Optimism is Not Insane
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- čas přidán 30. 05. 2013
- In which Hank talks about our cognitive bias toward bad news, how that affects us, and why there are, in fact, lots of reasons to be optimistic about the future of humanity on the Earth. All of this was inspired by the people I met in Seattle while helping launch this Kickstarter for a space telescope (www.kickstarter.com/projects/1....
Also, one of the guys behind that project wrote a book that heavily inspired this video and it is really really good and very interesting. I suggest you buy and read it: www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451...
Now I want to be clear that I don't think humanity is safe, or that we're not in the middle of a significant mass-extinction event, or that we're royally screwing up the planet, or that future generations won't be astounded by our arrogance...
I do, however, think that there is a very good chance that humanity will still be creating and solving problems thousands of years from now. Because creating and solving problems appears to be the two things we're best at.
Awesome moving graph came from www.gapminder.org
Actually, as an environmentalist, I think optimism is kind of essential. Everyday on facebook I talk with people who have pretty much given up. Their cynicism has gotten the best of them. You need to believe you can make a difference in order to try and make a difference.
I exist as an author to push back against the dystopic, pessimistic end-of-the-world bias in science fiction.
Preach it!
Hey, dystopian novels are great, as long as they are written properly. They are great ways to show our societies' flaws, but there are a bit too many new ones that seem a bit less powerful.
Christian Le Breton Oh, I agree. I just write to balance them out with some hopeful tales. :)
Corinn Heathers What're your ideas?
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Hank Green you are a lovely human being. Thanks.
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HANK:
PRE-CONGRADULATIONS ON YOUR WIGGLY STICKY BABY THING!!!!!!
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Thank you so much for informing me that Hank is going to be a father, I had no idea and I nearly cried of happiness because I've always thought that Hank would be an incredible father. Now I have to go very quickly through these vlogbrothers videos to catch up in time for the announcement! Ahhhhh!!!!!
Fencer Dave Hank is now (or will soon be) a published author
POST- CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WIGGLY STICKY BOOK THING
"WE are the SUPERHERO, not as individuals, but collectively." Not sure if I'm quoting right, but I will go back to that part of the video, write down the quote, make some art, and have on a f*cking t-shirt. Some of the problems in the world may seem impossible to solve, but believing in something is the first step to making it happen. This vlog gives me hope. It reminds me that ewe can make changes, that we can fix things, and that there are smart people in the world who understand this.
If we're a superhero, can we be called Legion? Cuz, that'd be awesome.
Nah, already an iconic Mass Effect character.
This is so true. If we all work together, whether as super-smart scientists or just vegetables sitting at home looking these problems up online and fathoming our own opinions on how to fix them and sharing them online, we can fix these problems.
One of the most informative and optimistic videos I've ever seen. Well done, both factual, informative, and makes us all feel good.
I think it is very true, that we do more good accidentally together. I think that is the power of the individual free spirit, that individually we create, work hard and innovate, but taken as a whole contribution, we change the world day by day.
right on!
Your optimism videos make me not despair over our future so much. Which happens more than I would like to think. So, thank you.
This was a very inspiring video, nice work... also, as an aerospace engineer I always really enjoy it when Hank's clear love for my line of work is on display, more of that please
I really appreciate the way the books behind you are organized by color. Also, I appreciate this video for being inspiring instead of terrifying.
It's so refreshing to hear rational optimism from someone as unexpected as a (former?) environmentalist blogger. Good for you Hank.
I really love how your intention is to make nerds like us feel good about ourselves and be our own superhero.
This is lovely :') My biology teacher was the one to change my view on humanity from hateful to hopeful and this video kind of outlines it all. Wonderful Hank you never fail to inspire and impress!
Every single one of their videos change my life just a little more. I may be just a young teenager and I don't always understand all the big words they use but when I do its like woah...I've never though about the world that way, or I didn't know that fact but thanks for that this video has had an effect on my life or my way of thinking or how I see the world...thx 4 that pal
Hank, some of us want to help!!! I'm passionate about conservation, and rather than shutting down when I saw the startling deforestation footage you shared, my resolve was renewed! Every day, from my "day job" to my CZcams channel, I work to fix these problems :)
The optimist vibe feels more optimistic. That's very rare. Thank you.
