Marc Fennell points out that the history of the internet isn’t often discussed, despite its profound impact on our lives. As someone who has covered technology extensively throughout his career, he is well-equipped to provide insights into this aspect.
His new podcast series, “This Is Not A Game,” delves into the early days of the internet and explores the birth of the first internet-born conspiracy theory, known as the legend of Ong’s Hat.
Fennell explains that in the 1980s, a young engineer named Joseph Matheny started a joke about a shack in the New Jersey forest, where renegade scientists supposedly built a portal to another dimension. Initially understood as a joke, this story gained traction as more people accessed the internet, with some taking it seriously.
Instead of debunking the story, Matheny continued to perpetuate it by adding witness testimonies and fake scientific discoveries. Fennell sees this as a cautionary tale about the unchecked spread of misinformation on the internet.
Despite the challenges, Fennell managed to interview Matheny for the podcast. Matheny, although reclusive, agreed to share his story, perhaps as a way to finally put it to rest.
Fennell draws parallels between the Ong’s Hat phenomenon and modern-day internet conspiracies like QAnon, suggesting that the allure of these theories lies in the sense of ownership individuals feel when uncovering information themselves.
“This Is Not A Game” is Fennell’s fourth podcast series with Audible Originals, and his previous work has caught the attention of Amazon MGM, who are adapting his podcast “Nut Jobs” into a drama series.
Balancing multiple projects simultaneously is nothing new for Fennell, who finds it creatively invigorating. He believes that working across different stages of production keeps him from becoming stagnant and allows ideas to flow freely between projects.
