The internet is a wild place. Every time I think I’ve seen it all, a new TikTok trend or Twitter thread comes along to prove me wrong. And one of the best corners of the internet to come across the perfect blend of inexplicable, no-context pics and hilarious, painfully relatable memes is the “I Would Prefer Not To” Instagram account.
Below, you'll find some of our favorite pics from the page that might perplex and mesmerize you. (And hopefully get a few chuckles out of you!) Don’t ask us to explain these photos, because we’d really prefer not to, but I think you’ll find that they speak for themselves.
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I Would Prefer Not To is a relatively simple place. It falls into the genre of odd, no-context pic Instagram accounts, with some great memes sprinkled in along the way too. And it’s certainly great at what it does, as the page has amassed an impressive 175k followers through sharing over 4,800 photos. From bizarre screenshots from social media to memes that you might prefer not to admit that you relate to, this chaotic Instagram account has it all. And while you might be wondering what on Earth it is about accounts like this that we love so much, have no fear. We’ll try to get to the bottom of why you are confused and perhaps unsettled by these photos, yet you still can’t stop scrolling.
Let’s start with why we love memes so much. If you’re anything like me, you remember the very first memes you ever encountered. I was in middle school, and back then, memes were incredibly simple, with Bad Luck Brian and Philosoraptor taking the internet by storm. While the punchlines were usually straight to the point and didn’t require much background knowledge, we bonded over this “cultural information exchange”. According to Ali Arslan at Make Use Of, part of the reason we love memes is because they’re an opportunity to quickly and easily share jokes with one another.
Memes can also be a godsend for us when we’re in need of a source of collective coping. Remember all of the COVID-19 memes that came about during 2020? The pandemic was an absolutely terrible thing that caused heartache for millions of people around the world, but at the same time, we needed some sort of relief. After months on end cooped up in our homes, we we desperate for some humor to lighten the mood, and the fact that the entire world was experiencing the same thing helped the jokes become even funnier.
“It's common for certain events, happenings, or behaviors to hit the global community or a cultural group as a whole,” Arslan writes for Make Use Of. “We all feel the same emotions, tensions, and stress in such situations, making our feelings mutual… The reason why memes have become so popular is that they help people cope collectively. When a stressor is converted into a funny meme, most people can relate to it, talk about it, and feel that they are not alone in that situation. This makes the stressor less painful and easy to cope with.”
Human's wearing a kitty costume and kitty is wearing a human costume! XD (armor)
Memes can also be great to provide a new perspective on an event, sometimes allowing viewers to approach anything from the global pandemic to their mental health issues with a sunnier outlook. “This change of perspective makes people change how they see a stressful situation,” Arslan explains. “They are a source of humorous enlightenment for people. Another interesting thing to note about this type of media is that it brings all this positivity through the efforts of the ordinary people, or memers as they are called. The main intention of these memers is to create a viral meme. And in that process, they explore different perspectives, unintentionally bringing forth positivity.”
I watched a documentary about prison and corrections in Denmark. As an American, I was stunned and really, really saddened. In Denmark, prisoners were treated as human beings with potential, and who had the promise of rehabilitation. I'm sure I don't need to say that our prison system here is vastly different.
It’s easier to go viral today than ever before, but we don’t all want our names and faces to be public online. TikTok fame isn’t for the faint of heart, but pages like I Would Prefer Not To allow people to anonymously participate in meme culture and the hilarity of sharing strange pics online without any of the risks that social media stars often face. Followers can share and repost these pics, so that even wider audiences can enjoy them and bond over the jokes to provide a safer social experience online. When we bond over memes that comment on social moments and experiences we’re all having, we’re reminded that we’re not alone. And we should never go a day in this bleak world without laughing!
While pages like I Would Prefer Not To don’t seem to have any political or social agenda behind them, it is possible for accounts like this to have a huge impact on the real world. According to Helen Brown at the BBC, memes are “a language in themselves, with a capacity to transcend cultures and construct collective identities between people. These sharable visual jokes can also be powerful tools for self-expression, connection, social influence and even political subversion.” She goes on to explain how memes have helped progress the Me Too movement and allowed marginalized groups to bond online and form a collective identity.
Why does everyone all of a sudden need stuff when I'm in the middle of cooking dinner?
Memes can also be beneficial for individuals struggling with depression, as one study found they tend to rate memes mocking their mental health issues as “more humorous, relatable and shareable”. Though it’s debatable whether or not heavy topics should be joked about, many find these memes to be comforting, as they demonstrate how common these experiences are. So even if you would prefer not to admit that you relate to some of the memes featured on this list, you can rest assured knowing that you’re not alone in having those feelings.
