whether declining mobility is permanent. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:03:18)
  • 2015-06-09 · What Does It Mean to Be Human? — John says humans tend to be capable of empathy, collaboration and hope, but he doesn't think humans are unique among animals in these respects. — hedged: “I don't think” [opinion marker] (00:02:13)
  • 2015-06-30 · Some News — Last night Sarah and a group of John's friends saw the Paper Towns film for the first time and, he thinks, really liked it. — hedged: “I do think” [opinion marker] (00:01:21)
  • 2015-07-21 · PAPER TOWNS IS HERE AND JOHN IS A BALL OF ANXIETY — John has been obsessively reading reviews, including Brazilian ones via Google Translate since he speaks no Portuguese, and thinks they are very positive. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:01:51)
  • 2015-08-04 · Question Tuesday: Wookiee Gunships, Sneezing Cessation, and Pizza — Asked for a relatively unknown poet he loves, John names the Persian poet Hafiz, who he feels is not as well known here as he should be. — hedged: “I feel like” [opinion marker] (00:01:01)
  • 2015-09-01 · The Road Less Traveled By — John says the poem is interesting because it is partly responsible for the death of the person it was written for, most people draw the opposite of Frost's intended conclusion, and that dissonance says something about poetry. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:00:24)
  • 2015-09-01 · The Road Less Traveled By — Since then nearly everyone, John included, has adopted Thomas's reading; a rule like 'follow the path that others don't' is alluring and lets everyone feel like a nonconformist. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:01:30)
  • 2015-09-08 · Understanding the Refugee Crisis in Europe, Syria, and around the World — John thinks this is one reason much of the world could ignore the years-old Syrian refugee crisis until recently. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:00:19)
  • 2015-09-08 · Understanding the Refugee Crisis in Europe, Syria, and around the World — John thinks the world reacted so viscerally to the image of the dead boy on the beach because we all instinctively knew his blood was on all our hands. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:07:20)
  • 2015-09-15 · John Gets a Tattoo — John chooses to have the tattoo say DFTBA on his upper arm. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:00:34)
  • 2015-09-29 · Writing, Walling, Racing, and Wizard Schooling — John thinks the writing is going well, but who knows; he's been wrong before. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:00:20)
  • 2015-10-13 · John Green's Fiery Race Car Disaster — An IndyCar driver John knows told him that in racing the only thing more dangerous than being too aggressive is being too cautious; John thinks this applies beyond racing. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:00:11)
  • 2015-10-27 · Understanding YouTube Red: Paid Subscriptions and the Future of Online Video — John says he doesn't know how to feel: it's nice to see YouTube move away from relying only on ads, and Red will be a good option without harming ad-supported viewers. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:03:02)
  • 2015-10-27 · Understanding YouTube Red: Paid Subscriptions and the Future of Online Video — John thinks subscriptions make viewers more powerful and brands slightly less so, which he calls good news. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:03:16)
  • 2015-11-12 · Cheez Doodles Guy, Ringo Silver, and Dad Jokes (Pizzamas Day 4) — Asked which country will be the biggest superpower in 50 years, John thinks nation-states will matter slightly less, but picks India. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:02:59)
  • 2015-11-16 · On Our Way to the Dance (Pizzamas Day 6) — John notes the farmers still walk rather than drive; he sees them on the cusp of the contemporary world, glancing back as if pausing briefly before heading to their futures. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:00:48)
  • 2015-11-20 · On Mental Illness (and the end of Pizzamas) — John talks about his mental illness sometimes because nothing about it should be embarrassing, but rarely, because it is personal and chronic illness is hard to talk about. — hedged: “I don't think” [opinion marker] (00:01:06)
  • 2015-11-20 · On Mental Illness (and the end of Pizzamas) — John's theory: humans dislike imagining lives as random and need narratives, so when no cause is found we invent one (depression from weakness, diabetes from diet, heart failure from not exercising), which is inaccurate or oversimplified. — hedged: “I don't think” [opinion marker] (00:01:42)
  • 2015-11-24 · Crime and Outrage — John feels we are unnecessarily inundated with bad news because we seek it out and share it, becoming more afraid and pessimistic than we need to be. — hedged: “I feel like” [opinion marker] (00:03:30)
  • 2015-12-22 · The Myth Reawakens — John thinks the original Star Wars trilogy matters today not just as good movies with great effects and music, but because as myth they are brilliant. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:01:12)

Other hedge (10)

