The First Internet Hoax - Inside A Mind

[@ShortHax]

I swear Ong’s Hat sounds like a Skyrim location

[@jettehoe]

Lmao you aren’t wrong

[@glenn_danzig]

It does

[@adventurekitty1016]

Yeah it does.

[@toasterbasket1502]

dude this is the same top comment on ThatChapter’s video about Ong’s Hat

[@lilyliao9521]

except it doesn't?

[@Amber-ml6et]

It’s crazy to think this man basically invented the ARG. Like we have him to thank for all of the amazing creations and fandom that have come from the internet. Truly an amazing storyteller

[@AnnaLogueMemes]

Agree

[@doubtful_seer]

There’s an arg from the 80’s that predates this, which I believe spilled over onto the old bulletin boards, but this is definitely in the early generation.

[@falconJB]

People have been doing this kind of stuff for a long time, and it frequently goes wrong because crazies get into it. For example, the modern conspiracies about the Illuminati frequently have more to do with the Discordians' OM in the 1970s than actual Illuminati.

[@mattstyles2498]

Your really pretty

[@JellymanVr]

@@mattstyles2498 get a grip

[@0akshadow]

Rule #1 of Inside a Mind: Do not. Incorporate. The paranormal community. Into your ARGs. Didn't work for Fantastic Daily, didn't work here.

[@theShaggy]

It's so disappointing how few people seem to agree with this statement.

[@kenkaniff8428]

who or what is fantastic daily? i barely even know what an ARG is. i only really know what it stands for. dont realky know anything about them but i hear about them CONSTANTLY!!! I'm getting to be an old man (almost 50) so excuse me for not knowing

[@0akshadow]

Fantastic Daily was a fictional version of all those weird Top 10 channels, where the guy made several fictional videos about paranormal phenomena. The guy who figured out it was fiction also found the dude's home address. ARGs are basically multimedia storytelling, where the Internet is used (or there have been other, more local cases as well) in multiple places and people have to "figure out" what's happening. Often these include puzzles of some sort as well.

[@theShaggy]

@@kenkaniff8428 there is a video about FD on this channel from last year. Unlike this guy, he seems entirely uninterested in acknowledging that targeting a crowd who is primed to believe bullshit was his mistake and responsibility, even if the doxxing that resulted was dangerous and unacceptable.

[@kenkaniff8428]

@@theShaggy I dont think i understand but thanks for trying to explain

[@HarvestBrook]

It always makes me sad when these fun art projects and stories are overwhelmed with crazy people who ruin the fun for everyone. I guess I’m glad that these kinds of things are more understood nowadays so we can have our fun with them.

[@WobblesandBean]

It's always telling how people will believe something as ridiculous and obviously fictitious as extradimensional travel.

[@thepinkestpigglet7529]

Tbh I miss when the response wasn't "Guys oh my God it's so obviously fake" to everything

[@PsychoKelly]

@@thepinkestpigglet7529 same miss the gullible people 😢 edit. Posted before I watched.. gullible ok crazy not...

[@mookinbabysealfurmittens]

It was trolls. They roped in crazy people, but _they_ were the ones orchestrating the sidestepping B.S.

[@Markm8]

Are you telling me Pokémon creepy pastas aren’t real?

[@outpesticide]

This is more like the first internet ARG. So interesting to see the origin of this kind of storytelling

[@jettehoe]

Yeah I just wrote a comment about that and found this one

[@user-nl2tc9to7s]

yeah, the word "hoax" implies intent to decieve

[@lucyinchat]

It is the first internet ARG!

[@codexnecrogeddon]

"hoax" and "ARG" are not mutually exclusive

[@user-nl2tc9to7s]

@@codexnecrogeddon yes but the connotations are very different, "ARG" implies a work of fiction made to entertain, "hoax" implies a work of fiction made to deceive obviously this is subjective but still

[@arfansthename]

Pro tip: Never, and I repeat NEVER create an ARG for the UFO/Paranormal community.

[@millop4782]

Not gonna stop me

[@tunderstorm2769]

@@millop4782 well you need to know how to wright

[@Indigo_Polarity]

@@millop4782 You're probably joking, but seriously don't. This isn't the only example of this kind of thing going wrong.

