In South Africa, the refrain “You must pay back the money!” has been a common one over the last few years. It refers to our state president, Jacob Zuma, and a criminal amount of tax-payers money that was used to update his private residence including a million rand amount that was used for the swimming pool which they then claimed was a “Firepool” in case the house caught fire. This is now a national in-joke for us. But we thought maybe there are other people, organisations or entities who we feel should pay us back for things they have put us through… so we asked you to name them.
[The Story So Far: Every Wednesday at 12 noon South African time [6am EDT] an inspired and growing number of brilliant, creative and absolutely fun people from all around the world take part in what is called a Hashtag game. @AFrikkinHashtag [say it out loud] is South Africa’s #1 Hashtag game and is always a lot of fun. The F.L.O.P. [or Fish List Of Prizeworthyness] is the collection of some of the best tweets from each week’s game and is what all seriously comedic Hashtaggers aspire to…]
This was also the first game where @AFrikkinHashtag had a bit of a sponsor. The amazing folks at JuiceBubble.co.za, a South Africa online Vibey T-Shirt company sponsored this t-shirt as a prize for the Top South African tweet.
If you haven’t visited their site yet, go and take a look cos they come out with some really great and fun designs…
i decided to rope in my old nemesis, the Jar Jar Binks suit wearing @KeshaTedder to make this a truly South African affair.
We started the game with some good ideas to get you going:
And used some of our best local satirical cartoonists to help drive the point home:
Plus a little ‘How to’ for those who weren’t sure how this game worked and Captain James T felt like a good example to use:
And then we handed it over to you. Wondering who would secure this week’s T-shirt prize and also just wondering who you think owes who…
Which brings us to this week’s FISH LIST OF PRIZEWORTHYNESS and some really great tweets:
Rob went rhyming:
Maya demands that #YouMustPayBack the honey, she needs it for the larvae first birthday party. pic.twitter.com/jOdLhOnwFp
— Rob (@GenericZA) September 21, 2016
Grendel got real, yo:
#YouMustPayBack The Nigerian prince
— Gretel Armstrong (@SugarGretel) September 21, 2016
Who was connected to the people you don’t mess with:
https://twitter.com/WhoBrannigan/status/778534181919920128
https://twitter.com/WhoBrannigan/status/778534724612526080
Zen ordered Dominoes:
#YouMustPayBack the Universe for every unkind thought, word, and action. pic.twitter.com/Zjb0BOiPAj
— Tag Femmes (@TagFemmes) September 21, 2016
Glenn spoke to many people’s pain:
#YouMustPayBack your college education.
— Glenn Farrington (@HaHaScribe) September 21, 2016
Tal found a great co-tag:
For #InternationalPeaceDay #YouMustPayBack those who have been wronged
— Sir TΔLIƩSΨΠE 🎸📷 (@Taliesyne) September 21, 2016
Veldlot reminded us of our unfortunate past:
#YouMustPayBack Mother Earth for the thing you did to her.
— VeldLot🌷 (@VeldLot) September 21, 2016
Geff went popular culture:
#YouMustPayBack Street Boys Or You'll Have To "Quit Playing Games"@backstreetboys @AFrikkinHashtag
— Geff Gefferson (@GeffGefferson1) September 21, 2016
Traci would get my wife’s vote:
For all the sleepless nights #YouMustPayBack In daytime naps
— traci (@Ibtbanksy) September 21, 2016
Hm, who’s going to have that talk with Callum?
#YouMustPayBack the £3000 you said I had won before I emailed you my credit card details
— Callum Henderson (@CCH0705) September 21, 2016
Tal went a little Chris de Burghy on us:
#YouMustPayBack the Ferryman now that he has gotten you to the other side pic.twitter.com/Xyg1ObEgpi
— Sir TΔLIƩSΨΠE 🎸📷 (@Taliesyne) September 21, 2016
And then K Dawg got all smooshy:
#YouMustPayBack Some love today. #internationaldayofpeace
— Kerry Tedder (@KeshaTedder) September 21, 2016
Anyone like Ben who verbs the word ‘karma’ deserves a nod:
#YouMustPayBack karma in a karmafully type of way
— Bensworld (@Benie_ben) September 21, 2016
Daniel went a little too far:
For lack of exercise, #YouMustPayBack by having to wear pants with an elastic waistband and only eating spinach and tofu
— I'm Just Dan (@DanielAshley13) September 21, 2016
Shelley wanted to hold the president to task:
#YouMustPayBack the billionty, Zuma.