a hedge that matches none of the word lists

  • 2015-03-24 · Is Obamacare Working? The Affordable Care Act Five Years Later — John says the ACA has not and will not solve the long-term health care spending challenge, nor would repealing it; the problem was worse before Obamacare. — hedged: “If anything” [other hedge] (00:06:37)
  • 2015-03-31 · Hank's Haircut and Related Existential Crises — Wanting to support AFC Wimbledon more, John says he will try to do more video gaming, has started a Twitch TV channel and will try broadcasting that day. — hedged: “gonna try” [other hedge] (00:02:57)
  • 2015-04-21 · A Stunning Turn of Events — John says both Batman shirts are on pre-order until April 25 and then never again, then hedges: unless they are, since the future is unpredictable. — hedged: “unless they are for some reason” [other hedge] (00:00:58)
  • 2015-06-30 · Some News — John does not know the tour venues and times yet but expects to within the next week and will let viewers know. — hedged: “I should” [other hedge] (00:01:11)
  • 2015-08-04 · Question Tuesday: Wookiee Gunships, Sneezing Cessation, and Pizza — Asked when he will do his inkless tattoo punishment, John says 'Soon. Ish.' and asks viewers for tattoo ideas in the comments. — hedged: “Ish.” [other hedge] (00:01:33)
  • 2015-10-20 · Nerdfighteria's Resident Comptroller? — John says politics, especially local politics, are in some ways run by money; the cost of a state comptroller race shows what's wrong with American politics. — hedged: “in some ways” [other hedge] (00:03:14)
  • 2015-11-12 · Cheez Doodles Guy, Ringo Silver, and Dad Jokes (Pizzamas Day 4) — John calls this amazing news, arguably better than finding cheese doodles in Antarctica; he is encouraged but not Cheez Doodles Guy excited, which he finds weird. — hedged: “arguably” [other hedge] (00:00:33)
  • 2015-11-24 · Crime and Outrage — The internet can grapple with big problems and has given a voice to people traditionally discriminated against; John sees nothing wrong with anger, which combined with sustained effort can bring real change. — hedged: “I also don't think” [other hedge] (00:02:49)
  • 2015-12-01 · John's Book Giving Guide for the Holidays! — John, admitting bias, says books make the best gifts because they last, in the mind and physically: he still has the Tom Sawyer copy his mom gave him at ten. — hedged: “I really do think” [other hedge] (00:00:00)
  • 2015-12-08 · The Bank of Nerdfighteria's Semiannual Report — John says the brothers hope to expand both Crash Course and SciShow in 2016, and thanks supporters. — hedged: “we're hoping” [other hedge] (00:01:00)

Hedge words not recorded (2)

marked as unsure, but the hedge words were not quoted

Joke (6)

a gag; not a claim

Hypothetical (1)

a thought experiment or "what if"

  • 2015-01-27 · Will Life Get Better for the Poor? — John imagines the world the letter envisions: enough food grown in Africa for every African, mobile banking, girls educated, those diseases gone, half of today's child deaths averted, good for all. (00:02:02)

Playful (177)

a real point made in a joking way; the paraphrase records the meant core

Hank

858 statements · sincere 87% · playful 11% · other bits 1% · hedged or unsure 17%

Sincere but hedged (132)

Split by hedge type (derived from the quoted hedge words with a fixed word list — see the overview): epistemic doubt 56 · wish / hope 5 · opinion marker 45 · other hedge 22 · hedge words not recorded 4.

Epistemic doubt (56)

