 Hey there. It's time we had a little chat about common courtesy. As a creator, I've developed thick skin when dealing with meanies. Anybody out there watching my videos can say whatever they want and that's cool. But when it's straight up mean, that's when it's no longer cool. Luckily in my case, the overwhelming majority of feedback I get is positive. I think that's mainly because my videos are very uplifting and fun and I talk about beans a lot and who doesn't like free hollays. But after 15 years of being a content creator, I have gotten plenty of mean-spirited comments, emails, and direct messages. Some of the stuff blows me away and I'd be lying if I said that it doesn't affect me. It does. Personal attacks are no fun. I don't like being called names. It brings back traumatic memories of getting picked on by bullies. Now I don't lose sleep over this, but it's always disappointing when somebody watches something that I put all my heart and soul into and then takes the time to leave a nasty comment. Why? I'm fine with critical feedback. That's important in becoming a better storyteller. I always welcome a healthy and respectful discussion, but straight up poisonous comments are not constructive in any way. This brings me to the golden rule we all learned as kids. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all. It's very simple. I'm bringing all this up right now because my most recent video about going on a bikepacking trip for my birthday is a great example of when certain viewers can get a little wound up and entitled. First of all, I understand that for some viewers, my channel is an escape from the heaviness of the news. I get that. I love sharing the wonders of this planet with you and the incredible people who I meet along the way. The vast majority of my videos are like this, but every now and then I talk passionately about things that matter to me. Things that are not directly adventure related. And this is one of the reasons why I love YouTube and the freedom to speak about anything I want. You could say that I put myself out there when I talk about vulnerable topics like heartbreak or my reasons for quitting alcohol. I get emotional sometimes. I've shed a lot of tears on this channel and I understand that it may be uncomfortable to watch a grown man cry on YouTube, but guess what? I've always worn my heart on my sleeve. This channel isn't just about bikes or ultra running and that's why I love it. In my birthday video, I put Biden's inaugural speech to the background of my footage. I did that because I was truly moved by what he was saying. It was a great speech. He talked about all the things that I talk about on this channel all the time, being kind, showing compassion and striving to be a better person. Well, this didn't sit well with everyone and I got the typical stay in your lane, stick to bikes, stay out of politics and I'm never watching your videos again type of comments. Well, you know me. I try to respond to everyone on this channel because I truly value the community and I want it to be interactive, respectful discussions on tough issues are something we can all get better at, right? I want to listen to what you have to say. I'm constantly trying to learn more and the best way to do that is to listen. Well, I'm happy to say that some of the discussions I had regarding that video turned out to be pretty positive in the end. I'll freely admit that I don't have all the answers, but viewing the world around me with an open mind has broadened my perspectives and has been vital in my progression as a kind, hearted, compassionate human. I don't boast about much, but I will say without a doubt that I'm kind hearted and I'm proud of it seriously. I love my country and I want it to be the best it can be. I personally feel that it's my duty to speak about certain topics that I care about and I do it because I want things to get better. Some people take this as being political. However, I don't view wanting equal rights for all, protecting the environment and treating one another with respect as political. To me, it's basic human decency. Now, I'm fully aware that people have differing opinions on how to confront these challenges and that's great, but I'm concerned by the amount of people not only on my channel, but all over the country who resort to name-calling and ugly behavior. How will that solve anything? And here's a quick side note. If you're watching one of my videos and you don't like it, just change and move on. The audacity of viewers telling me what I can and can't talk about on my own channel is shocking. Go watch some cute cat videos if you're all worked up. You'll notice that I never talk trash about anyone on my channel. I always keep it positive when talking about why certain issues are important to me. Speaking of important to me, you are all very important to me. I can't thank you enough for watching my videos and being so supportive. It's been the honor of my life to share my little piece of the world with you. I created this channel to inspire you and to make this world a better place. And you know what? I think we're doing a good job. And you'll all be happy to know that the fundraiser I launched two weeks ago to get kids on bikes has brought in over $40,000 and that's all you. Thank you so much. And there's still a few more days to chip in if you want to be part of this. I will link that down below in the description. Okay, sorry for the super boring video. I'll get back to good old adventure content soon enough. I just wanted to share this with you. I hope you're all doing well and I will see you down the road.