Idea: The Wikroll
A Wikroll is when a person rudely interrupts an on-line conversation to provide a link that seems to have nothing to do with the topic at hand, claiming that it goes to the video for Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up.” But the link actually goes to a Wikipedia article that adds relevant insight to the discussion.
For example, lets say I write a blog post about macaroni which prompts discussion in the comments about the origins of macaroni and the best tasting brand of macaroni. Then someone leaves this comment:
Hey, everyone. I really like that Rick Astley song “Never Gonna Give You Up” so I thought I’d post a link to the video on YouTube so everyone can watch it. Click here to check it out: http://tinyurl.com/296l7r
Did you click on the link? Snap! You’ve been Wikroll’d!
Comments
Shouldn’t it be a Wikwoll?
Posted by: Jake | March 25, 2008 8:00 PM
Have you seen britney on “how i met your mother” OMG she was liket totally funny and clever OMG. This clip of the show is like totally amazing http://tinyurl.com/878d8
Posted by: ed | March 25, 2008 8:16 PM
Lets just hope that a discussion of rickrolling never gets wikroll’d. The effect would be comparable to audio feedback.
Posted by: Daniel | March 25, 2008 9:19 PM
That never happend to me it is the first time I read about this. Well maybe I have seen it on youtube but not on a blog. thanks for the info.
Posted by: Reavel | March 25, 2008 9:21 PM
Man, I can’t get enough of that video. Here’s my favourite version: http://tinyurl.com/2qdh4y
Posted by: Patrick Yeon | March 25, 2008 10:57 PM
Once again - brilliant. I loved the RickRoll bit, and made dozens of my friends hate me because of it.
Posted by: Mr. Wisdumb | March 25, 2008 11:20 PM
Wow. Just when you thought you were savvy to the quirks of internet communicating…
You learn something new every day dontcha?
Posted by: Miss Debater | March 26, 2008 1:57 PM
You weirdos…
Posted by: Rubén | March 27, 2008 4:17 PM
I can’t pronounce it.
Rickrolled. I can do that.
When I try to say Wikrolled”, it comes out “wickwolled” which just sounds like I’m being a dick.
Posted by: geekpdx | March 28, 2008 3:54 PM
geekpdx, why pronounce it? Do you actually TALK to actual PEOPLE? Being able to type it should do the trick nine times out of ten (Thank goodness for home delivery. Don’t remember when I last left the flat).
Posted by: gnaddrig | March 31, 2008 3:01 PM
I dunno about this one. I think it’s more like the old bait and wik technique. Like for selling used cars and stuff.
Posted by: lynn | April 2, 2008 12:51 PM
IronicRoll: To seed a meta meme, having the effect of riffing on an established idiom and simultaneously baiting grammar nazis (see reddit.com) waiting to pownce on the misuse of ‘ironic’.
Posted by: mwittman | April 4, 2008 3:45 PM
For maximum effect you should use rickroll.it as your URL shortener.
Posted by: Kevin Ballard | April 12, 2008 1:25 PM
I just thought of a new link bait name, Krisskrossed, and of course the link would be a link to the kriss kross jump video.
kriss kross will make you….. JUMP JUMP
Posted by: Cory | April 18, 2008 10:03 AM
oh heres the link lets get this rolling www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwsH_a_so-w
Posted by: Cory | April 18, 2008 10:05 AM