The Truth Behind ‘Birds Aren’t Real' | My Life Online

Summary

The script follows the satirical 'Birds Aren't Real Movement,' where members, mostly from Gen Z, humorously claim that all birds are government-replaced drones. The movement, started by Peter McIndoe in 2017 as a joke, has unexpectedly grown into a community with chapters across America. The narrative captures the essence of conspiracy theories and the power of social media in shaping collective beliefs, all while challenging the audience to question reality and find humor in the absurd.

Takeaways

• 🕊️ 'Birds Aren't Real' is a satirical movement that humorously claims birds are actually drones controlled by the government.
• 📢 The movement has gained a significant following on social media platforms like TikTok, Reddit, and Instagram, claiming to have around two million followers.
• 🗣️ Peter McIndoe, the spokesperson for the movement, has maintained character for years, even in interviews, to represent the movement and its beliefs.
• 🎭 The origin of 'Birds Aren't Real' began as a satirical skit by Peter McIndoe at a protest rally, which unexpectedly grew into a larger phenomenon.
• 👥 The movement has created a sense of community among its followers, with chapters and rallies being organized across the United States.
• 📽️ The story and history of 'Birds Aren't Real' have been developed by a small team including Peter McIndoe and his friends, creating a fictional lore around the movement.
• 🎨 The movement allows its members to play a role in a larger narrative, with many participants enjoying the humor and absurdity as a form of social commentary.
• 🎉 The 'Birds Aren't Real' community has organized a protest at Twitter headquarters, demanding a change in the company's bird logo as a symbol of resistance against perceived propaganda.
• 🌐 The movement's approach to social media storytelling reflects a modern method of communication and community building, using satire to engage and entertain.
• 🔍 Peter McIndoe's personal journey with the movement has been deeply intertwined with his search for identity and purpose, using the character he plays as a means of self-expression.
• 🚶‍♂️ The 'Birds Aren't Real' movement signifies a larger cultural trend where Gen Z and millennials use humor and satire to navigate and comment on the complexities of contemporary society.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement as depicted in the script?

The central theme of the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement is a satirical conspiracy theory that suggests all birds were killed by the U.S. government and replaced with surveillance drones, serving as a commentary on the absurdity of some conspiracy theories and the power of social media.

What role does the character Peter McIndoe play in the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement?

Peter McIndoe is portrayed as the spokesperson and a key figure within the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement, having been in character for five years and representing the movement without breaking character, even in behind-the-scenes conversations.

How did the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement begin according to the script?

The movement began accidentally in 2017 when Peter McIndoe and his friends were in Memphis. Peter created a sign with the phrase 'Birds Aren't Real' for a rally, intending it as a humorous skit, and the idea quickly gained traction and evolved into a larger satirical movement.

What is the significance of the Twitter logo in the context of the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement?

The Twitter logo, being a bird, is seen as propaganda by the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement. They demand that Twitter change its logo as part of their protest against what they perceive as brainwashing and pro-bird imagery.

How does the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement use humor and satire to convey its message?

The movement uses humor and satire by creating a fictional conspiracy theory about birds being drones, which is absurd and clearly a joke. This approach allows them to comment on the nature of conspiracy theories and the way people engage with them on social media.

What is the demographic primarily involved in the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement?

The demographic primarily involved in the movement is Gen Z and millennials, who have grown up with the internet and seem to understand and engage with its satirical language and concepts.

How does the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement use social media to its advantage?

The movement leverages social media platforms like TikTok, Reddit, Instagram, and Twitter to spread its message, gain followers, and create a sense of community around its satirical conspiracy theory.

What is the significance of the van in the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement?

The van serves as a mobile billboard and stage for rallies, allowing the movement to take its message and activities to different locations and engage with a wider audience.

How does the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement reflect the current social and political climate?

The movement reflects a sense of lunacy and madness that many people feel in the current social and political climate, using satire to comment on the prevalence of conspiracy theories and the power of social media to shape narratives.

