[Ads-l] Meme: John Backflip, inventor of the backflip (comical myth)

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

The AI system of the Google search engine provides comically
misleading information about the history of backflips.

Query to Google on Oct 25, 2024: who invented the backflip?

[Begin response from Google]
the first recorded backflip on history was performed in 1316 by Sir
John H. Backflip. Sir Backflip was an acrobat and knight for king
Edward II. He would perform for the king, and one day he leapt
backwards, rounded head over hells, and landed upright. Dec 12, 2016
[End response from Google]

Yet, a Google query with just the name "John Backflip" does produce a
response indicating that the figure is mythical.

Query to Google on Oct 25, 2024: John Backflip

[Begin response from Google]
John Backflip is a mythical figure in the history of gymnastics who is
said to have been the first person to perform a backflip in 1316.
According to the story, people from all over Europe came to see him
perform, until his rival, William Front Flip, convinced the public
that John was using witchcraft. John was then exiled and never seen
again.
[End response from Google]

I am not sure where the John Backflip meme originated. Here is an
example of the meme: John Backflip is mentioned in a TikTok video
posted on May 21, 2023

https://www.tiktok.com/@ian.gunther/video/7235742486382071082

[Begin TikTok excerpt]
Poster: ian.gunther Ian Gunther│Gymnastics Daily
Title: The tragedy of John Backflip 😔🤸🏼‍♂️ #history #gymtok
#gymnast #olympics #gymnastics #calisthenics #parkour #flare

Transcript excerpt: But where did this tradition begin. It all started
in medieval Europe with a man named John Backflip. He was the first
person to ever do a flip, and he first performed the stunt in 1316.
People came from all around Europe to see this until his nemesis
William Frontflip led a revolution to convince the public that John
was using witchcraft for his stunt. So he was tragically exiled, and
never seen again.
[End TikTok excerpt]

Garson

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