real uncertainty about whether it is true

  • 2015-01-02 · Why is The Alphabet In Alphabetical Order? Eight Completely Arbitrary Things — Hank thinks base 10 is probably more annoying than other systems and base 12, already used for dozens, might be better. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:27)
  • 2015-01-02 · Why is The Alphabet In Alphabetical Order? Eight Completely Arbitrary Things — Hank says we probably use base 10 just because we have 10 fingers. — hedged: “Probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:33)
  • 2015-01-09 · 14 Fart Facts for my Flatulent Friends — In the description Hank says he cut about five fart facts and might make a video with more fart facts in the future. — hedged: “Maybe” [epistemic doubt] (video description)
  • 2015-01-30 · Thoughts from the Edge — Hank says the land-sea edge, biologically productive, has also produced great cultural and economic productivity, so the edge effect seems to exist outside ecology too. — hedged: “it seems” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:05)
  • 2015-01-30 · Thoughts from the Edge — Hank says the end result is what ecologists call a monoculture: one plant as far as the eye can see, possibly productive but extremely unstable, crashable by any outside influence. — hedged: “may” [epistemic doubt] (00:02:25)
  • 2015-02-06 · You Will Be Forgotten ...And That's OK — Hank says the things we help make and problems we help solve are what really matter and make us happy; maybe everyone is unremarkable in that we all make things, including ourselves. — hedged: “maybe” [epistemic doubt] (00:02:35)
  • 2015-02-27 · In Which Hank is the Nerdiest Nerd — Hank says that when it was purchased the machine probably cost about as much as a really nice laptop today. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:00:25)
  • 2015-03-06 · WE WON! Net Neutrality and Re-Thinking Cynicism — Hank defines net neutrality as the rule that all information flowing through the internet's pipes is treated the same, which is kind of new. — hedged: “kind of” [epistemic doubt] (00:00:16)
  • 2015-03-27 · Announcing NerdCon: Stories — Hank says he has decided that what sets humans apart, making possible everything from air conditioning to nuclear war, is one word: stories. — hedged: “I don't know what gives me the right to do this” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:23)
  • 2015-03-27 · Announcing NerdCon: Stories — Hank says they are leaving the door open for possible future NerdCons on other things. — hedged: “maybe” [epistemic doubt] (00:02:50)
  • 2015-04-10 · This Video Makes No Sense — Hank thinks Vladimir Putin has probably not just ordered people to be killed but physically killed people himself. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:02:38)
  • 2015-05-01 · A $100,000 Egg and A 200M Year Old Pinecone — Hank suggests the hyenas got ignored because they are not glamorous animals; Emily finds that unacceptable and Hank kind of does too. — hedged: “maybe” [epistemic doubt] (00:03:22)
  • 2015-05-08 · QUADRAGOCON 2015 - WHO WILL WIN! — Hank says Quadragocon 2015 is over and ended in a tie with John, which he minds a little. — hedged: “I guess” [epistemic doubt] (00:03:35)
  • 2015-05-15 · Happy Graduation, Future Dead People — Addressing a 'future dead person', Hank says the viewer is very likely one of the luckiest and most powerful people who has ever existed. — hedged: “very likely” [epistemic doubt] (00:00:22)
  • 2015-05-15 · Happy Graduation, Future Dead People — Hank says people rarely feel powerful unless they suddenly gain power or have far more than those around them, and it is probably good they don't, since it might be crippling. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:00:29)
  • 2015-05-15 · Happy Graduation, Future Dead People — Hank says this is a complicated time and he has no practical advice; graduates' careers will probably look unlike any before, so they must be thoughtful, careful and a little cunning. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:10)
  • 2015-05-15 · Happy Graduation, Future Dead People — Hank says that by the time graduates reach retirement age, jobs might not be a thing anymore. — hedged: “might” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:25)
  • 2015-05-29 · 15 of My Favorite Feelings — Hank says maybe the best feeling he has had is letting someone you love see all your broken bits and having them accept them and share theirs, and knowing they love you back. — hedged: “Maybe” [epistemic doubt] (00:02:11)
  • 2015-05-29 · 15 of My Favorite Feelings — Hank found the video surprisingly hard to make: even in their open, honest corner of the internet, sharing things he likes was difficult, perhaps from self-consciousness or fear of bragging. — hedged: “I don't know why” [epistemic doubt] (00:03:14)
  • 2015-05-29 · 15 of My Favorite Feelings — Hank says it is apparently more fun to complain than to appreciate, but probably not better for a person or the world in the long term. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:03:34)
  • 2015-06-05 · Just for Nerdfighters — Hank says the community has given him many gifts; feeling in debt to many people, one way he can repay it is making videos just for the people who have supported the brothers. — hedged: “I feel like I could” [epistemic doubt] (00:00:55)
  • 2015-06-05 · Just for Nerdfighters — Hank wonders what the world will look like if many services become so cheap that people may not even need to pay for them. — hedged: “maybe” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:55)
  • 2015-06-12 · Why is College So Expensive? — Hank says rising spending looks like a natural outgrowth of capitalism and short-term self-interest, but asks whether treating students as customers will disserve everyone. — hedged: “It seems a little like” [epistemic doubt] (00:04:07)
  • 2015-06-12 · Why is College So Expensive? — Hank suggests colleges should give students enrichment and education rather than sell an experience; students learning about the world and themselves matters, possibly more than money, and needn't cost $40,000 a year. — hedged: “Maybe” [epistemic doubt] (00:04:21)
  • 2015-06-19 · 19 Ways to Not Suck on the Internet — Hank says everything you post can be read by everybody and will probably stay online pretty much forever, so be thoughtful. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:00)
  • 2015-06-26 · How to Get Good at Everything — Hank says that with revisions he will probably still be writing the book a year from now, which terrifies him; it is unlike anything he has done and he has no reason to believe he can. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:00:32)
  • 2015-06-26 · How to Get Good at Everything — Hank says the only way to write a good book is probably to write a bad one, work out why it's bad, and then make it good. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:03:21)
  • 2015-07-03 · Thoughts from Yachts — Hank was upset not only by the difference that wealth could make to suffering people, but because the monstrous displays of wealth seemed to come from sad places, mostly personal insecurity and a need to seem important. — hedged: “seemed” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:45)
  • 2015-07-10 · How to Get to Pluto: From a Waterpark — Triton, which was visited, orbits Neptune backwards, so it was probably captured from the Kuiper belt about 4 billion years ago when Neptune and Uranus switched places, possibly destroying thousands of Pluto-sized bodies. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:11)
