I enjoyed the class discussion on trolling because it is unavoidable on social media. I especially loved watching the Chaser clip because I remember watching them with my mum growing up. I think the Chaser are very effective trolls because they play into the Australian larrikin spirit and are given permission to antagonise and piss people off. In this clip it feels like Bill Shorten was in on, and even enjoyed the joke. Comedy can give the opposition party meaningful coverage in the lead up to an election—and the Chaser are such a mainstay in Australian pop culture that their coverage is very powerful. I think Australians are better sports when dealing with trolling because it is part of our humour and so it could be argued that the Chaser doesn’t troll, it embodies larrikinism. I think this is because they got in so much trouble in the late 2000s and want the focus of their skits to be the political or social issue.

I thought the John Oliver piece on SLAPP suit segment was interesting because it corresponded well to the reading. I think American politicians and business people are more intimidated by comedy news which encourages comedians to troll. I love how openly Oliver antagonises Murray because he has the backing of a large media company to protect him. I watch a YouTuber who is currently being sued for fair use by a media company ‘Triller’. He employs trolling tactics that are within his rights knowing it will be used (and potentially thrown out) in court. I don’t follow John Oliver closely, but seeing how he engages his audience by trolling shows a common theme in trolling for activism. I think comedians such as Oliver legitimise this kind of political or altruistic trolling for smaller, independent creators—which can only be a good thing.