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“Modern problems require modern solutions.” Those are the words of American stand-up comedian Dave Chappelle. Though he said the phrase in a skit during an episode of Chappelle’s Show, jokingly advocating for the use of fake Canadian ID cards for free healthcare, people are using this format to post about real-life problems that need creative solutions. Some of these jokes are hilariously on-point while others tell us all about the sad state of society.

There are a lot of problems in the 21st century. From life on the streets being worse than life in prison to the invasion of privacy via facial recognition technology, and much, much more. Bored Panda has collected some of the saddest and funniest 'modern problem' posts that make you think, so scroll down, have a look, and let us know what modern problems you personally think are the biggest, dear Pandas. Remember to upvote the stories that left the biggest impact on you and read on for Bored Panda's interview with redditor Imthatguy25 who is very proud that they created the joke format in the first place.

#2

Modern Problems Require Modern Solutions

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jonata_1 avatar
Jonata
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

idiots who think women are less, and other idiots that defend it as "culture"

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Ami Temi
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, girl power! Can't wait for the regime to change, all the Iranians I know, never wanted it. They've completely had it with suffering for decades....

jiriw12253 avatar
jiriw
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Agreed. but the Americans are also wanting a regime change in their own country ?

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George-Florin Constantin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now, isn't it a shame to cover up such an intelligent and beautiful person? There is a gorgeous face in front of that super-brain!

oshasherif3414 avatar
Aisha Boudy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No it isn't a shame. Its ok if a girl wears a hijab, she's not harming anyone and it's her own choice. What is a shame is banning someone from playing in a team for wearing hijab.

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Blue of the yams (They/He)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a trans muslim person, I can say there is nothing wring with wearing a hijab in and of itself. But no one should ever be forced to wear one. It is a choice to wear one or not.

mialukie avatar
Mia
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do what you believe in! good for you and good luck !!

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Stannous Flouride
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When Germany expelled Jewish scientists Albert Einstein, Hans Bethe, John von Neumann, Leo Szilard, James Franck, Edward Teller, Rudolf Peierls, Klaus Fuchs, & Enrico Fermi ( he wasn't but his wife Laura was Jewish) they went to the UK and US and built the first atomic bombs.

david_harris21 avatar
Dave Harris
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And she looks very beautiful and highly intelligent!! Their loss is America's gain!

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Avery Day
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

here in Europe some brainwashed people insist on their "right" to wear the hijab. they are always stunned when I said, "if hijab (head-covering) is such a good thing, why don't males wear them too?"

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Jaybird3939
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The US has many serious issues to resolve, but in some ways, we're still ahead of other countries.

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Catlady6000
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Updated for asking reasonable question. As K.Kobayashi says, though, look it up

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Marc Lauzon
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is weird how it is said, as if she's a freedom fighter. I mean if she was wearing a hijab in her daily life in Iran, wearing it in chess competition wouldn't be anything special. So I'm guessing then she doesn't live in Iran anymore (likely live in US) and wished to join Iran chess team, but they impose hijab, so she said f**k that. This is much less impressive. Unlike the North Korean math competition participant that used that opportunity to flee the country. I'm against country-imposed repressive dress code, but I don't give a s**t if women want to wear muslimwear in countries that does not enforce it.

leoh avatar
Leo H
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And yet that is the religion that supports womens rites

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Jim Ellington
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Um, she ain't half bad-looking. Not that intelligence itself is not a beautiful trait, of course.

babycatg2002 avatar
Cat
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm showing this picture to whoever tries to convince me that "wearing hijab is a personal choice" lol

benicia_99 avatar
Azure Adams
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thats why the US loves her and she loves the US and Iran sucks

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Brendan
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Look at her - she's stunning! Why would you want to cover her (or any woman) up? I don't care if it's part of a religion. It's supressive and sexist.

kobayashi-ken avatar
K.Kobayashi
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many wear them because they don't want to be judged by their looks. Like you just did.

