Internet Nostalgia

Let’s Revisit ‘2 Girls, 1 Cup’ Reaction Videos

Don’t worry, there’s no link to the video here, promise

Welcome to part 9 of our Internet Nostalgia series, which looks back at phenomena that captured the imagination and attention of the internet for a fleeting moment and then vanished as everyone moved on to something else. This series looks back at those olden times, and what they told us about the internet, and ourselves. If you have a suggested topic, email me at williamfleitch@yahoo.com. Last week, we looked at The Numa Numa Guy. This week: “2 Girls 1 Cup.”

Date: 2007.

The story: There is something about the internet that always feels like touching a hot stove. You know you shouldn’t do it. You know it’s going to burn you. But you can’t stop touching the stove. Maybe this is the time it isn’t hot? Or maybe, just maybe, we like the pain. Whether it’s digging into the comment section even though you know it’s going to be a nightmare, or clicking on an idiot’s hot take that you know is going to be idiotic, or watching anything Donald Trump Jr. has ever done, there is an inherent masochism to being on the internet. We know it’s bad for us. But back we come. Sometimes I wonder if we’re staring into the maw just to see how long we can take it.