Presidential prank: White House 'rickrolls' Twitter follower who complained about boring briefing

[meegbear]

With the debt ceiling doomsday clock hurtling toward midnight and with no immediate deal in sight, at least the White House hasn't lost its sense of humor.

Yesterday afternoon, the White House's Twitter account "rickrolled" one of its followers who complained that today’s correspondence briefing was too boring:

"@wiggsd Sorry to hear that. Fiscal policy is important, but can be dry sometimes. Here's something more fun: http://tinyurl.com/y8ufsnp #WHChat"

The link led to a YouTube clip of Rick Astley's 1987 hit single, "Never Gonna Give You Up." It was a classic "rickroll," a meme where someone provides a supposedly relevant web link that in fact links to the awesomely cheesy dance-pop jam.

According to the Internet connoisseurs at Know Your Meme, rickrolling may trace its origins to mid-2007 when someone posted the Astley clip on the imageboard 4chan under what appeared be a sneak preview of the hotly anticipated video game, "Grand Theft Auto IV."

Perhaps the White House got the idea for the prank from this hilarious viral clip which remixes "Never Gonna Give You Up" with snippets of Barack Obama speeches: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X2B9zLrsXE


http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/07/28/2011-07-28_presidential_prank_white_house_rickrolls_twitter_follower_who_complained_about_b.html

[izquierdista]

1. Can't even do a rickroll right

It's not a rickroll if the first thing that loads is a VEVO ad. :dunce:

[mwrguy]

2. it's also not a rickroll if

it's not a misleading link.

[Missy Vixen]

3. IMHO, but I thought this was funny

I realize none of us are in the mood to laugh right now, but I'll bet that White House staffer doesn't Tweet about boring meetings again...

[WinkyDink]

4. Puerile response.