My Internet Idols
and the beauty of the world wide web
All of the world's information is at our fingertips. The power to improve our lives sits at the end of a few clicks and a good coffee. This is truly profound and one of the reasons why the internet is a luxury beyond measure.
This privilege supersedes every generation that came before, even the eras which made masters such as Beethoven, Shakespeare and Nicola Tesla.
I particularly enjoy the gift of exposure that the internet provides. We are not siloed into the microculture of our household, school, or workplace. At the press of a finger, the whole of the world's philosophies, knowledge and culture, are available to me. While I can’t live them, they can easily rub off on me, allowing some form of self-discovery otherwise constricted to the narrow cultures that we are organically exposed to.
One such example is the discovery of mentors, or, as I would rather call them - idols.
I’ve never really had idols. Agrandising athletes, celebrities or entrepreneurs was not something I latched onto. Which is funny, because now I have a good handful of them - and they’re all just simple people who make YouTube videos.
Today I want to honour these people, to explain the one-sentence philosophy I have taken from each of them as well as the ways that they inspire me. I hope that you will investigate them yourself, and think about the people online who have inspired you.
Martijn Doolaard
Philosophy: The process as the end
Martijn doesn’t believe in chasing an end goal. Instead, he strives for the present, finding joy in building his Italian mountainside home with great intention and care, because he understands that the journey to achieving our goals is where true gratification lies.
His videos - long form 40-minute episodes of him silently tinkering away at his home - fall under the surprisingly popular YouTube genre of men building things without talking.
Martijn is a mentor for all of the things that he doesn’t say. Understanding him is very much a game of osmosis, carrying out over the hours on hours that this man will sit by you as you cook, clean, paint, or try to fall asleep. His episodes are strikingly beautiful, such is his craftsmanship, all products of a man taking his time to put something beautiful into the world.
He’s a classical man who demonstrates the beauty of patience in chasing our goals, of taking steady steps forward - something that many young men can learn from.
Knees Over Toes Guy
Philosophy: Sheer body optimism - a fundamental believer in the body's functionality and its ability to overcome injury
If you’ve never had a serious injury you won’t know the true battle that takes place - the mental game.
Still the kookiest name on the internet, Knees Over Toes Guy is someone to reach for in those moments of doubt. Unable to find solutions for his own serious knee injuries via the typical avenues, he discovered his own way of recovery and gives ALL of these learnings for free.
These learnings, mind you, are groundbreaking. Going against the typical physiotherapy dogma, Knee Over Toes Guy forged a new pathway for knee rehabilitation that has seen astounding results for people worldwide, bringing him fantastic internet fame; most notably, appearing on the Joe Rogan podcast.
Watching his videos you will quickly see his genuine, saint-like personality. He is humble, giving, and intelligent. Following his advice I solved a knee that never came good after reconstruction, as well as chronic back pain.
His real name is Ben Patrick and he deserves every reward he has reaped.
K boges
Philosophy: A true warrior monk - master of the philosophy behind exercise and exercise regime
Every 18-year-old male needs to absorb this man's wisdom before setting out into the world of pumping iron and breaking cartilage.
A well-needed oasis, this man sheds light on what healthy exercise looks like. He purports an ethos of exercise for life, building an exercise regime so simple that it can be done daily, without risk of injury. Don’t be quick, his understanding is so precise that even 20 minutes of exercise is enough to yield incredible results:
Similar to Doolard, he proffers a philosophy of thinking intelligently and taking things slow. His videos are perhaps the most concise fitness content you will find on the internet, with every word carefully chosen. This guy doesn’t F around.
The beauty of his regime for me is the simplicity and minimal time investment. Because ultimately, the best exercise regime is the one which you are actually going to follow.
Equally great idols (kept brief for length):
Chris Willamson: It’s hard to find someone better at articulating the answers to life’s hardest questions. His advice and opinions are refreshing and concise, and offer a staggering amount of wisdom, especially for young men.
Beau Miles: Adventurer, philosopher, general go-getter. This guy has a spirit unlike anyone else on YouTube. It’s impossible not to finish one of his videos longing for life itself.
Dr Andrew Huberman: Daddy Hubes. This guy cannot goof off. He’s all business. It’s quite funny watching him miss yet another attempt by a guest to joke around with him. Hell-bent on dispensing science’s wisdom, he has rocketed to genuine podcast stardom with his intensely informative videos that focus on how people can lead healthier lives.
The world is full of amazing people trying their best to help strangers on the internet. How incredible.
Who is your online mentor? Who can you turn to for reliable wisdom?
“While I can’t live them, they can easily rub off on me, allowing some form of self-discovery otherwise constricted to the narrow cultures that we are organically exposed to.” - this is beautifully expressed
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