Blog

An Aliebn Confuesed Abot Humamn Lamguage

If you self-identify as a member of “Weird Twitter,” or even have a sense of what it is, you’re probably not too fond of the description—yet it’s probably the most realistic explanation of the phenomena.

Composed of some of the internet’s best writers and comedians, Weird Twitter is a shapeless creature that’s somehow wedged its way into popular culture. With a relatively small group of members who all interact with each other online, it’s turned into a social gathering that’s more than just a particular style of humor. 

This is the best part of Twitter. It’s where the platform’s best jokes originate, where the best interactions happen, and where some of the internet’s best minds—over and over again—demonstrate their wit and creativity in original and innovative ways. More than that, it’s a breeding ground for new ideas and concepts, opinions and creeds that exist outside of mainstream culture, and for that, it should be protected as if endangered. And what it manifests  as Weird Twitter is largely dependent on who you follow and what you find funny. Let’s be honest, not everyone finds Weird Twitter hilarious.

But members of weird Twitter can also be weirdly insightful. Meet @jonnysun.

Jonathan Sun attended Yale to study Architecture. He’s now a PhD candidate at MIT in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning. He’s a Berkman Klein Fellow at Harvard. He’s both a playwright and an artist. He’s publishing a book soon. And, he’s just really funny. 

@jonnysun is an icon of Twitter, a comedian who’s found his place in the crazy that is “weird Twitter.” Although he obviously knows how to spell, his tweets are consistently misspelled and uncoordinated—but they always manage to communicate something. The misspellings are all on purpose—he’s created a Twitter alter-ego, an alien that supposedly struggles with the English language. And it’s working.

Jonny takes his platform seriously, knowing that his audience is listening, always. During an interview with NPR, he said:

“I think anybody with that kind of means of getting an idea out has some sort of social responsibility.”

Echoing that response, Jonny created@tinycarebot.

Between the winter season and the (disaster of an) election, people are having a hard time relaxing, and it’s easy to forget to take care of yourself. Social media has turned into an influx of hate-speech and unforgiving comments. Some have even left the platform in protest. It’s hard.

So, Jonny created a Twitter bot—@tinycarebot—to help remind people to take care of themselves. In the midst of a divided world, it’s nice to see someone using their social media powers for good.

It’s interesting, really. Weird Twitter was the catalyst for someone like Jonny to come in, recognize a problem and work to find a solution. As a close-knit community, Weird Twitter offered Jonny a platform to listen and respond to the needs of those around him. His followers just needed a little light on their timeline—maybe a reminder or two that kept them moving and alert and proactive. Jonny witnessed their struggle, and voilà: @tinycarebot.

The Black Sheep

@ShearCreativity
@ShearCreativity: