Part One: How Nuisance Streamers and Rage-Baiting Ate the Internet

SPEAKER_1 (0:01)

Cool Zone Media.

Robert Evans (0:05)

Welcome back to Behind the Bastards, a podcast about the very worst people in all of history. And we have a very special episode for you this week. I've been burning the midnight oil because we have as a guest this week, my old boss and current New York Times bestselling author, several times over, Jason Pargin. Jason, welcome back to the show.

Thank you.

Jason Pargin (0:28)

I get so nervous doing this show because of the subject matter. It seems like it's so easy to fall into saying something that can be taken out of context. Like, well, now that is one thing I admit I do like about Bill Cosby.

And one of my enemies is going to pull that out. And then I'm sitting here trying to launch a book and they're going to put that all over TikTok and Reels because it's out of context. Like in this episode, if I see the phrase, I'm not saying I'm going to say it, but if I see the phrase, I'm kind of glad that guy got shot. Don't, don't pull that. It's illegal for you to pull that out without including the context. I will take you to court.

Robert Evans (1:11)

There is one guy who you'll be glad gets shot in this episode. So or at least I'm glad. Look, I'm willing to admit it. He shot himself.

SPEAKER_1 (1:21)

Jason, do you want to give us a plug for your latest book that's coming out up top?

Robert Evans (1:25)

Yeah, let's plug your book.

Jason Pargin (1:27)

Sure. It is book five in The John Dies at the End series that some of you will be familiar with. The title is There Are No Giant Crabs in This Novel, A Novel of Giant Crabs.

It should be available probably when you listen to this.

Robert Evans (1:47)

At least in ebook form.

Jason Pargin (1:49)

We're hoping. If you're not familiar in the book industry, there's issues with paper shortages. I guess there's some disruptions to things in the world, to supplies of all things from all countries.

Robert Evans (2:00)

I've heard about that.

Jason Pargin (2:01)

I don't want to act like I'm the worst victim because I think part of it has to do with fuel prices and diesel prices which I think is due to wars that have killed many, many people don't want to act like. Again, don't take this out of context. I think I am the greatest victim of the wars happening all over the world. I realize I am one small part of all of this. But anyways, in theory, the book should be available by the time you listen to this and probably almost any format.

If you listen to this many years from now, may not be available again. Who can say?

Robert Evans (2:33)

Who can say? We're all potentially making lost media every time we create anything.

Jason Pargin (2:39)

You said that I was your old boss at crack. There's no evidence of that.

Robert Evans (2:42)

Yeah, no, not anymore.

Jason Pargin (2:44)

All that stuff has been deleted from the site. There's no evidence either of us ever worked there.

Robert Evans (2:48)

Years of work just gone.

Jason Pargin (2:50)

Which is crazy because I successfully predicted every single thing that has happened since then, and now there's no way to prove it.

Robert Evans (2:58)

That's right. That's right. Like right down to a couple of weeks ago when the Brewers won that latest game. You got it all.

Jason Pargin (3:07)

Did a whole column about that.

Robert Evans (3:08)

People thought it was weird. You were writing a lot of articles about Milwaukee sports, but now who's the fool? Now who's the fool?

Jason Pargin (3:16)

Still me.

SPEAKER_1 (3:17)

There is evidence. It's just, you know, protected by HIPAA because it's in your therapist's log.

Robert Evans (3:31)

Jason, you came to me with the kind of pitch you wanted to hear about this week, right? You wanted to hear specifically about like some of these, guys, they generally get called nuisance streamers, right? Or rage baiters.

Jason Pargin (3:44)

Well, I heard about it on the news because it happened here where I live in the great state of Tennessee.

And they were talking like, I should know what this is. Cause they're like, well, you know, this guy did his thing where he streamed himself going into a restaurant and then shouting racial slurs at the staff and then shot himself. I don't know. You're going to get into the story probably. And then they're like, well, you know, he's a nuisance streamer. He's like, he's a-