Can a community exist online while avoiding the toxicity of the outside world?
Throughout the years of learning about YouTube since 2010, I’ve grown to love creators that have come and gone, like Ray William Johnson, Nice Peter, and Kassem G. A lot of these creators had fantastic, supportive communities, but also never saw a lack of trolls and spam in the comment section. This leads creators to disable comments, but although this temporarily stops the toxicity, it also eliminates whatever supportive community that creator once had.
Around 2010, I discovered the Vlogbrothers channel with John and Hank Green. They were quite the interesting duo with viral videos about animal mating, challenges consisting…
Why the cost of living is going up and how to stop shaping yourself around society’s expectations
Oh, why did no politicians listen to Jimmy McMillan in 2010? His entire political party was named “The Rent Is Too Damn High” party, and all they did was laugh at him. In 2010 when I saw this video of a political debate, you bet your butt I had no idea what they were talking about until Jimmy started talking.
Back in 2010, I was a freshman in high school still living with my parents, and I had no idea what rent prices were in my area. …
How I feel about this question 18 years later
This article, like so many of my others, is directed towards those in their 20s who feel lost and aren’t sure what they should do with their lives.
Growing up, at least here in The United States, we are asked this question so many times in and out of school:
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I remember teachers and other adults asking me this as far back as 1st grade when I was 7 years old. Thinking back on it now is extremely weird. …
Where were you 1 million seconds ago?
There’s a YouTube video I like watching every time I’m feeling low; I think everyone has one of these. It’s a video, podcast, or maybe a song that helps you get into a different mindset. Usually a better mindset.
John Green is one of my favorite authors and people of all time. He and his brother, Hank, have created some of the best YouTube channels on the platform; they help kids, teens, and adults become better educated, and for me, feel less alone in the dark void that is the world.
On their main channel, Vlogbrothers, John tends to create…
And no it’s not just because of Halloween
This past summer was great, other than, you know, this deadly virus going around; it’s been an awesome time! As long as you’re being safe, you can explore new areas by the ocean, mooch off your friends who have a boat, take walks outside when it’s over 70 degrees, and all the nice sunny weather just brings up everyone’s mood!
However, I believe there’s a best season contender that is tremendously under-appreciated; its name is Autumn (or Fall, for us Americans because “leaves fall down”).
Okay, I hear your screams in your head; I’m aware people absolutely love Autumn. However…
My review about the Anthropocene & personal mortification
The Anthropocene: the current geological age, viewed as the period during which human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and the environment.
The Anthropocene Reviewed is a podcast written and created by John Green, where he reviews facets of the human-centered planet on a five-star scale. This past week’s episode was centered around mortification, something probably everyone has experienced. Mortification is defined as “great embarrassment and shame”, where its stories can be seen as “that’s not so bad” to “okay, ya, that was bad.”
Mortification wasn’t always a word defining embarrassment, so John ends up in the rabbit…
It’s okay if you want to be a spy for the government and also a famous chef
I want to be so many things! Does anyone else relate to this? It’s not even about success. I just have all these interests, goals, and high ambitions. I just recently started writing again, a lot, this past month, and I can’t stop thinking about how much I want to be a published author! I want to be the author of a physical book with a nice cover sitting on a shelf in my favorite Barnes & Noble, and my local library.
I have no idea if I want it to be a fiction novel, which I’ve struggled writing, a…
Stop comparing your success, to someone else’s definition of success.
What it means to have a “life” is different for everyone, and to have their “life” together. To me, it means something different at various parts of my life. Right now, having my life together means having a place to live with my girlfriend and I, a job or business that I enjoy doing, a fun social life with friends, and enough money to just not worry too much about expenses. …
Tips from someone who is socially anxious
This has been quite the eventful week. I’ve been at my job, working as an ophthalmic photographer, for just over a year now, and ever since I got called back in from quarantine, I’ve been absolutely hating not working for myself as a full time entrepreneur.
So I gave my one week notice, and I quit. To make more money in the meantime, I’ve been working with DoorDash, and it’s been extremely fun!
Stupid decision or not, this article isn’t about that. It’s about something that happened on my second day DoorDashing.
I’m a fast learner, and for something as…
How to shut off your thoughts, relax, and just be happy
I’ve always been the type that struggles with depression, and then copes in healthy ways (most of the time). Even though I may not feel the most fulfilled on a daily basis, due to working a couple of stressful jobs, a lot of my coworkers tell me how calm, confident, and happy I always am, and wish they could have that too.
Whether you’re working a stressful job or two, single and feeling lonely, or just always feeling down on yourself, you always have time to practice a few of these techniques to change your mindset around. …
Justin Bennett-Cohen
I’m a Writer, Photographer, and lover of food and bad puns.
