Online mockery went through a fundamental shift over the last decade. In the mid-2000s, forums operated on direct ridicule: bullies sought out earnest hobbyists, extracted awkward photos, and posted them for collective harassment. That direct hostility has largely been replaced by post-irony. Today, creators often beat their detractors to the punch by adopting an overtly absurd persona before anyone else can mock them.
When a costumed streamer appears in a chaotic, low-budget skit, distinguishing genuine sincerity from calculated absurdity becomes impossible. That ambiguity is intentional. Self-deprecation shields creators from traditional ridicule. If an individual intentionally behaves in a bizarre fashion, calling them weird loses its sting; they already set the joke up themselves.
