Viewer questions, 2013

70 viewer questions, requests and challenges answered in 16 videos uploaded in 2013, grouped by topic (the domain of the part of the video the answer is in), in upload order within a topic. Each question is followed by the answer as summarised, with the speaker and timestamp. Question Tuesday marks the Q&A series. Back to the overview.

Topics: Books & writing (31) · Nerdfighteria (16) · Personal life (10) · Projects (3) · Everyday life (2) · Internet & YouTube (2) · Philosophy & meaning (2) · Pop culture (2) · Global development (1) · History & curiosities (1)

Books & writing

Q: “Why is your tumblr called fishing boat proceeds?” (00:01:48) — How to Be More Than Friends: Question Tuesday · Question Tuesday
- John: Asked why his Tumblr is called Fishing Boat Proceeds, John says since 2007 he has hoped for fishing boat proceeds so he can tick a special box on his tax return; it hasn't happened yet. (00:01:48)
Q: “Are you ever afraid of running out of ideas for books or getting writer's block so crippling that you never write again?” (00:02:00) — How to Be More Than Friends: Question Tuesday · Question Tuesday
- John: Asked whether he fears running out of book ideas or crippling writer's block, John says yes, and thanks the asker for mentioning it. (00:02:00)
Q: “Does Holden Caufield ever change?” (00:02:14) — How to Be More Than Friends: Question Tuesday · Question Tuesday
- John: Answering questions on Romeo ('if he were named Paris he wouldn't be nearly so hot') and Holden Caulfield, John points to Crash Course episodes and tells viewers they should subscribe. (00:02:07)
Q: “TFiOS movie?” (00:02:19) — How to Be More Than Friends: Question Tuesday · Question Tuesday
- John: Asked about the TFIOS movie, John says he loves the script but doesn't think he is allowed to say anything else. (00:02:19)
Q: “Do you have any tips for a scared parent-to-be?” (00:02:24) — How to Be More Than Friends: Question Tuesday · Question Tuesday
- John: Asked for tips for a scared parent-to-be, John says everyone feels unqualified at first, but you only have to trick the baby into thinking you're qualified; babies are easy to trick. (00:02:24)
Q: “is Hazel Esther?” (00:00:00) — TFiOS Movie Casting, New Books, and Groundhog Wars: An Old School Vlogbrothers Video
- John: Answering readers who ask whether Hazel is Esther, John says the novel is not Esther's story; her story belongs to her and her family. (00:00:00)
Q: “TFiOS casting?!” (00:00:37) — Puppies, Pegasi, and TFiOS Casting: It's Question Tuesday · Question Tuesday
- John: John confirms the TFIOS film casting: Ansel Elgort as Augustus Waters and Shailene Woodley as Hazel Grace Lancaster. (00:00:37)
Q [challenge]: “But I am a GIANT SQUID OF ANGER about this!!” (00:00:44) — Puppies, Pegasi, and TFiOS Casting: It's Question Tuesday · Question Tuesday
- John: To fans angry about the casting, John says he too wants a good movie; having seen the auditions, he says viewers will just see Hazel and Gus, not the actors. (00:00:44)
Q: “How much say do you actually have in casting?” (00:01:04) — Puppies, Pegasi, and TFiOS Casting: It's Question Tuesday · Question Tuesday
- John: John says he has a surprising amount of say in casting: he is not casting the movie, but the producers and director include him in everything. (00:01:04)
Q [request]: “If you could only recommend one book to nerdfighteria, what would it be?” (00:02:08) — Puppies, Pegasi, and TFiOS Casting: It's Question Tuesday · Question Tuesday