[@thestreak9249]

Fantastic daily

[@li_no__one]

Yeah fantastic daily got F*****ed up because of the ufo community

[@Nico93]

Man, i feel so bad for him on how crazy things were going on during that peak period.

[@SomeplaceScary]

The moment he mentioned things shifted, and then said "coast to coast" I went "oh noooooo".

[@_swesters_]

definitely should have avoided that show....

[@bloodyneptune]

I just made about the identical comment as soon as I heard "coast to coast", too

[@amymalski]

Majority of Coast to Coast fans are sick in the head. I inadvertently dated one once and holy hell was that a huge rabbit hole he took me down into. I never knew about Coast to Coast or Ground Zero till him.

[@mrsuns10]

I thought he meant Space Ghost

[@SourTb]

What's Coast to Coast exactly, like, I know it's a radio show but why does it have that much infamy?

[@TheAdvertisement]

I love how wholesome this guy is, so willing to provide the full story of Ong's Hat, the good and the bad, and even takes responsibility when a lot wasn't really his fault.

[@Frostadoodle]

I'm glad I'm finally getting credit for what I do best.

[@WobblesandBean]

Eyyyyyyy, there he is!

[@Twistlofi]

use this comment as a ratio button

[@someguywithabox]

Happy Retirement :)

[@jannieseth]

The greatest credit IAM could give to you: *Did Nothing*

[@bigboyyesyes184]

@@Twistlofi lmaooo you got ratioed whilst trying to ratio. And you thought you did something, huh?

[@sammydelamante7982]

See Inside a Mind post something: it's gonna be a good night Keep up the good work man! Been a fan for years!!!

[@davidza2887]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHWomoJ-it2bhc0

[@AxxLAfriku]

Let me get this straight: You comment something that is unrelated to the fact that I have two HEAVENLY HANDSOME girlfriends? Considering that I am the unprettiest KZbinr ever, having two handsome girlfriends is really incredible. Yet you did not mention that at all. I am quite disappointed, dear wam

[@sayaksen7545]

@@AxxLAfriku goddamnit this guy again,just under another bot too

[@davidza2887]

W h a t

[@erikaisadiah]

It's so cool how you've been getting all these people to interview lately. Hearing creators perspectives on their own work is fascinating in particular in ARG-like situations. Thank you so much for all you do :) it's very appreciated Edit: deleted some doubled words because voice to text hates me haha

[@mehcro3622]

r u a kid or lazy

[@julialungan4722]

@@mehcro3622 why do you need to insult people?

[@TaraSmallss]

I use voice to text to, and man sometimes it comes out funky lol

[@classiccustoms2010]

It's really tragic how Jospeh's project kind of blew up in his face despite it not entirely being his fault (and to be fair, this kind of project wasn't mainstream at all yet, so it would be silly to expect Joseph to realize it could go south fast). However, I appreciate his efforts and am glad that he can be a part of, dare I say, unfiction history.

[@NanaShaCrash]

I find this so fascinating- the way that human stories have the capacity not necessarily to become real, but actively become a thread in the fabric of our history. And also just how many people are desperate to believe things like this.

[@pouncelygrin6699]

well it is the supernatural and human fascination of the unreal is always at that level where if people heard or read it from any outlet their curiosity blooms to the point of obssession

[@bloodyneptune]

"I went on Coast To Coast, in character" oh..no. I haven't gotten past that part, but just 'oh no'.

[@katherinealvarez9216]

I never heard of this radio show, but when they explained that this was a hot spot for conspiracy theory people, yeah, I went "oooh, no."

[@amoureux6502]

@@katherinealvarez9216 it's honestly an amusing listen if you take everything with a grain of salt, but yeah, it attracts a certain type of crowd for obvious reasons

[@Holesale00]

Yeah I was walking around the house listening to this and soon as he said "I went on Coast To Coast, in character" I knew it was down hill from there. That show was very much confirmation bias for a lot of crazy people.

