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

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'

#884; The Menace of the Moment

— November 9th, 2012

[ Tags: internet, narcissism, the culture ] Permalink: https://wondermark.com/c/884/

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Applications open for Genius Northwest – an IRL gaming competition

May 8, 2026 by David Malki !

Last year, I participated in Genius Northwest, a gaming competition inspired by the Korean gameshow The Genius and its ilk.

It’s a reality show without the cameras — a 3-day, all-inclusive weekend retreat structured around a series of challenges and puzzles, in which personalities and dealmaking matter as much as playing games.

It’s truly a remarkable thing. I came in dead last in the competition, but I still had a great time participating.

The event is held annually in the Pacific Northwest (hence the name) and applications are now open to participate in the 2026 competition!

Learn more — and apply — at GeniusNW.com.

Comic Transcripts

#884; The Menace of the Moment

— November 9th, 2012

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