- John: Asked for one book to recommend, John says it changes weekly; for now he recommends The End Games by T. Michael Martin (zombie) and How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia (non-zombie). (00:02:08)
Q: “will you be coming to Amsterdam?” (00:01:03) — TFiOS Movie, Bees, Babies, and More! · Question Tuesday
- John: John says people seem to think the movie is being made by him, but he is just the author of a book. (00:01:07)
Q: “Is Shailene Woodley a good kisser?” (00:00:19) — Question Tuesday with Nat Wolff (aka Isaac in The Fault in Our Stars movie) · Question Tuesday
- Nat Wolff: Asked if Shailene Woodley is a good kisser, Nat says he wouldn't know: Isaac doesn't get to kiss Hazel. (00:00:28)
Q: “What part of the book are you most excited to see in the movie?” (00:00:35) — Question Tuesday with Nat Wolff (aka Isaac in The Fault in Our Stars movie) · Question Tuesday
- Nat Wolff: Nat says he has filmed the trophy scene and thinks it went well. (00:00:37)
Q: “How true to the book is the movie?” (00:00:55) — Question Tuesday with Nat Wolff (aka Isaac in The Fault in Our Stars movie) · Question Tuesday
- Nat Wolff: Nat says the movie is very true to the book: people love it and it is already so realistic that barely anything had to change. (00:00:55)
Q: “If you could only watch one more movie in your life, Nat, what would it be?” (00:01:33) — Question Tuesday with Nat Wolff (aka Isaac in The Fault in Our Stars movie) · Question Tuesday
- Nat Wolff: Nat says the one movie he would watch would probably be Taxi Driver, probably his favourite movie of all time. (00:01:36)
Q: “What's it been like hanging out with, uh, actual teen cancer survivors?” (00:01:45) — Question Tuesday with Nat Wolff (aka Isaac in The Fault in Our Stars movie) · Question Tuesday
- Nat Wolff: Nat says meeting teen cancer survivors at a hospital was overwhelming: within minutes they talked movies, TV and music, and he realised they are normal kids in a really lame situation. (00:01:48)
Q: “What's it like playing a blind person?” (00:02:30) — Question Tuesday with Nat Wolff (aka Isaac in The Fault in Our Stars movie) · Question Tuesday
- Nat Wolff: Nat says that when filming Isaac's blind scenes he really can't see, using covered glasses or contacts, which is freeing: you lose all self-consciousness. (00:02:31)
Q: “What was you favorite scene to film in the movie so far?” (00:01:06) — Q&A with Ansel Elgort and Mike Birbiglia from The Fault in Our Stars Movie Set
- Ansel Elgort: Asked for his favorite scene so far, Ansel names a car scene with Gus filmed Friday night (John stops spoilers) and calls it his favorite scene as an actor. (00:01:06)
Q: “When you were writing The Fault in Our Stars, did you ever think it would become a movie?” (00:00:00) — Question Tuesday: The Fault in Our Stars Movie Edition · Question Tuesday
- John: John never thought The Fault in Our Stars would become a movie: Hollywood rarely makes love stories about disabled teenagers, with a lead wearing a nasal cannula in every scene; he is delighted. (00:00:00)
Q: “Did you really cry a lot while you were on the movie set?” (00:00:00) — Question Tuesday: The Fault in Our Stars Movie Edition · Question Tuesday
- John: John confirms he cried a lot on the movie set, because, without spoilers, there are some sad parts. (00:00:00)
