Writer’s idea spawns hilarious hashtag
You don’t need to convince a parent that children’s stories can be terrifying. But one man’s suggestion on Twitter literalized that idea, and the results are amazing.
The man’s name is Marc Laidlaw, and while we don’t know what inspired his tweet, we do know that it set the internet ablaze. Twitter took his suggestion and ran with it, and we’re all better off for it.
The first line of almost any story can be improved by making sure the second line is, "And then the murders began."
— Marc Laidlaw (@marc_laidlaw) March 3, 2017
It’s so simple. But as with many things that the Internet gets a hold of, it took on a life of its own. A hilarious, twisted life.
Fellow tweeters immediately seized upon Marc’s idea, and it was obvious that the sinister insinuation in that phrase was most effective when it was married to children’s stories.
One sunny Sunday, the caterpillar was hatched out of a tiny egg. He was very hungry. And then the murders began. #LaidlawsRule
— Elizabeth Meg (@Scranshums) March 3, 2017
Who knew caterpillars were carnivores?
Mr & Mrs Dursley, of number 4, Privet Drive, were proud to say they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. And then the murders began. https://t.co/WbbBuyehqU
— Kyle Treasure (@KyleTreasure) March 3, 2017
That one’s just funny. If anyone deserves to be murdered, it’s Harry Potter’s hateful cousins.
“I wonder what Piglet is doing," thought Pooh. And then the murders began. https://t.co/ZWBA29tjW9
— Damon Young (@damonayoung) March 3, 2017
Huh. My money would have been on Eeyore. Don’t lie. Yours would too.
One evening, after thinking it over some time, Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight. "And then the murders began." #LaidlawsRule pic.twitter.com/D8s6srSwAI
— A.T. Baron (@IOtterBe) March 19, 2017
That one is almost too on the nose. Of course Harold is a twisted killer. I mean, it’s a short walk from vandal to murderer.
Marc Laidlaw, the genius behind this gambit, is himself a published author. I won’t presume that his book would be improved by “And then the murders began” but let’s be serious; what book wouldn’t be?
The “game,” which quickly went viral, was christened “#LaidlawsLaw” and it’s clear that not only is it funny, it will come in handy as well. There’s a reason the most effective examples are children’s books.
"Where's Papa going with that axe?" said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table. And then the murders began. #LaidlawsRule pic.twitter.com/9N0NyyqA9b
— Trevor Rines (@TrevorSRines) March 22, 2017
That book just got a lot shorter, which is perfect for those frustrating nights when you’re reading a bedtime story and your kid always wants another chapter. “And then the murders began” should put an end to that real quick.
The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play. And then the murders began. #LaidlawsRule pic.twitter.com/NL89ViGvZ1
— Chandler Arnold (@Social_CHAN_ge) March 22, 2017
While Laidlaw deserves credit for launching the trend, the individuals who chose the perfect examples should be celebrated too.
I mean, look at this masterpiece:
https://twitter.com/Richmond_Lee/status/844487828469821440