What is the personal significance of the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement to Peter McIndoe?

For Peter McIndoe, the movement has been a way to find identity and a sense of community, as well as a platform to express his views on the absurdity of conspiracy theories and the impact of social media on society.

Outlines

00:00

🕊️ The Birth of a Conspiracy: 'Birds Aren't Real' Movement

The script introduces a satirical movement called 'Birds Aren't Real,' where followers, known as bird truthers, believe that all birds were killed by the U.S. government and replaced with surveillance drones. The movement has gained a significant online following and real-world presence through rallies and protests. The protagonist, deeply involved in the movement, travels in a van spreading the message and engaging with others, all while maintaining the persona of a true believer in the conspiracy theory.

05:01

🎭 Behind the Scenes of a Satirical Movement: The Origins and Growth

This paragraph delves into the accidental inception of the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement, which started as a random act of satire by the protagonist and his friends. It grew organically into a larger phenomenon with a dedicated following and even merchandise. The protagonist discusses the movement's evolution, its impact on his life, and the collaborative efforts to build a backstory and lore that lend an air of authenticity to the satire.

10:02

📢 Spreading the Word: The Power of Community and Humor

The narrative shifts to focus on the community aspect of the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement, highlighting the joy and humor it brings to its followers amidst a chaotic world. The chapter president of the Northern Arizona University shares his experience of building a local chapter and the sense of camaraderie it fosters. The protagonist, Peter McIndoe, also reflects on the role of the movement in bringing people together and the importance of humor in their activism.

15:06

🌐 The Digital and Real-World Impact: Rallying for Change

The script describes the movement's plan to protest at Twitter headquarters, demanding a change in the company's bird logo, which they view as propaganda promoting the false reality of birds. The protagonist and his team prepare for the rally, discussing the logistics and the significance of the event as a culmination of their efforts. The rally is portrayed as a performance and a reflection of the times, blending fiction with reality.

20:06

🔍 Reflections on Identity and the End of an Era

In the final paragraph, the protagonist reflects on his personal journey with the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement, his upbringing, and the impact of playing a character for so long. He discusses the vulnerability of being oneself and the healing power of humor and role-playing. The script concludes with the protagonist and his friends preparing for the Twitter rally, signifying the end of one chapter and the beginning of another in their lives.

Keywords

💡Conspiracy

A conspiracy refers to a secret plan or agreement between two or more people to commit an unlawful or harmful act. In the context of the video, the theme revolves around the satirical conspiracy theory that 'Birds Aren't Real,' suggesting that all birds are actually surveillance drones, which is a humorous take on actual conspiracy theories.

💡Satire

Satire is a genre of humor that uses irony, sarcasm, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's vices, follies, or shortcomings, typically in a humorous way. The video uses satire to create a fictional movement around the absurd idea that birds are drones, highlighting the nature of certain conspiracy theories and the way people engage with them.

💡Gen Z

Gen Z refers to the generation born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, known for their familiarity with digital technology and social media. The video mentions Gen Z as being a significant part of the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement, indicating how younger generations engage with and respond to satirical and internet-based cultural phenomena.

💡Surveillance Drones

Surveillance drones are unmanned aerial vehicles used for monitoring or spying purposes. In the video, the concept of surveillance drones is humorously applied to birds, suggesting that the government has replaced real birds with robotic ones for spying on citizens, which is a central part of the satirical conspiracy narrative.

💡Activism

Activism involves the vigorous advocacy of reform or improvement in social, political, or economic conditions. The video portrays a form of activism through the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement, where participants rally and protest to raise awareness about their satirical cause, mirroring real-world activism.

💡Media

Media refers to the means of communication, such as newspapers, radio, and television, used to reach large audiences. The script mentions 'bird media' as a term of distrust within the movement, indicating a distrust in mainstream media that is common in some conspiracy theories.

