Internet Comment Etiquette with Erik

Internet Comment Etiquette with Erik is a web series on YouTube hosted by Erik that teaches you how to leave proper and respectful comments on the internet. It originally started as a video series on letsGOtoCLASS in 2009 before getting its own channel in 2015.

## History

### letsGOtoCLASS (2009-2014)

The series began in February 2009 with the lesson Internet Comment Etiquette with Erik #1. A second lesson was released a week later. Following this, the series went on hiatus for three years until continuing in January 2012. 17 additional lessons were released sporadically over the following three years for a total of 19.

The letsGOtoCLASS era saw the development of several core elements of Internet Comment Etiquette, including rocketships, a focus on 9/11, tweeting at bad people to annoy them, making fun of conspiracy theorists, and teamkilling. It also introduced the characters Erik, Skjöldr, and Helja.

There are also aspects of this era that are rarely or never used on the main channel. Namely, the Comment Quiz of the Week, Erik being skinny, and his rivalry with Chris Brown.

### 2015

2015 started with the introduction of a new Internet Comment Etiquette channel specifically for the series and its spin-offs. 18 lessons were released in 2015.

This was the year that Internet Comment Etiquette went from a side project to a dedicated series. As a result, many of the series key elements were introduced in this year. These include the first Etiquesette, YouNow streams, Ted Cruz as Erik's primary rival, optimization, holograms, and Erik's kickstarter for Erik Drinks Wine and Gets a Haircut. It also introduced the characters Veronica, Martin Shkreli, and Nude Celebs for Free.

### 2016

25 lessons were released in 2016, the most of any year. Erik also reached 100,000 subscribers this year. This year introduced the Salviaerik store, the song Big Money Salvia, Erik's hatred of Tyson Foods, and a recurring theme of Erik not making Erik Drinks Wine and Gets a Haircut. It also introduced the characters Robot, The Amazing Salvio, Hot Dad, and Alex Jones.

Erik ends 2016 in a coma, but wakes up in time for the first lesson of 2017.

### 2017

17 lessons were released in 2017. The most notable development of the year was the release of Erik Drinks Wine and Gets a Haircut after its two year development and several delays. Also of note was the release of Hot Dad's cover of Fell in a Well. This year introduced the Neon Grizzly store, Erik's investigation of the Mandela Effect, the world's first Pineapple Summer, past Eriks predicting celebrity deaths, and Martin Shkreli's prison sentence. It also introduced the characters Uncle Dave, DJ Crib Def, Curious Betsy, and the ghost of Lady Hair Erik.

### 2018

11 lessons were released in 2018. This year marked the change from high output of simple lessons to a lower quantity of longer, more complex lessons with narratives, supporting characters, and twist endings. These include the high-concept film Artificial Intelligence, the horror story The Haunted Lesson, and the two part episode chronicling The Big Money Space Race. This year introduced Erik's iconic sponsored ads, Sam Kellie and Shawn Kohne as major castmembers, linking people to Goatse, and Erik's use of Fiverr to find amateur actors for bit parts. It also introduced the characters Alexa, Detective Nobbleberry, and the ghost of Rotten Pineapple Erik.

### 2019

14 lessons were released in 2019, plus residue producing a second lesson on the Mandela Effect for a total of 15. This year primarily focused on further exploration of topics from previous years, including the Future of Entertainment, Yahoo Answers, vaccines, the Mandela Effect, optimization, and the War on Christmas. It also featured a 29 minute lesson in which Erik made major changes to his health. This year introduced the concept of deepfakes, the Brazilian Booty Burn, and warning about the dangers of bleach and 5G. It also introduced the characters Narfi, Todd Clorox, and Holiday Fartcruise.

### 2020

20 lessons were released in 2020. This year was the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a massive impact on the world, and as a result, affected most lessons. This year introduced the March to a Million, shirtless old men, and Narfi's clones getting into dangerous mishaps.

### 2021

15 lessons were released in 2021, as well as two Open Beta lessons. The COVID-19 pandemic continued in 2021, but the focus changed to getting vaccinated and returning to normal, culminating in Erik shaving the beard that he had grown for half of the year. The year also marked the end of support from the Society of Etiquette after Erik's drinking problem caused problems for them. Toward the end of the year, Erik produced three separate Halloween specials and finished the year with a clip show.

**2022**

18 lessons were released in 2022. There was a lot of conflict between the woke and the conservatives over the contents of visual media. Erik was challenged in the creator clash and fought DJ welch from animators vs games. Erik covered his journey to becoming a fighting soy boy while leaving good internet comment etiquette along the way. He did the first ever lesson along; where he discussed how to kink shame. Towards the end of the year he searched for a cure to the Halloween hangover, as well as finding out how to find what others want for Christmas.