Lolcows

Lolcows: The Internet's Never-Ending Tragedy is the world's first book on the subject of internet lolcows.

The word lolcow is a portmanteau of "lol" - laugh out loud and "cow" - someone who is milked. A lolcow is someone that is baited or tricked into responding to trolls thereby "milking" them for amusing reactions.

The life of the lolcow is a story of tumultuous lies, deceit, manipulation, emotional breakdowns, crash outs, and financial ruin. The dramatic rise and fall story is familiar to us all. But unlike the fictional heroes of screen or Shakespeare, these are real life people that exist in the real world.

In the book, we will explore this niche internet subculture. The origins of the lolcow, their traits, and their pattern of behavior. We will also examine the biography of six hand selected lolcows across different genres and internet eras.

• DarkSydePhil aka Philip Burnell - Burnell has been called "the internet cockroach" for his longevity, persistence, and behavior. An early pioneer of the video game genre, his career spiraled out of control due to his angry reactions to trolls. His lies, e-begging, and manipulation have made him an internet outcast.

• WingsofRedemption aka Jordie Jordan - Jordan was once a respected video game commentator. Despite his early success, his lack of conception around being a public figure led to him getting repeatedly trolled. His reactions to trolling has created a cottage industry of people dedicated to watching him fail.

• Boogie2988 aka Steven Williams - Williams was once called the "Mister Rogers of the Internet". He was an early Youtuber who went viral for his angry Francis character and vulnerable storytelling. He was the ultimate underdog. However, it wasn't long till his true self was revealed. His wholesome image hid a mountain of lies and manipulations.

• Rekieta Law aka Nick Rekieta - Rekieta was a pioneer of the "Law Tube" genre on Youtube. His colorful commentary on legal issues and cases built an audience of millions all over the world. His wholesome small town lawyer image was shattered by revelations of his other life. His legal issues surrounding child neglect, drug possession, and losing his license to practice made him the subject of the Law Tube genre he helped to create.

• Ian Washburn aka iDubbbz - Washburn ran a successful comedy channel that also offered social commentary. He was known for his wit and edgy humor. He collaborated with the biggest Youtubers of his era. After a series of controversies, lashing out at his fans, and an unsuccessful stint as a boxing promoter, he has become the very creator his used to lampoon.

• Jeremy Hambly aka TheQuartering - Hambly rose to prominence making content calling out the politicization of popular culture. He was able to translate complaining about movies, celebrities, and corporations into millions of views. However, his channels quickly turned into a content factory of slop with diminishing returns.

Each lolcow provides a tragic rise and fall story. But, each lolcow's story presents an opportunity to learn. This book will explore the lessons in lolcows and how they can serve as examples for us.