
Vexillology is the study of the history and symbolism of flags, or just an interest in flags in general - so, if you're a Vexillologist I recommend you look away now.
Award winning comedian Ken Cheng has recently taken on the rather mammoth task of disrespecting every flag, from every country, one by one.
He's doing it on Twitter and it's going down very well indeed.
This is amazing. The only Flag thread you'll ever need. https://t.co/CDGDuH6cb2— Dara Ó Briain (@Dara Ó Briain) 1506420139
This thread is giving me life. https://t.co/UD6vHfOZka— s. e. smith (@s. e. smith) 1506405414
Speaking to indy100, Ken explained that he began lightly roasting the world's flags following the controversy surrounding NFL players taking a knee during the American national anthem, as a sign of peaceful protest against police brutality.
People are getting worked up at the idea of disrespecting a flag but I thought it would be fun to do all of them, in the true spirit of equality. I don’t actually hate them, in fact not caring about them either way is why I’m happy to disrespect them

People's responses to the thread have been amusing, but Ken thinks he has "accidentally tapped into some inherent interest in flags". "Some people are finding it educational. Some people are enjoying the nature of indiscriminate disrespect," he explained.
The entire process is pretty ad hoc, and Ken is of course dishing out praise where praise is due:
I’m doing them on the fly. I started without knowing how ambitious this task would actually be. I got 15 in and I actually realised I needed more to sustain it, which is why I started complimenting a few to mix it up, why I talked about the audition I was going to sack off to complete it, and why I ended up hiring conspiracy theorist Humbert Wendell to run the account.
The thread has been retweeted over seven thousand times, at time of writing, and the individual flags themselves are getting plenty of shares from people who concur with Ken's observations.
Ha ha @AJemaineClement owned https://t.co/3P72yos1dH— Arthur Chu (@Arthur Chu) 1506408292
I'VE NEVER NOTICED THIS I'M REALLY UPSET https://t.co/1cyNPLzaHV— fus ro dad (@fus ro dad) 1506408394
I think what people like about this thread is it was totally unexpected but also makes a lot of sense given the news recently. I hope my next thing won’t be trying to capitalise on this idea as that’s what people expect. My dream to once again have that surprise factor.
Of course I asked Ken to design his own flag after his extensive research - he replied:
It's easier to criticise than to create.
Naturally, we're listing every single flag here for you - we've had 69 out of 195 so far - and we kick off with the good ole US of A,
Thread where I disrespect every flag of every country one by one The US flag: god it's shite [1/195] https://t.co/au3hQaHBUg— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506336553
Then the United Kingdom, you'll never be able to unsee the diagonal lines.
United Kingdom: What is this why are the red diagonals not even aligned [2/195] https://t.co/UtntaF6fFw— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506336871
wtf you didn't even try, just 3 colours what are you an ice cream [3/195] https://t.co/2y4dAw2L85— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506336966
ok what is this, this is just the last one but turned around, we've all heard of the "rotate left" function in pain… https://t.co/wvEmpAKSmv— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506337119
ok italy this is just france but you know what the "fill" button is [5/195] https://t.co/7Rcy3rtF06— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506337599
Germany: an assault on the eyes, colours don't work, 1 star [6/195] https://t.co/oKUZARVgjU— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506338172
Chad, you are a mouldy France, plus we all know a douchebag called Chad [7/195] https://t.co/1atyIBT4rz— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506338275
Mongolia: i find your lack of symmetry disturbing, the blue is not my preferred shade and wtf is that yellow entert… https://t.co/vEJiLqXcDi— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506338461
Sweden: blue and yellow = the colours of sadness and cowardice [9/195] https://t.co/HMMBZDpUCU— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506338721
Ukraine: see Sweden [10/195] https://t.co/SNj2pyUAkx— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506338797
(I'll make sure to label every country so it doubles as an educational tool to learn all the flags) go suck a dick… https://t.co/wRXcHZZcpR— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506339050
a shield ain't gonna protect you from what I'm going to say Slovakia you're ugly [12/195] https://t.co/6t3vAWmnP3— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506339224
goes for you too Slovenia oh boy your shield is tiny compared to Slovakia you got so pwned [13/195] https://t.co/gD3XDTBINQ— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506339355
Latvia: unoriginal, uninspiring, 3/10 [14/195] https://t.co/xkrpRxcYFk— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506339479
