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Our sense of humor is a unique product of our environment. We learn what’s funny and what’s not as we grow and experience life. 

Interestingly enough, it seems that a sense of humor is also an ever-evolving part of us. As our opinions about the world change, so does our perception of what’s funny. Maybe that is why the world wide web has so many suggestions on how to develop your sense of humor for those struggling to find laughter in everyday life.

The list below is only for those who have done all the learning and have already developed a very refined taste for the best of the best: absurd humor. Scroll down to see the memes collected from the Pics That Go Hard X Page.

Absurdist humor is not a new phenomenon. It most likely has been around for centuries, but was more or less defined once the surrealist movement became prominent after World War I. It has been growing in popularity ever since and, with the help of the internet, has recently gone completely mainstream.

The reason for that is because internet humor easily lends itself to the absurd. On one hand, it has to be quick and understood with no context whatsoever. It’s a picture, a tweet, a short video—something that is presented to you out of the blue and has very little narrative.

On the other hand, the internet and memes are all about context. You won’t necessarily find it all in the pictures or videos themselves, but it’s there. Jokes often build upon themselves online and knowing them is important to be able to stay in the loop.

This is why so many find it hard to understand Gen Z humor. They took the absurd that was so beloved by millennials for years and took it to the next level. To the point that it is often referred to as anti-humor. The jokes often have no actual punchline, which serves as the punchline of the joke. It’s as absurd as absurd can get.

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The reason for why this type of humor is so prominent in this generation seems to be the fact that Gen Z is very aware of the state of the world and the anxiety that comes with it. Their generation has been exposed to a lot of negativity early on and that doesn’t do much good to a person’s psyche.

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While people in the '70s, '80s, and (partially) '90s grew up believing in a brighter future, Gen Z was bombarded with messages of hopelessness and dystopian realities. With climate change, political unrest, and overall doom and gloom presented to them every day, it’s no surprise they started seeing life and hope as absurd.

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Mark
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5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

*Bullet flies and punches through the Matrix, impacting the green men*

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This is also where humor comes in. It is an effective coping mechanism that can help manage stress. So, when you hear that the world is falling apart, the instinctive reaction is to make a joke about it. It’s not like you have any power to do anything else.

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Realistic Optimist
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5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cigarettes are awful, but these bad-a** lookong cuties are making me want to smoke more, not less.

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This hopelessness is where the absurd came from, where it saw its rise. World War I had shaken up society, showing the atrocities that humans are capable of. The only way that artists could deal with it was through jumping into the surreal and absurd. Seems like memes are just an extension of that desperation.

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Hawkmoon
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5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wouldn't it be more like commercials interrupted by a football game interrupting a Rihana concert?

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SCP 4666
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5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And here we see an ancient communication device known as 'phone booth'

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In other words, don’t mistake this list for a simple jokey collection of weird images. While it might come off as just a bunch of oddities, it is, in fact, an artful depiction of today’s society. And that in itself is quite absurd, too.

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weatherwitch
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5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My girls used to go mental to get roast chicken!! They loved the smell and would do everything to try steal it. Poor sods, they didn't know. When we gave scraps to the cats we had to shut the chickens out of the cottage or they'd shove the cats flying 😮😂 Super fast pecks too, they'd steal food at lightning speed out of the mouth of one of my slower eating cats 😮😂 He'd be all confused as he didn't know what happened to the food he was chewing 😂😂😂

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Melissa Robinson
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5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's an American so it's been around for over a hundred years, it's kind of got a fruity spicy flavor. It's very good. Back in the fifties it used to be served warm during the holidays which was kind of weird

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Jamie Murdock
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5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Staged. 1.Can't control the end of a heavy item to write those letters that precisely. 2. Scratching the clear coat won't be this bright or even it's how the light reflects off the scratches, but this has added white material, such as chalk.

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Robert T
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5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It was at this moment that little Annie discovered she was being put up for adoption.

