Ong’s hat. For those of us on the early Internet who were interested in Grail-like topics, these two words likely evoke a heady sense of conspiracy, alternative science, and history nostalgia. On websites, email lists, and forums devoted to these topics, there was debate about how much of the mythos behind the multifaceted, multimedia story of Ong’s hat was fiction, and how much could be based on truth. Could there be any truth to the rumors of portals to alternate dimensions? Were there conspiracy theories about its concealment?
In retrospect, thirty years later, it all seems a bit strange. We know now Ong’s hat was co-created by a number of individuals as a piece of ‘guerilla storytelling’, which turned into what is now known as an alternate reality game (ARG). Its influence is nonetheless enormous – both on the ARG business and in several modern stories that reflect some of its themes, such as Stranger things. But a darker part of its influence lies in the realm of conspiracy, particularly the way it exposed how the blurring of fiction and reality can produce myths that can no longer be controlled by their creators – and a can create a horde of ‘true believers’. ‘ that cross the line from having fun with a game to being extremely toxic and potentially dangerous.
Those who have followed the trajectory of Pizzagate and QAnon in recent years may recognize a similar pattern, with myths that started on message boards as LARPs (live action role-playing games) spreading into the real world and being co-opted by bad actors.
When I recently got the chance to talk to the creator of Ong’s hat, Joseph Matheny (embedded below), these topics dominated our discussion. I think this is one of the most important areas we need to talk about more, in a world now dominated by social media and influencers, where all kinds of myths are now spreading through society and being taken as reality by far too many people . Especially in the conspiracy and alternate history and science scenes, as we currently see happening with ‘UFO Twitter’.
To enjoy!
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