This just made me feel like I am now a fully fledged nerd fighter because I have been impacted by this video.
I come back to this video at least once a year and it remains one of my favorite CZcams videos
Exactly what I needed to hear today. Thank you, as always, Hank. You are awesome.
This is great, good job vlogbrothers.
Coming back to this now that Hank has a baby and Donald Trump is president elect of the United States... worth watching again.
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Maz Selby +
Donald Trump is no longer the president wuuuu
I gotta say Hank, to me, this is the best and most inspiring video you've ever made and it reminded me to be optimistic and have confidence in humanity which I'd completely lost. Thanks Hank.
Thank you for making this video Hank. I think we all needed this. You're such an inspiration and you're so intelligent.
my god even congress adapts! XD
Congress adapts?!? oh, Hank, you optimist. I'll forgive you b/c May 31 is well before ill-fated October
Diana Peña Government programs aren't socialism.
Lupyrius gov'ts may be based on a certain type of rule, but they never work like their strict definitions. One might say communism is nice, in theory, but in practice- well....
One the off chance a socialist program is enacted in a democracy/republic, a program with socialist characteristics, even in a stated democracy, would not be viewed as socialist policy, but probably as more left-winged instead.
You're a great writer Hank
I started watching vlogbrothers videos exactly 2 years ago on June 1st, 2011. I just wanted to say thank you Hank and John for your wisdom, kindness, and love. I'm glad you are a part of my life.
One of the best vlogbrothers videos I've seen in a while. Bravo!
Pessimism is rooted in neuroticism and paranoia. Optimism is sometimes rooted in mania but most times is rooted in critical analysis of the situation. Our fight or flight instinct tends to push the worst case scenario to the front of our minds but only the mindless heed that instinct entirely. Pragmatism requires critical thinking and the weighing of how our negative and positive biases may be effecting our thinking. Logic is more important than pathos. It would be manic optimism to believe that any economic system even capitalism is perfect. It is how people regulate and are able to control and impact that economic system that allows that system to adapt. If people can exert responsible control over those systems to meet their needs then those systems can adapt to meet those needs. That does not mean such systems should be placed in the hands of a technocratic elite nor should they be placed in the hands of mob rule. One must have participatory systems for every sector of a society to effect change to the system in a way that is not only democratic but authoritative and allows for informed decision making.
It's funny that at the beginning he says "I don't have much data on how to take care of a new born."
I love that you talk so fast. This world is so slow and I get frustrated and stressed SO THANK YOU!
Aaanndddd this is why I keep coming back to the vlogbrothers videos. I'm inspired again, thank you Hank.
Yeah, but we're also the super-villains.
Spider-Man caused the death of his uncle trying to make money for himself and his lower class family. Does that make him a supervillain? Or did the fact that he learned from his mistakes and put helping others above helping himself make him a true hero? That's how I feel about this: we worked so hard to solve civilization's problems (pay the Parkers' bills) that we failed to see the damage we were causing (ignored the burglar who stole money from the studio). Now we found possible sources of the problems (tracked down Uncle Ben's killer) know we caused the problem (could've stopped the burglar before he killed Uncle Ben) and hopefully can help solve them (become the hero Peter was meant to be)
First off: Love the Spider-Man analogy ;)
Second: I sincerely hope you're right about being able to solve the problem. Unfortunately, much of the human population still denies that the problems exist. (not most, some)
children that don't exist don't starve, have less children and all of the environmental problems will go away. If you want to be a parent so bad, adopt a foster kid, there's millions of them that need homes
+credit2team this is stupid on so many levels
+TheBaneJane i agree it's a bit accusatory but the overpopulation problem is a huge issue. treating adopted children secondary to just wanting to have your own children is what's ridiculous.
+TheBaneJane how?
+TheBaneJane Not really. People are having children at an alarming rate and a lot of those kids are abandoned, unwanted, accidental, or put up for adoption. If more people adopt these kids instead of making their own [especially in cases where having a child is a bad idea for that couple], and if we start being responsible with our reproduction, we can make a serious dent in our population problem.