[@sacredsin7282]

First off, can I just say that I really, *really* dislike fiction and ARG high jackers? To take someone’s hard work, something they took time and passion to craft, and try and steal it and warp it into something completely different and for what, the attention? The control? is just *super* shitty. Plus in this case there seemed to be real intention to cause harm, anger and hostility amongst those following along Ong’s Hat. Second, wow it blows my mind that some people go so far as to STALK creators to unveil some crazy conspiracy that is all in their head. What a toxic, frightening shit show. I can’t imagine what it must have been like to have created this story, made sure to make it clear it was a work of fiction, and then have these people rush in and spin everything *way* out of control, claiming its real and a cover up, finding your house, trying to break in, threatening you and your family members. How sad and frustrating it must be to have people making you regret and possibly even hate your own work for how they’ve twisted and abused it. The only positive thing I can say about all this is that it is pretty damn cool the ARG became its own folklore, since myths and legends sparked the inspiration for it in the first place. I hope that Joseph considers trying his hand at another one now that ARGs and alternate reality fiction like Alex Bale’s work have found a real place in the internet and the cultural mindscape. His Ong’s Hat storyline sounds really fascinating, and I would be absolutely down to check out anything else he might create.

[@chemicalchameleon3469]

Speakin the truth here. Nothing genuinely angers me more than shit like this. To see people defend the paranormal community. To see people speak ill of this creator and others like Fantastic Daily for promoting to a community that from outsiders eyes looks like they would enjoy the story? It genuinely sets a fire off inside me. The problem isn't "promoting to the wrong people". The problem is that there are just *really* shitty people out there. Like you said, people that want to take control of things. I highly doubt most of those running the "It's all real!" thing actually believed in it themselves. They just wanted to take control over those they could manipulate. Like that one divorced guy Jamie mentioned. They just want that control and it ruins the game for everyone. And it discredits the actual normal people that are apart of the community that believes ghosts, other dimensions, etc. are real. Just sucks all around

[@saintsea-hat7891]

Yeah, I’d have to agree. I was friends with a girl in high school who thought marble hornets was real and tried to summon slender man, years before the stabbing incident.

[@wheedler]

I love it. I think it's the essence of culture - taking what someone else has made and adding to it. It's basically what he did with the existing Ong's Hat legends to create his own.

[@UnfictionEnthusiast]

It's so unfortunate that things end up like this. Sometimes I think about starting my own ARG project, or some form of unfiction, but then I remember how garbage and sometimes dangerous the community can be. I see many creators get harassed for little things, like their identity or outside interests and in the worse case, stalked and or injured. No matter how many disclaimers you put there's always going to be the people that ruin it all.

[@teetah6068]

Fantastic daily is a good example of how bad it can it

[@reithehunter]

Honestly I'd say the ARG/ unfiction communities are pretty chill with this kind of stuff bc it's what they are built around. The paramormal/conspiracy groups though... they just desperately want things to be real, and when things turn out to not be, then go ballistic. It's sad really, and the reason why I think it's best just for unfiction authors to not go anywhere near these people. Sure, ARG enthusiasts may be harder to "fool" and they may know all the tricks up your sleeves, but at least they can appreciate a good piece of fiction.

[@jamesm6479]

@@reithehunter it doesn't matter around "fooling" people, it's about being immersive, but people know it's not really real if it's targeted towards people who like/know about args. It's like how you suspend your disbelief when watching a good movie or book.

[@GoodCookinAquarius]

Hmm... yo if anything just make a video game with deep lore within... make simple game boy like games, and develop your skills and hone the details in your lore.

[@Bruh-lq7ev]

I don't mean this as an insult against the mentally ill, but people with extreme schizophrenia tend to be into these things and they can be very dangerous

[@idlecaption]

Man was really ahead of his time in regards to artistic expression on a different medium. I appreciate his choice to end it when he realized it has gotten bigger than him/out of his control. Even with all the personal stuff and crazy people he dealt with that put him in danger, I imagine it’s hard to just completely end a successful project you created that your so emotionally attached to.

[@partlycloudy7707]

This is so cool! I've never heard of this story, and it's crazy this guy may have created the ARG genre back in the early days if the internet. Also, it's rather fitting that the paranormal community online had always been crazy and great at destroying creative works. Reminds me FantasticDaily's project that backfired on him.

[@riverchau6625]

It’s very interesting how the suspense of disbelief seems to evade social media. Social media being the media we create and share socially, i.e. radio shows, internet videos, citizen journalism, commentary

[@BONERCRUSHER]

Technically with things like this, if someone cannot dictate that ongs hat isnt a real story, that means they're under the age of 7 (when a child finally is able to differentiate fiction from reality) or severely mentally ill. Like alot of the people in this were for sure mentally ill and untreated, and it's really sad honestly.