  • 2015-07-10 · How to Get to Pluto: From a Waterpark — Pluto's moons were probably collected from the Kuiper belt; some have wobbly orbits, so on their surface sunrise would be unpredictable, rising in the east and setting in the north. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:02:04)
  • 2015-07-10 · How to Get to Pluto: From a Waterpark — Hank tells John New Horizons makes its closest approach on Tuesday and asks him to put a picture in his Tuesday video. — hedged: “if you could” [epistemic doubt] (00:03:08)
  • 2015-07-17 · Is YouTube Good for Humanity? — Hank says the internet creates more connections, more cultural and creative diversity and much wider access to information and free tools, so it seems to him to have had a very positive effect. — hedged: “it seems to me” [epistemic doubt] (00:00:42)
  • 2015-07-17 · Is YouTube Good for Humanity? — Hank says what used to be called fame, a word he is uncomfortable using, has started to seem really weird to him, probably because he now experiences its effects. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:47)
  • 2015-07-17 · Is YouTube Good for Humanity? — Hank says online success used to come with a community and a real creator-audience relationship, but as the culture grows that relationship feels less real, so online success looks more like traditional fame. — hedged: “maybe” [epistemic doubt] (00:02:13)
  • 2015-07-17 · Is YouTube Good for Humanity? — Hank says that with Vlogbrothers the brothers can actively 'de-mainstreamify' themselves by making more off-the-cuff, weird content that is less popular but still rewarding for the existing community. — hedged: “sort of” [epistemic doubt] (00:02:44)
  • 2015-07-31 · Why Paper Towns is Awesome — Hank suggests the film may have a bigger impact on the fewer people it reaches, thanks to its practical knowledge of how the world and relationships work, perhaps why it is less successful. — hedged: “maybe” [epistemic doubt] (00:02:11)
  • 2015-07-31 · Why Paper Towns is Awesome — Hank suggests that how we measure success in general may not be very good. — hedged: “Maybe” [epistemic doubt] (00:02:22)
  • 2015-08-07 · Is This Video Cool? — Hank says one way to examine culture is through the choices it makes, and cool, 'that bleeding edge of the collective self', is a good place to look. — hedged: “maybe that'll” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:58)
  • 2015-08-07 · Is This Video Cool? — Hank says we get to decide what cool is; we both create and are created by culture, so maybe we have an obligation to inspect the wave, its motivations and effects. — hedged: “maybe” [epistemic doubt] (00:03:01)
  • 2015-08-25 · Question Tuesday: The Goat Edition — Hank says goats' pupils are horizontal rectangles, probably for seeing in more directions (John: peripheral vision); he'd like to know what that's like, maybe via the Oculus Rift. — hedged: “probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:00)
  • 2015-09-04 · Addicted to Outrage — Respondents want the brothers to do a news show; Hank feels compelled to, but it's very hard and he doesn't know if they can; they're looking into it. — hedged: “I don't know that we'll be able to do it” [epistemic doubt] (00:03:30)
  • 2015-09-11 · Yellowstone: The Terror of Change — Hank writes that the truly terrifying thing may be that, faced with people who have lost everything, he looks to his own fear of the same fate rather than to helping rescue them, which is worth any disturbance to his stability; change is terrifying but inevitable. — hedged: “maybe” [epistemic doubt] (video description)
  • 2015-09-11 · Yellowstone: The Terror of Change — Since even the ground could one day fly into the air and land in Texas, Hank suggests how his Tumblr reblogs look isn't what he should worry about. — hedged: “maybe” [epistemic doubt] (00:03:10)
  • 2015-09-24 · Continents are Dumb — In America, at least, people are taught there are seven continents: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and Antarctica. — hedged: “I don't know what everybody else is taught” [epistemic doubt] (00:00:38)
  • 2015-09-25 · Pissed Off for a Better World — The problem with John's video is that it is about good news: we are cognitively biased to be uninterested in and skeptical of good news, especially large-scale news, so it is hard to care. — hedged: “kind of” [epistemic doubt] (00:00:10)
  • 2015-09-25 · Pissed Off for a Better World — For the world to make the investments the goals need, we have to care and hold our leaders accountable; and caring means being angry, because it is infuriating. — hedged: “kind of” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:41)
  • 2015-10-16 · Post-NerdCon Haze — Hank asks what became of the short stories and novellas never written in the meantime: maybe their creators wrote great novels instead, maybe not. — hedged: “maybe” [epistemic doubt] (video description)
  • 2015-10-16 · Post-NerdCon Haze — Hank says teachers might even discourage students from publishing in other formats, calling them 'not legitimate' or because they grew up with no market for them. — hedged: “might” [epistemic doubt] (video description)
  • 2015-10-16 · Post-NerdCon Haze — Showing Paolo Bacigalupi's Ship Breaker, Hank says it won a staff pick and may have won a Printz or been a Printz honoree, but he isn't sure. — explicitly uncertain: “I'm not sure” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:58)
  • 2015-10-23 · Benghazi: Explained — Hank grants that Clinton and Obama maybe did have an interest in downplaying the attack, since nobody wants a terrorist attack on their record. — hedged: “maybe” [epistemic doubt] (00:03:36)
  • 2015-10-23 · Benghazi: Explained — Hank says few people make context-giving explainers because without outrage and attacks on the other side you don't get many views; he would hire or promote anyone doing it. — hedged: “It seems a little bit like” [epistemic doubt] (00:07:48)
  • 2015-10-30 · Feeling Thankful in Portland — Hank says he is inspired to make things he finds cool and interesting that people will like, all they ever wanted to do, and they are lucky to get to do it. — hedged: “I guess” [epistemic doubt] (00:03:27)
  • 2015-11-11 · Watch This If You Want To Smile (Pizzamas Day 3) — Hank suggests surprise is part of excitement: not knowing the outcome and then finding there is more, as when the train enthusiast found a second historic engine. — hedged: “seems” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:52)
  • 2015-11-27 · Never Satisfied: The Story of Humans ¦-/ — Hank suggests it may be good that humans are not built to decide they have done well enough and stop progressing. — hedged: “maybe” [epistemic doubt] (00:01:42)
  • 2015-11-27 · Never Satisfied: The Story of Humans ¦-/ — Hank says it is impossible to feel all these accomplishments every second, and perhaps it is beautiful that we move on from successes to fret over the next big problem. — hedged: “maybe” [epistemic doubt] (00:02:15)
  • 2015-12-04 · The Explain The 2008 Financial Crisis CHALLENGE! (and 7 other challenges) — In the description Hank doubts he did a great job explaining the 2008 financial crisis, which turns out to be pretty complicated. — hedged: “I don't know” [epistemic doubt] (video description)

