【"how do we think about how fat bodies and their eroticization"】

Instagram is "how do we think about how fat bodies and their eroticization"supposed to be about taking and sharing nice photos, though for most, it's really about racking up likes. For one New Yorker, it's about leaving silly comments.

Comedy writer John Purcell has been writing delightfully random comments on an assortment of random people's Instagram photos over the past few years, which he then shares on a Tumblr called Hello Stranger.

SEE ALSO: How to stop your friend from incessantly taking food Instagrams Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

"I randomly started leaving comments on strangers' photos about three years ago," John Purcell, 32, wrote in an email to Mashable.

---

You May Also Like

---

---

"It was just a fun thing to do when I was bored and sometimes I would text screenshots of my comments to my girlfriend or friends," Purcell said. "They seemed to think they were funny so I decided to make a blog and post them all there."

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Purcell used to find trending photos to comment on via Instagram's popular page, which is now defunct. So, Purcell has to search for photos a bit harder, "which makes it less fun."

Mashable Trend Report Decode what’s viral, what’s next, and what it all means. Sign up for Mashable’s weekly Trend Report newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

Now, he usually scrolls around and leaves a comment on "whatever seems funny to me in the moment," he told Mashable.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Purcell, a comedy writer in New York, has simple, goodhearted intentions with his little project.

"It's just a fun, silly thing to do. I never post mean or abusive comments on anyone's photos," he told Mashable. "The point isn't to make fun of anyone. Just to post a comment that makes absolutely no sense in relation to the photo."

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Purcell usually posts his comments on photos that have hundreds of comments, so his funny remarks often go unnoticed.

"I'd say every one in fifteen will respond and it's almost always 'lol wtf,'" he said. "Once, a random person found my Instagram page (which is now private) and left a weird comment on one of my photos. That was funny."

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Lesson learned – always read the comments.

BONUS: Thanks, Netflix.

View this post on Instagram

• Digital Culture
• Deals
• Life
• Shopping
• Entertainment
• Tech
• Games
• Science

• How to cancel your Kindle Unlimited subscription
• Notorious RBG basically tells Texas abortion law to GTFO
• The Samsung SmartThings Wifi mesh system
• Twitter confused Iceland Foods with the football team and the result was glorious
• Shop the Shark FlexStyle for 20% off at Amazon
• Samsung is betting its future on Bixby, but that might be a bad idea
• We now have an idea of what the 'budget' iPhone 9 will cost
• Flower power: Woman creates elaborate works of art only using plants
• Why Building a Gaming PC Right Now is a Bad Idea, Part 3: Bad Timing
• Truth Initiative takes on JUUL over teen vaping

• Philosophy of Teenagers by Sadie Stein
• In Session by Joshua J. Friedman
• A Visit with Patrick Leigh Fermor, Part 2 by Ben Downing
• The Town of Books by Sadie Stein
• The Tiny Gatsby by Sadie Stein
• The Great Gatsby—With a Unicorn by Oliver Miller
• A Tiny Library by Sadie Stein
• Necessary Words, and Other News by Sadie Stein
• Farewell, Iain Banks, and Other News by Sadie Stein
• Tom Hanks Hoards Typewriters, and Other News by Ellen Duffer

• The Biggest Tech Fails of the Last Decade
• Swim diaper's extremely specific cleaning instructions are designed to give parents a chuckle
• Samsung is betting its future on Bixby, but that might be a bad idea
• Disney's 'Mulan' gets a live
• Amazon Big Spring Sale 2025: Best Apple deals on iPads, MacBooks, and more still live
• You'll tolerate being annoyed by this gloriously cute toy instrument
• 'Doom Eternal': 5 big features revealed at QuakeCon 2018
• YouTubers are unboxing terrifying mystery boxes from the dark web
• Best rope light deal: Save 25% on Lepro N1 AI Smart RGB LED Strip Lights
• What happens when internet subcultures get discovered by the masses

• Best grocery deal: Spend $20 and get $5 off at Amazon
• Boy at a baseball game will stare into your soul
• Withings Body Cardio smart scale is as impressive as it is frustrating
• YouTube's LGBTQ #ProudToBe initiative attracts hateful comments
• Best robot vacuum deal: Eufy Omni C20 robot vacuum and mop at record
• The DNC just served Wikileaks with a lawsuit over Twitter
• The 'Matilda' challenge is here to spread a little magic through this dark world
• Android's open OS makes phones vulnerable to attack, report says
• Keeping Hope Alive
• Truth Initiative takes on JUUL over teen vaping