💡Twitter

Twitter is a social media platform known for its use of short messages and a blue bird logo. The video targets Twitter, demanding a change in its logo as part of the satirical protest, using it as a symbol of the perceived brainwashing by the 'pro-bird' media.

💡Rally

A rally is a gathering of people for a common cause, often featuring speeches and demonstrations of support. The video script describes several rallies organized by the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement, showing how the satirical movement mimics the organization and energy of real-life rallies.

💡Character

In the context of the video, a character refers to the persona adopted by individuals within the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement. The script discusses the experience of embodying a character who passionately believes in the conspiracy theory, which is a key aspect of the satirical performance.

💡Identity

Identity refers to the characteristics determining who or what a person or thing is. The video explores the concept of identity through the participants' engagement with the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement, suggesting that the satirical activism provides a sense of belonging and purpose.

💡Lunacy

Lunacy means madness or foolishness, often used to describe irrational or absurd behavior. The video uses the term to describe the perceived absurdity of both the conspiracy theory and the enthusiastic participation in the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement, highlighting the humor and performance inherent in the satirical campaign.

Highlights

A caller expresses suspicion about a van, leading to a discussion about the 'Birds Aren't Real' conspiracy theory.

The 'Birds Aren't Real Movement' claims that the government has replaced all birds with surveillance drones.

A 'bird truther' passionately argues for the movement's beliefs, taking offense at the suggestion it's a joke.

The movement has a significant online following, with two million people across social media platforms.

Chants of 'Birds aren't real' are heard at rallies, indicating a strong grassroots support for the movement.

Peter McIndoe, the face of the movement, discusses the impact and growth of the 'Birds Aren't Real' community.

The movement's origin story is revealed, starting as a satirical campaign that unexpectedly gained traction.

The 'Birds Aren't Real' narrative includes a detailed history and lore, adding depth to the satire.

McIndoe's personal journey with the movement, from its accidental inception to becoming a full-time endeavor.

The movement's merchandise, including shirts, becomes a source of income for McIndoe.

The 'Bird Brigade' represents the on-the-ground activism network of the 'Birds Aren't Real' community.

Chapters of the movement are established at various colleges, fostering a younger generation of 'bird truthers'.

The movement's humor and satire serve as a coping mechanism for the perceived madness in society.

A rally at Twitter headquarters is planned to demand a change in the company's bird-themed logo.

McIndoe reflects on the personal growth and identity he has found through his role in the movement.

The movement's end goal is discussed, aiming to provoke thought and question the nature of reality and media.

The final rally signifies a turning point for the movement and its members, as they prepare for new chapters.

McIndoe's personal transformation from his upbringing to becoming a spokesperson for a satirical movement.

The 'Birds Aren't Real' movement's impact on its members, providing a sense of community and purpose.

Transcripts

-Hey, there is a caller who said they thought

your van was suspicious.

-What's suspicious about the van?

-I don't know.

-Birds aren't real! -Let's go!

-Birds aren't real! -Come on!

-I am a bird truther, a person who doesn't believe in birds

and who's part of a larger movement called

The Birds Aren't Real Movement.

-So, in America, there is a growing conspiracy

that, years ago, their government killed all the birds.

-It's a movement of people that want you to know

that birds are actually drones.

-I mean, you don't really believe

that that happened, correct?

-Honestly, that's kind of offensive.

We do not find this to be a humorous issue.

-Are you serious?

-Yeah, I'm dead serious.

I guess, if we're looking at numbers,

like TikTok and Reddit and Instagram and all that,

like two million people that follow us.

But, you know, movements don't just exist on the Internet.

They exist in the real world.

-Birds aren't real!

Birds aren't real!

-This is just shrouded in darkness for me.

It feels like we're at the end of the chapter.

I was basically playing a character much of my life.

Right now, I'm just traveling the country in this van,

ready to go make a stand.

We're part of a movement that believes

that every single bird in the skies is a robot.

