/r/switcharoo

2,582 'roo-ers, a community for 1 year

---

There are reddit traditions, and then there are old reddit traditions. It can be amazing at what actually sticks around through the ages of the ye old Internet. Somehow, this is one thing that has continued. I will warn you right now that once you start clicking, you don't know where you'll end up or how you ended up there. It will be like going on a mind-altering bender, then forgetting about it, and wondering where the time went. Then it'll start again once you see another blue link. The jokes are bad and never ending, yet you'll continue on. It's the reddit way. Or you just have no life. Or both. I urge extreme caution at continuing on.

Oh, and if you like clicking links you'll regret later on...

Have fun!

---

Ah, the old rootheswitch. Wait, did I do that right. Uh- what is the old switcharoo?

/u/Gropulation: We have a few definitions laid out in our wiki, which I'm certain /u/guesset25 will be more than happy to re-iterate, but I've found it a bit difficult do describe myself. For me, it's just a very popular genre of jokes that is told over and over, swapping two subjects where the first one is implied or assumed by the reader. It's easiest to understand by following a few links or so.

/u/gusset25: A switcharoo occurs when a redditor leverages an ambiguity by feigning ignorance for comic effect about which of two subjects a previous poster was referring to. It's a lot funnier than I've made it sound. We’re actually having a sub-wide discussion about what constitutes an acceptable ‘roo.

How did it start?

/u/Gropulation: I don't think anyone has a certain answer. Of course you can follow the chain back a few years and find the beginning, but that's not necessarily the 'start'. Jokes like the 'switcharoo' have been made forever, before reddit. It's just that the term 'reddit switcharoo' was coined some time ago.

/u/gusset25: I came on the scene late, and I haven’t been to the start (yet) but you can get there by following the chain to the end (or is it the beginning?).

Why do you keep the trend continuing? How can others help it continue?

/u/Gropulation: For me, it's fun to notice how such a repetitive joke can be so popular on a daily basis. If you look though the switcharoo, there's one daily with 100+ upvotes. For some reason, this genre of jokes doesn't get old.

/u/gusset25: Because constructive silliness is a good cause. If everyone pitches in just a little bit, it can continue until we’re all fed up of it.

Please tell me when I can stop clicking. I keep on going.

/u/Gropulation: Whenever you get tired or reach the end. Probably the former.

/u/synth3tk: One does not simply "stop clicking".

What is the subreddit all about?

/u/gusset25: The subreddit is just a place to put the latest ‘roo so that the next person knows where to link to.

Any particular favorite switcharoos?

/u/Gropulation: No, they're all pretty much the same joke. Occasionally you'll get a variation, but for the most part it's the same joke over and over, and the variations aren't that funny.

/u/gusset25: I don’t dare start following the chain again to look, so here is one I remember because it’s mine and recent. I like it because I managed to make a decent pun out of the title, so it was two jokes in one.

What makes a switcharoo especially great?

/u/Gropulation: Nothing. A switcharoo itself is actually the opposite of great. It's a repetitive joke that's not funny at all when you realize how often it's told, or if you're expecting it. Hence the phrase "Ah the Old Reddit Switcharoo"

/u/synth3tk: For me personally, it's the fact that new people continue to discover the Switcheroo every day and are fascinated by just how deep it goes. That, and people leaving messages for "future travelers". While some may consider it overplayed, it is still something that a lot of people enjoy. The fun is not in pointing out a switcheroo. The fun is going down the proverbial rabbit hole.

Seriously, please tell me when I can stop clicking. I'm lost in a tunnel. In another dimension. Help. I don't know where I am.

/u/gusset25: Switcharoos. Not even once.

If you can toss me a rope and help me find my way off reddit, that'd be great. In the meantime, please tell me about you (the mods).

/u/gusset25: Off-reddit, where I am a trial lawyer, I notice every unintended ambiguity in conversation. I learned about /r/switcharoo when a comment of mine was ‘roo-ed. I followed the chain a little, amused and confused in equal measure. I fell in love with the idea straight away.

Any other observations?

/u/gusset25: For me, the fun is sharing the ‘roo, not going down the rabbit-hole. I was surprised to learn that 94% of submissions come from people who post just once or twice. There is only a very small hardcore of posters. The popularity of the ‘roo depends on people discovering this delight and participating until the novelty of doing so wears off, which appears to be very quickly.

Recently I was browsing /r/aboutreddit and came across a post by someone asking for help in understanding how switcharooing works. Since I was by now a mod and anxious to spread the word, I started answering the question, only to realise that OP was none other than me three months ago! I left a friendly message from future me to past me.