Dril

This article is about the Twitter user. For other uses, see DRIL.

dril
A line art-style illustration of a smug-looking man with sunglasses and a cigarette in the corner of his mouth. He wears a military uniform, including a cape, medals, epaulettes, and an armband that displays the word "Pussy".
A self-portrait from dril's 2018 book, based on his Twitter avatar, a blurred image of actor Jack Nicholson's face
Other nameswint (intermittent Twitter display name), Paul Dochney (creator)
Years active2008–present
Known forAbsurdist tweets
Notable workDril Official "Mr. Ten Years" Anniversary Collection
Website
Signature
@dril

@dril is a pseudonymous Twitter user best known for his idiosyncratic style of absurdist humor and non-sequiturs. The account and the character associated with the tweets are all commonly referred to as dril (the account's username on Twitter) or wint (the account's intermittent display name), both rendered lowercase but often capitalized by others. Since his first tweet in 2008, dril has become a popular and influential Twitter user with more than 1.8 million followers.[1]

Dril is one of the most notable accounts associated with "Weird Twitter", a subculture on the site that shares a surreal, ironic sense of humor. The character associated with dril is highly distinctive, often described as a bizarre reflection of a typical male American Internet user. Other social media users have repurposed dril's tweets for humorous or satiric effect in a variety of political and cultural contexts. Many of dril's tweets, phrases, and tropes have become familiar parts of Internet slang.

The few available details about his life fueled speculation about his identity, though a large contingent of his fanbase insisted that others respect his choice to maintain his privacy. In 2017, following a doxing incident, a piece from New York suggested the author's identity.[2] Dril was identified as Paul Dochney (born 1987). Dochney typically responded to press inquiries "in-character". Dochney confirmed his identity on several occasions thereafter, and in 2023 he participated in his first interview under his own name at The Ringer.[3]

Beyond tweeting, Dochney funds his work through Patreon, has created animated short films and contributed illustrations and writing to other artists' collaborative projects. His first book, Dril Official "Mr. Ten Years" Anniversary Collection (2018), is a compilation of the account's "greatest hits" alongside new illustrations. In 2019 he announced the launch of a streaming web series called Truthpoint: Darkweb Rising, an InfoWars parody co-created with comedian Derek Estevez-Olsen for Adult Swim. Writers have praised dril for his originality and humor; for example, poet Patricia Lockwood said of him: "he is a master of tone, he is a master of character".[4]

  1. ^ Lorenz, Taylor. "Twitter king Dril on Musk's chaotic reign". Washington Post. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Swearingen was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Rogers 2023 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference lockwood lecture was invoked but never defined (see the help page).