[M:] Hey look at me I'm from the 90s [S:] whoa are you going to our Nirvana concert?
[M:] Nervaner!!! (Nirvana) yeah I used to dress like this because it was part of my generation
[S:] "used to"
[S:] So we don't usually do videos like this
But I actually really want to show you this because this is very special to me. YouTube has mailed us a package a rather
Big box like this and inside is one of the most important things that we've ever
Received from YouTube. The first thing in here is a really nice letter, and it reads like this:
"Hey Simon and Martina, when we look back at the channel you've created, we're in awe the videos you've made and the incredible relationship
You've built with your fans. These connections are what make youtube thrive. We want to send you a little something to say
thanks for all that you do. This gift celebrates uniqueness of your fans your channel and the community you created together.
We know how much courage time and talent. [Both:] Uhh we don't know about that
[S:] It takes to share your passion with the world
and we couldn't feel more fortunate to play even a small role in your success. Happy 2018. The YouTube team and
Specifically from a partner manager says thank you for always being awesome, Hugh".He was a really cool guy as well
The second thing that we got right here is the thing that really
matters to me and actually made me really choked up when I saw it.
It's this right here a little plaque that says Simon and Martina
It has a little Spudgy emoji, and I'm not sure if you could read here because of how glossy
this is but behind all of this are comments. [M:] Comments you guys have left
[S:} You've left and I'm gonna read some of them without trying to cry. Your content helps me through my day
I have learned so much from watching your videos. [M:] You're an inspiration. I love you so much X O. [S:] This concept is beyond helpful
Thank you guys so much for being a positive impact to this world. I love you guys so much and Martina
you are so strong and brave to be able to not only go through this, but to help other people along the way
[M:] P.S Martina's mini garden is super Kawaii!! (cute)
Okay, here's the thing before *unintelligible* [S:] Whoo! Whoo boy!
[M:] When we opened up this plaque and we started reading these
We were just able to go through it and know from the comments and the responses what video it was in because we read
So many comments. [S:] I- I don't think I can emphasize
enough how important comments are to us. More than just subscriber counts more than view counts.
Comments are what motivate me more than anything else as soon as we post the video
You know that there's notification squad, and I answer as many people as I can, I can't answer everybody
But I try because this really
Really is important to me. [M:] And sometimes the two of us are answering the same comment on different computers
[S:] And then becomes and we're both racing, we're like (both yelling to answer first)
Like we this is
Really really special to us. [M:] The reason why we wanted to talk to you guys about this was because we're talking about
You guys our community taking the time out of your day
To watch a video and then to leave us a comment
Whether it's feedback on the video or something that you loved about it or the reason why?
You keep coming back to our videos
It is so so important to us
[S:] And we answer so many comments to the point that we actually know a lot of you by name. We know
William Chen
Awkward T, Carlina Box the indiekitten, Chris Owens we know we know I can't name all of you
But like they're like even though we have over a million subscribers we do our best to try to connect [M:] Paisley
[S:] Paisley! with as many of you as we can't not just on YouTube
But on Twitter as well on Facebook [M:] Trevor [S:] on our
Website cyber three like we read all of your comments this
communication that we have with you is more fulfilling to me as a
person than any paycheck that we get to think that I
can speak with people that these videos connect with that's
That's a level of fulfillment that I don't feel anybody can have in their job. This to me is so
profound. [M:] The reason why I want to emphasize to you guys is that your comments motivate us. When I put out my video on
Building a ladder and depression, and I was sharing that with you guys. I thought to myself
I'm alone in this like I am alone in this anxiety
I'm alone in this depression, my friends don't talk about this they seem to be functioning fine
This is just me so what I put up this video to share with you guys
And I saw these comments being like I'm also struggling with this or I know what you're going through or I am feeling the same
Way and you guys started sharing your personal stories with me
And then I saw you guys using the hashtags for build a ladder. It wasn't just like
Oh good this video is a success
I'm not depressed suddenly like I'm still struggling with it but to see you guys
Reach out and share to me and for me to go
Ducky oh my god. I'm not alone in this
[S:] You know there's like even like when the doctors have diagnosed, Martina with EDS or when she sees her specialists
She still even thinks it herself like maybe this isn't real. Maybe I'm making this up
Maybe this is all my head and when she sees your comments. She feels like she's not actually going crazy
[M:] Yeah, I'm sure a lot of you have had that before where you think because you can't see anything, but you're feeling it
And you're trying to explain to people and they're just like oh you're fine
You start to really feel like you're crazy, so it means so much and when I get up in the morning
I go onto Twitter
I go on Instagram and I look up the build a ladder hashtags
And I see what you guys are going through and I see you guys being like
Had a hard time getting out of bed today
But I decided to build a ladder and go up to the backyard and take a picture of the sunset
And I'm just like great idea like I'm gonna do that today like it's a back and forth. [S:] The the build a ladder
Concept isn't something that's just for Martina its something that's for me as well, and the best way that I build my ladder
Whenever there are days in which I see Martina's health really going to shit, and I'm like forget this we can't do this anymore
Let's just pack up and give up. When I see your comments,
I'm like I feel...