[@MrKeeganimal]

Both an incredible tool to use for ARGs, and yet it's most dangerous. Especially in a disinformation age.

[@someguywithabox]

Congratulations Frostadoodle for being the most important and hardest working member of the team. I'm sure all that nothing would have taken years, but you're getting old and all that nothing is going to be too hard for you to achieve, it's time to take a well earned rest. Have fun in retirement Mr. Frostadoodle.

[@charlottec9404]

so proud of Frostadoodle for achieving this ripe old age. it seems like only yesterday they were a young spring chicken on Minecraft. I guess all that parkour really does age you :( perhaps one too many times giving out door perms. but now retirement is akin to a new solo minecraft survival world where one can truly discover oneself and invest precious time (of which little remains :(((( ) into one's true interests. best wishes for the future Frostadoodle! I hope you can find joy in this new chapter of life

[@Twistlofi]

Honestly Frostadoodle has come along way I'm so glad he's finally getting the recongition he deserves all be it too late. Happy retirement Frostadoodle. I wish you the best in your old age you've been like a father to me you've taught me so much and I'm glad to be your successior in this life and the next I'll be forever thankful for you showing me the way around your minecraft survival world and giving me door permissions ( I hope I can get on the Build team someday.) MORE LIFE FROSTA

[@nicholasfarrell5981]

Man, I miss Art Bell. Hearing his voice again really takes me back. Always took the topics with a blood pressure-spiking amount of salt, but my word was it fun to listen to it all.

[@calupoh9788]

wait, THAT story was supposed to be fake from the start?! I swear the first time I heard it I was under the assumption that it had originated as the premise for a cult, I had no idea such a talented storyteller was behind this and his creation had just been hijacked by a bunch of conspiracy theorist, wow...

[@RickClark58]

Things have only gotten worse since the 90's. When you have a group of people gathering in Dallas for the return of a person who has been dead for several years, and honestly believe it, that is the definition of insane. We are living in crazy town.

[@boringsupernova4836]

What's this abt dallas?

[@sourgreendolly7685]

@@boringsupernova4836 Conspiracy wingnuts think JFK is coming back lol

[@piyo744]

@@sourgreendolly7685 his son jfk jr., not jfk. jfk jr. disappeared after a plane crash in the 90's not that it makes them any less batshit

[@remnainc]

@@sourgreendolly7685 Bro he his though, he told me last night while I was bowling with Abraham.

[@remnainc]

@@piyo744 It actually does because in one scenario they'd be believing JFK was the second coming of Jesus and in the other they just believe a man hid for 30 years, though both are definitely crazy I feel that one of these is clearly far crazier.

[@Saddened_Editor]

This doesn't just sound like the first internet hoax... it sounds like the first ARG. Interesting to say the least. -^_^-

[@astoriafloyd4183]

I would wager its both. It started as an ARG, but turned into a hoax and urban legend over time. Remember, this started back BEFORE the internet even started (BBS systems used the phone network)

[@Saddened_Editor]

@@astoriafloyd4183 Very true -^_^-

[@σουκμαντικ]

no the title is right "the first internet hoax" cuz these weird ass individual make a hoax out of a fictional story.

[@Saddened_Editor]

@@σουκμαντικ I honestly think that it was an ARG then it got highjacked and turned into a hoax

[@illyriashade56]

This sort of stuff is so fascinating to me. I love learning about old pieces of internet horror, and I especially love how you get interviews with the creators themselves for a lot of these. It's really, really cool to get the perspective of the one who made the project.

[@fuchsfarben]

I cannot imagine the rage he must have felt towards those hijackers, claiming that he can't be trusted with his own damn story. I feel so bad for him for all the nutcases trying to take advantage of his art piece for their personal gains, glad that so many had a really great time with it though :)

[@sabresister]

Man it sucks things got so out of control, kind of reminds me of the shadow children guy. Also his thesis project sounds really cool, I love when there’s irl elements like what they did with TIMM!

[@rai1578]

They literally made the same mistake of marketing themselves to the paranormal audience too. It's sad, they both had such potential but ended up being so disastrous for their creators

[@VaultLink]

Calling it a hoax feels disingenuous. You talk about this at the end, it started as a story and he tried to make that as clear as possible. Now that we have the terms more hammered out now I think it would fit more to call it the first work of internet unfiction

[@amymalski]

That's a good point. Hoax has an air of nefariousness to it. This was an innocent art project, ARG and unfiction.