actually have to admit Swaziland flag is cool, NFL players would struggle to take a knee, esp as it looks like an a… https://t.co/trTtWcKRhk— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506339842
ok Sri Lanka is p badass, it's a lion with a SWORD, a lion is already a powerful animal in the wild and they gave i… https://t.co/IRbIqxNtzC— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506340144
I'm a big fan of Kiribati really impressed with how were able to capture the bird at that exact moment [18/195] https://t.co/9rb40s8O37— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506340477
you know what I came in with a negative attitude but I'm discovering loads of flags I've never seen before. Malawi… https://t.co/CH6nvdhNav— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506340561
fuckin hell Mozambique has an actual rifle in it, but also a book? I admire their balanced view on life, maybe we d… https://t.co/KfGhF6J0su— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506340790
Ecuador has astonishing detail. Eagle, mountain, boat, river. If you magnify 1,000x there is actually another flag… https://t.co/DbueewQ2mF— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506341086
Cambodia have put in a whole palace but also a yet to be painted one. Mixed feelings, some good bits, 3 stars [22/… https://t.co/xMNWy7l3NB— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506341289
I just realised I have to go do an audition and haven't learnt the lines so finish this when I get back PS Belgium… https://t.co/wlCOnK4X1d— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506341476
also ppl have been saying I've gone soft but I am a reasonable man, I will give credit where credit is due like gr… https://t.co/ngrGrHwI4j— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506342111
wtf Ivory Coast you are just backwards Ireland and I dread to think what that looks like [25/195] https://t.co/N3ubx11QaP— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506342439
Guys I have an audition in an hour, should I sack it off, all I want to do is do the last 170 countries? ps Botswa… https://t.co/GaDVIqssIe— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506344140
so far 24 have voted and 75% think I should skip my audition, my agent will be FURIOUS Congo one diagonal isn't co… https://t.co/8iMJiTYIrY— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506344630
I should go but I cant reject the will of the people Colombia, you're top heavy, we've all tried to divide by hand… https://t.co/su0v8D9AoA— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506344759
I don't care about my career anymore Bahamas it look likes the start of a solar eclipse by a triangular moon [29/… https://t.co/CcfK07SJOB— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506344924
I only care about #FlagDisrespect2017 Costa Rica it looks like you've zoomed in on the diagonal of the UK flag [3… https://t.co/k8AvuwcA0x— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506345045
I did the audition in the end, I only had one line and my instincts kicked in and I went "Austria, your flag sucks"… https://t.co/IeIUYJl3b5— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506352522
Then I flipped them all the bird on my way out Antigua and Barbuda looks like a woman looking at the sunset throug… https://t.co/xRPr9AY39U— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506352558
In my mind all the casting agents were replaced by the Gabon flag and I respected them so little due to their lack… https://t.co/O6rMjqHcl9— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506352880
I actually hated being away from this, my real passion, for even an hour Cameroon that star ain't fooling nobody,… https://t.co/VinAn0C2vU— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506353647
But I have more commitments so I need extra help Central African Republic that red bow cutting through the middle… https://t.co/isV2SCHiqL— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506353807
So I'm looking to hire an intern to take over while I'm busy please send me your CV and relevant skills Estonia i'… https://t.co/DNyX0oFhcd— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506353972
This project is bigger than me. I have a wife and kids to feed. Djibouti gone nuts on the "shapes" function in Wor… https://t.co/YA6SRpFK01— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506354410
Requirements for intern job: -a pass in geography GCSE -can mock flags without being racist -DBS check Benin? Ben… https://t.co/hu1FZBkWAV— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506354752
a reminder that the internship is UNPAID someone only learned the primary colours, Armenia [39/195] https://t.co/Fv07p35157— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506355853
Also looking for someone to track which flags I've already done China's subliminal message to give it 5 stars earn… https://t.co/oyhIH9Z58v— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506356198
Democratic Republic of Congo nice unsubtle attempt to upstage Republic of Congo, really petty if anything [41/195] https://t.co/xjmo16NIuo— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506357387