Like I want to keep going I feel like I want to keep doing this like your comments are my ladder.
They helped me to keep on going and I read them first thing in the morning. I wake up
I open up the studio app and I read comments. I've answered so many of your comments
While taking a dump. [M:] Sorry Guys.
I've spoken with so many people while taking a dump online, you're such a huge part of our dumping routine. [M:] Well
What we are trying to say is that community to us is key.
The relationship we've built with you guys is key.
And that's why we were so moved when we received this in the mail because a lot of people struggle to be like they want
A million subscribers they want the reduce to have a million views they want to go viral
That's just not enough to keep you going. It's not enough to motivate you in a in a really good way
[S:] I feel like even when the day comes that people stop watching our videos and like nobody cares anymore
I'll still have those real connections and relationships with the people that I've met online and even with the people that I've met offline.
Some of our really good friends are people that we've met
through YouTube, through the comments section. [M:] Through our website. [S:] Through our website
This means a lot more to us.
Not just like from a career perspective, but from like a people perspective for like our own well-being.
Your contribution to our community is profound.
[M:] When I was growing up I had a really big connection with Japan and Asia because I had a really good friends that I grew up with.
And when I was going to school *old person voice* back when there was almost no internet.
Do you know how hard it was to find a community of people that's thought like you. I would go through school
And if I said to someone like "Oh have you heard of like Sailor Moon?" like people are into comics and they're like
"What is that?" There was no like you know way to
Connect with people and then the internet came around and I was able to start finding people online around the world
But it was still that sketchy stage
We're like I don't know what I'm talking to. [S:] You guys are the community that Martina
should have had when she was growing up [M:] That I wanted! [S:] That she really wanted and for you to be here when.. (chokes up and clears throat)
That means a lot hi. [M:] Just cry (T^T awh)
Just let it all out big guys
it's okay to cry. [S:] The point is if you've seen some creators that are profoundly vile the shitty
Garbage pieces of filth and you feel that YouTube is going in the wrong direction
And you feel like you don't know what you could do what you can do is
Contribute to the communities that mean something to you
[M:] We're not just saying our own community [S:] Leave people comments send them messages
Share their videos let them know let the people know who make these videos that they're important to you
Let them know how their videos help you out. So speaking of sharing
We've made a playlist of other creators that we really like that we think that maybe you should check out
And if you like their videos leave them a nice comment as well
[M:] And I'm hoping that you're gonna find someone new we're cut we're trying to not be like here are eight friends
We're trying to go outside of that to a realm of videos that maybe you've not seen before. [S:] Right and the last thing in this
package that we got from YouTube were extra copies of
This post that they said that we could share with some of you
And we want to I'm not sure if you're gonna find this weird to be like hey
I left the comment on Simon and Martina's video and then they gave me like other people's comments, so if you would like one of these
Please leave a comment and then we'll pick some of you [M:] yeah we'll mail it out to you guys. They come in really nice packages.
[S:] But if these are weird then. [Both:] Don't worry about it!
[M:] I understand I can send it to my mom and dad and they'll be my son! And they'll put it up on the wall
So yeah. [S:] Hey
Really truly. Thank you. For being a part of our community [M:] You guys are awesome. It's critical to our well-being. Thank you guys so much.
(From the subtitle person, Thank you all for being awesome nasty's! This community is truly special.) *claps*