Q: “John, are you gonna be in the movie?” (00:00:29) — Question Tuesday: The Fault in Our Stars Movie Edition · Question Tuesday
- John: John says he will be in the movie unless his scene is cut, in a 'really important role' he is not yet allowed to reveal. (00:00:29)
Q: “Was that your first time ever acting?” (00:00:29) — Question Tuesday: The Fault in Our Stars Movie Edition · Question Tuesday
- John: John doubts that what he did on set counts as acting, and expects nobody to suggest a screen career once they see the film. (00:00:29)
Q: “Hey, do you have an official release date that I can put on my calendar and scream about?” (00:00:29) — Question Tuesday: The Fault in Our Stars Movie Edition · Question Tuesday
- John: The film comes out on June 6 in the US; John does not yet know the international dates. (00:00:29)
- John: John asks viewers to put the release date in their calendars, because a film's success is now judged largely by how many people see it in the first 24 hours. (00:00:29)
Q: “Why is the premiere date so far away?” (00:00:58) — Question Tuesday: The Fault in Our Stars Movie Edition · Question Tuesday
- John: Shooting finished five days ago; the film now has to be edited, which is when it really becomes a movie and takes a long time; it is held for June as summer fare. (00:00:58)
Q: “How does it feel to be a big-time movie producer making the big bucks?” (00:00:58) — Question Tuesday: The Fault in Our Stars Movie Edition · Question Tuesday
- John: John stresses he is not a producer and the film is not his movie: he is not its director, producer, casting director, music supervisor or actor. (00:01:27)
Q: “Will Troye Sivan's song about Tifios be on the soundtrack?” (00:01:27) — Question Tuesday: The Fault in Our Stars Movie Edition · Question Tuesday
- John: Whether Troye Sivan's song about TFIOS goes on the soundtrack is not John's decision, though he loves the song. (00:01:27)
Q: “Is the movie the exact same as the book?” (00:01:27) — Question Tuesday: The Fault in Our Stars Movie Edition · Question Tuesday
- John: The movie is not the same as the book and should not be: a film tells a visual story, a book a textual one. (00:01:27)
Q: “Should I read the book before seeing the movie, or the other way around?” (00:01:56) — Question Tuesday: The Fault in Our Stars Movie Edition · Question Tuesday
- John: John, admitting he is biased, says viewers should definitely read the book before seeing the movie. (00:01:56)
Q: “Since it was filmed in Pittsburgh, how did the movie recreate-” (00:01:56) — Question Tuesday: The Fault in Our Stars Movie Edition · Question Tuesday
- John: Indianapolis landmarks were recreated in Pittsburgh by set designers; Funky Bones was rebuilt with help from the artist and Sarah, who flew out to check it, and up close John could not tell it from the real one. (00:02:26)
Q: “How many times have you read The Fault in Our Stars?” (00:00:05) — REUNION! Arm Wrestling, Drawing, and Questions with Hank and John! · Question Tuesday
- John: John says he has read the finished hardcover of The Fault in Our Stars zero times, since there are many books by others he could read. (00:00:07)
Q: “What's your favorite book series at the moment?” (00:00:22) — REUNION! Arm Wrestling, Drawing, and Questions with Hank and John! · Question Tuesday
- John: John says his favorite book series will always be Harry Potter, though he likes Divergent a lot. (00:00:24)

