Endless Thread Fryders and Alligator Alcatraz tours: When trolls get inventive
Nov 14, 2025
Delve into the quirky world of internet trolling with tales of friders—rumored fried spiders from New Zealand that turn out to be a viral hoax. Discover how Reddit users spun this tall tale, amplifying the absurdity. Then, journey to Alligator Alcatraz, a fictional tour of a detention center, where satire meets political critique. Comedian Lissandra Vasquez creatively redirects attention to immigrant aid, blending humor and activism. Explore the ethics and real-world impacts of these inventive pranks as the hosts debate their significance.
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The Friders Hoax Unraveled
- Amory and Ben trace a fake Medium post claiming "friders" (fried spiders) are a New Zealand dish and uncover copied Reddit comments and images.
- The hosts show how online copy-pasta and local trolling created a persistent hoax that fooled outsiders.
How Trolls Make Myths Stick
- Internet collective humor can manufacture believable cultural myths that persist for years.
- Even skeptical researchers can be coaxed into doubt by convincing copy-pasta and repeated trolling.
Trolling Alligator Alcatraz
- Ben and Amory examine a TikTok by comedian Lissandra Vasquez parodying "Terri's Tourz" offering Alligator Alcatraz swamp tours.
- The prank funnels would-be bookers toward immigrant-rights organizations instead of a real tour operator.