Wish / hope (5)

a wish about the future, not a claim about what is true

  • 2015-01-16 · Is School Broken? (Also...ANNOUNCEMENTS OF IMPORT) — Hank announces President Obama will have a conversation with him, hopefully about issues that matter to Americans, livestreamed on the White House's YouTube channel on January 22. — hedged: “hopefully” [wish / hope] (00:02:48)
  • 2015-01-23 · Interviewing the President — Hank insists the interview is not all theater and hopes to surprise the President at least a little bit. — hedged: “I hope” [wish / hope] (00:00:27)
  • 2015-03-20 · A Sacrifice of Individuality and the Internets — Hank tells Nerdfighters in the tour areas he hopes to see them in April. — hedged: “I hope” [wish / hope] (00:03:48)
  • 2015-10-23 · Benghazi: Explained — Hank sets out to explain why Benghazi provokes such anger, what actually happened and what it means, hopefully removing it a little from angry partisan grandstanding. — hedged: “hopefully” [wish / hope] (00:00:31)
  • 2015-11-27 · Never Satisfied: The Story of Humans ¦-/ — Hank hopes to honour those people by both appreciating what they have done and building on it. — hedged: “I hope” [wish / hope] (00:03:09)

Opinion marker (45)

marks a view as the speaker's own; not doubt

  • 2015-01-16 · Is School Broken? (Also...ANNOUNCEMENTS OF IMPORT) — Hank thinks a required high school gender studies course would solve a lot of problems. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:01:32)
  • 2015-01-30 · Thoughts from the Edge — Hank tells viewers they will never always be right; everyone is stronger if viewpoints mix, and he thinks that mixing, the edge's ecological success, matters to democracy too. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:03:09)
  • 2015-02-13 · Draw My Life + 16 Other Suggestions — Hank thinks Keystone XL is a bad idea, chiefly because tar sands are a huge carbon store and a super inefficient oil source that emits lots of CO2 before it is even burned. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:02:06)
  • 2015-02-20 · Why Are Fewer People Studying Science and Engineering? — Asked on TV and radio why fewer people study STEM, Hank says he is no expert but guesses many reasons, one being that it is really hard and often sugarcoated. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:01:20)
  • 2015-02-20 · Why Are Fewer People Studying Science and Engineering? — Hank says pushing teenagers into STEM because it is the only way to a good job is a terrible thing to do to a 15-year-old, telling them to start panicking a decade early. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:02:24)
  • 2015-03-06 · WE WON! Net Neutrality and Re-Thinking Cynicism — The description says political wins are drawn out, incremental and surprising, so they rarely feel good, but it is important to take time to enjoy them. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (video description)
  • 2015-03-13 · Screaming Into Pillows — Hank is happy working on big projects with talented people but wishes he could take everyone along; he feels his work stuff should be public but has no choice. — hedged: “I feel like” [opinion marker] (00:02:50)
  • 2015-03-20 · A Sacrifice of Individuality and the Internets — Hank says humans name groups by size and activity (crew, congregation, army, mob), and the most general term is a crowd. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:00:31)
  • 2015-03-20 · A Sacrifice of Individuality and the Internets — Hank thinks the internet has made society obsessed with a new kind of crowd, tied together not by place but by common values, goals or interests. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:00:49)
  • 2015-03-20 · A Sacrifice of Individuality and the Internets — Hank says for the first time in history we are literally alone in a crowd, and he thinks we are forgetting the crowd is made of individual people, which makes him uncomfortable. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:01:21)
  • 2015-03-20 · A Sacrifice of Individuality and the Internets — Hank says those shows taught him not that crowds are wise or powerful, but that crowds are kind, at least in the right situations; letting his individuality drop, he gained more than he lost. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:03:23)
  • 2015-03-27 · Announcing NerdCon: Stories — Hank says stories still define us, our culture, technology and science; any society that wants to behave differently must first change its stories; we are made of stories. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:01:56)
  • 2015-04-03 · Snap Questions: On the Set of Titansgrave! — Hank says removing an element from the periodic table itself would only mean less knowledge; from the world he would probably remove a dangerous one, like plutonium. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:00:36)
  • 2015-04-03 · Snap Questions: On the Set of Titansgrave! — Hank finds Snapchat weird and doesn't think he uses it like most people: having an audience, he tries to make people laugh, freed by it not being part of his permanent record. — hedged: “I don't think” [opinion marker] (00:01:20)
  • 2015-04-03 · Snap Questions: On the Set of Titansgrave! — Hank says dogs have as much of this as humans, and he thinks most or all mammals get it. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:02:34)
  • 2015-05-15 · Happy Graduation, Future Dead People — Hank says this is the real power: not a job or bank account but one every human has had, unrelated to immortality or fame, and perhaps the most important thing anyone does. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:02:57)
  • 2015-05-22 · 15 Rants in Four Minutes — In the description Hank says he doesn't think rants are particularly healthy but finds them entertaining, and wants to avoid getting angry at individual people unless they endanger others or break a social contract. — hedged: “I don't think” [opinion marker] (video description)
  • 2015-06-05 · Just for Nerdfighters — Hank says Nerdfighteria should be defined now and then: told on Tumblr that someone was shamed in a Nerdfighter community for being transgender, he says that is not what a Nerdfighter does. — hedged: “I feel like” [opinion marker] (00:01:05)
  • 2015-06-12 · Why is College So Expensive? — Hank thinks college should not be about maximizing revenue, especially state schools; the real question is whether college could be a better deal. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:03:56)
  • 2015-06-19 · 19 Ways to Not Suck on the Internet — Setting aside questions about place, local government and internet autonomy, Hank asks whether there are things we could do to be better internet citizens, and thinks yes. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:00:27)