It's always beautiful to get to talk to someone

and see the little spark that lights up in their eyes

when they understand the truth for the first time, you know?

-Birds aren't real!

Birds aren't real!

Birds aren't real!

♪♪

-Oh, my God, watch what happens with Franklin.

Franklin! [ Smooches ] -Oh, he loves paper bags.

[ Both laughs ]

-In there immediately.

-It's his little trick.

The day I met Peter was like

the craziest day of my life, actually.

He, like, just started talking about all this crazy stuff,

and he was just sitting with the Birds Aren't Real poster.

He was just, like, so serious, too.

Like, he was so serious holding this sign,

and we were just like, "What is this guy doing?"

After that, like, my whole friend group,

just, like, we were obsessed with him.

-They're very sweet friends to me.

-It was just weird because it was, like, a day that,

like, notably changed all of our lives.

-My name is Peter McIndoe.

Welcome.

Birds Aren't Real has sort of made this community,

and there's a bunch of, like, members of that community

all across America.

Say I don't trust the bird media.

-I don't trust the bird media!

-We're here because of a tragedy,

of 12 billion birds murdered by the United States government.

How do you feel about that?

[ Crowd booing ] No!

There's Birds Aren't Real Cincinnati,

Birds Aren't Real Chicago and Austin and Arizona.

Everyone is coming together, all with their own signs.

If it flies...

-It spies!

-Do we want these politicians to come out

and answer for their crimes? -Yeah!

-The movement's pretty much made out of Gen Z.

I think that a lot of Gen Z feels madness.

-The Birds Aren't Real Movement will be holding a protest

demanding that Twitter change

its disgusting propagandist logo.

-[ Distorted voice ] We will not stand

for the Swamp Media trying to destroy our cause.

-Birds aren't real!

Birds aren't real!

Birds aren't real!

-Maybe you've seen the billboard near the Highland Strip

or heard the story on "Wednesdays Live at 9:00."

A campaign called Birds Are Not Real

brings its efforts to the Mid-South.

-From 1959 through 2001,

the government mercilessly genocided over 12 billion birds

and simultaneously replaced them

with surveillance drones in disguise.

-I mean, you don't really believe

that that happened, correct?

This is a satirical campaign to make the point that what?

-Honestly, that's kind of offensive.

-Okay.

-This is the first time that I've ever broken character

in an interview, yeah.

And I've realized I don't know how to do it.

I have no idea how to be...

out of -- out of character on camera.

Like, I...

I don't know.

Yeah, it's been a really interesting experience.

[ Smooching ]

I have been playing a character for the past five years

who believes that every bird is a surveillance drone

and who's part of a larger movement called

The Birds Aren't Real Movement.

I've been basically representing the movement,

never leaving character,

even in, like, behind-the-scenes conversations

with journalists or anything.

So this is new -- a new experience for me.

Birds Aren't Real started by accident in 2017.

I was in Memphis with some friends.

We all just, like, went around town.

There was some protest happening at a rally.

I always thought it would be funny,

like, just like a funny skit,

if there was one, like, person there

with a sign that had nothing to do

with the unified message of the rally.

There was like a poster on a wall

that had like a white back of it,

and just took it off the wall.

I just wrote, like, the three most random words

I could think of, or the most absurd thing

I could think, which was birds aren't real,

then took the sign and, you know, went marching around,

telling people very passionately

that birds aren't real.

Then people would ask me, like, "Well, what does that mean?"

The concept of it, I guess, was pretty much just made up

in like three minutes.

As I was doing that, the people I were with

started just kind of taking videos.

Birds are a myth.

They're an illusion. They're a lie.

Wake up, America! Wake up!

God, God!

-Birds aren't real! Birds aren't real!

-I didn't even, like, know what satire really meant.

I started doing Birds Aren't Real,

and then people started kind of telling us what it was

as we were doing it.

[ Shouting indistinctly ]

This is just how it started. [ Laughs ]

Pigeons -- not real. Eagles...

