What Does 'I'm In Danger' Mean? The Story Behind The Simpsons Ralph Wiggum Meme, Explained

There's a reaction image for every feeling, every human situation. Like a hieroglyphic language, memes painting a picture of very specific feelings are used on the internet to communicate stories and responses of deep complexity. "I'm in danger" is one of the most iconic of these reaction images, always here for when you need it. Let's explain where this meme comes from, and what it means.

Where Does 'I'm In Danger' Come From?

The image used in the meme originates from a crossover episode of Family Guy and The Simpsons that aired in 2014. The episode was called "The Simpsons Guy."

But the cartoon screenshot turned into a meme in the spring of 2018, when Redditors embraced it as a part of their meme vocabulary. It seems to have started on /r/me_irl, with a user posting it as a self-portrait of the way they felt driving an old truck.

From there, it started to be used in new contexts on different subreddits following the initially popular post. On /r/memeeconomy, eagle-eyed early investors hopped on the meme and posted prominent examples. From there, the post spread beyond Reddit to other zones of the internet.

How Do People Use 'I'm In Danger'?

Usually, the meme is deployed as a reaction image, describing how a user feels about a tense or perilous situation. It fits into a broader arsenal of Reddit reaction image memes, which posters can use in daily conversations about various things to express their emotions. This is a meme that keeps popping up because it's cemented itself as very useful.

There's also ironic takes on the meme, pulling it in a surreal or anti-meme direction.

What Does 'I'm In Danger' Mean?

Picturing themselves as a little cartoon boy on a school bus positions the poster speaking through the meme in a specific position. They're alone, first of all, in a space that usually has most people. They're small, and they're also laughing, which means they're in danger in a funny or ridiculous way. Often, the situations people use this meme to post about are more funny than they are dangerous.

For the full history of Ralph In Danger, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.