  • 2015-06-19 · 19 Ways to Not Suck on the Internet — Hank calls BS detection one of the most crucial skills of the online citizen, slow to develop, and thinks it should be taught in schools everywhere. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:01:06)
  • 2015-07-17 · Is YouTube Good for Humanity? — Hank thinks the internet can also make people more tolerant of other perspectives just by making those perspectives more visible. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:01:39)
  • 2015-07-17 · Is YouTube Good for Humanity? — Hank says the internet, for the first time in a long time, gave many normal people the feeling that they could significantly affect their culture and change things. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:03:29)
  • 2015-08-07 · Is This Video Cool? — Hank says it is widely accepted that 'drunk' is the English word with the most synonyms, first proposed, he thinks, by Benjamin Franklin — hard to argue with mainly because slang is hard to measure. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:00:38)
  • 2015-08-14 · Corndog Ghost Attack, Book Towers, and Census — Hank challenges viewers to beat his 155 cm book tower, which he believes is not as tall as one can be; the five tallest and five most stylish win a gift package from him. — hedged: “I believe” [opinion marker] (00:02:08)
  • 2015-09-04 · Addicted to Outrage — Hank calls the fear that the 50% of Americans around us are thoughtless, terrible and foolish America's most common irrational fear, as irrational as guacamole tarantulas. — hedged: “what I think is” [opinion marker] (00:00:21)
  • 2015-09-04 · Addicted to Outrage — Hank thinks this fear comes from our absolute addiction to outrage. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:00:39)
  • 2015-09-18 · Muslims Aren't Dangerous — Hank thinks we should and can fight that fear, and the only place to do it is in our own heads. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:03:09)
  • 2015-09-24 · Continents are Dumb — Hank doesn't want to merge continents: they are useful in grade school, but adults should move past this massive oversimplification, which causes lifelong misunderstandings, and discard the concept. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:02:35)
  • 2015-09-25 · Pissed Off for a Better World — Hank stresses he is not being tongue-in-cheek: if we are going to get angry about anything, this is the stuff to get angry about. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:02:51)
  • 2015-09-25 · Pissed Off for a Better World — Hank apologises for yelling and says we can do this, but only if we hold our leaders accountable and really want it to happen. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:03:31)
  • 2015-10-23 · Benghazi: Explained — Hank asks whether it's just his own bias that makes him see others as biased, and thinks not, since good analysis needs detachment from the political system that doesn't attract interest. — hedged: “I don't think” [opinion marker] (00:08:12)
  • 2015-10-30 · Feeling Thankful in Portland — Hank thinks content that removes the charge and the fear of the other 50% of Americans from political discourse would be extremely valuable. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:02:39)
  • 2015-11-06 · Announcing VidCon 2016! June 23 - 25 (and Pizzamas 2015!) — Hank feels VidCon has not been good at reflecting the explosion in gaming content or making it a priority, though streamers and YouTube gamers are huge; he feels bad about that. — hedged: “I feel like” [opinion marker] (00:02:10)
  • 2015-11-09 · Enjoy My Stupid Dancing! (Pizzamas Day 1) — Hank thinks the channel's traditions and inside knowledge are wonderful but can be intimidating for people who are new. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:00:47)
  • 2015-11-09 · Enjoy My Stupid Dancing! (Pizzamas Day 1) — Hank points those confused by Pizza John to his video from last year (2014) on the history of Pizza John, which he worked hard on and thinks is good. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:01:04)
  • 2015-11-11 · Watch This If You Want To Smile (Pizzamas Day 3) — The description says this excitement is universal but people tamp it down after a certain age; being emotionally open to good things also means being open to bad things. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (video description)
  • 2015-11-11 · Watch This If You Want To Smile (Pizzamas Day 3) — Hank says it takes work to tell himself not to shut it down and to love things, alone or with others, without fear; the videos are a masterclass in openness to wonder. — hedged: “I feel like” [opinion marker] (00:03:30)
  • 2015-11-13 · Feeling About Paris — Hank says whatever response people have is appropriate: disengaging, staring at live feeds from Twitter and Reddit, or being terrified for friends, family, themselves or just people. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:01:20)
  • 2015-11-19 · Is Success a Bad Idea? (Pizzamas Day 9 of 10) — In the description Hank says compliments on his success put him inside a worldview he doesn't share; what he thinks important is financial and social security. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (video description)
  • 2015-11-19 · Is Success a Bad Idea? (Pizzamas Day 9 of 10) — Hank thinks everyone craves societally recognised success and he has some of it, but he does not need it to feel valued or happy. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:02:35)
  • 2015-11-19 · Is Success a Bad Idea? (Pizzamas Day 9 of 10) — Hank thinks it is very important for society to find ways to value ourselves and each other that have nothing to do with the scarcity of money, fame or power. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:02:49)
  • 2015-11-19 · Is Success a Bad Idea? (Pizzamas Day 9 of 10) — Ending his Pizzamas videos, Hank says he still doesn't know what success is: he knows individual successes, but acquiring success or 'being a success' is a made-up thing. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:03:15)
  • 2015-11-27 · Never Satisfied: The Story of Humans ¦-/ — Hank argues we need to focus less on who our opponents are and more on what we are actually trying to achieve; increasingly in America he sees the discourse as 'the problem is those people in our way' rather than 'the problem is the problem'. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (video description)
  • 2015-11-27 · Never Satisfied: The Story of Humans ¦-/ — Hank says being thankful for the billions of people who worked to make life better for their children, himself among those children, motivates him and makes him happier and more effective. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:02:54)

