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I watch to learn. You are honest and helpful. I'm not big on the hype and drama.

Ol' Farm Boy here, came up in Oklahoma, now live in NM. I like your truck! It is a lot like some of the iron I been running all my life. Got a Lincoln now, but I still like my ol' trucks. Looks like you are enjoying your life. Good for you! Thanks for showing...

I spent several hours at Timberline (many years back) looking at the wood and iron work, and general design of the structure. I was amazed by it. You brought back fond memories for me. Thanks...

Hi John! I've enjoyed your videos for several years...maybe I haven't thanked you often enough for your efforts. I appreciate all the help and tips you have passed along to those of us who are inspired, but less talented or experienced in the art. Thanks for keeping it real. I've noticed the change in YT...seems like new contributors are using the old Hollywood approach...put a big, false front on everything and then have very little to back up the hype. I think many of the great talents, a group in which I include you, may be considering leaving, or cutting back offerings on the platform. It may turn out that YT is just a digital coffee shop for the young and frivolous generations with their very limited attention spans. Thanks again...coming to you from N Central NM...I like that D&RGRR train a lot...ridden it several times, glad you included it.

I enjoy your videos. I started beating on hot metal last year. I do not know any blacksmiths so I turned to CZcams. I watched lots of channels til I found you. Wether it's a beginner project or a more advanced video or just talking to us or working on a project at the cabin, I appreciate how you explain your methods. I learn something every time I watch or rewatch one of your videos. Thank you for taking the time to create your videos.

Love the train, brings childhood memories back. I've just found you, but have watched many of your BBForge stuff for many yrs. Cheers from Terra Australis...

I never pick my thumbnail until I am at the point of posting. Typically, it's just a screenshot from the video itself. Thanks for what you do John.

Like so many of your other commentators, I have a similar view of CZcams. While there is good content such as yours, there is a vast quantity of rubbish. Keep on with what you do John, it has been so useful to me as a very very newbie tosblacksmithing. It continues to provide good refreshers when I can't recall the processes. Your detailed information on the hammer etc techniques sets your videos way above the ones who seem to just be there to provide self aggrandisement with no instructions at all. Having spent many years as a volunteer driver on a heritage railway here in South Australia, it was lovely to see your train shots, with nice steady camera technique. It was a nice touch given that steam required so much from the blacksmith in the past. and even today in preservation.

John's out here calling out the b.s from click-baity titles and thumbnails. Awesome!! You keep doing you!

LOVE that steam locomotive. I'd bet the boiler is fired with diesel!

Yes, too many "chase the algorithm" and end up paper thin clones with burnout. I decided that my channel will be videos that I want to make, what piques my own interest that I would enjoy sharing, and not worry about 'tricks' and 'gimmicks'.

I'm glad to hear that its not just me that is tired of the clickbaity trend in CZcams! My hope is that in the long run, the GENUINE CZcamsrs prevail, and the click-baiters get tired and go home! Thanks for the train footage, too! :)

I agree with others…way too many thumbnails are click bait. I’m retired military and a somewhat aviation geek. A couple of related YT channels thumbnails usually have the same catch words such as, “Hypnotic” and “Skilled”, and others, and are often just not quite appropriately used, which makes me believe they are computer generated. I won’t even open them now. I really love your integrity, honesty, and commitment to content.

I love the Rams head on the clean out door! 🐏

Ignorant question. What is a thumbnail? Also, the NWBA videos are great for me. Love the puffer belly. The whistle is awesome! Thanks

Really glad you made this video. I have a small channel And I have a lot of videos that I believe have a lot of value but it is hard to find thumbnails for them.

John I watch your videos, because I like all you say and do. The cabin ,all your blacksmith,and you just talking. Forget the guru , people ,you are the guru . Thanks

CZcams has been formulaic and predictable for quite a few years now. It's just becoming more and more overt, not in the least the interventions CZcams is taking to force people to resort to these "do this, do that". CZcamsrs simply do not have the time or resources to nail down their unique thing, simply because CZcamss algorithm ignored them. It has been pretty much the same with the Discovery channel. It used to be informative and a source to learn something. Then came Orange Country Choppers and basically every turned into drama TV after that, because it generated views and actual real content had to go.

I have a few rules. 1. If the thumbnail has someone with his mouth wide open....block the channel. 2. Thumbnail has unrelated big boob shot....block. 3. If the canned lead-in is more than 30 seconds....block. 4. AI generated (now over half of non technical videos). block 5. Titles that don't say what it is about (curiosity teasers) ....block 6. Titles that are obviously untrue....block 7. Videos featuring somebody killing somebody else. Block 8. Videos that pirate someone els's video....block If we all block channels with obnoxious practices, they will get the message. Either wy, I will never see their trash again.

As a person who gave up television and youtube basically became my library, entertainment, tech support, etc, I seriously hate click bait and have gotten decent at spotting its thumbnails and titles, it falls into a category that is my most hated, deception. If the content creator is genuine, I'll stick through those "boring" videos just to help their view times.

Yes they closed the rabbit holes And now bring up things you have seen first instead of last It so watered down and censored its not worth much any more , not since the scrub . It’s like old dishwater

Steam Train! !,000,000,000 Likes

Hi John , I watch your videos to see you through the process and the inspiration on my own work . Keep it real .