[@rai1578]

I mean, I'd argue that it WAS a hoax, just not one run by him. The story was his. But the people who read the disclaimers and actively tried to convince others that it was all real? All that's really required is that SOMEONE convinces people it's real. It doesn't necessarily have to be the author.

[@CHOCOLATIONZ]

It's like the unavoidable fate of ARG creators that most of the times they would encounter people who can't differentiate reality and ARG.

[@thatlycantomboy]

tbh his story becoming an actual folktale of the town is cool as hell. that’s my dream. I mean, I don’t want to trick people or anything, but I love folklore!

[@johanretard3615]

People dont spread folklore because they know its complete bullshit... you literally would have to trick people.... this is ur brain on atheism

[@gorecelaintm7682]

I've grown extremely jaded and bitter with ARGs over the past two or three years now and immediately yeet a video when I realize it's an ARG but good lord, this is insane. You basically can't associate with the paranormal community at all, they will drag you through the gravel until you are just a lump of meat and then say that the government is why you ended up a broken meat pile and left the place. I feel terrible for the artist, he certainly didn't deserve that.

[@lisahoshowsky4251]

Omg, I’ve heard of the name Ong’s hat but no one has ever really said what it’s about. And the name is so “mundane” I was never interested enough to look into it. This is wildly fascinating. It’s horrific where it went but it was such a fascinating and well done concept

[@melasnexperience]

This is amazing! I knew about Ongs Hat being part of local Jersey Devil lore, but this story is completely new to me. It fits perfectly into the general otherworldly vibe of the Pine Barrens. Shame the Art Bell circle of the web had to ruin it, like they do with most interesting modern folklore.

[@stan8479]

I'm so amazed everytime you conduct interviews with the people responsible for the stories you cover. Your content is a real treat even among other KZbinrs covering the same kind of content.

[@Alimator_210]

My take: don't believe everything you read on the internet, but its still fun to explore and find the truth yourself.

[@Axolotls677]

I hope someone tells this guy about the SCP foundation, it seems like something he would be happy to know exists

[@Holesale00]

It seems like what SCP is now is similar to what he intended his story to playout as I would love to read a version of it there so it can live on in its own way.

[@billul1]

Yeah SCP put its foot down very early that the whole thing is fiction to ward things like this off. For example roleplaying/acting like it's real in the article comment section/forum is a bannable offense.

[@thatonehuman1331]

this is what makes doing an arg hard. I’ve been wanting to start my own for years and have some parts that require a physical location but you hear all these terrible stories like this and it just seems not worth it

[@rai1578]

I think it highly depends on other factors. There are terrible stories like this... but there are also incredible experiences that don't get anybody hurt. I think it definitely helps if you have a team, since there's safety in numbers. I'd never use my home or anywhere super close to it. It also really depends on who you market your ARG to. Some groups are more volatile than others. I think Inside a Mind may have done a video on them, but if you haven't seen them, you should look into MeowWolf. They're the ones behind the whole "OmegaMart" thing, but they've done other projects in the past too. You might be able to learn something from them, since their "interactive art experiences" very much have ARG elements, and have a large, important, in person element. I hope you can make the ARG you dream of someday. But be safe if you do so of course

[@classiccustoms2010]

Ong's Hat, huh? Wendigoon mentioned that in his latest Conspiracy Theory Iceberg video, which I honestly find hilarious.

[@acidkyledaLSDj]

one long game of telephone eh?

[@megsley]

@@acidkyledaLSDj tell-a-phone, tell-a-gram, tell-a-youtuber?

[@jessicaheather4755]

@@megsley hmm... lol whoa this weed is too strong . Like your comment lol 😆

[@jmiquelmb]

I was going to watch Wendigoon's video after this, it's such a small world lol

[@Deathsespresso]

Good to finally see some real coverage of Ongs Hat. This is a great first step in decentering BEAST as the first ARG.

[@d1sasteroid]

what is beast ?

[@Deathsespresso]

@@d1sasteroid The BEAST was a ad campaign and ARG leading up to Steven Spielberg's AI movie. It's largely cited as the first ARG and happened in 2000. Ong's hat, of course, proceeds it by many years. Though a fan game of BEAST called Lockjaw did spawn the name "alternate reality game".

