Endless Thread
Fryders and Alligator Alcatraz tours: When trolls get inventive
· Summarized
Key takeaways
- 'Frieders' (fried spiders) are a humorous internet troll, showing how cultural perceptions can influence belief in food traditions.
- Trolling can serve as a tactic for social commentary, with examples like 'Terry's Tourz' illustrating the line between humor and serious political critique.
- Despite online skepticism around unusual food practices, humor and satire can be powerful methods for raising awareness about serious issues like immigration.
Summary
Uncovering 'Frieders': The Trolling Tangle
Amory poses an unusual question about the existence of a dish called 'frieders'—fried spiders—allegedly popular in New Zealand. The episode delves into a humorous exploration of this supposed culinary phenomenon, with the hosts expressing skepticism, particularly around the source of the claim. They dissect a Medium post that claims fried spiders are a real food item while simultaneously recognizing the trolling nature of the internet discussions surrounding it. Despite some Reddit users and the post's author insisting on their validity, the hosts ultimately conclude that this concept is likely a troll.
Terry's Tourz: The Alligator Alcatraz Hoax
The discussion transitions to another form of inventive trolling through 'Terry's Tourz,' a faux tourist attraction presented in a satirical TikTok video by comedian LaSandra Vazquez. This fictional tour claims to offer rides through a controversial immigration detention center, humorously dubbed Alligator Alcatraz. The hosts discuss the social commentary embedded within the satire, highlighting how trolling can serve as a tool for awareness and social justice by redirecting interest toward meaningful organizations providing legal aid for immigrants. The segment explores similar strategies of effective trolling and the humorous yet impactful nature of such internet pranks.
Sponsors
- Is Business Broken · A podcast from BU's Mayroetry Institute that explores questions like why executives are paid so much.
Show notes
Ben and Amory share two stories about some out-of-the-box internet trolling. First, Amory tries to untangle a web of rumors surrounding an unusual dish from New Zealand. Then, Ben takes us aboard Terri's Tourz, an alleged Everglade tourist attraction claiming to offer the nation's first ever tours of the South Florida Detention Center known as Alligator Alcatraz.
Show notes:- 3 Facts About New Zealand I Didn’t Know Until I Moved Here (Medium)
- Was this post a joke? (r/newzealand)
- Terri's Tourz
Follow this show on AudioBrevity and new episodes get summarized for you. Create a free account