Instagram is supposed to be about taking and sharing nice photos, though for most, it's really about racking up likes. For one New Yorker, it's about leaving silly comments.

Comedy writer John Purcell has been writing delightfully random comments on an assortment of random people's Instagram photos over the past few years, which he then shares on a Tumblr called Hello Stranger.

SEE ALSO:How to stop your friend from incessantly taking food InstagramsCredit: DENAEFINLEY/INSTAGRAM AND john purcell/HELLO STRANGERCredit: passionforbaking/instagram and john purcell/hello stranger

"I randomly started leaving comments on strangers' photos about three years ago," John Purcell, 32, wrote in an email to Mashable.

"It was just a fun thing to do when I was bored and sometimes I would text screenshots of my comments to my girlfriend or friends," Purcell said. "They seemed to think they were funny so I decided to make a blog and post them all there."

Credit: eliassilverio/instagram and john purcell/hello strangerCredit: FARFAMED/INSTAGRAM AND JOHN PURCELL/HELLO STRANGER

Purcell used to find trending photos to comment on via Instagram's popular page, which is now defunct. So, Purcell has to search for photos a bit harder, "which makes it less fun."

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Now, he usually scrolls around and leaves a comment on "whatever seems funny to me in the moment," he told Mashable.

Credit: bmw/instagram and john purcell/hello strangerCredit: jufcarreira/instagram and john purcell/hello stranger

Purcell, a comedy writer in New York, has simple, goodhearted intentions with his little project.

"It's just a fun, silly thing to do. I never post mean or abusive comments on anyone's photos," he told Mashable. "The point isn't to make fun of anyone. Just to post a comment that makes absolutely no sense in relation to the photo."

Credit: NELNATE/INSTAGRAM AND JOHN PURCELL/HELLO STRANGERCredit: krishtofer/instagram and john purcell/hello stranger

Purcell usually posts his comments on photos that have hundreds of comments, so his funny remarks often go unnoticed.

"I'd say every one in fifteen will respond and it's almost always 'lol wtf,'" he said. "Once, a random person found my Instagram page (which is now private) and left a weird comment on one of my photos. That was funny."

Credit: charlestrippy/instagram and john purcell/hello strangerCredit: candantas/instagram and john purcell/hello stranger

Lesson learned – always read the comments.

BONUS: Thanks, Netflix.

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