[@qaaris4280]

"Ooh, the first internet hoax, I wonder how much I know about it." "Excuse me, _what_ hat?"

[@ArtistTheArtist05]

3 things are certain in life: Death, Taxes, And Fucking *Game Jacking*

[@witherwolf3316]

To start an ARG please make your personal security of the utmost importance. VPN's, cafe wifi, whatever it takes to keep the tethers away from your personal life. If you're participating in an ARG do not attempt to find any characters in real life, do not try to track down the creator, obey the disclaimers. If the creator tells you to stop in any way, you do so immediately.

[@Dther99]

"Any online community that gets its kicks by pretending to be fools is soon overcome by fools believing they are in good company." - Voltaire, 17th Century Philosopher

[@domecity]

Just like with Fantastic Daily, If any aspiring ARG/unfiction creators are to take a single thing away from this video, it should be that a very *very* *VERY* important part of making this sort of content is cultivating an audience who you're certain is in on your project being a piece of immersive fiction.

[@gemthebyte]

I think I can safely say that Inside A Mind is the channel I'm always the most hyped for when they post a video. Just amazing.

[@benjones8098]

Dang I remember this story. Joseph is a great story teller. It's cool to actually see someone who makes up internet legends and myths.

[@SAnimacsRats]

Crazy on how long I’ve been watching your vids. I hope to see more amazing content! Love the work you’ve done so far.

[@shroomyk]

I would be so afraid to try an ARG or internet art thing because I'd be afraid of doxxing, no matter how much effort I put into anonymity. Pretty cool you got the man himself to do an interview. Now I'm laughing because I just noticed the description says "Myths and Lergends". ermahgerd LERGENDS.

[@christopherchesnajr1429]

It's amazing how powerful a narrative can change the direction of a story. Unfortunately it's those that ruin the narrative that end up basically ending it for everyone. Art is a gift and a curse

[@corndogonasticc]

Man, once he mentioned that he got into coast to coast. I knew everything we're about to go downhill. Sh*t's crazy yo. Still can't believe people like these will still and forever exist

[@thiscatisangry]

This is the perfect video to warm my day up while I'm sick, I love your videos!

[@smartusername]

I'm sick too aaa

[@davidza2887]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHWomoJ-it2bhc0

[@uglymelon6721]

Please don’t say sick that’s a huge trigger

[@ComradeJoe72]

Hope y'all get better. And sick

[@WobblesandBean]

Please feel better soon!

[@melskunk]

Man I was on the internet in the mid 90s and I don't remember encountering ong's hat by that name but the second you mentioned people getting ill from researching it I distinctly remember THAT sort of story getting passed around. I wonder if it was ong's hat or any one of the other weird conspiracy theories around the internet at the time.

[@katherinealvarez9216]

"In the beginning, people knew this was just a story, they had a lot of fun with it and yes, and the worse thing to happen was a few kids camped out on the guy's lawn because they wanted an autograph. But then the conspiracy theorists got a hold of it-"

[@decapodAJ]

i’ve always loved this guys storys, and characters. it’s great to have a video about him, great video!

[@randobeantv7712]

If you tell a conspiracy theoriest "this isn't real" they'll just look at you and go "oh you HAD to say that." Also this is very heart breaking that the such an amazing story had to be cut so short.

[@GuyParson]

Tbh it makes sense in perspective , so many things are denied for years only to be confirmed later , that now no matter how crazy or stupid it may be , the reaponse to someone denying a conspiracy isn't "oh he's right this is clearly fake " but instead " he works for the government/corporation/terrorists/etc. and shouldn't be trusted" so by being denied they believe they're right because other " stupid " theories have been denied before

[@augustineforlife]

I’m sure as great as always, Jamie!

[@davidza2887]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHWomoJ-it2bhc0

[@angrymushroom26]

This is tragic, how they wound up those people to just come after him because they were true believers like that. It is sad and terrifying. but It just hurts my soul a little bit that things like this, large art forms like this, can't be done because people can't chill and accept that things are just a story to enjoy. Sorry Joseph that you couldn't tell your full story.

