Blocked and Reported

Episode 296: Loving Pound Cake

February 23, 2026

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  • The central narrative of **Episode 296: Loving Pound Cake** of the *Blocked and Reported* podcast revolves around the viral, emotionally manipulative saga of a supposed sick Sphynx cat named Pound Cake on Reddit, which was ultimately revealed to be an elaborate hoax, possibly involving AI-generated content and sock puppet accounts. 
  • The hosts use the Pound Cake story and other examples to illustrate the growing difficulty in discerning reality online, noting that AI is rapidly consuming text-based forums like Reddit, with one moderator estimating half the content is now AI-generated or tweaked. 
  • The conversation touches on the societal impact of generative AI, suggesting that its negative consequences, such as sophisticated scams and the erosion of trust in digital media, will disproportionately affect the loneliest and least connected individuals. 
  • The hosts express significant concern that the negative consequences of generative AI, particularly scams and manipulation, will disproportionately affect the loneliest and least connected individuals. 
  • The proliferation of highly realistic AI-generated content, especially in pornography, is predicted to severely distort perceptions of human appearance, particularly for younger generations raised on filtered and synthetic media. 

Segments

Ants and Online Comparisons
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(00:00:10)
  • Key Takeaway: Jesse’s personal ant infestation led to comparisons with infamous online figures Ian Armstrong and Arthur Chu, prompting Jesse to nearly edit out the anecdote to avoid association.
  • Summary: Jesse provided an update on successfully managing a severe ant infestation that had forced him out of his house for a week. Commenters subsequently compared his situation to that of Arthur Chu and Ian Armstrong, who were known for being covered in ants. Jesse admitted he almost cut the story to avoid this comparison, highlighting the sensitivity around certain online personas.
Arthur Chu and Social Media Exodus
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(00:01:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Arthur Chu, famous from Jeopardy! for confronting racism and sexism in gaming, is noted to have fled Twitter (X) for the platform Blue Sky.
  • Summary: The hosts referenced Arthur Chu’s past fame from Jeopardy! and his subsequent activism against racism and sexism in the gaming community. They speculated that Chu, like many others, likely left Twitter due to Elon Musk’s platform changes. Katie suggested that Blue Sky is being funded by the ‘deep state’ as a containment mechanism for those who fled X.
AI’s Impact on Journalism
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(00:05:28)
  • Key Takeaway: The specter of generative AI is actively altering professional realities, exemplified by a Cleveland Plain Dealer editor using an AI rewrite specialist to turn reporter notes into drafts.
  • Summary: The main topic of the episode was introduced as AI messing with people’s senses of reality, with Katie noting its omnipresence in online feeds. The hosts detailed a Cleveland Plain Dealer policy where reporters gather information, but an AI specialist drafts the writing, which reporters then fact-check. This shift is seen as potentially efficient but fundamentally awful for those who entered journalism specifically to be writers.
Reddit Culture and Anonymity
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(00:11:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Reddit functions as a powerful, aesthetically bland, topic-centric cultural juggernaut where content matters more than the individual poster, reducing influencer dynamics.
  • Summary: Jesse revealed he has held a Reddit account for 19 years, noting the platform’s massive, often overlooked, cultural influence, partly because LLMs train heavily on its content. The platform is deliberately topic-centric rather than person-centric, meaning users follow subreddits, not individuals, which minimizes clout chasing. This anonymity also means that major scandals, like the one involving Pound Cake, often break out based on content rather than the poster’s identity.
The Pound Cake Saga Begins
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(00:18:55)
  • Key Takeaway: The Pound Cake story began on r/sphynx when user Practical Intern 735 posted about rescuing an obese, severely ill Sphynx cat suffering from osteoarthritis and an ACL tear.
  • Summary: The story centers on Pound Cake, a Sphynx cat rescued from backyard breeders, who was morbidly obese and unable to walk due to severe joint issues. The owner sought advice on r/sphynx, leading to an outpouring of support from the community, who were charmed by the cat’s plight. Initial skepticism about the cat’s existence was dismissed by moderators and the owner, who provided photos and videos.
Pound Cake’s Emotional Journey and Death
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(00:35:43)
  • Key Takeaway: After gaining significant fame across Reddit, Pound Cake passed away naturally while in the care of a rescue shelter, leading to widespread, genuine grief among his online followers.
  • Summary: Pound Cake’s story migrated to r/dechonkers and the main r/cats subreddit, where the latter group harshly criticized the owner for the cat’s poor quality of life, suggesting euthanasia. Ultimately, Pound Cake died naturally after receiving pain medication and experiencing a short period of comfort and love, devastating the community who elevated him to the status of a feline saint.
The Hoax Revelation and AI Deception
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(00:40:33)
  • Key Takeaway: The entire Pound Cake narrative was exposed as a hoax the day after his death, with evidence suggesting the original poster (Practical Intern 735) was the same person who exposed the fraud (Automatic Ship785) in a calculated effort to ’torture’ engaged users.
  • Summary: The next day, a user named Automatic Ship785 claimed the viral videos were AI-generated and that Pound Cake never existed, leading to shock and anger from those who had grieved. A final screenshot suggested the original poster admitted to creating the entire saga to torment users who invested emotional energy into online drama. This incident highlights the increasing difficulty in verifying reality, as even text-only forums like Reddit are being saturated by AI-generated content.
AI’s Impact on Vulnerable People
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(00:51:49)
  • Key Takeaway: Generative AI’s negative consequences are projected to impact the loneliest and least connected people first and hardest.
  • Summary: The negative consequences of AI, especially generative AI, are expected to roll downhill and primarily affect isolated individuals. This will manifest through increasingly sophisticated scams, surpassing traditional credit card fraud and involving agents with control over personal computers and files. These advanced threats are worse than the simple bots of the past.
AI Replacing Human Scammers
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(00:52:37)
  • Key Takeaway: AI technology is poised to automate and replace human scammers, including those performing traditional ‘Nigerian prince’ style scams.
  • Summary: AI will put human scammers out of business by taking over their roles. This automation extends to creating convincing AI models for platforms like OnlyFans, where bots can engage with users 24/7. This development suggests a future where synthetic personalities dominate certain online interactions.
Looks Maxing and Digital Appearance
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(00:53:16)
  • Key Takeaway: The trend of ’looks maxing’ involves altering appearance, physically or digitally, toward an increasingly inhuman, filtered aesthetic, exemplified by the Sphinx cat comparison.
  • Summary: Coverage exists regarding ‘clavicular’ and ’looks maxing’ trends, which push individuals toward altering their appearance until they resemble less human forms. This trajectory, especially prevalent in pornographic content, will result in a flood of realistic videos featuring people who do not exist. Growing up immersed in this filtered reality will negatively affect adolescents’ views on actual human appearance.