— Just Shell (@QueenofSparta) September 21, 2016
Starlord provided probably one of the most random [but related] tweets of all time:
Jesus said you borrowed the spear of destiny #YouMustPayBack Gabriel for the shipping
— Starlord (@DcStarlord) September 21, 2016
This resonates a little TOO closely to a true story i once lived:
#YouMustPayBack the fine for the overdue library book. It's been 16 years
— Tee (@liltr2) September 21, 2016
Mark had me at “Ni”
#youmustpayback the Knights Who Say Ni with shrubberies! pic.twitter.com/ZLdl3dCszv
— ✌Mark Bonnet🤘 (@Mytquinn69) September 21, 2016
Geek tried to bring accountability:
Dear Avengers #YouMustPayBack for all the damages after raising and dropping a city pic.twitter.com/idDSxxza62
— prince of perfection (@adu1tg33k1) September 21, 2016
Dreamweasel was still after the Twitterer for that darn button:
TWITTER, #YouMustPayBack the contractor you hired to create an EDIT function, as I still do not see one & now I am stuck with this typo
— Dreamweasel (@Dreamweasel) September 21, 2016
Donny overshared us with this one:
Pretty much A mutual agreement when I eat spicy foods #YouMustPayBack
— Donnie Cooper (@dsilverback) September 21, 2016
Elisa wanted the bucks for all the ‘bucks:
#YouMustPayBack every drink from Starbucks I ever bought for you. That will be $18,000, you Venti Frappuccino gulping trollop. pic.twitter.com/uABfnIAC5f
— Elisa (@poolgoddess918) September 21, 2016
The Rev got all Christmas Carol on us:
#YouMustPayBack Those you wronged, either in this life or the next … just ask Marley's Ghost. pic.twitter.com/uHxspSiRBr
— RevDodd (@RevDodd1) September 21, 2016
Chas was a little redundant:
Pokemon #YouMustPayBack everyone who went over their data plan last month
— Chas Wesley (@chaswesley2012) September 21, 2016
i mean, that’s no-one right? No-one is still playing that, are they?
Ruben brought the bottom line:
#YouMustPayBack all those credit cards pic.twitter.com/FhnpgAPS0p
— ruben (@rube44) September 21, 2016
Callum went musical:
#YouMustPayBack Starship, they built this city purely on rock and roll so they at least deserve a bit of compensation
— Callum Henderson (@CCH0705) September 21, 2016
Shea spoke like a man with experience:
#YouMustPayBack kids who loan you money. Their debt collection practices are brutal. pic.twitter.com/OZ71skug1C
— Shea Browning (@SheaBrowning) September 21, 2016
Grendel got all localised:
#YouMustPayBack Johanna with gold pic.twitter.com/2XpmZpX98o
— Gretel Armstrong (@SugarGretel) September 21, 2016
Rahul pointed out Mastercard’s ploy:
Of course #youmustpayback! Mastercard was only being philosophical when they said that somethings are priceless.
— Rahul Poonja (@RahulPoonja) September 21, 2016
Giles wanted all the cats to have some money in their purrs [i know!]:
#YouMustPayBack all the cute kittens for posting pictures of them without their consent.
— Giles Graham-Brown (@gilesfgb) September 21, 2016
Scott was blaming the Twitterer for his herb overload:
Twitter #YouMustPayBack all the thyme you stole from my writing hours. pic.twitter.com/dVERiZCMMO
— Scott Stavrou (@WriteAwayEurope) September 21, 2016
Brains might be on to something:
https://twitter.com/SamsaraKush/status/778543369152671746
Yes, Taylor, you know it’s true:
To miss Taylor swift #YouMustPayBack all if your exes for providing you with writing material pic.twitter.com/d80YcqCfsK
— prince of perfection (@adu1tg33k1) September 21, 2016
Probably the most referenced movie clip:
#YouMustPayBack MY TWO DOLLARS! W/ TWENTY-ONE YEARS INTEREST + pain & suffering, attorney consult fee, misc expenses = $28,198.50 #NOCHECKS pic.twitter.com/9Ul28Vrg4K
— 🐾Beware of Dogma🐾 (@ellelljaytoo) September 21, 2016
Glenn had us all hysterical, or was that historical:
Hey Costume store #youmustpayback my deposit after sending over the wrong APE outfits. pic.twitter.com/b4XZNFzEJb
— Glenn Farrington (@HaHaScribe) September 21, 2016
Snarky got all feels with us:
#YouMustPayBack all the rent for the space you took up in my heart.
I should've required a damage deposit
— Nacho Kind (@SnarkyPants2016) September 21, 2016
Pekky was like, Snap:
#YouMustPayBack or I will attack, and you don't want that! pic.twitter.com/XXg51PNnlP
— Breaking Badass (@kingpekky) September 21, 2016
Loved this one of calling out legacy:
#YouMustPayBack and pay it forward because of the kindness and protection my grandfather shared with me. I will never forget his acts of❤️
— T IVett Carnes/W (@ORRCHIDRAIN) September 21, 2016
Forget the china shop people, just stay away from the cheap seats:
#YouMustPayBack for all that bullfighting pic.twitter.com/GdD17PUgkk
— Owen (@TheOwenMyers) September 21, 2016
Roe brought a counter culture perspective that i resonate with:
#YouMustPayBack the people that have wronged you with LOVE!