Memes also have a fascinating talent for influencing our points of view on anything from food preferences to politics. Joshua Nieubuurt, who studies misinformation and disinformation at the University of Maryland in the US and the University of Okinawa in Japan, claims that memes can be regarded as a “modern digital equivalent of the propaganda leaflet". He details how they have been used to support or undermine arguments for Covid-19 restrictions and vaccinations, using humor and sarcasm to delegitimize the opinions of people on either side of the debate. And when it comes to politics, apparently 30 video or gif political memes that were created during the 2017 UK General Election amassed a whopping 45 million or more views.
I Would Prefer Not To is not the deepest corner of the internet, so perhaps we should just focus on enjoying the pics for what they are. But I can’t help but think that even silly photos like these are a reminder of how fascinating our world is. Bizarre moments, in real life and online, seem to be unavoidable, but we can always encapsulate those experiences within hilarious memes that are sure to go viral. You don’t have to understand everything that’s happening on this list, but we’re happy you’re along for the ride.
incorrect. You have to prepare for the instant were you show the experience and physical prowess you have gained throughout the year, the moment when you defeat flame with a single breath, where you blow out the candles, and earn your heart's desire. or running away. that works too.
Load More Replies...Ooo I like this idea, only I would swap bats for cats.
Load More Replies...... while grimacing in pain as you consider how little you actually achieved in the previous year and how unlikely you are to change the situation.
Load More Replies...This was my first thought, for some reason download-1...d4b4c.jpeg
Load More Replies...This is funny. Take my upvote, LocosCocoa you clever human.
Load More Replies...If you're an introvert: Awkwardly smile. If you're an extrovert: Pretend to conduct the song. If you are secretly a chipmunk: Chatter anxiously and run away. (I mean, I don't know why I even bothered writing down the first two because it's obvious what everyone's going to pick, but whatevs)
I sing along, because I have absolutely no idea how to act like a normal human being!
Building up saliva to blow out the candles, and keep the cake to yourself!
I've found that once you turn 16, shouting "YEAH AGE OF CONSENT!!!" works pretty well. (edit: forgot about other countries. Age of consent in Australia is 16).
deciding what movie to watch after your friends have proven to you and the entire neighbourhood that they can't carry a tune?
They wish you luck, and in that moment, you can absorb it from their bodies before they notice.
I much prefer Stevie Wonder's upbeat version to that dirge we all sing.
Stare into the candle flame and contemplate every moment of your life until the song ends. Then extinguish the flame and move on!
my science teacher had the class sing to me and i sat there awkwardly so yeah i think thats what you do? idk
fake smile while quietly withering up into nothingness on the inside
During the first 2/3 of the song work up a really loud, long fart. Then right when right when their voices are fading out at the end of the drawn out "Happy birthday to (your name......)" Let it rip. Enjoy the looks on their faces as an extra birthday present. Bonus points if you can get the candles to momentarily flare up.
you can be patient and spend your time in a useful activity, start eating the cake for example
Fall in fetal position and cry because you just realized that death is coming near? :D
I look off into the distance and think about my ideal life and then crash back into reality once the song ends
We pandas do not crush roaches. We respect our Headless Roach's family members.
There are probably plenty of things you would prefer not to do today: laundry, wash your dishes, go to work, and pay your bills are just a few examples that immediately come to mind. But we hope that, at least for a few minutes, you have enjoyed scrolling through these funny and strange pics from I Would Prefer Not To. Keep upvoting all of your favorites, and let us know in the comments if any of them were particularly relatable for you. Then, if you’re interested in checking out even more bizarre, inexplicable pics, we recommend visiting this Bored Panda article next!
Every time I see a guy wearing a cool t-shirt I tell him "hey, love your shirt!" They always look so happy. :)
that's not gaslighting. Tell yourself it's not reallly tough and that you're just exagerating. that would be gaslighting.
i feel like i could have gone my entire life without ever knowing this
Note: this post originally had 87 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
AITA because it aggravating that these lists get shortened and you have to click for more... but the AITA's go on and on and on and on
For all of the introvert or lonely folks out there, here are two songs for you: 1. No friends - mazie 2.i think i wanna be alone - mazie
AITA because it aggravating that these lists get shortened and you have to click for more... but the AITA's go on and on and on and on
For all of the introvert or lonely folks out there, here are two songs for you: 1. No friends - mazie 2.i think i wanna be alone - mazie