Introduction
Sometimes the
world feels pretty bleak, and we feel helpless to change it. There seems to be
no end to natural disasters, poverty, religious persecution, hate crimes,
environmental destruction, and bullying. It is pretty clear that world suck is
increasing every day. Looking for a word to describe this feeling? How about Weltshmerz?
What the heck is Weltshmerz?
Weltshmerz \vélt shmèrts\ n: sadness felt at the imperfect state of the world, especially at the behavior of human beings
But wait! All is not lost!
When the state of the world gets me down, I think about John and Hank Green and the Nerdfighters and the work they have done to make the world a better place – and my hope is restored.
The Origins of the Nerdfighters
It started out as a plan between two brothers, John and Hank Green, to communicate through YouTube videos for a year, without any other kind of textual communication, like emailing or texting. (You may already know John Green from his books Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, and Paper Towns.) Taking on the name, the “Vlogbrothers,” they started Brotherhood 2.0 in 2007, and they soon gained a still growing online community of viewers eager for their distinct kind of humor and outlook. They unabashedly celebrated intelligence, open dialogue, and activism. (They also enjoyed experimenting with Peeps, speculating about puppy-sized elephants, and saying “French the Llama!”) The viewers that watched the Vlogbrothers were named the “Nerdfighters.” The community that developed was called “Nerdfighteria.”
Who Are the Nerdfighters?
The Nerdfighters are a community of people from all races, religions, and nationalities, who want to “raise money and awareness for important causes” (Nerdfighters.com). There are no special qualifications necessary. If you want to become a Nerdfighter, then you are a Nerdfighter. As the How To Be a Nerdfighter Video (posted above) explains, Nerdfighters are made of awesome and devote their energy to decreasing world suck. World suck is whatever is wrong in the world, and Nerdfighters fight it with awesome. As Hank Green said, “We fight using our brains, our hearts, our calculators and our trombones.”
Decreasing World Suck = Increasing Awesome
OR
Increasing Awesome = Decreasing World Suck
How Have the Nerdfighters Decreased World Suck?
Through their efforts to raise money and awareness about important causes, Nerdfighters have drastically reduced world suck levels.
* Working with Save the Children and Shawn’s Uncultured Project, they built a Pond Sand Filter in Bangladesh to
provide clean water
* With the Harry Potter Alliance and Partners in Health, they flew the S.S. DFTBA with lifesaving supplies to Haiti
* In 2007, they started in YouTube’s Project for Awesome. This year they raised over $130, 000 from small
donations from individuals like you!
How Can I Decrease World Suck/Increase Awesome?
In John Green’s and David Levithan’s book, Will Grayson, Will Grayson, they write, “…because we can’t stop the weltchmerz. We can’t stop imagining the world as it might be, which is awesome. It’s my favorite thing about us!”
There is no ONE way to decrease world suck. Everyone has his or her own way to make the world better, using our strengths, interests, and creativity. The most important thing is DFTBA, or Don’t Forget to Be Awesome, the Vlogbrother’s catchphrase. (This could also be translated as Be Excellent to Each Other, the world, and yourself.)
What the heck is Weltshmerz?
Weltshmerz \vélt shmèrts\ n: sadness felt at the imperfect state of the world, especially at the behavior of human beings
But wait! All is not lost!
When the state of the world gets me down, I think about John and Hank Green and the Nerdfighters and the work they have done to make the world a better place – and my hope is restored.
The Origins of the Nerdfighters
It started out as a plan between two brothers, John and Hank Green, to communicate through YouTube videos for a year, without any other kind of textual communication, like emailing or texting. (You may already know John Green from his books Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, and Paper Towns.) Taking on the name, the “Vlogbrothers,” they started Brotherhood 2.0 in 2007, and they soon gained a still growing online community of viewers eager for their distinct kind of humor and outlook. They unabashedly celebrated intelligence, open dialogue, and activism. (They also enjoyed experimenting with Peeps, speculating about puppy-sized elephants, and saying “French the Llama!”) The viewers that watched the Vlogbrothers were named the “Nerdfighters.” The community that developed was called “Nerdfighteria.”
Who Are the Nerdfighters?
The Nerdfighters are a community of people from all races, religions, and nationalities, who want to “raise money and awareness for important causes” (Nerdfighters.com). There are no special qualifications necessary. If you want to become a Nerdfighter, then you are a Nerdfighter. As the How To Be a Nerdfighter Video (posted above) explains, Nerdfighters are made of awesome and devote their energy to decreasing world suck. World suck is whatever is wrong in the world, and Nerdfighters fight it with awesome. As Hank Green said, “We fight using our brains, our hearts, our calculators and our trombones.”
Decreasing World Suck = Increasing Awesome
OR
Increasing Awesome = Decreasing World Suck
How Have the Nerdfighters Decreased World Suck?
Through their efforts to raise money and awareness about important causes, Nerdfighters have drastically reduced world suck levels.
* Working with Save the Children and Shawn’s Uncultured Project, they built a Pond Sand Filter in Bangladesh to
provide clean water
* With the Harry Potter Alliance and Partners in Health, they flew the S.S. DFTBA with lifesaving supplies to Haiti
* In 2007, they started in YouTube’s Project for Awesome. This year they raised over $130, 000 from small
donations from individuals like you!
How Can I Decrease World Suck/Increase Awesome?
In John Green’s and David Levithan’s book, Will Grayson, Will Grayson, they write, “…because we can’t stop the weltchmerz. We can’t stop imagining the world as it might be, which is awesome. It’s my favorite thing about us!”
There is no ONE way to decrease world suck. Everyone has his or her own way to make the world better, using our strengths, interests, and creativity. The most important thing is DFTBA, or Don’t Forget to Be Awesome, the Vlogbrother’s catchphrase. (This could also be translated as Be Excellent to Each Other, the world, and yourself.)
Decreasing World Suck by Reading
One way we can
remember our awesome roots is by reading awesome books. I have created this
website to offer suggestions of books to help inspire us to increase awesome in
our communities, in ourselves, and by example. The amazing thing is that the
lines easily blur. When you start working on decreasing world suck, you will
find that you also change in the process, and create an endless loop of
awesome.
Books about Decreasing World Suck in the Community
Books about Decreasing World Suck by Example
Books about Decreasing World Suck in Ourselves
Guides to Decreasing World Suck
Books about Decreasing World Suck in the Community
Books about Decreasing World Suck by Example
Books about Decreasing World Suck in Ourselves
Guides to Decreasing World Suck