Other hedge (22)

a hedge that matches none of the word lists

  • 2015-01-30 · Thoughts from the Edge — Hank does not want to live in ideological monocultures and does not think he does; pretending that we do serves a few people who happen to have a lot of power. — hedged: “I do not think” [other hedge] (00:02:42)
  • 2015-02-13 · Draw My Life + 16 Other Suggestions — Asked about his book, Hank says he is thinking about writing a fiction-y thing, for now about a girl, a robot and what it means to be human. — hedged: “I'm thinking about” [other hedge] (00:01:05)
  • 2015-03-13 · Screaming Into Pillows — Hank teases two big secret things: one announced early next week (week of 16 March 2015) with his Reddit AMA on Monday, the other a week later, if all goes to plan. — hedged: “if all goes according to plan” [other hedge] (00:02:03)
  • 2015-04-24 · Mother Pheasant Plucker - A Song — Hank says the Bat People shirts are on sale only for roughly another 12 or 24 hours: this is the last chance. — hedged: “or so” [other hedge] (00:03:23)
  • 2015-05-15 · Happy Graduation, Future Dead People — Hank says that in absolute rather than relative power, the viewer is basically a god. — hedged: “basically” [other hedge] (00:00:40)
  • 2015-06-12 · Why is College So Expensive? — Hank argues the driver is sales: colleges act like businesses competing for students as customers, and amenities like nice dorms or a climbing wall make families choose pricier schools when payments differ by only $30 a month. — hedged: “It appears that” [other hedge] (00:02:21)
  • 2015-06-26 · How to Get Good at Everything — Hank says many books are much longer than 50,000 words; some of his favorites run to about 400,000-500,000 words. — hedged: “like” [other hedge] (00:00:26)
  • 2015-06-26 · How to Get Good at Everything — Hank says the main trick and first step to getting good at things is realizing that skill and talent are not innate but come from hard work. — hedged: “As far as I can tell” [other hedge] (00:02:56)
  • 2015-07-03 · Thoughts from Yachts — Hank hopes growing productivity will one day give everyone enough to minimize suffering, but in Cannes and Saint-Tropez he worries no one will ever be satisfied, so wealth keeps concentrating instead of serving global goals like ending poverty, war and climate insecurity. — hedged: “I worry” [other hedge] (00:02:08)
  • 2015-07-17 · Is YouTube Good for Humanity? — Hank says online culture is becoming mainstream culture with VidCon part of it; he doesn't necessarily want online new media to become mainstream media, but it is happening. — hedged: “necessarily” [other hedge] (00:02:25)
  • 2015-08-07 · Is This Video Cool? — Hank argues culture is self-aware only superficially, like looking in a mirror and being impressed, rather than examining its motivations, effects, hopes and fears as a person reflecting would. — hedged: “it feels like” [other hedge] (00:01:21)
  • 2015-08-28 · ALL of Wikipedia in One QR Code? — Hank prefers a huge aperture, such as the James Webb Space Telescope, already in development, modified for a wider angle; its aperture could conceivably resolve 2 mm pixels from 13.5 km. — hedged: “conceivably” [other hedge] (00:02:40)
  • 2015-09-18 · Muslims Aren't Dangerous — Muslims in America know the hatred and discrimination, Muslims abroad know extreme American views, and Hank bets other countries mostly hear about the scariest Americans. — hedged: “I'm willing to bet” [other hedge] (00:02:37)
  • 2015-09-25 · Pissed Off for a Better World — The chance of achieving the goals if nobody cares is zero; everyone needs to know about them, since they are achievable, but only if people hold their governments accountable. — hedged: “basically” [other hedge] (00:01:05)
  • 2015-09-25 · Pissed Off for a Better World — Hank hopes whoever is watching will be inspired to share this with the people around them and in their community. — hedged: “I really do hope” [other hedge] (00:03:22)
  • 2015-10-09 · The Surprising Truth About FLORIDA MAN! — Hank's pet theory: lacking a stereotype for Florida like those for Californians, New Yorkers and Texans, pattern-recognizing brains seized on its weird headlines: 'weird news capital'. — hedged: “pet theory” [other hedge] (00:03:12)
  • 2015-10-23 · Benghazi: Explained — Hank says downplaying a crisis after it has happened is, at least to him, very far from criminal negligence. — hedged: “at least to me” [other hedge] (00:04:08)
  • 2015-10-23 · Benghazi: Explained — Hank says it seems unlikely anything more will be found and more likely the attack involved unfortunate circumstances and significant but not criminal mistakes. — hedged: “it's seeming” [other hedge] (00:06:16)
  • 2015-11-11 · Watch This If You Want To Smile (Pizzamas Day 3) — Hank says it can feel as if sporting events are the only time it is culturally acceptable to feel such uncontrolled excitement, and he is not really into sports. — hedged: “Sometimes it feels like” [other hedge] (00:02:59)
  • 2015-11-17 · The Things that People Do (Thoughts from New York City) (Pizzamas Day 7) — Hank says in a lot of ways the most amazing thing he saw was the food at a Pret a Manger: food is complicated and perishable, yet always there, and the logistics amaze him. — hedged: “in a lot of ways” [other hedge] (00:01:20)
  • 2015-11-27 · Never Satisfied: The Story of Humans ¦-/ — In the description Hank writes that he does not think the way we focus on problems is necessarily the most effective, but that it is undeniably human. — hedged: “necessarily” [other hedge] (video description)
  • 2015-11-27 · Never Satisfied: The Story of Humans ¦-/ — Hank expects the coming year to be really hard, with campaign rhetoric even more toxic by next October, which he finds terrifying. — hedged: “I dunno” [other hedge] (video description)