It wasn't like we sat down

and we're like, "We're gonna make a satire."

It was just an idea put out into the world by accident

that for some reason, a lot of people identified with.

Pigeons are liars!

The birds know your Social Security number.

I was just really fascinated with the concept

of, like, a fictional character living in reality.

Birds charge on power lines.

They're watching you and I every day.

From there, everything has happened really organically.

Just kind of like a snowball going down a hill.

Dropped out of college

and moved to Memphis to follow the energy

that had kind of magically blossomed.

Everyone was like, "What are you doing?"

Yeah, the mayor heard we were coming,

locked the whole city down.

We're on their home turf!

We were really interested with the thought that social media

kind of presents like a new way to tell a story

and that we're all watching

these different stories all the time,

these people that we know.

I follow 300 people, like, I'm following 300 stories.

I was really excited about the idea of

being this representative for this greater movement

and building the story out underneath it,

kind of taking the seed of this thing,

then, like, making a whole lore and history behind it

and making it feel real.

And then what I'm representing

isn't just a guy with a sign anymore.

There's, like, all this meaning behind it.

This is Connor, who wrote the history on the website.

He's one of my best friends.

That's the thing about Birds, is it really is like,

basically, a family operation.

So, that's my sister, Emily.

We built the set in 24 hours in Little Rock.

-Since the Eisenhower administration,

the U.S. government has been committing genocide

on the entire bird population and replacing...

-Connor came in and ended up helping me

write all the history and build out kind of this whole world.

It's just a super small team.

-I made the Vietnam War part of Birds Aren't Real lore.

-Then Nik joined the team, and I work with Nik,

you know, to write the arcs.

-There's a thousand different ways we can extend this logic

to make kind of a reflection of the times we live in.

-We don't want people to actually think -- I felt like...

Anyways, that's why there's jokes in, like, the history.

-There's winks. -Yeah.

-There's twinkles in the eye and everything.

-Yeah, there's clear jokes.

-There's always been a wink in everything.

We never set out to make an actual conspiracy theory.

If anyone digs for 5 minutes, you know, 10 minutes,

actually watches a couple of the videos...

-If anyone puts some thought into it, it's clearly a joke.

-Yeah, you can see what's going on.

-Yeah.

-This is Birds Aren't Real.

You know, there's nothing more conspiracy

than a conspiracy van.

Literally, it's like this information

needs to get out so bad, I'm going to put it on my car.

We like to tell people this is not what's actually going on.

Way more complex. -That's outdated.

-Yeah, way more complex technology.

This is one of the first models.

Somebody gave us this sign at one of the rallies.

It's not a funny matter.

We have made these shirts.

Connor drew this on his iPad.

There was a certain point when enough people

were buying shirts,

like Birds Aren't Real shirts and the merch,

that I could, like, quit my job.

My first thought was, like, "Okay, I'm not an idiot.

This wasn't, like, the biggest mistake of my life."

Ideally, you know,

the movement's not representative

of any one person.

You know, it's representative of lots of people,

and the van was kind of meant

to be a billboard that can move around.

It can be a stage for rallies and can take the idea anywhere.

I've been doing Birds Aren't Real for five years now,

come this January.

It's not something I want to do forever.

Connor and I have been doing Birds together

for five years now, and about to go --

about to go separate ways.

Connor's going to Colorado.

Just kind of growing in different directions.

It's a real, like, page turn to a new chapter

for everybody, it seems like.

♪♪

From the first day that Birds Aren't Real became an idea,

it felt like it was bigger than me.

♪♪

Birds Aren't Real has sort of made this community,

and there's members of that community all across America.

We called it the Bird Brigade,

which is like our boots on the ground activism network.

-Hi, I'm Caleb.

I run the Birds Aren't Real Triangle chapter

in North Carolina.

-They'll make chapters at their own colleges

and hold their own rallies.

They teach the lore in seminars.

We're visiting Brandon down in Arizona.