Well , I don’t care about originality I care if I am going to learn something . We can learn from watching someone That has a craft or a view on something.. I watched a train power its way Up the track In interesting and provoking ways

Your recent NWBA presentation videos are great! Even though I watched them in parts, over several days, I value the detailed info contained there. Your focus on real, useful content is why I'm watching your channels and ignoring most of what I come across on YT.

Where other channels need to sensationalize their content to get views, which is blatantly obvious and a bit cringey, your honesty and integrity shine through. I watch everything you post. Just like you said in another video, it may not be a technique I want to use, but it is always good to learn. You have almost single handedly taught me everything I know about blacksmithing. Thank you.

i agree with everything said in this video, youtube is getting lost

I think that the people that are out there making videos based on thumbnails are the same people on other platforms who are constantly barraging people with follow requests and no real content in hopes of getting enough followers to make it profitable so sell their page. They’re also the ones who turn to making usually bad videos with clickbait titles(which if it was someone I follow, I instantly unfollow.) You on the other hand create genuine content that promotes genuine thought, curiosity, and conversation among other things, and that is why I will always watch and like your content.

I feel if you are using youtube for number of views...you arent using it right. youtube should never be used for money because it will only frustrate you and make you fake because you change how you work so you please an algorithym.

Keep doing what you've been doing, I love your videos

Well, perhaps some people are entertained by clickbait thumbnails and formulaic videos. I'm not one of them, and the only YT stuff I watch are videos I think I can learn from. Yours, I always learn from.

I come for the content and as I am an beginning hobbyist blacksmith with very little experience of my own I appreciate all the black bear forge videos I have watched. The content provides inspiration, context and direction when I do finally get in my shop to make something. In fact the "wear your safety glasses" comment at the end of your videos is something I find myself repeating as I begin setting up to work. John, thank you so much for what you do. Best wishes to you and yours.

CZcams was more interesting when it was about people sharing their passion for something without a thought for making a buck. I'm an old curmudgeon, but there are a lot of us that value content much more than flashy presentations.

Most of creative career has been in entertainment working at some of the biggest cable/streaming channels. I would develop what we call key art, other wise known as the poster, for an original series. We get an understanding of the story for the season of a particular show and THEN try to develop the marketing, such as the key art. Film developers would never say Hey, let me see some posters so I can make a new series to film!

Hey old friend. Life had some big changes in for me but I'm still watching you when I can. Do you think u can show us how to make a fireplace log tongs. Thx ...paul

Thank you for this, John! I totally agree on YT is loosing itself.. It’s becoming a blueprint society

I agree with you John, I look for videos that seem to be true to the subject at hand and what the person is truly into, which is why I always watch your videos. You have a simple down to earth approach and most everyone can learn something from them, thank you and stay real!

I really enjoyed this video sir! Please keep doing more like it! God bless!

It's not a competition. A lot of what I watch is resource based. Stuff that can be used as a resource. If I were a blacksmith I know I would watch and review and re watch a lot of your videos to help me grow my skills. I do learn from your videos and they are also entertaining but I don't envision CZcams as just entertainment. Keep doing what you do John. To me you have CZcams success.

Love the train

John, there are a rare few CZcamsrs i follow, that I watch everything they post. You are one of them. You titles and thumbnails are always on point, never click bait. Your topics all have value, your discussions are always relevant and you videos are always well thought out. Army

Keep it organic and it will grow. 😉

The artist Sascha Konietzko said, “In the age of super-boredom, hype and mediocrity, celebrate relentlessness.” I interpret that as being aware of what is quality and worth your attention and what is meaningless. Being mindful but also accepting it and continuing regardless. We consume so much more than previously. Books had a much higher level of entry and passion for the topics.

I have to agree with you John, i'll watch a video from someone genuine over the thumbnail and clickbait, that's why we love your videos! That's some great footage of the train too!

I love your content, even when it’s just everyday content. The best way to get me to block a channel is do a title with clickbait that has nothing to do with the content.

A lot of people are more interested in farming net income through views than offering what they deem to be valuable knowledge or entertainment for others through genuine content. Thank you for staying true to your own values and not becoming a marketing frenzy like other channels!

I generally don't watch videos with flashy titles and thumbnails. They need to be descriptive and feel accurate, or just anything in my sub feed that looks interesting. For example I found you from a short on facebook. that was just you doing blacksmithing, that looked neat so I watched a few and subbed to you on youtube, and watch any that look like you are making something, or if they seem like an interesting topic. CZcams really rewards quantity over quality, and it seems like you are focused on quality, which I think tend to keep your subs loyal, and coming back for more, though it may not grab as many random people. But really your content is mostly for blacksmiths and people interested in the art, a lot of the things that go viral tend to be low brow entertainment, and not all that informative. Which is rather sad, for someone that would rather watch something good and informative.

That must be the reason it's getting harder to find other CZcams videos with useful and meaningful content.

I watch your channel to learn. You are good teacher and I appreciate you time.

I just love your videos< both on this channel and your Black Bear channel. the genuine down to earth personality and no nonsence approach makes it a joy to watch, thank you , and please keep on rocking.