I've lost all hope in humanity and it's making me feel REALLY bad about everything so I'm watching vlogbrothers to help me feel better not much is helping
This is probably one of my favorite vlogbrothers videos. Thanks for the optimism Hank!
I hope your enjoying your "well rested luxuries" on paternity leave Hank 😂
This was your best video ever. Thank you for your optimism!
That graph is amazing! It's amazing to see how things have progress and how different factors are correlated.
This is a really good one. One of the best serious Vlogbrothers videos in a while.
This is my favorite Hank video ever. So inspiring and well-done.
Thank you, Hank! Wonderful video on topics I happen to care very much about. Our best solutions aren't created by focusing on the problem, but by letting the problem ask the question and coming up with inspiring answers. All of which is hard to do if we have our Pessimism (which sometimes masquerades as "Realism") hat on. The best part is, we have a choice as to whether we tell the disempowering story or the inspirational one. There is always overwhelming evidence for either one.
Hank, I love watching your videos because they're such a challenge. Sometimes they're so thought-provoking that my brain gently slips into tangents, and then I have recover and replay the last 30 seconds of the video. It's not an experience I get with other youtubers.
This is a really amazing video. There is a lot of negativity in this world and those negative views, experiences, people etc tend to be louder than the positive ones. Personally, I do not see many positive videos like this one anyway. So, if one negative experience is worth ten positive ones, everything seems much worse because I have seen numerous negative videos and not many positive ones. So, thank you! Videos like this, people like Hank (and John), and communities like ours give me hope.
Thank you so much, Hank. Thank for letting us not forget to be awesome. Because if we can be awesome together, we can make the whole world awesome along with us.
I loved that telescope you helped with. I donated some money to help. Its a really great project that their working on. Its so great that people can work together to do things like this.
Love this, Hank - thank you so much! I now see that all my cautious optimism has NOT been for naught after all. Very gratifying.
Hank and John, you are really wonderful people. I love to watch the comedy CZcamsrs, the beauty CZcamsrs, the vloggers, but of all the CZcamsrs, you are some of the most intelligent and inspiring people to watch.
Thank you Hank for the insight. Most people are either indifferent or pessimistic about the future of the earth and humanity. So to hear a more positive point of view like this one is really a nice rarity.
Thanks for the positive look on humanity's impact. It takes energy to be informed about the problems facing us, and so much more to not despair once informed. I know that people would just be amazing at solving any problems that could possibly arise, but we would need to 1- all be one the same page as to what the problem is, and 2- be ready to withhold a certain level of convenience from ourselves even though it is available. People's behavior toward each other leads me to have to fight despair.
All the respect for this video. I may not agree with everything being said, but it's refreshing to know that somebody out there still looks at the bright side of things.
"We are the superhero. None of us individually, but all of us together." Thanks, Hank. Your optimism is phenomenal.
Thank you for making this video. I think we often have to be reminded of the positives in this world, and all the positive things that we as a people can achieve. Again, thank you.
This might be my favorite recent vlogbrothers videos.
We are the heroes. We exist on this planet and we solve problems and we do it together and this just made me smile, thank you hank.
You and John inspire me more than you even know. Thank you for that.
Hank, you and John never fail to inspire optimism within me and i thank you for that. The world would be a terrible place if we never appreciated the things that give us hope.
Thank you Hank! I really needed this video in my life.
Thanks for this wonderful pick-me-up. I feel invigorated after having watched this.
This is truly inspiring and of course optimistic, thank you Hank :) together we are our own superheroes
Thank you guys for being you guys you're awesome!!!
Thank you so much Hank!! This video is amazing and uplifting and I TOTALLY agree that there is so much to be optimistic about. We are so adaptive, creative, and innovative--we'll solve all the world's problems, over time!!!!
This video never fails to make me feel better about life. I'm so glad it exists
Wise words, sir. These kinds of videos are my favorites of yours!
Even now - still my favorite video ! We need more of such optimism full of hope to motivate to move forward and look for solutions :)
Thanks for the reminder that everything is going to be alright!