Nerdfighteria

Q: “John, advice for aspiring novelists.” (01:46:39) — An Evening of Awesome at Carnegie Hall · Question Tuesday
- John: John's advice to aspiring novelists: read a lot and broadly, tell stories to friends and notice when they get bored (also good for vlogging), and write a lot. (01:46:39)
Q: “When do I start feeling like a real adult?” (01:47:47) — An Evening of Awesome at Carnegie Hall · Question Tuesday
- Hank: Asked when you start feeling like a real adult, Hank says he's the wrong person to ask; he thinks adulthood is things being the same every day for years, so hopefully never. (01:48:09)
Q: “What is something that you have learned about your brother John that you never knew before you started Vlogbrothers?” (01:49:18) — An Evening of Awesome at Carnegie Hall · Question Tuesday
- Hank: Asked what he learned about John since Vlogbrothers began, Hank jokes about John's 'serious psychological issues', then offers answers John 'might have given': how smart and how funny he is. (01:49:18)
Q: “How do you feel about playing Carnegie Hall?” (01:51:36) — An Evening of Awesome at Carnegie Hall · Question Tuesday
- John: Asked how playing Carnegie Hall feels, John says writers mostly sit alone, so this is more fun: 'quite nice', a Dutch understatement he picked up living in Amsterdam. (01:51:36)
Q: “Have you ever had a crush on a teacher?” (01:53:19) — An Evening of Awesome at Carnegie Hall · Question Tuesday
- Hank: Hank says he had a crush on his junior-year high-school English teacher, who is now a Nerdfighter taking part in the Project for Awesome and the comments. (01:53:19)
Q: “when you first began writing seriously did you doubt your skills” (01:54:04) — An Evening of Awesome at Carnegie Hall · Question Tuesday
- John: John says self-doubt about writing never goes away: with each new novel he feels as if he has never written one before. (01:54:04)
Q: “Okay, Hank, what do you think is the most impactful thing to decrease world suck that has come” (01:55:09) — An Evening of Awesome at Carnegie Hall · Question Tuesday
- Hank: Asked what most decreased world suck, Hank names P4A but recalls their first-year visit to a microfinance organization in the Dominican Republic; microfinance seems to really work. (01:55:09)
Q: “Jon, does writing ever make you feel overly exposed?” (01:56:38) — An Evening of Awesome at Carnegie Hall · Question Tuesday
- John: John says novels don't make him feel overly exposed, since fictionality protects him, but very personal writing such as blog posts does. (01:56:38)
Q: “Favorite part of the evening of awesome?” (00:00:47) — How to Be More Than Friends: Question Tuesday · Question Tuesday
- John: Asked his favorite part of the Evening of Awesome, John answers: all of it. (00:00:47)
Q: “What would you most like to tell Esther about?” (00:00:50) — How to Be More Than Friends: Question Tuesday · Question Tuesday
- John: Asked what he would most like to tell Esther about, John says he wishes she could have read The Fault in Our Stars and often wonders whether she would have liked it. (00:00:50)
Q: “What's your favorite photograph?” (00:00:22) — Puppies, Pegasi, and TFiOS Casting: It's Question Tuesday · Question Tuesday
- John: Asked for his favourite photograph, John picks 'Young Farmers' (also called 'Three Farmers on Their Way to a Dance, August 1914'), noting they were also headed for World War I. (00:00:24)
Q: “Are you good at multitasking?” (00:01:37) — Puppies, Pegasi, and TFiOS Casting: It's Question Tuesday · Question Tuesday
- John: John says studies consistently show that the better people think they are at multitasking, the worse they actually are (then claims he is great at it). (00:01:37)
Q: “How does it feel to be a doctor?” (00:01:45) — Puppies, Pegasi, and TFiOS Casting: It's Question Tuesday · Question Tuesday
- John: Asked how it feels to be a doctor, John says about the same as before, and says he has hardly taken off his 'cape thing'. (00:01:45)
Q: “Hey, where do the ducks go when the pond freezes over?” (00:02:37) — Puppies, Pegasi, and TFiOS Casting: It's Question Tuesday · Question Tuesday
- John: John says the Central Park pond Holden Caulfield wonders about never freezes, so its ducks stay, citing Central Park's official photographer of 27 years. (00:02:37)
Q: “What country is Nerdfighteria bigger than?” (00:00:06) — GIFs, JIFs, Whip Pans, Trivia, and BATMAN! · Question Tuesday
- Hank: Hank's research: counting regular watchers Nerdfighteria is bigger than 61 countries (incl. Barbados); counting subscribers, 85 countries (incl. Djibouti, Africa's least populous). (00:00:44)
Q: “did we license this?” (00:00:06) — Who Owns DFTBA? An Introduction to Trademarks
- John: John says Nerdfighters ask about the 'Don't Forget to Be Awesome' rug at Urban Outfitters: the brothers didn't license it, aren't paid, aren't happy, could stop it but won't. (00:00:00)

