ADVERTISEMENT

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.

#1

Disturbing-Zone-Pics

disturbingzone Report

Add photo comments
POST
carag avatar
Cara G
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I see nothing unsettling about this. They look quite nicely settled actually.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

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. 

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.

ADVERTISEMENT
#6

Disturbing-Zone-Pics

disturbingzone Report

Add photo comments
POST
diana-zapata246 avatar
CoMa4
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If your man don’t love you like this, he ain’t the one ☝️🤣

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

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.

#7

Disturbing-Zone-Pics

disturbingzone Report

Add photo comments
POST
san00kam1 avatar
San
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dammmm you Mcdonalds........ why do you take so muck time. You r a fast FAST food joint. You made the guy skip death. Wtf

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Disturbing-Zone-Pics

disturbingzone Report

Add photo comments
POST
san00kam1 avatar
San
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Breaking news lobster who escape death by boiling shares the details of the gruesome event.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
#27

Disturbing-Zone-Pics

disturbingzone Report

Add photo comments
POST
san00kam1 avatar
San
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is what inspired romeo and Juliet. It was cats all along

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#32

Disturbing-Zone-Pics

disturbingzone Report

Add photo comments
POST
virgilblue avatar
Virgil Blue
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Let me ring you up sir. No sir I wasn't trying to be funny."

tystrattonquirk avatar
Ty Stratton-Quirk
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Sir, I understand that you lost your ring, and you're upset about it. But 𝘱𝘶𝘵. 𝘋𝘰𝘸𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘦."

cassidymoore avatar
Cassidy Moore
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"My mom told me not to talk to strangers, but you look trustworthy"

rogierklop avatar
Roger9er
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One (onion) Ring to slice it off, One (onion)Ring to fry it, One (onion)Ring to taste them all, and in the darkness buy them.

mycroft1967 avatar
Mycroft1967
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I guess that answers whether the undead have to eat. or not.

purplecat avatar
Purple Cat
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Two of the guys in the background have almost the same outfit

danretson avatar
Danny Boy
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That armor ain't gonna fit very long with his grocery list...

anna-thomsen-9 avatar
Anna Bananna
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sauron had to resort to couponing when he lost his job as evil ruler.

shaunlee avatar
SheamusFanFrom1987
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

isaacharvey81 avatar
Isaac Harvey
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You have to eat breakfast before you can defend your master.

dickfint avatar
Dick Fint
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I very badly need to do this! Being a disabled veteran with some minor problems that make some noise & look out of place on occasion, this would solve my problem! Except with the police:(

editor_16 avatar
Sue Denham
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, why didn't I make a list? What was that thing I needed? Ah, got it! Can opener!

rachelwaite avatar
PenguinQueen
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I desperately want to know what's in his shopping trolley 🛒 cart

andyfrobig avatar
Andy Frobig
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine you're just a Balrog running errands, and you run into the boss. Awkward

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#34

Disturbing-Zone-Pics

disturbingzone Report

Add photo comments
POST
san00kam1 avatar
San
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Us humans have corrupted the Navi race. The pore guy is poisoning his lungs. Sad . We human need to be better role models

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#40

Disturbing-Zone-Pics

disturbingzone Report

Add photo comments
POST
san00kam1 avatar
San
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The cat was hit by lighting . It gave him super speed .now he uses his power to fight crime and save.... oh wait he is using his speed to steel food from humans.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#50

Disturbing-Zone-Pics

disturbingzone Report

Note: this post originally had 142 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.