By: Jim Hannaford

Have you ever been fooled by The Fairhope Inquisitor? Lots of people have over the last seven years, and it could very well be happening again right this moment.

Snarky and irreverent, but also witty and astute, the mostly anonymous online scribe regularly runs satirical “news stories” about Fairhope and its surrounding areas. Many casual readers routinely miss the humor and fall for the outlandish articles hook, line, and sinker. It’s almost like The Fairhope Inquisitor is holding up a fun-house mirror to the Eastern Shore, and it makes for great amusement along with some mild controversy.

For those who are in on the joke, the intrepid Inquisitor hits the nail on the head repeatedly. A recent example is his description of Fairhope’s annual lighting of the trees ceremony downtown as the world’s largest Escape Room. Another reports on a Lartigue’s/Starbucks mashup that offers a “craw-puccino” for seafood-loving coffee drinkers.

We wanted to know more about the person behind this humorous slant on current events, so we reached out with an interview request. It turns out The Fairhope Inquisitor was happy to share some (but not all) of his story. We hope you enjoy the following interview, which we conducted via email:

‍Lots of people wonder about the identity of The Fairhope Inquisitor, but you’re not really anonymous, are you? I believe you have even posted photos and videos of yourself over the years. What is your level of anonymity? 

The truth of the matter is that I’m the cat that lives in the French Quarter area in Fairhope. Nine years ago I ate a magic beignet that gave me the ability to speak telepathically, but more importantly, a nagging itch to comment on happenings in Fairhope society. I utilize some guy’s primate hands to carry out the physical aspect of the blog. 

‍You cover the happenings along the Eastern Shore in an offbeat way, to say the least, and you tend to provoke lots of different emotions among your readers. What exactly is the mission of The Fairhope Inquisitor? 

The mission of TFI is to make myself silently chuckle and not much more. Maybe one day I’ll set my sights on solving world peace, or better yet, the endless feud between the east and west sides of Greeno Road.

‍How, when, and why did you get started with this? 

I first visited Fairhope about 12 years ago, and that experience was unlike anything I had ever seen growing up in a small rural town. I spent several days walking around town and looking at the people, thinking this place is amazing! But it is also hilarious in ways. A lot is going on here, which is probably why this town has a rich literary history. If I hadn’t done it, somebody else would have.

‍I know your work through your website, thefairhopeinquisitor.com, and from Facebook. What other social media sites are you on, and which of these various outlets has the most traffic?

I’m on most major social media platforms, but Facebook definitely has the most traffic. I think the reason could be the habit of blindly sharing articles and content without reading past the headlines is most common on Facebook, and that has caused many articles to go viral, sometimes wreaking havoc. All of my posts are very obviously satire if you read past the first sentence. My Instagram account is more of my personal life and many hobbies.

‍Your Facebook site is pretty clearly marked as “Satire/Parody,” but I’m always amazed at how many people just don’t realize that your posts are meant to be taken as a joke. Does that surprise you, too? Please tell us of some of your favorite reactions and/or comments over the years.

I’ve learned that the crazier the headline, the more people believe it to be true. Articles that seem like they could be true get less of a reaction. My favorite reaction was on one of the very first articles, “Famous Fairhope Clock Goes Digital.” I had uploaded the article at work, and about an hour later I heard a commotion in our lobby. I peeked my head out and overheard an older gentleman fussing to his wife and mentioning going down to the city to complain about something. On their way out the door, he said, “How could they make it digital?! It’s a part of history!” I knew then I could make an impact on the world. Maybe not a positive one, but an impact.

In terms of the number of views, comments, shares, etc., what have been some of the most popular posts? 

Besides the one on the Fairhope clock going digital, I’d say a couple of other greatest hits were “Missing couple found alive after reportedly lost driving in Lake Forest Subdivision for 11 days” and “Iconic Blue Angels show off new red paint jobs for 2021.”

‍You have certainly generated lots of laughs, and some outrage, too. Have any of your posts led to real cultural changes along the Eastern Shore?

I hope so! Many of the articles encourage some amount of reflection and self-deprecation, making fun of ourselves and the hot-button issues. I will point out that I invented the Bean & Butt district of Fairhope (the area that includes The Coffee Loft and Ben’s Bar-B-Q), which I believe is my greatest accomplishment.

‍Are you from this area, or were you blessed to discover our Eastern Shore later in life?

I married into Fairhope, but  I’ve been here for over a decade, which gives me enough street cred to tell people I was born here. My rule of thumb for Fairhope is if you’ve been here less than three years you’re one of these horrible “infiltrators,” over five years, and now you’re on a probational period to become a local, and I think year eight is when you become a local. I just tell people I was born right in Mobile Bay when someone yanked me out of the water during a jubilee, mistaking me for a flounder.

‍What else can you tell us about yourself?

I’m boring, really. I'm an avid runner and cyclist, probably to the point of insanity. I biked over 10,000 miles last year and can tell you every pothole in Baldwin County's diameter and depth. I have two young girls at Fairhope Elementary who have yet to believe I'm COOL, even though I'm obviously very COOL. My wife is very involved with the arts in Fairhope and probably married me because I resemble a Picasso painting come to life. 

‍How long will you continue covering the news for us in your uniquely humorous way?

At some point every year, I tell myself I’m quitting for various reasons. Sometimes, it’s fatigue from nasty comments or messages, and sometimes, it's just Facebook itself. I’ll quit writing anything for a while, and then one morning, an idea pops into my head, and within 10 minutes, I’m back at it!