The Time a Spy Visited Me Because of P*tin.

In which John tells a remarkable story about his brief foray into international skullduggery. p.s. Since this is apparently not clear, it was OUR GUYS NOT THEIR GUYS.
p.p.s. Please do not hack me again. I am just a dad in Indianapolis.
----

[vlogbrothers]

I'm just a dad from Indianapolis who is still scared many years later to tell this story. Please don't hack us again thanks. -John
p.s. Apparently this is not clear to some viewers: It was our guys, not their guys. (I was shown ID and everything.)

[nickwilliams]

“I wish to neither be an asset or a threat” is my new motto

[Tysto]

"I won't be able to stay for the race" is the most amazing flex.

[AustinDrouare]

"International skullduggery" would be a great name for a fishing boat, if it weren't for the tax implications

[josiahargo]

"You know that job title of yours makes you sound like a spy."

The absolute funniest thing about this to me is that if you were some sort of intelligence "asset or threat", this sounds like the kind of thing you would say to them to signal you know they are a spy (thus implying you might be one too). Probably why the man went deadpan silent, in his mind the stakes were just raised and he was trying to size you up lol.

[VodkaHellstorm]

I love that you immediately called him out on being a spy even jokingly, and I hope he realised how fucking stupid that job title was. He may as well have walked in in a black three-piece with an ear-piece.

[captainsparrow]

“Have your ever been critical of the Russian government?”

*Flashback to every other Crash Course History episode*

[MichaelADoesIndeedHaveACat]

You made a classic mistake John, the scotch wasn’t scotch, it’s was truth serum

[Zaftique]

That is *wild*, and I 100% get just spilling everything - if a spy ever visits me they're going to beg me to shut up after my 67th tangent, Why I Love This Specific Color Of Yellow-Orange

[KingBobXVI]

"He just had a way of making me feel like it was a great idea to answer all of his questions"
"...so anyway, I poured another glass of scotch..."

We will never truly know what genius fuels the cunning of this master interrogator's golden tongue. Truly a mystery.

[LordToast]

I feel like the obvious question to ask a diplomat in such a conversation is, "should I have a lawyer present for this?"

[MsNilba]

This reminds me of the time I got interviewed by an FBI agent in my office concerning one of our adjunct teachers who was apparently trying to get a job with the FBI. After the interview, I called my supervisor and told her what happened and what I told the FBI agent and she said "So basically you told the FBI that Mr. Teacher is boring" I had in fact used those exact words to describe him...

[matthewlazaric]

I'm choosing to believe he reacted the way he did to your joke about his job title because he was just so embarrassed about how transparent it is.

[rickevans]

Dad is the real MVP here. They always are. He knew you were correct about the situation, knew you were rattled, and knew you were going to be fine. He said exactly the truth you needed to hear, in exactly the way you needed to hear it in that moment. Dads come in clutch. Anyone reading this, tell your dad you love him TODAY. Miss you, Dad!

[patrickjohnson]

This might be my favourite vlogbrothers video is such a long time.

"He just made me feel that me answering his questions was inevitable" is just so poetically beautiful.

[stedwards]

That is WILD. But also, this exchange 😅:
John: Your job title makes you seem like a spy.
Spy: ...
John ...
Spy: ...
John: ... So what do you do?
Spy: ... I mostly work in intelligence
John: **finishes his drink and pours another**

You could not write a better fictional scene. A+, no notes

[Darroc]

John, "Based on your career title it seems as if you're a spy."
Them, "Well no...but actually yes."

[ojtheaviator]

"a way of making me feel that it is a great idea to answer all his questions" 😅😅😅

[martinellis]

To be very technical, he wasn't a spy. Governments don't employ spys directly, they recruit and handle them. He was an agent, wondering if you were a spy or could become one.

His skill set in getting you to talk is very valuable in agents

[TroubledTrooper]

I like to think that he got very nervous internally when you said he sounded like a spy. 😂
"WHAT ELSE DOES HE KNOW?!"