— RoeSoLovesUofM (@roeu812) September 21, 2016
Carl brought the LOLs:
#YouMustPayBack an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. So, stop taking out all those eye and teeth loans.
— Carl Lamy (@carllamy) September 21, 2016
Glenn brought some local:
#youmustpayback Districts 1-8 after what you did to 9. pic.twitter.com/4RlVjcEYFc
— Glenn Farrington (@HaHaScribe) September 21, 2016
John brought some of his smooth verse:
Goodwill you earned#YouMustPayBack
The robot turned
For its attack
But I gave hearts
Instead of lies
To all its parts
And heard its sighs— IV (@PRNDL) September 21, 2016
Ross didn’t beat around the bush:
#YouMustPayBack
The neighbour, whose dog craps in your yard pic.twitter.com/FDPwFXygBQ— Ross Moorhouse (@RossMoorhouse) September 21, 2016
Shelley went to her Darth place:
Darth, #YouMustPayBack your son. You owe it to him to give him a hand now and then.
— Just Shell (@QueenofSparta) September 21, 2016
All i’m saying is do NOT mess with Mireille:
#YouMustPayBack all the stress you've caused me. Your punishment is 1500 paper cuts in various places. I choose.
— Mireille (@amour72mg) September 21, 2016
Spacs gets it:
#YouMustPayBack and pay it forward to live well.
— Regina Spacola (@gigirules7) September 21, 2016
David has some Car-ma to share:
#YouMustPayBack all the kindness the world has shown you.
Or maybe just call it good. pic.twitter.com/8s3ZoMdYLe
— Not THAT David Bell (@BellDavidC) September 21, 2016
Joker has some advice you can bank on:
#YouMustPayBack then withdraw, then put back, then withdraw, put back, withdraw, back, withdraw….. until you sigh and lose interest
— The Joker (@amhere007) September 21, 2016
Meanwhile no A Hether is feeling a little lonesome:
#YouMustPayBack what I spent on the noodle cooler, no one will sit by me at lunch pic.twitter.com/cOXTK8J59X
— Hether w/out an A 🐞 (@HBelusky) September 21, 2016
If only Joe, if only:
#YouMustPayBack the robocallers with 5 minutes of healthy if financially unremunerative conversation @AFrikkinHashtag
— sunsick (@Joe_Marcincuk) September 21, 2016
This should be written into law:
#YouMustPayBack fist pump with a fist pump ✊ #RealChoices #FistPump pic.twitter.com/nPe3ObW9w8
— Monica McClarren (@MonicaMcClarren) September 21, 2016
This is something you’ve actually DONE?
#YouMustPayBack for all the times you yelled at your phone thinking it's a telemarketer but it was actually your grandma.
— just a bagel (@bagelswouldwork) September 21, 2016
Well, that’s it everyone – what a great list – you guys absolutely rock as always, although there were a few more that for me really just deserved that final plaudit and so here is This week’s F.L.O.P. 5:
#5 Rita holds one of the keys to a good life:
#YouMustPayBack hate with love. Kill them with kindness.
— Rita (@southerndelite) September 22, 2016
#4 Absolutely LOVED this from one Gold:
#YouMustPayBack your uncle for all those coins he found behind your ear.
— PervWithAHeartOfGold (@PervHeartOfGold) September 21, 2016
#3 And Gold was definitely loving this game cos he’s back:
#YouMustPayBack Bach, Beck! pic.twitter.com/NBAQcMmz1a
— PervWithAHeartOfGold (@PervHeartOfGold) September 21, 2016
#2 This is an absolute winner from the Phish:
#YouMustPayBack for that
bass you stole! pic.twitter.com/rP50cfYgSJ— Phishgod (@chiefplan1) September 22, 2016
#1 But i think this week’s winner of the JuiceBubble T-shirt goes to Shelley for fighting for us:
#YouMustPayBack the anguish caused by bad South African accents in Lethal Weapon. That's not how we sound. Really.
— Just Shell (@QueenofSparta) September 21, 2016
GREAT GAME and thank you for the most part for keeping it FAMILY – i know it’s not everyone’s vibe but it’s our vibe and most of you honour that and we really appreciate you – keep on keeping it FUNNY and CLEVER and MISDIRECTIONAL and RANDOM [but related] and of course PUNNY cos those are what we love.
And see you for the next game every Wednesday at 12 noon SA time or 6am EDT – keep the WIT in the Twitterer
love brett fish
And i will leave you with this wisdom from Moss from the hit show IT CROWD:
This was gold, but couldn’t stop laughing at that IT Crowd double negative meme 😉
Ha Ha it is a complete favourite! Thanks for stopping by!