Like, I've never met him, and had no involvement with

his Birds Aren't Real chapter growing and forming itself.

-Peter, bring it here, man. It's so good to see you.

[ Chuckles ]

I've been waiting for this moment, like...

[ Laughs ] -It's truly an honor.

-Absolutely.

My name is Brandon Traschel.

I am the president and founder

of The Birds Aren't Real NAU chapter here in Flagstaff.

-How was the chapter when it began?

-When it began, it was basically just me.

-I, too, spent -- spent many a year alone.

-Yeah, but now we got tons of people

every time, consistent.

It's the best feeling.

-You guys ready to rally?

-Let's rally it up, baby.

-Yeah, let's do it.

-See if I can squeeze in here. [ Laughs ]

-You got it.

♪♪

What do you usually chant?

-I do, like, "Birds, birds, birds," and they say,

"Lies, lies, lies." -Mm, I like that one.

-Yeah. -I never used that.

What would you say is the most important part

of Birds Aren't Real to you?

-Just the people power, honestly.

-Mm-hmm. -People think it's hilarious.

It brings joy to people's faces.

Everyone in America knows things are kind of crazy.

And I think it's an important place and movement, per se,

to kind of bring back the humor that we kind of lost.

-I'm very thankful that I was able

to open my eyes to the truth.

-Never trusted birds. -I've never trusted them.

You haven't either? -No.

-The spokesperson for the entire

Birds Aren't Real Movement,

Peter McIndoe!

[ Cheers and applause ]

-Birds aren't real!

Birds aren't real!

Birds aren't real!

-How we doing tonight?

[ Cheers and applause ]

Let me tell you this right now --

The university doesn't want me sharing this information, okay?

They came to me, they said, "Go up, say hi real quick,

give the mic back to Brandon."

And I said, "Okay." But you know what?

I lied. Say "I lied."

-I lied. -I lied!

Okay, here's the truth.

The United States government

murdered every living bird from 1959 through 2001.

Is that okay with you? -No!

-Me neither! I hate it. And can I get an Amen?

-Amen! -Can I get an Amen?

-Amen!

-Do you want to be in a history book?

-Yeah! -Well, you're in it now.

Give yourselves a round of applause.

Come on. [ Cheers and applause ]

Birds aren't real!

Birds aren't real!

Birds aren't real!

-Birds aren't real!

-The movement's pretty much made out of Gen Z and millennials.

'Cause I've asked myself, why are these people here?

Gen Z specifically.

You know, these people that have grown up with the Internet

seem to understand it on a different level.

In some ways, it's like its own language,

and I think that a lot of Gen Z feels madness and lunacy.

And I guess laughing at the lunacy or embodying it

can be an interesting way to express what you feel.

♪♪

It's been a long journey to get to this point,

and, honestly, it feels kind of crazy that we're finally, like,

in the stretch between L.A. and Twitter.

We've been on the road for a week now,

just me and Nik.

We are going to hold our next rally at Twitter headquarters,

where we're going to gather bird truthers outside

and protests demanding that Twitter changes their logo.

Sort of a protest of not only Twitter,

but of this concept of brainwashing.

We are gonna do some biblical shit with Twitter headquarters.

We're gonna march around the building three times

like it's Jericho

to attempt to get the building to crumble down.

This has been a long time coming,

so feels kind of surreal.

Ready to go make a -- make a stand.

I mean, in a lot of ways right now,

it feels like we're in the last chapter of the book.

Connor is about to be going and doing different things.

He's moving to Colorado.

And Birds is no longer in character.

It's growing up.

And there she is.

-We're walking this whole thing three times?

-There's an alley right there that we cut over.

So, I mean, it's still long.

It's gonna be, by far, the longest march we've ever done.

Each rally isn't just a rally.

It's like sort of this, like, performance

in and of itself.

The fun part about that is that

we have lore and history built out underneath it.

-Immediately, I'm thinking about we need to have water

out here for people. -Yeah.

