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As humans, we’re naturally curious, and we often want all of our questions answered. What happens after we die? How long will Earth be around? Do aliens exist? And why do we dream? As great as it is to investigate and learn new information, sometimes, it’s okay to not have all the answers. Especially when it comes to hilarious screenshots from the internet…

Allow us to introduce you to the Screenshots With or Without Context Facebook page. This account, which has amassed an impressive 247k followers since its launch in 2015, shares confusing and amusing images that might raise more questions than they answer. So sit back, let your brain relax, and enjoy this list of screenshots that might simultaneously perplex and entertain you. And then, if you’re interested in checking out another article from Bored Panda featuring bizarre images without any context, we recommend visiting this list next!

No-context images are pretty self-explanatory, but just based on the title, they don’t necessarily sound very intriguing. They’re taken out of context, so what’s the point? Well, apparently, these unassuming images have taken the internet by storm and have become somewhat of a sensation in recent years. Kathryn VanArendonk, a Vulture critic who covers TV and comedy, even wrote a piece about “The Rise of the No-Context Screenshot” a few years ago to try to get to the bottom of this phenomenon.

Kathryn writes primarily about screenshots taken from a film, TV series or video, with subtitles of the text being spoken, that have become extremely popular memes and responses to conversations online. She explains that the concept of using a quote or a GIF from a show is nothing new, but these no-context screenshots are no longer only enjoyed by fans of the shows they reference. “Now, the no-context screenshot has become a deliberate act of yanking a particular moment out from its original framework,” Kathryn writes.

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Kathryn went on to note that there are now countless pages on social media dedicated to sharing solely no-context screenshots from various films and TV shows. There are Twitter accounts dedicated to no-context The Great British Bake-Off, The Good Place, Schitt’s Creek, Nathan For You, Frasier, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, New Girl, and even The New York Times. They all share perfectly meme-able screenshots from these beloved sources, and the images can be twisted into any context imaginable.

But Kathryn explains that the sharing of these images may be about more than simply the photos themselves. “Although some are just pure silliness set loose in the world, bouncing around the internet all on their own, the greatest no-context screenshots can feel like using a quote for your AIM status message,” she writes. “It works on its own, but it’s also meant to reflect the person who shared it (how clever they are for selecting it, and how it reflects on them) and speak to the people who receive it (how they understand the person who’s shared it, and how resonant it is to them). Removing something from its context, after all, is really just a way to create a vacuum where more contexts can flood in.”             

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And while the no-context screenshots shared on Screenshots With or Without Context on Facebook are mostly from social media or texting conversations, they can be used in the same way that many of the popular no-context screenshots from films and shows are used: to provide unexpected commentary. The images need no explanation to be entertaining, but they can be placed in new contexts to bring them to life. “The no-context screenshot is a found object in a huge pop-cultural sea, a testament to the collector’s taste and the audience’s savvy in appreciating it,” Kathryn writes for Vulture. “Perhaps it makes sense that the no-context screenshot would become such a cultural touchstone. It’s a way to point to the pain without having to say it.”

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Edgar Rops
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When Catherine the Great had back problems, she would call an executioner to fix them. So yes, you are most likely right.

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Shephali Bhatt also wrote a piece for Mint breaking down the sensation of no-context images online, and she pointed out that many of these accounts, that have seemed to pop up all over the internet in recent years, are quite wholesome. “Most ‘no context’ accounts are made by fans of globally popular shows past and present, with the express intent of finding and engaging with other fans of the show in order to relish the good parts and keep them alive in everyone’s memory,” Shephali writes. “The majority do not monetize the content on these accounts despite their large follower count. A lot of the entries end up being crowd-sourced as fans flood their messages tab with suggestions. Twitter is where they get the most engagement through retweets and quote tweets as compared to other popular habitats for such accounts, like Reddit, Tumblr and Instagram.”

Shephali also explores how these no-context accounts can bring fans from all over the world together. “While ‘no context’ pages originated in the US back in 2010, the current trend has people from all around the world spearheading it,” she writes. “Golez, who runs No Context Succession since July 2019, is based in the Philippines. In February [2021], an East African user rebranded their Twitter account to Out Of Context Somali and has gained close to 24,000 followers since.” Even an account dedicated to out of context Derry Girls, a show set in Northern Ireland in the 1990s, was created by a teenager in Spain. “I watched the show on a friend’s recommendation that summer and set up the account so that it doesn’t fade into oblivion,” Isabel, the creator, says.

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Mickysixxx
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Haha teenagers. I had an older student today in my class tell the new boy (who was starting to get cheeky) "aye John, I'm just letting you know whatever you have to say Mick has an answer" hahaha I couldn't be more proud, I am king smartarse lol

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Emma Kilcup
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why. Do. People. Do. This. For. No. Reason? Nothing. Even. Prompted. Them. To. Say. That. (Edit: OK, so a lot of people are pointing out "WHy. ARe. YoU. tyPiNG. lIke. This?" It's for emphasis. I don't usually type like this. [Also, this is the only comment I've seen with so many comments about this, so are y'all targeting me or smthn?])