ok hired my intern his name is Humbert Wendell and he nailed the interview with this "Luxembourg...just be yourse… https://t.co/fXfh0Xjnlt— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506357915
fuckin awkward when Peru and Austria turn up at the same party, one of them needs to change [43/195] https://t.co/IfUM8F6MMh— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506358481
Don't even get me started on all the flags with the Union Jack in the corner, like some serious daddy issues there… https://t.co/MhTZqu4rw6— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506359150
And no it doesn't make up for it if you get a 5 year old to do a drawing of a lion Fiji [46/195] https://t.co/vwoOIXytK7— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506359302
Tuvalu seriously forget who your daddy is, be your own country I bet your favourite film is "Flags of our Fathers… https://t.co/jZJec8qK7h— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506359395
hey guys it's Humbert Wendell taking over, Ken took a break to play Mario Kart Georgia, you're obsessed with St Ge… https://t.co/1rmzINnEpl— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506363939
Norway more like no way I respect this flag ha ha -Humbert [49/195] https://t.co/0f1sCSSyPY— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506363994
Oman more like Oh man this sucks, why is there a symbol in the corner which looks like some S&M gear -Humbert [50… https://t.co/DinY7j1lS3— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506364332
Ken said I shouldn't do so many bad puns, but he will Nauru (now rue) the day he tells Humbert what to do PS whats… https://t.co/h9HnJMEWrk— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506364493
These zigzags suck ass but almost as much as the fact I'm not being paid for this internship -Humbert [52/195] https://t.co/Iv7gycCEEr— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506364618
Ken also said I wasn't allowed to bring my politics into it but fuck it the Monaco flag is secretly a listening dev… https://t.co/lPX5h7K32W— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506364914
In fact govts coat all flags in pheromones to ensure loyalty/nationalism why else would people like this BS Guyana… https://t.co/nShCD39jfn— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506365004
pls buy my book Humbert Wendell's Theories of Why Flags Are Bad, it has a chapter on how Japan's flag makes ppl bec… https://t.co/LNGeeYXcmI— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506365308
Saint Lucia's flag was trying to inspire its people to build The Great Pyramids of St Lucia but it failed and was c… https://t.co/iowCaTz9AE— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506365674
Cape Verde's flag is a red line through what looks like an old EU flag, that's why so many Cape Verdeans voted Leav… https://t.co/kczuUsyiTc— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506366066
Humbert Wendell will no longer be tweeting from this account due to creative disagreements. Laos this is crap [58… https://t.co/4IqWkp59Hf— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506366332
Due to recent events I've had to set up my own Kickstarter to get this project finished also Morocco pull your fi… https://t.co/yrIoq34tMB— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506368062
now waiting on Kickstarter approval, started getting some abuse this guy is worse than the Federated States of Mi… https://t.co/vuKkeSr7te— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506369720
I can't finish this today, so I will be back tomorrow for more. Cyprus looks like a coffee stain that looks like… https://t.co/VtSaOHNQwM— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506372724
Good morning everyone! Saudi Arabia looks like one of those cryptic brain teasers for "the pen is mightier than th… https://t.co/FlJEJdAPVg— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506413400
without Humbert this is getting too much I've had to make TWO excel spreadsheets to keep track Czech Republic, emb… https://t.co/qpO7N2wWWG— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506414656
I only wish Somalia would put in this much effort, this is 4x lazier than Micronesia wow [65/165] https://t.co/Pku932sz31— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506414786
even got outshone by Honduras which is still crap, a child could've done this [66/195] https://t.co/yUEHxjEPp8— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506415465
Sorry for the delay I realised I need to know how to end this so I've been looking up plot structure diagrams Hung… https://t.co/cEOBplsuTe— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506424163
I spent the last hour planning it all out - it's a big project Malta why is a horse crushing a weird turkey that's… https://t.co/EENv6ubxrf— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506424371
Kuwait you look like one of those optical illusions that demonstrate changing 3d perspectives. You could be a metal… https://t.co/4wKGNxRe6K— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1506432587
Make sure you return for the remaining the remaining 126 flag based observations.