James "Kibo" Parry The Father of Usenet Trolling and Kibology

James Parry, widely known by his online handle Kibo, is a legendary figure in the early history of the internet, specifically within the realm of Usenet. Born on July 13, 1967, Parry became a symbol of surrealist humor, elaborate net pranks, and the creation of one of the web's first parody religions.

Early Life and Artistic Background

Growing up in Scotia, New York, Parry displayed a natural aptitude for computing from a young age, even reprogramming ROM video game cartridges for the Atari 2600. However, his primary interests lay in the intersection of technology and art. He initially studied computer engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) before moving to Boston in 1990 to attend Emerson College, where he focused on videography and graphic design.

Parry's professional work as a typeface designer led to the creation of several fonts still in use today. Notably, he provided the typography for the novel Gather Yourselves Together by Philip K. Dick.

The Rise of "Kibozing" and Usenet Fame

In the early 1990s, Parry gained notoriety on Usenet for a practice that would later be termed "kibozing." This involved using automated tools to search (grep) for any mention of the word "Kibo" across the network and replying to those threads, regardless of whether the original poster was referring to him. His responses were typically fanciful, absurd, or surreal.

His influence grew to the point where he was featured in Wired magazine, as well as mentioned in Playboy and The Times. One of his most enduring contributions was the 1992 "Happynet Proclamation," a satirical edict that mocked the aggressive "flamewars" common on Usenet by posing as a godlike entity attempting to unify all news into a single, harmonious "happynet."

Kibology and the Art of Trolling

Parry is the founder of Kibology, a parody religion established around 1989. Centered in the newsgroup alt.religion.kibology, the movement satirized organized religion and internet culture. Practitioners, known as "Kibologists" or "Kibozos," engaged in a collaborative form of online comedy.

The Birth of Modern Trolling

The alt.religion.kibology community is credited with developing the sport of trolling. Kibo himself wrote formal rules and a points system for trolling other newsgroups, transforming online provocation into a structured game of wit and satire. This legacy continued through the group's evolution, eventually spawning the musical project Interröbang Cartel in 2003.

Other Notable Exploits

• Political Spoofing: In 1992, at the age of 25, Parry launched a spoof campaign for President of the United States, despite being ten years younger than the constitutional requirement.
• The "Bozon": Parry frequently used the term "bozo" and invented pseudo-scientific concepts like the "bozon" particle as part of his ongoing comedic persona.
• HappyWeb: In 1999, he introduced HappyWeb, continuing his mission of spreading surrealist humor across the evolving World Wide Web.