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Has anyone ever told you that you have a dark sense of humor? Well, you might need to thank them for this compliment because, inadvertently, they have just called you smart.
The reason for this conclusion is the fact that researchers have looked into the intelligence patterns of people who like dark humor. Scientists found that they have higher IQs than those who aren’t big fans of the morbidly hilarious.
If you don’t know whether dark humor is for you, the list below can be a good indicator of that. It contains a whole bunch of unsettling images that are both a little weird and a little hilarious. Shared online by the Instagram page Disturbing Zone, it is the epitome of chaotic meme energy. Scroll down to see some of our favorites.
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In all honesty, this list might not be the best example of dark humor. You see, to analyze dark humor, scientists had to determine what it is.
Their definition? “Humor that treats sinister subjects like death, disease, deformity, handicap, or warfare with bitter amusement and presents such tragic, distressing or morbid topics in humorous terms.”
So, yeah, Shrek memes might not be the best example of that. However, once you look at how those researchers determined the correlation there, the connection to these memes might seem a little more obvious.
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Firstly, it is important to note that scientists were presenting images to the participants, not solely written jokes. They were humorous comics with dark undertones by Uli Stein. So, in a basic sense, it is similar to memes.
Then comes the main argument. The researchers claim that the reason people with higher IQs like dark humor is the fact that it is harder to understand what is funny about them. Discerning them is a tough thing to do, so much so that they call it “a complex information-processing task.” There are layers there that take more mental work than an ordinary gag.
If that didn’t sound like a very apt description of a meme for you, then let me break it to you: memes are layered jokes that often require context and additional knowledge to fully grasp them. In other words, you need to be in the know and do a little bit of mental processing to laugh. In that sense, they are very similar to the dark humor examples used in the study.
The difference between the two is that dark humor requires you to do some additional emotional labor. As in, for you to find a dark joke funny, you have to emotionally distance yourself from the joke to see it as amusing and not threatening.
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When it comes to memes, the emotional connection is usually attached to the gag. For example, it’s not uncommon for the images to evoke nostalgic feelings. Still, a lot of the memes also get into disturbing/disgusting territory, so removing yourself from the initial feeling of repulsion to see the hilarity of it might also be necessary.
All in all, if you found this collection of memes funny, you might just be a brilliant genius. Or you might just be aware of the social context that makes these specific memes funny. Either way, we hope you had a chuckle!
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Ty Stratton-Quirk 2 years ago
"We've been trying to reach you about your car's extended warranty..."
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Marcellus II 2 years ago
One doesn't simply walk to the frozen food aisle.
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Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 2 years ago
Looks like slices of baked stuff like cake. Maybe he's having an unexpected party. .... 😆
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Ty Stratton-Quirk 2 years ago
"Sir, I understand that you lost your ring, and you're upset about it. But 𝘱𝘶𝘵. 𝘋𝘰𝘸𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘦."
Anna Bananna 2 years ago
Sauron had to resort to couponing when he lost his job as evil ruler.
SheamusFanFrom1987 2 years ago
Dang, what a fine time to run out of taters, just as Frodo and Sam are reaching Mordor! Can't make them stay without the potatoes... Help! Where's the produce isle???!!! XP
Sue Denham 2 years ago
Oh, why didn't I make a list? What was that thing I needed? Ah, got it! Can opener!
Andy Frobig 2 years ago
Imagine you're just a Balrog running errands, and you run into the boss. Awkward
Zoe Stanley 2 years ago
Yeah, there's a good chance, but it's still funny to think about
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TheAmericanAmerican 2 years ago
As an atheist, I have to give the Mormons this one. Well played! 🤣
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Heiko Braun 2 years ago
Both going downstairs. And it's the same guy. Nice Photoshop (or GIMP)!
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Karma Black 2 years ago
After the geostigma crisis was resolved, Cloud Strife fell on hard times...
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TotallyNOTaFox 2 years ago (edited)
♫ Cut this cake into pieces, get out your fork! Chocolate cream calories, don't give a f**k while I'm eating my piece. Would it be wrong would it be right, chances are I won't be light, sugar rush's a might, with a glass of milk on the side ♫
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LittleWombat 2 years ago
Greg and Marty are pretty confused in the comments!! Michael Cera is doing MORE than ok for himself!!!
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Menacing Duck 2 years ago
Boy do I love Obama Harry Potter, the red, blue, and yellow hedgehog
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Pieter LeGrande 2 years ago
Anonymous food. Pixelated to protect the identity of the innocent.
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What do you think ?
Tiff Day 2 years ago
Why do bored panda insist on click baiting with changing titles. 2 of these are cursed. We were going to click because we are bored. You dont need to lie
RandomEpiBioPerson 2 years ago
I didn't make it through the entire list because of loading issues, but I managed to get to about 4 maybe cursed with around 50 of them viewed, but cursed is definitely subjective. However, despite the level of subjectivity to this list, most of the ones I saw would actually be considered blessed, according to other stuff I've seen regarding blessed and cursed, and I definitely agree about them not being too lie because we are bored. XD
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Jason Romine 2 years ago
How are any of these "cursed" and what was all the BS about "dark sense of humor" at the beginning. These pictures aren't dark or cursed.
David A Paterson 2 years ago
The ones that are really "dark sense of humour" all got downvoted. That's the Bored Panda readership for you.
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Dorothy Cloud 2 years ago
I quit after 3 photos. This whole thing was misleading and stupid. Shame on you people.
Tiff Day 2 years ago
Why do bored panda insist on click baiting with changing titles. 2 of these are cursed. We were going to click because we are bored. You dont need to lie
RandomEpiBioPerson 2 years ago
I didn't make it through the entire list because of loading issues, but I managed to get to about 4 maybe cursed with around 50 of them viewed, but cursed is definitely subjective. However, despite the level of subjectivity to this list, most of the ones I saw would actually be considered blessed, according to other stuff I've seen regarding blessed and cursed, and I definitely agree about them not being too lie because we are bored. XD
Load More Replies... Jason Romine 2 years ago
How are any of these "cursed" and what was all the BS about "dark sense of humor" at the beginning. These pictures aren't dark or cursed.
David A Paterson 2 years ago
The ones that are really "dark sense of humour" all got downvoted. That's the Bored Panda readership for you.
Load More Replies... Dorothy Cloud 2 years ago
I quit after 3 photos. This whole thing was misleading and stupid. Shame on you people.
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