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tactics:kayfabe [2024/08/14 13:31] – [Digital Kayfabe] General MacOwlthurtactics:kayfabe [2026/08/19 09:09] (current) – [Origin of the Term] Humphrey Boa-Gart
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 ====== Kayfabe ====== ====== Kayfabe ======
  
-In the world of professional wrestling //(a form of "sports entertainment" in which all the matches have a fixed outcome)// **kayfabe**  is a nebulous term which loosely refers to the scripted nature of the event. Since professional wrestling is more about promoting captivating spectacles than it is real sportsmanship, a suspension of disbelief is necessary on the part of the audience to immerse themselves in the narrative - much like if one were watching a fictional movie or playing a video game. Wrestlers will oftentimes stay in-character outside the ring, in order to aid this suspension of disbelief and to help build an engrossing shared universe of characters.+In the world of professional wrestling //(a form of "sports entertainment" in which all the matches have a fixed outcome)// **kayfabe**  is a nebulous term which loosely refers to the scripted nature of the event. Since professional wrestling is more about promoting captivating spectacles than it is real sportsmanship, a suspension of disbelief is necessary on the part of the audience to immerse themselves in the narrative - much like if one were watching a fictional movie or playing a video game. Wrestlers will oftentimes stay in-character outside the ring, in order to aid this suspension of disbelief and to help build an engrossing shared [[x:egregore|universe]] of characters.
  
 Kayfabe is analogous to the [[wp>Fourth wall|fourth wall]]. A professional wrestler who breaks character might be referred to as //"breaking kayfabe"// - Similar to how an actor breaking character on-screen would be //"breaking the fourth wall"//. Kayfabe is also used as a code word or safe word, when discussing the logistics of this fake reality around outsiders. Kayfabe is analogous to the [[wp>Fourth wall|fourth wall]]. A professional wrestler who breaks character might be referred to as //"breaking kayfabe"// - Similar to how an actor breaking character on-screen would be //"breaking the fourth wall"//. Kayfabe is also used as a code word or safe word, when discussing the logistics of this fake reality around outsiders.
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 > Another theory suggests that the term derives from the expression "keep cavey", from the Latin verb caveo, which means "look out for"; this phrase was used throughout Britain and by Jews living in East London between World War I and World War II. According to that theory, many US promoters and wrestlers at that time were of Eastern European origin and many had heavy accents, leading to the term being transformed into "kayfabe". > Another theory suggests that the term derives from the expression "keep cavey", from the Latin verb caveo, which means "look out for"; this phrase was used throughout Britain and by Jews living in East London between World War I and World War II. According to that theory, many US promoters and wrestlers at that time were of Eastern European origin and many had heavy accents, leading to the term being transformed into "kayfabe".
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 ===== Digital Kayfabe ===== ===== Digital Kayfabe =====
  
-Thanks to the internet, the concept of **kayfabe** has now been introduced to a whole new audience //outside of// professional wrestling. On social media, for example, professional marketers might engage in kayfabe to increase engagement and reach, as **internet drama** can be quite eye-catching. [[twitter>JimStewartson]] for example, helped promote **Halo 2** in 2004 with a fake website hack as part of [[wp>I Love Bees]].+[{{ :tactics:thatfuckingstatue.jpg?250|BEN is watching you lie on the internet.}}] 
 + 
 +Thanks to the internet, the concept of **kayfabe** has now been introduced to a whole new audience //outside of// professional wrestling. On social media, for example, professional marketers might engage in kayfabe to increase engagement and reach, as **internet drama** can be quite eye-catching. Internet rabble-rouser & known **Peter Thiel** associate [[x>JimStewartson]] for example, helped promote **Halo 2** in 2004 with a fake website hack as part of [[wp>I Love Bees]]. Even to this very day, Jimbo runs a kayfabe //"news operation"// where he pretends to investigate Peter & his friends, as part of a grand scheme to promote [[tactics:accelerate|accelerationism]].
  
 Kayfabe is also used by digital storytellers for their art. This lets them use social media and chat rooms to blur the line between the artist and the audience, and even allow a degree of audience participation. These types of stories can range from simple to incredibly complex, and sometimes take the form of **alternate-reality games** (or **ARG's**, for short). Kayfabe is also used by digital storytellers for their art. This lets them use social media and chat rooms to blur the line between the artist and the audience, and even allow a degree of audience participation. These types of stories can range from simple to incredibly complex, and sometimes take the form of **alternate-reality games** (or **ARG's**, for short).
  
 4chan and the other imageboards are notorious hotspots for kayfabe-type shenanigans. The controversial **QAnon universe** is a type of kayfabe. The **/x/** subforum in particular has hosted many ARG's and digital pranks, including the infamous [[ed>Haunted Majora's Mask Cartridge]]. 4chan and the other imageboards are notorious hotspots for kayfabe-type shenanigans. The controversial **QAnon universe** is a type of kayfabe. The **/x/** subforum in particular has hosted many ARG's and digital pranks, including the infamous [[ed>Haunted Majora's Mask Cartridge]].
 +
 +Kayfabe can also be used as a form of counter-intelligence. Wielded in this way, kayfabe can be incredibly effective at throwing off spies, stalkers and the press, who might otherwise get in the way. It can also be wielded in a destructive context, such as in cases of [[tactics:triangulation|triangulation attacks]].
  
 ===== Other Instances ===== ===== Other Instances =====
  
-Comedian and prototypical troll **Andy Kaufman** was fascinated with professional wrestling, and in particular the kayfabe aspect. He worked it into his own comedic routines to great effect, even staging a long-running kayfabe feud with real wrestler Jerry Lawler.+Comedian and prototypical troll **Andy Kaufman** was fascinated with professional wrestling, and in particular the kayfabe aspect. He worked it into his own comedic routines to great effect, even staging a long-running kayfabe feud with real wrestler Jerry Lawler, which allowed them to covertly disrupt talk shows and TV studios with their shenanigans. 
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 +{{tag>Tactics}}
  
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