"Perchance" Meme & Mario Essay: The Hilarious Origin Story
Is it possible for a poorly written, nonsensical piece of internet content to achieve viral fame and spark a cultural phenomenon? The "You Can't Just Say Perchance" meme proves that yes, it absolutely is. This seemingly simple phrase, born from a deliberately absurd philosophy essay about the video game character Mario, has transcended its humble origins to become a widespread internet joke, sparking countless variations, discussions, and even academic interest, albeit of a highly unconventional kind.
The story begins, as many do, with a post on Reddit. A user, whose identity remains largely irrelevant, shared a "comedy philosophy essay" dedicated to the world of Mario, the Italian plumber who has captured the hearts of millions for generations. The essay, however, was not a sophisticated analysis of Mario's existential angst. It was, in the author's own words, "shitposting." The essay was riddled with grammatical errors, misused jargon, and a liberal, often incorrect, application of the word "perchance." The phrase "stomp a turty" further added to the essay's unique charm. The immediate result was a flood of comments, which only intensified the internets obsession.
Aspect | Details |
---|---|
The Origin | A humorous essay posted on the r/Mario subreddit |
Date of Initial Post | Unknown, but the earliest mentions date back to late 2022 |
Central Theme | A satirical exploration of Mario's "lifekind" and philosophical implications, using jargon and internet culture references. |
Key Phrase | "You can't just say perchance" |
Defining Characteristics | Poor grammar, misuse of the word "perchance," nonsensical arguments, and deliberate "shitposting" style. |
Immediate Reaction | A flurry of comments with variations of "You can't just say perchance" and other jokes related to the essay. |
Impact on Internet Culture | Widely shared, adapted, and remixed across various platforms, including Reddit, TikTok, and Twitter. |
Meme's Longevity | The meme continued to spread, with its lifespan being more than two years. |
Associated Concepts | Satire, internet humor, video game culture, and the misuse of language |
Reference Website | r/Mario subreddit |
The essay, in its raw form, wasn't meant to be a piece of serious writing. The appeal, it appears, lay in the complete lack of pretense. The author wasnt trying to impress anyone with their command of language or their profound insights. Instead, they were reveling in the freedom to create something deliberately silly, and the audience was invited to laugh along. The essay's use of jargon, the loose stringing together of concepts, and the general disregard for making any sense at all, all contributed to its charm. The red pen critiques on the essay, highlighting the incorrect usage of the term "perchance" and questioning the use of the phrase "stomp a turty", further amplified the humor, and the image was quick to spread online.
The word "perchance" itself, an adverb meaning "perhaps" or "by chance," became a central point of the joke. Its archaic feel, its use by the author in every other sentence, and its often-inappropriate context made it ripe for mockery. The meme format quickly took shape: someone would try to inject "perchance" into a modern context, only to be met with the inevitable retort, "You can't just say perchance." This straightforward, almost childlike observation of the essay's shortcomings became the foundation of the meme. The origin of the meme, the essay itself, didnt bring any interesting points, it just used some jargon and loosely strings together some actual concepts to create a comedic effect.
The meme spread quickly, finding new life on platforms like TikTok. Users created videos showcasing their own interpretations of the meme, often involving scenarios where someone used "perchance" and was promptly corrected. These videos ranged from the simple someone trying to sound intelligent to the elaborate entire skits built around the misuse of the word. The memes adaptability was key to its success. It could be applied to almost any situation where someone was perceived as trying too hard, or simply misunderstanding the nuance of language.
The phrase "You can't just say perchance" also tapped into a broader sentiment about online culture. It reflected a skepticism towards pretension, a mockery of the desire to appear sophisticated, or to try to force archaic language into modern conversation. The meme, in this sense, was a form of linguistic shaming. In a world saturated with attempts to sound smart, the meme provided a simple, effective way to call out those attempts.
The meme also spawned various offshoots and adaptations. People began creating their own "perchance" themed content, from images of snakes with the word "perchance" above them to humorous animations and video edits. The meme became a versatile tool for expressing skepticism, disapproval, or simply for making a joke. The phrase You can't just say perchance reflected the humor and creativity of internet culture. The phrase has since been used online to express skepticism or disapproval.
The humor wasnt just derived from the misuse of a single word, the essay itself included the observation that fines as punishment just makes laws that the rich are allowed to break, which the internet found to be an interesting idea that was used in the comedy of the essay, and the meme also offered a meta-commentary on the nature of internet culture itself. It was a joke about a joke, a commentary on the cycle of content creation and consumption. The original essay, the critiques, the reactions all of it was fodder for the meme machine.
The meme also touches upon a sense of belonging, and recognition of how words can evolve, adapt and change to the times and the environment they find themselves in. The fact that the meme originated from a seemingly throwaway piece of content, and found a life of its own, says much about how the internet works and how content can spread, irrespective of its quality. A well-crafted piece of work doesn't always go viral, and sometimes, a bit of silliness is enough to create a cultural touchstone.
The meme's continued presence is a testament to the enduring power of humor, and the ability of online communities to latch onto and repurpose even the most unlikely content. It has persisted for years, and the meme is still a signifier of the internet age, and of how people can connect, laugh together, and create something new from the most unexpected of origins. The phrase "You can't just say perchance" is more than just a meme; it's a reminder of the internet's capacity for absurdity, creativity, and the enduring power of a good, nonsensical joke.
From a simple, poorly written essay to a viral sensation, the journey of "You can't just say perchance" demonstrates the unpredictable nature of online fame. What started as a bit of "shitposting" has evolved into a widely recognized meme, a symbol of internet culture, and a testament to the power of humor, absurdity, and the enduring human need to find humor in the unexpected.