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Justin Rogers
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5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I couldn't get mad, I would rock it till the wheels fall off and relish the day they get their first whip! DADDY LOVES HIS LITTLE ANGEL

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Id row
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Oh, isn't she cute! Lemme take a picture." Christ, my head would have been on a pike the second that was discovered when I was a kid.

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WonderWoman
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5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Right....take a picture of the kid after they do something so incredibly stupid.

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Marley Nachi
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, but someone is taking the photo. So another adult might have told the girl to do it

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Anon822209
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Naah. More likely they caught her after the fact, asked how she did it, and then took the pic. She looks so proud of herself, too

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Christof Irran
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Thanks, honey. Remember how they taught you in sunday school that you should love your neighbor? Why don't you let him know that you do; the same way?"

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Bored something
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm going with a paint pen. Definitely not scratched into the paintwork

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detective miller's hat
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5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Using a key to gouge expletives on another's vehicle is a sign of trust and friendship.

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Jane Hower
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5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At age 4 I did something like that - dad got a 'new' used car and I polished it with sand so it would shine. hehe

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Kimmer Rock
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh man, I did this to my Dad's El Camino, but I only did my name about 1/2" tall. I got beat with a board. Luckily, a few years later my mom threw abusive Dad out after he threatened her with a knife, when I was 5. I never saw him again until I was 21 for a few hours, then never again after that!

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Maartje
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Could this be staged? The screwdriver is suspiciously new and shiny.

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anxiety embodiment
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i've seen this image billions of times with a different girl but same message, a different messages, or a whole different person, FOR GODS SAKE I SAW ONE WITH weezer

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Gracie Mae
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

kinda like a kid i know that was so happy to be helpful and washed his dad's truck...with a brillo pad. Same kid, as a young teen, changed his mother's brake pads (yay!), and made sure he cleaned them with wd40...thankfully he's learned a lot since then & is trusted with mechanic work w/o question!

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Lee J Ross
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is wonderfully adorable and hysterical. If any child loves her dad this much', her adoration should proudly stay.

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HelmGrass
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

how come a kid that age doesnt know that that s a bad idea

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Kat Lyle
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pretty sure there is an embellishment somewhere where Dad says, ok, let's do that for mommy too now...

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Linden
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5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my children did similar, with a rock, a big star shape on the driver door then lines down every side panel of the car. I heard my husband yelling "NOOOO" and thought someone was seriously hurt. They also hack-sawed the handbrake and posted money and credit cards into the steering column. (And more, but that's just the car stories). Small children are so destructive.

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Actively Lazy Cat
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did something just like this when I was little. My dad was sanding/staining our window sills and I wanted to know what he was doing. His response was that he was making them smooth and shiney. Cool. So later on I'm playing down in the garage and I see more of the sand paper he was using and I see his car. Now I get the bright idea to make his car nice and smooth and shiney..idk why I thought it was a good idea because cars are already smooth and shiney but my little idiot brain thought that it would be great! Clearly it was not. I left a huge mark from trunk to hood because I just ran down the side of the car with paper in hand..needless to say my dad was pissed, and I learned that sand paper only works on wood.

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Debbie Nicholson
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And your mom’s gonna beat the hell out of you!! She should be happy she’s not mine!!

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Kay Kelly
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When my younger son was about 3 1/2 , he wanted me to see the dinos he'd drawn. I assumed on the driveway with chalk. Nope, on the driver's side door with a metal marking flag. I still remember his expression when he realized he might have made a mistake. They were really nice looking dinos though. And I couldn't get upset with him. Just gave him other options for his creativity.

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Yoga Kitty
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Put a clear varnish over it to prevent rust and drive the car with pride!

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Nichole Harris
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Awww I mean.... She looks so happy and proud!!!! How can you be mad

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TheGoodBoi
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Welp, I guess at least this is an acceptable phrase lol

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PlatinumThe8-BitCat
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5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don’t think I ever learned how to play hot cross buns on the recorder, but I can play it on the oboe

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kazuha
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5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

AWWW 🥰 LOOK AT THOSE LITTLE BLACK SPOTS AND TINY EARS

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Note: this post originally had 44 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.