Hedge words not recorded (4)

marked as unsure, but the hedge words were not quoted

  • 2015-03-13 · Screaming Into Pillows — Hank doesn't know whether it is better to talk about this, since now viewers know he is keeping things from them. — explicitly uncertain (hedge words not recorded) (00:03:04)
  • 2015-08-28 · ALL of Wikipedia in One QR Code? — Hank says he's not entirely sure and could have got something wrong, and thanks Henry from MinutePhysics for helping with the maths. — explicitly uncertain (hedge words not recorded) (00:03:41)
  • 2015-09-24 · Continents are Dumb — Hank says the definition makes some sense for Australia, but doesn't know whether it is a really big island or a really tiny continent. — explicitly uncertain (hedge words not recorded) (00:01:16)
  • 2015-11-13 · Feeling About Paris — Hank says there is nothing useful he could say, tentatively offering 'hatred is not the correct response to hatred' and 'the world is broken, but hope is not crazy', calling one 'a John Green one'. — explicitly uncertain (hedge words not recorded) (00:01:53)

Satire (1)

a mock position (e.g. a fake moral panic) — the opposite of what is meant

  • 2015-12-25 · On Hating Christmas — Hank voices others' complaints: too much consumption, neglect of religious and historical roots, traditions co-opted from harmed cultures, Santa anagrams to Satan, Christmas Eve consumerism. (00:00:12)

Fiction (1)

a story or novel read aloud; the words belong to characters

  • 2015-04-24 · Mother Pheasant Plucker - A Song — In the song, the narrator is a pleasant pheasant plucker at a pheasant factory, from a pheasant-plucking family in Italy, who never says the F-word. (00:00:28)

Joke (3)

a gag; not a claim

Hypothetical (7)

a thought experiment or "what if"

  • 2015-08-28 · ALL of Wikipedia in One QR Code? — Hank asks whether all of Wikipedia could be printed on one QR code and scanned by a camera, calling it a dumb question of the kind he enjoys answering. (00:00:26)
  • 2015-08-28 · ALL of Wikipedia in One QR Code? — Multiplying by 8 squares per byte, taking the square root and assuming 2 mm blocks, Hank gets a QR code 27 km on a side holding all of Wikipedia. (00:00:49)
  • 2015-08-28 · ALL of Wikipedia in One QR Code? — A camera with a 90-degree field of view would have to be 13.5 km away to capture the whole code. (00:01:28)
  • 2015-08-28 · ALL of Wikipedia in One QR Code? — At that distance the atmosphere would distort the image too much, so Hank proposes putting the QR code on the Moon's surface with the camera orbiting about 13.5 km up. (00:01:35)
  • 2015-08-28 · ALL of Wikipedia in One QR Code? — Hank's answer: yes, Wikipedia can be printed as a scannable QR code, not really with current technology, but it is possible. (00:03:30)
  • 2015-10-09 · The Surprising Truth About FLORIDA MAN! — Hank's example: a journalist who hears of a man in a Thor costume eating knishes from a smashed deli case just calls police for detailed reports; elsewhere such a story would not be worth the hoops. (00:02:44)
  • 2015-11-27 · Never Satisfied: The Story of Humans ¦-/ — Hank's thought experiment: if cancer were cured tomorrow we would celebrate for years, but within 20 or 30 years we would normalize and just live in a world without cancer. (00:00:42)

Playful (97)

a real point made in a joking way; the paraphrase records the meant core

Other voices

50 statements · sincere 62% · playful 38% · other bits 0% · hedged or unsure 6%

Sincere but hedged (3)

Split by hedge type (derived from the quoted hedge words with a fixed word list — see the overview): epistemic doubt 2 · opinion marker 1.

Epistemic doubt (2)

real uncertainty about whether it is true

  • 2015-05-01 · A $100,000 Egg and A 200M Year Old Pinecone — Emily Graslie: Emily guesses there are fewer than half a dozen elephant bird eggs in any museum collection in the world, and asks not to be quoted on it. — hedged: “I don't know, there's probably” [epistemic doubt] (00:02:17)
  • 2015-05-12 · Becoming Someone Else — Zulaiha: Zulaiha wonders if she is more comfortable in this clothing than she thought and should wear it every day. — hedged: “maybe” [epistemic doubt] (00:02:47)

Opinion marker (1)

marks a view as the speaker's own; not doubt

  • 2015-05-12 · Becoming Someone Else — Zulaiha: Zulaiha felt little different, she thinks because she links the clothes with her family, around whom she acts differently, but not with work. — hedged: “I think” [opinion marker] (00:02:38)

Playful (19)

a real point made in a joking way; the paraphrase records the meant core