[@PurpleTurtle-t4q]

the story that he created based off folklore becoming a folklore on its own is a great ending

[@casuallyceltic]

I'm only halfway through the video but I have to say, this guy's vocabulary is amazing. I've caught at least four words he's used that I never hear in casual conversation and it's made me audibly say "Ooohhh, good word!"

[@berilysoup9999]

I have never heard of ongs hat, this already sounds interesting

[@andylifer5302]

I’ve definitely seen this story presented as the truth on other KZbin channels. I suppose it’s interesting that this story resonated so much with so many people.

[@chelseaadams5454]

I would make a joke about how there's always that one jerk who takes the game way too seriously....but, wow, that's what actually happened. Shame, too, because it sounded like a really fun concept. Too bad it got completely derailed by people who were so deluded in their fantasies that they failed to notice the blatant "This is fake" message right before them.

[@moonlightshadowpony]

I would have loved for something like this to go on, have it finish up with our main character finding the location where it all happened, finding the activation phrase, and then vanishing for like a month before the final reveal, however instead we get it ruined by some toxic people online

[@w4shep]

I remember when Ong's Hat came out. It was the greatest conspiracy theory ever. It had everything. Interdimensional travel which was accessed through Tantric sex. A treasure hunt in which if you read a long book list the clues to finding the "egg" which allowed you to go to Earth 2. All the clues were there and would be made clear to you. Except there were out of print books and some manuscripts that were only printouts (that nobody had of course). And there were interview cassette tapes with craziness on them. I believe it appeared on Art Bell's show several times. It was fucking amazing. And I hoped like hell it was true.

[@nathan6862]

this channel is something that deserves its own streaming service

[@sliporful]

Love your videos man, keep it up! The editing is so clean!

[@seandamienhill]

Incredible, kinda reminds of fantastic daily. The disclaimers this man gave is clear sign to me that some folks just NEED something to believe sometimes

[@MonakalizasArt]

I think i mentioned this before, i love ARGs or works of fictions that are so crazy and in its own world that there's no way it could be "real", BUT still so immersive that it didn't matter of it was or not, your suspension of disbelief is so involved that you get involved in the play time.. Its such an art form, trying to create that world, while not constantly screaming "btw its not real guys all pretend all fiction!!" because that too takes the fun out of it... People like this really ruin it for everyone..

[@skyllalafey]

This channel just keeps getting better and better, awesome work!

[@laurahenriksen19]

Poor guy, it reminds of the blame and flack the multitude of creators who did all the Slenderverse stuff got in the damn documentary on the teen girls trying to murder their friend. It's a great concept, many people produced work on it and because of some unhinged and unhappy kids they got a ton of backlash which was unnecessary and unwarranted. Sad state of affairs 😞 Great work though 👍🏻

[@mimiaokay1598]

The visuals were amazing in this video as usual!! Love your videos so much!

[@jameshughes3014]

i used to love listening to coast to coast in the middle of the night around the late 90s and early 2000s. it was interesting, spooky fun - like ghost stories around a campfire. then, the whole world lost its damn mind. what happened? why were so many people that desperate to check out of reality at the same time? Maybe the internet, and access to facts from around the world made it impossible for them to continue in their delusional beliefs peacefully, and they snapped?

[@maxxcreese9911]

In a nutshell yes.

[@roodevonkilgore]

This is a spectacular shirt documentary. I always love your stuff but this one was just extra fun and well made.

[@weeeeeeee72]

this guy basically created the original arg, what a legend

[@fairlysleepy]

This is a really cool video, and I'm kind of happy that Joseph dealt with internet hate well. I hope he lives well knowing people finally know the truth now. And that outro song is so damn catchy!!!

[@ErikUden]

Internet: *exists* Person: *makes an elaborate joke* People: *actually start believing it* And thus, the age of misinformation has begun.

[@colbycoles6983]

The production quality on these videos is astounding!