It's like we're all, like -- like, walking around

in this, like, fiction novel together, almost.

So, feeling really good about tomorrow.

I think we're just gonna have to show up and do it.

♪♪

Sometimes I'll travel internationally,

go to the Himalayas just to breathe the drone-free air.

This is so interesting.

Just being out of character on camera at all is bizarre.

-What? This? -Just -- It's just interesting.

It feels vulnerable.

You know, there's no vulnerability

in being a character, so...

A lot of vulnerability in being yourself.

I was not expecting it to be as, like,

personal of a thing, I guess.

Yeah, it's been a while.

Especially when these, like, photo albums came back

from my parents.

Admittedly, I've not looked at this in probably a decade.

And is actually from when I was named Taylor,

which was for the first five years of my life.

And then when I was 5, my parents renamed me to Peter

because they wanted me to have a biblical name.

I mean, I grew up, you know, home schooled

in a very hyper conservative, closed-off environment.

So I was kept from a lot of, like --

just like normal media, you know?

It was like -- like, you know,

I'm not watching "Superman," for instance.

I'm watching, like, "Bible Man," stuff like that.

When I was 10, actually,

I told my mom that I was the type of "Christian"

that didn't believe in God,

and was treated like I was possessed by a -- by a demon.

I'm talking about being, like, 10 years old

and having, you know, people talk about,

like, exorcising you for saying that --

for saying that, like,

"I don't really know about this flood thing. What?"

You know, or like, "Really? The apples's the reason

all the bad is" --

'Cause it just didn't make sense to me, fundamentally.

And whenever I did have access to the Internet,

I could, you know, access a lot of proof

and a lot of context that was telling me

the world was not really thinking this way.

I love this picture.

I need to re-create this, honestly.

I think that's a hilarious picture.

This is just shrouded in darkness for me --

really, most of this book.

That's the thing. I don't even, you know,

really want to show too much of my family.

That's something I couldn't even really talk about,

even to -- my pain,

to Madeline or my close friends until this year.

It's a very vulnerable thing, you know?

It's weird talking about your family to anybody, you know?

So -- Or anything.

That's why I, you know,

haven't really talked about my family a lot.

You know [speaking indistinctly]

Really, if I'm getting down to it,

that's, like, really what a lot of it is about.

Just to exist, I kind of had to play

a character that wasn't myself.

You know, I think it's kind of where it started.

And I think it's kind of where my fascination with

the conspiracy thinking started.

Like, I think this is the character that I play

because I just know this character

really, really well.

There's so many people like this in real life that I know.

And what takes somebody to that point, you know,

of doing something like a bird truther

and, like, having an idea like that

about these, you know, elites or these villains

like, totally consume their personality

and their life and their families and their jobs

and everything, you know?

Like, you can reposition yourself in your mind,

of, like, "I'm no longer the victim.

I'm a hero.

And I'm not only the hero of my story.

Like, I'm like God's chosen hero.

[ Chuckles ] Like, myself and my friends

and this small group of people,

it's like us against the world."

I'm feeling pretty -- pretty peaceful.

How are you guys feeling?

-I just want to make somebody laugh today.

[ Laughter ] I wanna hear some laughter.

-I think this is gonna be a banger.

Yeah.

-It feels good.

I think, like -- You know, Peter and I have talked.

You know, we never wanted to do this forever.

A lot of memories that we've made together,

and we've literally been all over the country.

And this is the apex of everything

that we've talked about for a long time, so...

-To start something new,

there kind of has to be a death of what was --

natural change.

[ Ducks quacking ]

Alright, everybody, let's do three deep breaths in unison.

Ready? [ Inhales, exhales deeply ]

[ All inhale, exhale deeply ]

[ All inhale, exhale deeply ]

Welcome to Twitter Day. We're here.

Everyone will have a very important job today,

both during the day and during the rally.

Carter, you'll be driving the van.

We need your L.A. driving skills.

