Reaction: The Ingenious Highlights From The #DrummondPuddleWatch Phenomenon

Yes, you might say "the internet is eating itself." Yes, you might say it's "The Dress of 2016". You might even take the higher road of bellendery and say something like, "if only this many people would pay attention to the Middle East."

But just shut up and watch the puddle, will you?

Of course one character has brought a surfboard! #DrummondPuddleWatch pic.twitter.com/UIKImGQffc

— The Rewind (@TheRewindIrl) January 6, 2016

Yes, it is literally just your average, run-of-the-mill puddle in Newcastle, but it's making an enormous splash in the world of social media and beyond: The #DrummondPuddleWatch has drawn tens of thousands of viewers to its live Periscope feed (you'll see reports of 19,000, but the live figures froze about half an hour before writing this).

Why? Because in a world where so many people are suffering immeasurable horrors and indignations, it's strangely satisfying to be able to laugh at the comparably tiny problems of the people from a small community in England as they attempt to cross a tiny mass of water.

We've had a lilo-surfer, an actual surfer, news reporters, fallers, climbers, and a few long-jumpers, and Twitter - to be fair to it - has been on fire in its reaction to the first genuine internet sensation of 2016.

Here's a round-up of the best puddle appearances so far, and, of course, the cream of the Twitter jokes:

A guy just placed a 'slippery when wet' sign in the Drummond puddle and it's amazing #DrummondPuddleWatch pic.twitter.com/akjYHE0ZHV

— Elliot Wagland (@elliotwagland) January 6, 2016

Let us know if you need a lifeboat - stay safe out there! #RespectTheWater #DrummondPuddleWatch

— RNLI (@RNLI) January 6, 2016

About to go in the #DrummondPuddleWatch pic.twitter.com/MVwEtGEJiZ

— Anthony Kane (@anthonykane) January 6, 2016

THERE'S A MAN IN A PINK LILO! #DrummondPuddleWatch pic.twitter.com/fmbJpk1loZ

— Coral (@Coral) January 6, 2016

best comment "why does someone in Newcastle even own a lilo?" #DrummondPuddleWatch

— Felicity Morse (@FelicityMorse) January 6, 2016

BREAKING NEWS: There's a man on a lilo in the puddle #DrummondPuddleWatch pic.twitter.com/DQNVzWzniy

— Elliot Wagland (@elliotwagland) January 6, 2016

"I'll never let go, Jack" #DrummondPuddleWatch pic.twitter.com/1EssrXIfvQ

— Jonny Sharples (@JonnyGabriel) January 6, 2016

When someone successfully crosses the puddle. #DrummondPuddleWatch pic.twitter.com/etI3g3drYB

— Comedy Central UK (@ComedyCentralUK) January 6, 2016

Don't mind us, just doing a spot of surfing :) #DrummondPuddleWatch pic.twitter.com/8yV2CXLoO2

— Orange Bus (@orangebus) January 6, 2016

Seems like an appropriate read about now… https://t.co/rIHGnnIa2u #DrummondPuddleWatch pic.twitter.com/2TFcMyRJor

— Waterstones (@Waterstones) January 6, 2016

Sorry guys but we're gonna be taking a break from releasing music while we watch a live stream of a puddle. #DrummondPuddleWatch

— Parlophone Records (@parlophone) January 6, 2016

I give it an hour before someone dressed as a raccoon is hurling bucketloads of candyfloss into that puddle. #DrummondPuddleWatch

— Ed Brody (@chiefbrody1984) January 6, 2016