This is an amazing video - I'd say one of the best 10 videos posted thus far.
Hank you are so smart and logical. I'm so inspired by you. I hope that as I move on from adolescence into adulthood, I can remember to be like you!
this is one of my favorite videos hank! fantastic
one of the best vlogbrothers videos :)
Seriously, thank you. It's so easy to get bogged down in negativity.
Thanks for making this. It bouys me up.
thanks for your kind words,ive been thinking kind of along the same lines, but,it was just hard picking up her seven year old son today, and seeing his sadness,....it was heartbreaking. thanks for the empathy, though, its been helpful.
I loved this, sometimes we need to remember how important is to be optimistic :)
Thank you Hank, you just made me feel less like a no-good social outcast and more like a tryhard who have gone from total isolation to having a bunch of friends and the means to make new ones :D
Definitely one of your better ones, Hank. Thank you.
i just watched the last 2007 brotherhood 2.0 video and i jumped to this one and wow, hank has really grown up
"disasters happen all at once but success happens slowly" and it takes 10 positives to weight out the 1 negative, so true.. oh i love you hank
Hello, I am a fan of The Fault in Our Stars and I just want to say that both of you are truly amazing! Your outlook on the world has changed the life of me, a 13 year old girl who aims to make it as a writer and a lawyer and a college professor (a girl can hope)... Optimism is not insane although my peers do call me an annoying little miss sunshine for my outlook on the world, I just don't care because I need to be optimistic and move on and be happy and I think "what would hazel do?"
Thank you Hank, I needed to hear this optimism so badly. I didn't get out of bed today until 3pm because I was just lying there for hours contemplating the apocalypse and how terrible humanity is and what is even the point of existance. But this video has given me a bit more hope and I feel less like killing myself now. So thank you. We can all be the superhero together.
Thank you Hank. This video is brilliant. I've recently had this silly realization through an increase in highway use that, "Holy freaking shit there are so many people in this world!!!" And it worried me, because I sat there thinking how can we help everyone, how can the world become better when there are all these people to take care of?!? Your video though, has given me a new epiphany, which is, "Holy freaking shit there are so many potential super heroes in this world!!!" So thanks.
Thank you for restoring my faith in humanity.
great video! I'm glad you have a big audience and share thoughts such as this one. A lot of beings don't figure this stuff out on their own
I am doing a English report on this exact topic. It is one of the most difficult essay's I've ever written -- There is NO optimism anywhere! This video has been my lifeline and I am eternally grateful, Hank. Although I would like to copy this video word for word and submit it, I ain't no cheater!
So I am asking all of the Nerdfighters in the world: are you positive about your future on this planet and/or your country? Thank you so much!
"Disasters happen all at once. Successes happen slowly and gradually and are interrupted by disasters but they continue despite them." LOVE that!
Important video. Thank you, Hank.
Thank you Hank. I think this will have to be my 'go to' vlog when I am in a funk
"WE are the superhero. None of us individually, but all of us together." -Hank Green c': THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
As a long time optimist, this video has spoken alot of my views. I'm quite glad that amid all the crises of the day, that someone is at least acknowleding that we are in fact making progress on a great number of things while still not forgetting the work to be done.
Great video, great message. I do hope that everyone who views this will benefit from it in some way instead of trying to maximize self-publicity or noticing vague details about the vlogbrothers or talking about irrelevant matters.
That was a beautiful and inspiring video, Hank.
You are our hero. Keep being awesome.
This has just restored my faith in humanity. Thank you Hank Green.
That graph was inspiring. Thanks for that!
This video helps so much with panic attacks, thank you hank :)
I am very caffeinated and tired and this is making me weepy and emotional thank you
Well understood optimism is contagious. Know why you're optimistic and spread the feeling. It's a beautiful time to be alive.
Thank you! finally someone who agrees with me and will not judge me for trying to uphold a positive outlook on life. If we surround ourselves with negative people, we too shall become negative overtime. It is up to us as individuals too see that the good does indeed out weigh the bad, and this will only effect those around us into thinking positively also.
Hank this video is outstanding. Thanks
Thanks, Hank. You make me happy.