Winnie Dunn: the 10 funniest things I’ve ever seen (on the internet) | Comedy

Cheezburger was my introduction to the internet. Back before memes were memes. From there, it was a rabbit hole of 4chan trolls, pasta of the creepy variety, Wholockians frolicking on Tumblr, “fluff” emanating from fanfiction.net, rickrolling on YouTube, liking Facebook pages about “take your girlfriend to Macca’s because she’s the one,” and men on Vine sitting 5 feet apart because they’re not gay. The internet just kept growing… Instagram. Twitter. Snapchat. Tinder. Bumble. TikTok. Stories. Reels. Shorts. ChatGPT. Every now and then, before doomscrolling, I ask myself… “Can I have a Cheezburger?”

1. Make an effort

I sent this to a friend in 2017. We’ve been together ever since.

2. Chris Lilley who?

For a long time, a white man with a brown complexion was the spokesman for the Tongans in Australia. Neel Kolhatkar (a real comedian) introduces you to my people.

3. Alu mohe (Go to sleep)

Any islander will know what I mean. Places I’ve slept: Bus 756. The T1 Western train line. On the floor of my family’s old Tarago on a road trip to Melbourne. A Hillsong service. Twice during my HSC biology exam. At the head of my grandmother’s open coffin.

4. My Habib

I send this video to my family every time they try to stage an intervention to discuss the way they are portrayed in my novel.

5. This timeless melody

Whether it’s a propagandist denying his country’s war crimes or your ex-boyfriend trying to manipulate you, this song is always the perfect response.

6. That was (and still is) America

Unlike Mike Myers and Chris Tucker, I miss the old Kanye.

7. Public announcement

White nationalists will surely call me a reverse racist for this!

8. Racism 101

If the previous joke offended you, Aamer Rahman has a lesson for you.

On the morning of October 18, 2023, I woke up and did my usual routine: I wiped the drool from my face and reached across the bed for my phone to see what messages (if any) had come in overnight. I was surprised to discover 11 messages from 11 different friends and family members with a link to this interview. Thank you, Bassem Youssef, who has long used comedy as a tool of resistance.

10. JD Vance sucks

I stand in solidarity with my fellow childless female cats. This is for you, sisters!

• Winnie Dunn is a Tongan-Australian writer, editor and artist from Mount Druitt. She is the author of Dirt Poor Islanders