[@karldammann]

Lmfao! I'm a Piney from way back and the only people who believe the soldier story are conspiracy nut jobs, not normal humans. There is a pretty big training base on the edge of the Pine Barrens, so they mixed up truth with fantasy. The Ong's Hat name and history are easy enough to find if you care to actually look for it and aren't hung up on how "mysterious" it is. "In his review (May 12) of "The Pine Barrens" by John McPhee, Earl Schenck Miers repeats an old and erroneous fable. As a member of the Ong family I would like to say that the town of Ong's Hat is a misnomer. The Ongs were Quakers and settled in Little Egg Harbor, Burlington County, N.J., early in the 17th century. They were down at the shore and had to take their grain up to Burlington to be ground by bagging it and slinging the bags over the backs of their horses. Half way to Burlington they stopped overnight to break the journey and built a small shelter at what is now Ong's Hat but was actually Ong's Hut." The book he references is really good, but like the guy in the video, they just believed whatever story they liked best, not which one has a basis in truth. Most people who believe the hat in a tree story get it from the book "Lost Towns of Southern New Jersey" Henry Charlton Beck. Fun fact, the Jersey devil story isn't actually about some monster, but a political and ideological rivalry between many figures of their day including old Ben Franklin.

[@ianleoncarmona9722]

Ok, people like this guy make life way more interesting, thanks to him we have secrets and ARGs, ways to enjoy and understand stories in a way that feels like you earned

[@Lyncin]

Really shows how the internet changes and doesnt change at the same time

[@PanAndScanBuddy]

People change, but not much.

[@Lyncin]

@@PanAndScanBuddy pretty muc

[@ambroseandersonmusic]

Inside a Mind AND Barely Sociable uploads on the same day?? Best Friday ever

[@good_death_for_the_lonely]

i dont see the barely sociable video? :(

[@ChrisRid]

I want to know what his college thought of his project. I can imagine him telling them that it was such a success that he can't stop it anymore.

[@bradleyammons1718]

Wow! Great documentary. I seriously love whenever one of these shows up in my recommended.

[@CarolineBearoline]

Disrupt, Cadaber, and now this channel uploads ALL in the last 2 days 😍

[@Amethyst_Alien]

Psst 💜 Barely Sociable and Wendigoon too!

[@PongoXBongo]

Overzealous (and many probably mentally ill) "truth seekers" ruin everything. Even if it's technically "legal" to show up at someone's doorstep, or contact their employer, or release their personal information (doxxing should be illegal), you still don't do it. There should be a clear separation between online and off, personal and professional, etc. But, some people believe that their deluded cause(s) are exempt from these separations.

[@purplehaze2358]

It always makes me sad when people think art, which is obviously fictional and not supposed to be taken as fact, is real.

[@kemit88]

Nice production, nice to hear Joseph's story. I read the Ong's Hat book that he wrote with Peter Moon in 2002. Cool sci fi story. I don't think Peter Moon will ever come out and state that the Montauk Stories are fake though, way to many life synchronicities within the series of books. Since Stranger Things based season 1 on aspects of the first Montauk Project book, I was hoping that they'd adapt some aspects of the sequel books to the following seasons. But its all good, I liked the VH1 story line.

[@Carnyzzle]

of course, coast to coast was when shit hit the fan lmao

[@noisymuffin]

excelent storytelling and the man is also good at being interviewd, good job on this one

[@Meckolo]

no one ever seems to point out how good the intro and end music is

[@FilmingInTheDark]

Frostadoodle here pulling in the hard work...the best at what he does

[@meexa981]

whenever i finish an inside a mind video i just get this sense of fulfilment , especially when that music at the end kicks in 👌👌

[@mikeboheen3645]

A bit different from the videos I'm used to seeing from this channel, but I did enjoy this. A bit of a storytime theme here with the testimony of the one responsible for the "occurrence" held front and center. Those familiar with the subreddit will understand what I mean when I say this put one of those 'hmmm' smiles on my face throughout. Interesting, entertaining, friendly informal interview-driven, fact-focused look back on what became of something that was meant to be something...entirely different from what it devolved into.

[@commanderfiendfyre4095]

This inspired Galidor, one of the greatest things Lego ever flopped on.

[@burnaccount]

Seriously the way you create your videos is so interesting and fun i really enjoy every upload i hope you can keep it up

[@BasketChase98]

The first ARG /and/ the first game-jacking all at once

[@EdSchroedinger]

19:28 "[...] a form of SWATing before SWATing..." sounds even creepier than getting swatted... one of the aspects why I am a big proponent of anonymity.

[@transsnack]

This is why I'm scared to start an arg, lol. I've wanted to make one for a long time, but whenever I go to start I get videos like these. Uuuugh, why can't people relax and enjoy stuff without ruining it for everyone...

[@moresnqp]

oh wow the orchestration during the crazed man story was excellent