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Redditor Imthatguy25 told us all about what inspired them to create the 'modern problems' meme. "I've watched Chappelle's Show since I was a kid so the 'modern problems’ quote has always been something I'd regularly quote to myself or to some others. I basically treated it like it was a motto,” they said.

“But even then, I honestly didn't expect the format to pick up much traction. Until I saw a bunch of other redditors hit the homepage from using the format and making their own.”

Imthatguy25 has some ideas about why the ‘modern problems’ joke format gained so much popularity so quickly. “Other than the obvious ‘Dave Chappelle is a comedic genius and everything he says is meme gold,’ redditors can be pretty clever when they see a meme that they believe has potential,” they explained.

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#6

Modern Problems Require Modern Solutions

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martti avatar
ML
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why 420? is this something special? I'd think 404 would be more stoleable

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“The meme alone was a pretty cut and dry, simple to understand. But like I've said, redditors have their own vernacular way with memes. I've seen this dude rage war with Instagram using my format and managed 100k upvotes out of it. I honestly owe it to Reddit and Instagram for making the meme so shareable,” the redditor shared.

According to Imthatguy25, they don’t have any problem with others using the ‘modern problems’ format for social or political commentary, however—they have to be funny.

“I'd at least like to see it with a bit of wit behind it,” they said. “Really, as long as it's funny I could stand behind it.”

#7

Modern-Problems-Require-Modern-Solutions-Jokes

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Vic
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is an innovative solution.. must be applied to TP as well..

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#8

Modern-Problems-Require-Modern-Solutions-Jokes

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Izzy_
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hahaha I've actually had to do that. I was over 1lb on my checked luggage (yep, 1 measly pound) and I had no room in my carry-on. All I had was a small backpack. So I wore 5 shirts and two sweaters. Luckily I didn't look too puffed up haha Once I passed TSA, I asked for a shopping bag at a store and carried my clothes in there since I was allowed one more item as carry-on XD

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The ‘modern problems’ meme first popped up in December 2018. Redditor Imthatguy25 posted some dark humor and attached Chappelle’s photo with the catchphrase alongside it. The meme spread.

Since then, other people have been changing the purpose of the meme to suit their needs. While some are going for pure comedy, others are taking things a bit more seriously, using the format for social commentary and to show how dystopian some parts of our society have become.

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In both cases, the meme tends to talk about current topics. So when it first showed up, you could see a lot of talks about Thanos, Fortnite, and Article 13. How things have changed since then!

You can watch the original ‘modern problems’ video clip starring Chappelle right here. The skit was shown in the first episode of the second season of Chappelle’s Show which first aired on January 21, 2004.

The critically acclaimed comedy TV series premiered on January 22, 2003, and ran for 28 episodes until July 23, 2006. Chappelle’s Show found success not just in the United States but elsewhere, too, including in Germany, Brazil, Canada, Australia, and the UK.

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According to the United Nations Foundation’s post in January, some of the main issues to look out for in 2020 included the acceleration of climate change, the continued presence of inequality and exclusion, as well as the humanitarian crises in Syria, Yemen, Venezuela, and elsewhere.

What we got this year was pretty much on-point with the UN’s prediction. The bushfires that ravaged Australia were linked to climate change. The Covid-19 pandemic and rising unemployment showed the stark differences between the haves and the have-nots. While the humanitarian problems abroad haven’t gone away. So, yes, modern problems do require modern solutions. Permanent ones—not just temporary band-aids.

#17

Modern-Problems-Require-Modern-Solutions-Jokes

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#18

Modern Problems Require Modern Solutions

TheToastyNuts Report

#19

Modern-Problems-Require-Modern-Solutions-Jokes

Hinazumi Report

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ambroise-lescop-2 avatar
Shelp
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But that's a fellony. Plus, it does not only harm the teacher, but his whole family aswell.

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#21

Modern-Problems-Require-Modern-Solutions-Jokes

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Angela
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What? Get a job you say Vanky?? Wow, none of us would ever have thought of that!

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