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“Besides being funny, the subtly contextual posts on these accounts are also ‘a nice reminder of the fact that there are actual people running these accounts, not just algorithms posting a screenshot at a particular time … There are real people who put some thought into what’s being posted,” says Golez, creator of No Context Succession. We might not have context for the images or the people behind the accounts, most of the time, but it’s nice to know that there’s someone out there with a similar sense of humor spreading joy to strangers online through their silly posts.

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Danielle Edwards
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My dad calls me every Saturday morning and without fail his opener is: 'morning babe, I didn't win the lottery last night so we are still poor'.

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David Martin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

True, Kyle, I'm sure technically anyone COULD do it...but I have this nagging feeling you had some kind of advantage most people don't have; I can't quite put my finger on it though...

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Nykky
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These idiots are so goddamn out of touch with reality, it's appalling and also baffling.

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StrangeTrout
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Like Trump 'doing it all by myself'. Nepotism recipients of the world unite to crow!

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CPooh
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What does Bart have to do with it? I'm definitely missing something.

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Dodo
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The screenshot from the Simpsons is gearing up for the quote underneath it, which is what all articles like this contain: that the kid who says anyone can do it was actually from a wealthy family and had opportunities that the majority don't get. The screenshot is just a 'wait for it' moment, basically.

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elcee
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

SO SICK OF PEOPLE WITH MONEY TALKING ABOUT HOW. "ANYONE CAN SAVE" AND HOW "ALL U NEED TO DO IS HAVE A BUDGET" TO AFFORD EVERYTHING YOU NEED. WHAT THE F**K.

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Riley Quinn
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whenever anyone says, "if I can do it, you can to", I zone out. Could even be a more legitimate person than the spoiled brat in this example. We all walk our own paths, and no one has the right to tell them how, when, or why. This is not motivation, and it often has the opposite result.

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laura lee
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So what I'm hearing is, we really need to choose our parents better

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Sinnsyk Jakte
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Um. Okay. How can I put this that doesn't offend Bored Panda...? Kindly go dither yourself, Kyle.

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While out of context photos are meant to be taken lightly, within the context of pages like Screenshots With or Without Context, they’re actually viewed as quite insidious by some. According to cognitive psychologist Lisa Fazio, out of context photos can be a powerful, low-tech form of misinformation. “In the day after the January Iranian attack on U.S. military bases in Iraq, reporter Jane Lytvynenko at Buzzfeed documented numerous instances of old photos or videos being presented as evidence of the attack on social media,” Fazio explains. “These included photos from a 2017 military strike by Iran in Syria, video of Russian training exercises from 2014 and even footage from a video game. In fact, out of the 22 false rumors documented in the article, 12 involve this kind of out-of-context photos or video.”   

Fazio goes on to share tips for how readers can protect themselves from misinformation being spread through photos taken out of context. “One of the best techniques, especially during a breaking news event, is to use a reverse image search,” she writes. “From the Google Chrome browser, it’s as simple as right-clicking on a photograph and choosing ‘Search Google for image.’ You’ll then see a list of all the other places that photograph has appeared online.”

“As consumers and users of social media, we have a responsibility for ensuring that information we share is accurate and informative,” Fazio adds. “By keeping an eye out for out-of-context photographs, you can help keep misinformation in check.

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Mickysixxx
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still have my Humphrey B Bear and a toy my siblings named "Mongy" I got when I was born 36yrs ago

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We hope you’re enjoying these interesting screenshots, pandas. Remember not to work too hard trying to understand them; some questions are best left unanswered. Keep upvoting the images you find most amusing, and let us know in the comments how you feel about these screenshots that may or may not have any context provided. Then, if you’re interested in viewing even more confusing yet entertaining photos, you can find another Bored Panda article featuring no-context pics right here!   

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Kharyss
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was talking face to face with an Australian friend about McDonalds and he mentioned they do Scallops over there. Apparently they’re battered fried potato slices (not the seafood ones). I’ve never seen or heard of them from anywhere else and I live in the UK. The next day my Facebook feed pops up an advert for McDonalds Scallops. I never googled it. I’ve never bought them. I’ve never been to Australia and they don’t sell them in the country I’m in. That’s not just a coincidence as we’re told.

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VonBlade
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The fact nobody in the screen shot or the comments above answered "because your parents tried very hard to have a child to love and here you are" is damning.

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Diolla
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never understood why everybody likes to stand up in a cramped position waiting for the doors to open.... I stay seated until the line is moving away from me. Soooo much more relaxed.

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Erin Fish
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've been in a PT Cruiser and it's like someone who's never been inside a car before designed the interior.

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Note: this post originally had 100 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.