Personal life

Q [request]: “Hannah Hart asked people who donated to her kickstarter to show off their kitchens” — asked by Hannah Hart (00:00:01) — Cooking with a 3-Year-Old: The Mac & Cheese and Communist Celery Edition
- John: Hannah Hart asked people who donated to her Kickstarter to show off their kitchens because she might come cook in them, so John and his son cook dinner to show theirs. (00:00:01)
Q: “Are there any foods that you wish were more readily available in the US?” (00:00:08) — TFiOS Movie, Bees, Babies, and More! · Question Tuesday
- Hank: Asked which foods they wish were more readily available in the US, Hank names paprika Pringles. (00:00:08)
Q: “Are you missing a tooth?” (00:01:13) — TFiOS Movie, Bees, Babies, and More! · Question Tuesday
- John: Asked if he's missing a tooth, John says yes: it caused terrible chronic pain since before Brotherhood 2.0, was removed in complicated, painful surgery, and no longer hurts. (00:01:16)
Q: “Has Alice done a nerdfighter salute yet?” (00:01:24) — TFiOS Movie, Bees, Babies, and More! · Question Tuesday
- John: Asked whether Alice has done a Nerdfighter salute, John says she is one month old and has made no intentional gestures yet. (00:01:24)
Q: “Which one of you would win at an arm wrestling match?” (00:00:27) — REUNION! Arm Wrestling, Drawing, and Questions with Hank and John! · Question Tuesday
- John & Hank: Asked who would win at arm wrestling, the brothers arm-wrestle; John concedes, saying he could have kept going but was laughing too hard, and Hank claims he won with his wit. (00:00:27)
Q: “Why did you name your son William if you were gonna call him Hank?” (00:00:29) — Mom and Dad Green! Extra Special Question Tuesday · Question Tuesday
- Sydney Green: Sydney says that, being Southern, they named Hank William Henry after his two grandfathers. (00:00:36)
Q: “Did you have alternate names for us if we were going to be girls” (00:00:53) — Mom and Dad Green! Extra Special Question Tuesday · Question Tuesday
- Sydney Green: Sydney says she had no girl name for Hank because she knew he was a boy; the girl name for John was Elizabeth. (00:00:59)
Q: “Do your friends and family understand what we do?” (00:02:17) — Mom and Dad Green! Extra Special Question Tuesday · Question Tuesday
- Sydney Green: Sydney says their friends and family clearly understand what John does, but not what Hank does with the videos. (00:02:21)
Q: “What's your number one parenting tip?” (00:02:48) — Mom and Dad Green! Extra Special Question Tuesday · Question Tuesday
- Mike Green: Mike gives his number-one parenting tip in one word: encourage. (00:02:48)
Q: “How did you decide to live where you do?” — asked by Henry Reich (00:03:05) — Mom and Dad Green! Extra Special Question Tuesday · Question Tuesday
- Mike Green: Mike says they live about 20 minutes outside Asheville and chose the place with a spreadsheet of indicators that came almost all from the census. (00:03:07)

Projects

Q: “Will Topol on Twitter is wondering, children, what is the silliest thing they have ever asked you on a tour?” (00:03:36) — Thoughts from Carnegie Hall
- Emily Graslie: Asked the silliest thing children ask on her museum tours, Emily says they always ask if everything is dead, and yes, everything is dead. (00:03:36)
Q [request]: “I'm taking your suggestions on what I should do in my video today.” (00:00:28) — Raw Onion, Twerking, and Speech Jam
- Hank: In a song, Hank recalls asking Bernie what he thought of Pride and Prejudice characters as vloggers, and marvels that the idea won an Emmy award. (00:00:52)
- Hank: Hank recommends reading Jane Austen's Emma because some friends of his are about to adapt it into a video blog series. (00:01:04)
- Hank: Hank says a Wonder Woman movie needs to exist and comically says whoever turned it down should eat a can of poop-flavored poop. (00:01:16)
- Hank: At a viewer's suggestion (per the description), Hank eats raw onion and finds it pretty good, having been ready to say how terrible it was. (00:01:31)
- Hank: Hank deals with stress in two ways: stress he can fix he handles as fast as possible, because putting it off makes it worse; stress he cannot fix he thinks through and accepts. (00:01:48)
- Hank: Hank explains that speech jammers work by playing your voice back into your ears right after you speak, interfering with cognition so that speaking becomes very difficult. (00:02:12)
Q: “Is dftba.com doing anything for Black Friday?” (00:02:57) — REUNION! Arm Wrestling, Drawing, and Questions with Hank and John! · Question Tuesday
- John & Hank: For Black Friday DFTBA.com has $3 shipping on all orders, no matter the size, even international. (00:03:00)

