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Internet Chaos · 2026-04-11
Reddit Creates Completely Fictional Character That Everyone Believes Is Real
A Reddit community accidentally created a person who doesn't exist through pure collaborative storytelling.
What Happened
The r/FictionalPeople community started with one simple rule: create a fake person and develop their backstory. What began as creative writing became something weirder.
Users created "Derek Thompson," a 31-year-old accountant from Des Moines. Someone posted "Derek's" childhood photos (totally fake). Someone else invented his favorite foods. His dating history. His opinions on various topics.
Why This Matters
The internet doesn't distinguish between real and fictional once something achieves critical mass in the collective consciousness.
Deeper Context
Reddit has always been weird. But this is peak weird.