1. Welcome to Nerdfighteria
Jessica VanKley – ENGL 42501

2. Nerdfighteria is a knowledge community which focuses on the work of the Vlogbrothers – two brothers who have a Youtube channel and are dedicated to “decreasing world suck”.
Their channel is humor based, but they are also invested in helping charitable causes, teaching young people about science, economics and politics, and enjoying the nerdier side of life.
What is Nerdfighteria?

3. Who are the Vlog Brothers?
John
Hank
The Vlog Brothers are John and Hank Green. John is a young adult novelist who enjoys discussing economics, politics and writing in his portion of videos. Hank is a scientist by nature and has produced videos for NASA and written for the New York Times. In his portion of videos he discusses science, music (he also composes and performs music) and human rights. Together they are two goofy brothers who have a lot to say and a lot of people listening.
Who are the Vlog Brothers?

4. History Channel began January 2007 Brotherhood 2.0 project
Over one million subscribers
The channel started in The brothers decided to cease all text based communication and only communicate though a video-based format, which the posted to YouTube. Eventually their channel gleaned many followers and helped them become one of the larger and more popular YouTube channels. Their videos do not have a regular format, they generally discuss what they think about current events, what is happening in their lives or what they have learned or feel needs to be shared.
History

5. The Knowledge Community, Nerdfighters, is largely young adults, namely those who read John Green novels.
The Nerdfighters pride themselves as intellectuals who, though socially awkward, can make the world a better place. They enjoy humor sprinkled with political commentary, learning new things and following along with John Green as he does lessons on classic literature via the Vlog Brothers channel.
Who is their community?

6. What is a Knowledge Community?
“The new knowledge communities will be voluntary, temporary, and tactical affiliations, defined through common intellectual enterprises and emotional investments.” – Henry Jenkins,
This quote is from Henry Jenkins’ online article: INTERACTIVE AUDIENCES? THE 'COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE' OF MEDIA FANS. He goes on to describe that one person can go from one knowledge community to another as their interests and needs change. A knowledge community is like a book club in a way. You visit for a while, discuss what you think is interesting about the work, then move on after all that needs to be discussed is covered. Of course a knowledge community is much broader in that the entire population of web users has access to any community they wish to join.
What is a Knowledge Community?

7. The mission of the Nerdfighteria Community is to share news about the Vlog Brothers’ activities, share material that relates to the Vlog Brothers and delve further into topics the Vlog Brothers discuss.
It’s a large knowledge community, that is for certain. But everyone has a similar goal in mind, sharing and discussing about the Vlog Brothers and taking what is said in their works into deeper discussion with like-minded people. John & Hank Green (the Vlog Brothers) share a lot of interesting information with their community and discuss a range on things in their vlog, which gives their community a lot to talk about. Also a big discussion point is John Green’s novels, including The Fault in Our Stars which was recently made into a major motion picture.
Mission

8. Is it really a Knowledge Community?
The Nerd Fighters certainly meet all of Jenkin’s requirements to be a Knowledge Community
Voluntary?
Yes
Emotional Investment? Absolutely
Common Interests? Undoubtedly
All editors of the Nerdfighteria Wiki page are volunteers and people visit not out of force but because they enjoy discussing Vlog Brothers’ topics. The community is also emotionally, and monetarily, invested. The community has raised money for different organizations at the prompting of the Vlog Brothers, this goes along with the brothers’ idea of “decreasing world suck” – this goes to show what kind of investment the subscribers have in Nerdfighteria and the Vlog Brothers. Finally, their interests are common, otherwise the wiki, forums, vlog and blog would not have made it thus far. These people are drawn to the causes and ideas of these two brothers, making it a large and powerful Knowledge Community.
Is it really a Knowledge Community?