You guys' job will basically just be people duty.

Connor will be on the ground with you guys,

and will basically just be, like, directing.

We need Eric to lead people across.

Evan, you'll be leading the rally

in front of Eric and I.

Today, each of us will be the personification of truth,

justice, and liberty.

Are you ready?

-Whoo! Whoo! -Alright, let's go.

[ Applause ]

Alright. Hands in the middle. One, two, three, truth.

-One, two, three, truth!

-Alright, let's go. -[ Chuckles ]

♪♪

-So, I've asked myself, why have I played this character

for five years?

I think it's because that was the story

that felt worth telling and seemed to really become

more and more of a reflection of America

and a reflection of this feeling that I feel when I go on Twitter

or that I feel when I walk outside --

that lunacy and embodying that kind of in the real world.

Yeah, it seems very worth it.

Are you ready to march?!

[ Cheers and applause ]

After today, the Twitter logo will no longer be a bird.

Birds aren't real!

Birds aren't real!

Birds aren't real!

-Birds aren't real!

Birds aren't real!

Birds aren't real!

-Look at the facts. Just look up online.

-I mean, this is something I think we inherently always knew,

but it's about time that we actually talk about it.

-I've never met someone that showed up

at a Birds Aren't Real rally thinking it's real,

except for if they think it's real

and they're not a part of the movement.

Everyone is coming together, all with their own signs

and all ready to, like, play their part.

-They monitor all aspects of our lives.

Sometimes you'll think about a product,

and then the next thing you know,

you're getting targeted ads on your phone.

-Everyone's talking in character

from the moment that you step onto, like, the rallies.

They're -- Everyone's acting,

but there's been no conversation about it.

Like, there's no plan or rehearsal or huddle.

It's like, people show up and they know the role.

-Down with Twitter!

Down with Twitter!

-I really want to wind up on the Birds Aren't Real Instagram.

That's really my only goal,

and I'm gonna be very honest about that.

-We are today to protest

and make Twitter change their logo

from the propaganda, pro-bird, brainwashed imagery.

Why is the Twitter logo a bird?!

-Lies!

-Because they're trying to brainwash you! They're trying...

The rallies, to me, are like a really clear,

simple representation of what I like about the idea.

A fictional character can exist in the real world,

and the people in the real world

are playing characters in the story

same as the fictional character, but they don't even know

that just by being themselves, they're in the story.

You know, they're in the piece.

Right now, we're about to march around Twitter headquarters

three times like it's Jericho

and take this building to the ground.

Are you ready?!

-Yeah! -Whoo!

[ Bagpipes playing ]

-Birds aren't real!

Birds aren't real!

-[ Shouting indistinctly ]

[ Crowd chanting indistinctly ]

♪♪

-We're all telling ourselves

a story about our lives to ourselves.

Everyone is doing that to some degree,

tweaking elements of themselves to find that identity.

I've thought that about myself, too, with Birds Aren't Real.

Birds Aren't Real has been

my way to find identity and a purpose in community.

You know, just like a conspiracy theorist.

-This is a good capstone to kind of place

on this whole experience,

and I think being out of character

kind of allows us to talk about it

and process it together.

You know, we're brothers, and we'll always be brothers

and we'll always be best friends,

but I'm -- I'm excited to get back to that,

because doing this together

has kind of put a strain on our, you know, friendship.

-It's a new chapter. -It is.

It is a new chapter, for sure,

and that's a good way of looking at it.

-I think when I do get back home to Arkansas,

I will miss the character because...

But, like, taking that feeling of lunacy

and, like, role-playing it

and, like, laughing about it with people...

I don't know.

There's something that feels sort of healing

about that to me.

-Thanks so much. -Yeah, that was fun.

-Keep doing God's work. -That was crazy, dude.

-Love you guys. Have fun.

♪♪

Let's roll.

But, yeah, wow.

On the other side of Twitter now.

Hmm.

I love Birds Aren't Real.