The ‘don’t say it’ meme reveals our worst automatic responses in social situations

No matter how much we’d like to tell ourselves otherwise, our silly human brains are constantly working against us when it comes to everything from bad habits, self-criticism, and procrastination to—yes—even casual conversation. So let he or she who has never had an awkward social interaction cast the first stone when it comes to this wholly relatable “don’t say it” meme, which perfectly illustrates the disconnect between our brains and our mouths.

The meme can apply to bad jokes, social faux pas, and so on, in nearly any and every situation in which saying less (or nothing, for that matter) would be better than whatever our brains are desperately trying to keep from our shameful, whore mouths—usually with unsuccessful results.

As you can see in a handful of the examples below, this can apply in interactions with everyone from coworkers to cashiers.

*Gets asked “how ya doin” at work*

My Brain:
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it

Me:
“Living the dream”

— Joshua (@jlewdatruth) November 11, 2018

*hears cashier say price of item costing €19 and something cent*

my brain:

don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it

me: great year

— barbara ghouls (@orinocohoe) November 11, 2018

https://twitter.com/lennzeppelin/status/1061692033495195653

*cashier can’t get the barcode to scan*

My brain:
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it

Me: MUST BE FREE HA HA

— jordan (@jordan_stratton) November 11, 2018

Although the meme really exploded in popularity over the past several days, it seems to date back to July of this year, when Twitter user @Pandamoanimum used it to illustrate the dreadful internal struggle of not wanting to talk to your cab driver, but at the same time feeling obligated to make polite small talk.

*Gets in taxi*

Brain:
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.

Mouth: Been busy tonight, mate?

Brain: WHAT DID I JUST FUCKING TELL YOU?!

— Amanda (@Pandamoanimum) July 13, 2018

Not surprisingly, more than a few others have had similar experiences when it comes to taxi or Uber drivers:

*Gets in taxi*

My brain:
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it

Me: “Been busy?”

— George Aylett (@GeorgeAylett) November 7, 2018

*Gets in Uber*

My brain-

Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it
Don’t say it

Me – “so how long have you been Ubering for?”

— Stin (@stinvo14) November 11, 2018

And then, of course, there’s that stupid thing where your brain is hardwired to respond “you too” to literally any pleasantry with a server or hospitality worker.

waiter: enjoy your meal

my brain:
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it

me: you too

— Jay (@highonthighs) November 11, 2018

Movie theatre employee checking your ticket: “Enjoy the movie.”

my brain:
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it
don’t say it

me: “you too.”

— Abdul (@abdulmani353) November 12, 2018

And then there’s this excellent example, which evokes a popular old Vine:

https://twitter.com/maddiefishhx/status/1061566381802639360

Or this one, that delivers an absolutely scalding burn to Sarah Palin:

Brain:
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.
Don’t say it.

Mouth: I’m sure if you ask nicely she’ll loan you some bail money for your son Tractor Pull. https://t.co/Rbr1pnWIr0

— Marie Connor (@thistallawkgirl) September 30, 2018

The “don’t say it” meme is not all that dissimilar from another one that went viral recently, the distance meme which uses emojis for people to roast their internal struggles by taking a short walk to a foregone conclusion.

Until the day we can finally all collectively get our brains in check, there will likely be no shortage of memes to poke fun at ourselves.