Everyday life

Q: “Hey, how do I know if someone wants to be just friends or more than friends?” (00:01:01) — How to Be More Than Friends: Question Tuesday · Question Tuesday
- John: Asked how to tell whether someone wants to be 'just friends' or 'more than friends', John says use your words, and questions why language makes face-licking the step past friendship. (00:01:01)
Q: “How do I stop feeling like I'm not doing anything with my life?” (00:01:58) — TFiOS Movie, Bees, Babies, and More! · Question Tuesday
- John: John says Larry Langford, now in prison, was mayor of his quasi-hometown Birmingham, Alabama, and ran for mayor with the motto 'Let's do something'. (00:02:01)
- John: John says it turns out that just doing something is a terrible, terrible idea. (00:02:14)
- John: John advises focusing not on doing something but on doing good things, even very little ones like nice favors for people you like. (00:02:19)

Internet & YouTube

Q [request]: “But Barbie still asked us to just make a video about something the Vlogbrothers care a lot about” (00:00:58) — Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
- Hank: Hank says one P4A perk was choosing a Vlogbrothers video topic; many such videos will be uploaded unlisted, but one donor asked for a video on something the brothers care about, so this is it. (00:00:58)
Q: “Thoughts on YouTube paid subscriptions?” (00:01:22) — GIFs, JIFs, Whip Pans, Trivia, and BATMAN! · Question Tuesday
- Hank: On YouTube paid subscriptions, Hank says he doesn't know how people will use them, hopes in innovative ways, and favours people making money from what they produce. (00:01:22)

Philosophy & meaning

Q: “What do you think about people's saying Shailene is too attractive to play Hazel” (00:02:55) — Question Tuesday: The Fault in Our Stars Movie Edition · Question Tuesday
- John: To people saying Shailene is too attractive to play Hazel, John replies he is offended on Hazel's behalf: the book never says she is not attractive. (00:02:55)
Q: “Did you have any preconceived ideas about movies that got blown out of the water?” (00:02:55) — Question Tuesday: The Fault in Our Stars Movie Edition · Question Tuesday
- John: John used to think films were about actors, directors, producers and maybe a cinematographer; he had not understood that everyone in the credits is vital. (00:02:55)

Pop culture

Q: “Is Batman really a superhero, or just a super rich guy?” (00:01:45) — GIFs, JIFs, Whip Pans, Trivia, and BATMAN! · Question Tuesday
- Hank: Asked whether Batman is a superhero or just a rich guy, Hank ventures he is more of a superhero than others, having no powers, just money. (00:01:45)
Q: “How can light be affected by black holes if it has no mass?” (00:02:18) — GIFs, JIFs, Whip Pans, Trivia, and BATMAN! · Question Tuesday
- Henry Reich: Henry Reich explains that light is affected by black holes because gravity is an interaction between objects with energy and momentum, which light has. (00:02:18)

Global development

Q: “How do you make a really good Project For Awesome video?” (00:03:13) — REUNION! Arm Wrestling, Drawing, and Questions with Hank and John! · Question Tuesday
- John: John says a good P4A video does not just talk to the camera about why a charity matters to you but shows the charity at work. (00:03:16)

History & curiosities

Q: “What is something surprising you've learned today?” (00:02:32) — TFiOS Movie, Bees, Babies, and More! · Question Tuesday
- John: John says he learned that China's monopoly on the world silk trade ended when two monks smuggled about seven silkworms out of China to the Byzantine Empire, rewriting history. (00:02:40)