Hoaxes and Activism: The Art of Internet Trolling
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Resources & Recommendations
Books
- "Greeking Out: Tales from the Underworld" (Nat Geo Kids) - A book featuring spooky, scary, and fun stories from around the world, particularly those from the underworld.
Articles & Papers
- "Three Facts About New Zealand I Didn't Know Until I Moved Here: Unique Kiwi Cuisine" by Alana Irving (Medium) - An article that humorously (and misleadingly) claims "friders" (fried spiders) are a unique New Zealand dish.
- "Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act of 2018" (HR Bill 4547) - A bill signed by President Trump that is subject to debate regarding its impact on social security.
- Latin Times - A publication that reported on comedian Lasandra Vasquez's "Terry's Tours" and its fundraising efforts for migrant assistance organizations.
People Mentioned
- Alana Irving - Author of a misleading Medium post about "friders" in New Zealand, which was part of an elaborate internet troll.
- Lasandra Vasquez (Comedian, TikToker) - Creator of the satirical "Terry's Tours" videos and website, which cleverly trolls MAGA supporters by redirecting them to migrant assistance organizations.
- Jeffrey No - Mentioned in a previous episode of Endless Thread, discussed in the context of effective activism and protest strategies.
Organizations & Institutions
- National Day of Labor Organizing Network - An organization that provides legal and financial assistance to migrants, which "Terry's Tours" redirects visitors to.
- Border Kindness - An organization that provides legal and financial assistance to migrants, which "Terry's Tours" redirects visitors to.
- Ku Klux Klan (KKK) - Mentioned in the context of a historical example of politically motivated trolling, where the organization's sponsorship of a highway was subverted.
Websites & Online Resources
- Reddit post: "Was this post a joke?" (New Zealand subreddit) - A Reddit thread where users discuss the "frider" hoax, revealing it to be a collective troll.
- Reddit post: "Are there a lot of spiders in New Zealand compared to the US?" - The original Reddit post that sparked the "frider" troll, with users providing humorous and misleading answers.
- Terry's Tours website - A satirical website created by comedian Lasandra Vasquez that appears to offer "Alligator Alcatraz" tours but redirects visitors to migrant assistance organizations.
Other Resources
- "Gen Z for Change" (Endless Thread episode) - A previously aired episode of Endless Thread that discusses a similar instance of online trolling targeting the Kellogg company by a TikToker.