Is the internet’s most absurd satirist actually the modern heir to Benjamin Franklin?

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The Twitter persona Dril, a master of compulsive, solecism-prone absurdity, has built a massive following by parodying the inept, angry internet user. Surprisingly, his work mirrors the techniques of Benjamin Franklin, who also used fictional pseudonyms and self-help tropes to capture the public imagination and build his own commercial brand.

Dril, the pseudonym of Paul Dochney, emerged from the Something Awful forums to become a defining voice of the internet subculture known as Weird Twitter. Since his first tweet in 2008, he has cultivated a character that functions as a bizarre, hapless reflection of the typical American male online. His humor is characterized by non-sequiturs, garbled syntax, and a preoccupation with brands, often centering on the intersection of budget food and entertainment. Despite his chaotic online presence, Dochney has maintained a career as a graphic designer and creator, eventually confirming his identity in 2023.

The parallels between Dril and Benjamin Franklin are striking. Franklin, a pioneer of the American self-help genre, famously used pseudonyms like Richard Saunders to publish 'Poor Richard’s Almanack,' a collection of practical advice, recipes, and proverbs that brought him significant wealth. Like Franklin’s almanac, Dril’s book 'The Get Rich and Become God Method' utilizes the framework of self-help to deliver absurd, satirical content. Both figures understood the power of a curated persona to engage a 'less refined' public, with Dril explicitly modeling his brand after 'Ben Franken' as a fellow publisher of astute witticisms.

While Franklin’s work was eventually elevated to the status of a national creed, Dril’s output remains rooted in the immediate, ephemeral nature of the social media timeline. His influence is measurable: with 1.6 million followers, he commands a larger audience than major corporate entities like Chipotle or Outback Steakhouse. His most famous tweets, such as his plea for help with a budget consisting of thirty-six hundred dollars for candles, have become more quotable than much of Franklin’s writing. Ultimately, Dril represents the evolution of the American satirist, transforming the digital id into a platform for both commercial parody and cultural commentary.

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