In this episode of Surprise – It’s Not a Toaster, Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett dive into the wild world of online comments—from YouTube rants to Google reviews and Twitter’s never-ending chaos (which is basically just one giant comment section). They trace the history of internet commenting, exploring how we went from early, nerdy UseNet forums to today’s digital free-for-all of trolling, toxicity, and the occasional comedy goldmine.

But are comments good or bad for us? Studies show exposure to negative comments can increase anxiety, impact sleep, and even drive consumer behavior—making or breaking businesses. At the same time, Google loves well-moderated comments for SEO, proving that even the worst takes have value (sometimes).

Also in this episode:

• AI Art with MidJourney—Is generative AI taking creativity to the next level, or just another tool for internet weirdness?


• GenAI Stump—Chris and Ed put AI to the test with an ethical dilemma worthy of a philosophy class (or at least a heated Reddit debate).

Join us as we laugh, rant, and question the very fabric of online discourse—because sometimes, the best response to a terrible comment is just closing the browser tab.

Mentions from the Show: ]

• The Comments Section: A Brief History of Time and Trolling


• Understanding news-related user comments and their effects: a systematic review


• The Impact of Online Negative Reviews on Consumer Purchasing Intention in the Apparel Industry: The Mediating Role of Perceived Risk


• The Impact of Article Comments on SEO


• Screenshots Of Hilarious Internet Comments That Made Me Spit-Take All Over My Desk


• MODERN-DAY ORACLES or BULLSHIT MACHINES?: How to thrive in a ChatGPT world


• Chris Boyer on LinkedIn


• Ed Bennett on LinkedIn


• Chris Boyer website


• Ed Bennett of BlueSky


• Chris Boyer on BlueSky