ROFLCon
{{Short description|Convention of internet memes}}
{{Infobox Convention
| name = ROFLCon
| image = File:The ROFLCon Banner.jpg
| caption = Banner for the first ROFLCon, with A/S/L as a tagline
| status = Retired
| genre = Internet culture
| venue = Massachusetts Institute of Technology
| location = Cambridge, Massachusetts
| country = United States
| first = 2008
| last =
| organizer = Harvard University Students
| filing =
| attendance = ~600 in 2008
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20080426224218/http://roflcon.org:80/ roflcon.org]
}}
ROFLCon was a biennial convention of internet memes that took place in 2008, 2010 and 2012, featuring various internet celebrities. All three events were at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. ROFLCon was first organized by a group of students from Harvard University led by Tim Hwang.[http://roflcon.org/the-team/ "The Team @ ROFLCon"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501172232/http://roflcon.org/the-team/ |date=2008-05-01 }}. roflcon.org. According to Hwang, the inspiration for the conference was the September 23, 2007 meetup of fans of xkcd with its creator, Randall Munroe, in a park in North Cambridge, Massachusetts.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab4_YWyYtj4&NR=1 "How ROFLCon began"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425161336/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab4_YWyYtj4&NR=1 |date=2016-04-25 }} (video). YouTube.
The name "ROFLCon" comes from the internet slang "ROFL", short for "rolling on the floor laughing", and "con", short for "convention".
The original ROFLCon
The first ROFLCon was first announced in late 2007, and took place on April 25–26, 2008.Wortham, Jenna (December 7, 2007). [https://www.wired.com/underwire/2007/12/famous-internet/ "Famous Internet Memes to Gather at ROFLCon 2008"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107183909/http://www.wired.com/underwire/2007/12/famous-internet/ |date=2012-11-07 }}. Wired.com
Various internet celebrities attended, such as the authors of the webcomics xkcd, Questionable Content and Dinosaur comics, Jay Maynard "The Tron Guy", Christopher "moot" Poole, Leeroy Jenkins, The Brothers Chaps, and many others.Walker, Rob (July 16, 2010). [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/18/magazine/18ROFL-t.html?pagewanted=print "When Funny Goes Viral"]. The New York Times.[http://roflcon.org/guest-list-status/ "Confirmed Guests @ ROFLCon"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429171804/http://roflcon.org/guest-list-status/ |date=2008-04-29 }}. roflcon.org
Attendance was open to the public after pre-registration and a fee. The primary events of ROFLCon were moderated panel discussions with the Internet celebrities, and question and answer sessions with the audience. Several guest speakers gave talks on issues pertaining to internet culture. The convention ended with the "ROFLConcert", featuring live performances by Group X, Leslie Hall, Lemon Demon, Trocadero and Denny Blaze.
Subsequent events
ROFLCon II{{Cite web |date=February 18, 2011 |title=How I Got Famous on the Internetz |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/yv37by/how-i-got-famous-on-the-internetz |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521100326/https://vice.com/en/article/yv37by/how-i-got-famous-on-the-internetz |archive-date=May 21, 2023 |access-date=April 25, 2024 |website=Vice.com |publisher=Vice}} took place from April 30 to May 1 at MIT. Passes were available from $45 for a student to $500 for a "Mystery Pass." ROFLCon III{{Cite web |last=Barrett |first=Brian |date=May 4, 2012 |title=At ROFLCon III, This Meme's Business |url=https://wired.com/2012/05/roflcon-iii |access-date=April 25, 2024 |website=Wired.com |publisher=Wired}} took place on May 4–5, 2012,{{cite web|url=http://roflcon.org/2011/12/05/roflcon-iii-may-4-5-2012/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105204115/http://roflcon.org/2011/12/05/roflcon-iii-may-4-5-2012/|archivedate=5 January 2012|title=ROFLCon III – May 4-5, 2012|date=5 December 2011|website=roflcon.org}} announced as the final ROFLCon.{{cite web |last=Baio |first=Andy |date=2012-05-14 |title=The Final ROFLCon and Mobile's Impact on Internet Culture – |url=http://waxy.org/2012/05/the_final_roflcon_and_mobiles_impact_on_internet_culture/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114084148/http://waxy.org/2012/05/the_final_roflcon_and_mobiles_impact_on_internet_culture/ |archive-date=2016-11-14 |accessdate=2016-11-13 |website=Waxy.org}}
Gallery
File:Green-Anonymous.jpg|alt=Anonymous, photographed on April 26, 2008|A member of Anonymous at ROFLCon I
File:Internet superheroes.jpg|alt=4chan founder moot (left) with webcomic creators Randall Munroe and Ryan North at ROFLCon 2008|4chan founder moot (left) with webcomic creators Randall Munroe and Ryan North at ROFLCon I
File:Brad O'Farrell.jpg|alt=Brad O'Farrell of Keyboard Cat|Brad O'Farrell of Keyboard Cat at ROFLCon II
File:ROFLcon rickroll.jpg|alt=A live rickroll|A live Rickroll at ROFLCon II
File:Heroes of Usenet panel.jpg|Jay Furr, Laurence Canter and Brad Templeton from the "Heroes of Usenet" panel at ROFLcon II
File:Johannes Grenzfurthner and Pedobear at ROFLCon 2010.jpg|Artist and media researcher Johannes Grenzfurthner and Pedobear at ROFLCon II
File:Jamie Wilkinson and Kenyatta Cheese at ROFLCon II.jpg|alt=Jamie Wilkinson and Kenyatta Cheese of Know Your Meme|Jamie Wilkinson and Kenyatta Cheese of Know Your Meme at ROFLCon II
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Internet}}
{{Commons category}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080426224218/http://roflcon.org/ Official site]
- [http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/04/27/roflcon_final_session_cult_leaders.html "ROFLCon final session: Cult leaders"]. The Guardian. April 27, 2008.
- [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/funny_pages_20/2008/04/roflcon-live-st.html "ROFLCon Live Stream"]. Los Angeles Times Funny Pages. April 25, 2008.
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080501050825/http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/04/welcome-to-the.html "ROFLCon: Welcome to the Fame Revolution"]. Wired. April 25, 2008.
- [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89990930 "My ROFLCon Weekend: Breakfast with Tron Guy"]. NPR. April 28, 2008
- [http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/05/01/roflcon/index.html The new fame: Internet celebrity]. CNN. May 1, 2008.
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080921164807/http://bostonist.com/2008/04/30/roflcon_1.php "Bostonist Went To ROFLCon And All We Got Was This Brawndo Hangover"]. Bostonist. April 30, 2008.
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Category:Conventions in Massachusetts