Comic Transcripts

Host: With me today is technology observer Jonah Burrell, who’s just published an incisive essay on the heretofore-unknown phenomenon of “hashtag balkanization” on Twitter.
Host: It could be majorly impacting social discourse, and affecting everything from politics to education. Here to tell us more is Jonah Burrell.

Host: Jonah, please explain to us: what is hashtag balkanization?
Jonah: It’s nothing. I made it up.
Jonah: I wanted to see if people would buy a “phenomenon” based entirely on persuasively-worded claims and selective reading of incomplete data, and whether reporting organizations desperate to leap on tech trends would accept it uncritically.

Jonah: And now I’m here. It worked. That’s all.
Jonah: Thanks for having me!
Jonah: I enjoyed the fruit in the green room.

Host: So if I understand correctly…
Host: You trolled us?
Jonah: Ha ha ha! Trolling doesn’t exist either.
Jonah: It’s just called being a dick.

{{header: convince me of WONDERMARK.COM}}
{{alt-text: you can tell this comic is fiction because he didn’t go on to write a book about his discovery and crown himself a ‘social media guru’}}

#884; The Menace of the Moment transcribed by in

Host: With me today is technology observer Jonah Burrell, who’s just published an incisive essay on the heretofore-unknown phenomenon of “hashtag balkanization” on Twitter.
Host: It could be majorly impacting social discourse, and affecting everything from politics to education. Here to tell us more is Jonah Burrell.

Host: Jonah, please explain to us: what is hashtag balkanization?
Jonah: It’s nothing. I made it up.
Jonah: I wanted to see if people would buy a “phenomenon” based entirely on persuasively-worded claims and selective reading of incomplete data, and whether reporting organizations desperate to leap on tech trends would accept it uncritically.

Jonah: And now I’m here. It worked. That’s all.
Jonah: Thanks for having me!
Jonah: I enjoyed the fruit in the green room.

Host: So if I understand correctly…
Host: You trolled us?
Jonah: Ha ha ha! Trolling doesn’t exist either.
Jonah: It’s just called being a dick.

{{header: convince me of WONDERMARK.COM}}
{{alt-text: you can tell this comic is fiction because he didn’t go on to write a book about his discovery and crown himself a ‘social media guru’}}

#884; The Menace of the Moment transcribed by in

Host: With me today is technology observer Jonah Burrell, who's just published an incisive essay on the heretofore-unknown phenomenon of "hashtag balkanization" on Twitter.
Host: It could be majorly impacting social discourse, and affecting everything from politics to education. Here to tell us more is Jonah Burrell.

Host: Jonah, please explain to us: what is hashtag balkanization?
Jonah: It's nothing. I made it up.
Jonah: I wanted to see if people would buy a "phenomenon" based entirely on persuasively-worded claims and selective reading of incomplete data, and whether reporting organizations desperate to leap on tech trends would accept it uncritically.

Jonah: And now I'm here. It worked. That's all.
Jonah: Thanks for having me!
Jonah: I enjoyed the fruit in the green room.

Host: So if I understand correctly...
Host: You trolled us?
Jonah: Ha ha ha! Trolling doesn't exist either.
Jonah: It's just called being a dick.

{{header: convince me of WONDERMARK.COM}}
{{alt-text: you can tell this comic is fiction because he didn't go on to write a book about his discovery and crown himself a 'social media guru'}}

you can tell this comic is fiction because he didn't go on to write a book about his discovery and crown himself a 'social media guru'

Bolted! Shipping is UNDERWAY

Bolted! games have been shipping to backers over the last couple of weeks! The non-US orders are (mostly) done and some folks have been reporting receiving them already!

@davidmalki.com My game arrived today!! It looks gorgeous 🙂 Hope you are well 🙂

[image or embed]

— Lar deSouza (@lartist.bsky.social) April 2, 2026 at 2:52 PM

My US inventory of games is now in-country, but still being staged at the fulfillment centers. It’s being distributed to regional warehouses, so the actual shipping to backers happens more efficiently. I hope the bulk of US shipping will start next week.

These are what the cartons (and games) look like!

bolted! games BOLTED! GAMES (pounding the table) B O L T E D ! G A M E S

[image or embed]

— david malki ! (@davidmalki.com) April 3, 2026 at 10:37 AM

I am also waiting on the bonus cards to be finished printing! I ended up needing many more of those than I had anticipated, so I decided to have the game factory print those too, for perfect matching with the base game cards.

Most people will be receiving two separate mailings: the game itself, and “anything else” (bonus cards and/or add-ons) which will be sent by me personally.

As of today, 86% of backers have completed their surveys so far! That’s pretty good, but it’s not everyone. I know YOU PERSONALLY have already completed YOURS though, so no worries!!

We have now moved OFF of Kickstarter and ONTO BackerKit for any new orders. You can bundle a game with basically anything else I sell on that there website, it’s pretty nuts!


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