9. Channels of Communication
Wiki page
Online Forum
Facebook page
Blog
They have multiple channels of communication in this Knowledge Community. The Nerd Fighters can be found sharing on Facebook, arguing in the Forum, commenting on the blog and updating the wiki page. There are certainly ways of reaching this Knowledge Community through different channels of media. This also makes them more wide spread as some people may only want to be a part of the Knowledge Community on Facebook to keep things simple, whereas more dedicated users make be administrators on the Wiki page and be neck deep in discussing Nerd Fighter culture.
Channels of Communication

10. Monitoring Information
Pass quiz to enable editing
Gain acceptance on Facebook page
In order to keep everything to cannon the Nerdfighteria Wiki page allows users to edit info as long as they pass a quick quiz about the Vlog Brothers, this at least prohibits random trolling on the wiki page. Generally it is self-sustaining in regards to evaluating information, but overall the Vlog Brothers do have administrative power to remove anything that is inappropriate or uncalled for, this usually keeps the user-base in line. The Nerd Fighter Facebook page also has fan administrators who make sure everything posted is appropriate, the group is also invite only, so it does not offer complete access to all Facebook users.
Monitoring Information

11. Participation Enter the Forum Help edit the wiki
Contribute information
Complete video transcripts
Join a sub-community
Includes Reddit, Tumblr & Facebook
There are many ways to participate in Nerdfighteria. On the wiki page editors are welcome to help transcribe the videos done by the Vlog Brothers – this helps those with hearing imparements, since YouTube’s CC is less than exact. Nerd Fighters can also participate in the large Nerd Fighter Forum, which is broken down into sub-forums to discuss particular topics. Another way to participate is by helping maintain and edit the wiki page and adding articles, definitions, videos and so forth to the wiki. By adding to the wiki you are contributing greatly to the knowledge community, providing more information for users to think and comment on.
Participation

12. Many things are contributed, for instance: Nerd Fighter Definitions
Many things are contributed, for instance: Nerd Fighter Definitions. This comes in handy to those entering the Knowledge Community with little knowledge of the bizarre culture.
Their dictionary is actually quite extensive. Most of these entries are inside jokes within the Knowledge Community, which can help clarify things to a new member of Nerdfighteria.
What is contributed?

13. This knowledge community does spread out into traditional media
This knowledge community does spread out into traditional media. John Green’s novels which are widely discussed throughout the Knowledge Community and Hank Green’s music, sold on iTunes.
Nerdfighteria is not involved in traditional media very much. Aside from John Green’s novels and Hank’s music the community is contained online within new media. The community started up in 2007 when the Vlog Brothers started their YouTube channel.
Traditional media

14. Knowledge Community – meeting in person
Hank & John Green came up with the concept of VidCon, a convention of YouTube sponsors, creators and editors to meet with fans and discuss their work.
Though a convention isn’t exactly media, I see it as convergence, YouTube leaking out into the real world where large groups can gather and discuss different creators and celebrate creativity in a huge convention center.
Knowledge Community – meeting in person

15. John & Hank certainly work in concert with their Knowledge Community – especially for charitable causes
The Vlog Brothers support their Knowledge Community full-heartedly. They have even worked together with their KC and other YouTubers to create Project for Awesome in which they have raised over $200,000 for charities in the past two years.
Working Together

16. Similar Knowledge Communities
Though many YoutTubers have viewers, not many have a Knowledge Community. However, there are a few.
The Vlog Brothers are unique in that they cover such a broad spectrum of topics and are involved heavily around the web. John’s novels and Hank’s music also have helped increase their unique knowledge community.
Similar Knowledge Communities

17. Similar Knowledge Communities
One YouTuber that does have a Wiki page in which people share information about her is:
Jenna Marbles
Though she does have a slight Knowledge Community, it is not nearly as extensive as the Vlog Brothers Knowledge Community.
Similar Knowledge Communities

18. Conclusion Nerdfighteria is a huge knowledge community
They work together to raise money for charities
They discuss and share all things Vlog Brothers
They share the same culture as Nerdfighters, working to decrease world suck
Knowledge communities come in all forms, and Nerdfighteria is certainly one odd form. Basing their cannon off of Vlog Brothers’ videos and novels and sharing information relevant to Nerdfighter culture they have created a Knowledge Community that is committed to spreading the word about the Vlog Brothers, helping charitable causes, learning new things and together being proud of who they are as Nerdfighters. Of course these members are involved in other Knowledge Communities, and members come and go, but they have maintained a long lasting group of fans, knowledge seekers, and part-time philanthropists.
Conclusion