Learn to Sit Back and Observe, Not Everything Needs a Reaction

About

Learn to Sit Back and Observe, Not Everything Needs a Reaction (and other variations that exist) refers to a series of image macros based on the teaching and catchphrase. Spread online since 2015, the image macros saw use as reactions, typically being used to reply to people engaging in online arguments, and as source material for caption memes.

Origin

The exact origin of the phrase "learn to sit back and observe, not everything needs a reaction" is unknown. The advice "learn to sit back and observe" likely predates the internet era, while versions of the full catchphrase have been posted online since 2015.

For example, on September 2nd, 2015, X^[1] / Twitter user @WarrenDieondre posted the phrase, gaining over 160 reposts and 70 likes in nine years (shown below, left). On October 6th, 2015, the earliest found image macro containing the quote was posted on Wititudes^[2] (shown below, right), gaining over 120 likes in nine years.

Spread

Starting in 2018, multiple image macros captioned with the catchphrase were posted online, with several variants going viral on Facebook and Instagram. For example, on December 1st, 2018, the Facebook^[3] page Quotes Gate posted an image macro featuring actor Idris Elba that garnered over 11,000 reactions and 7,700 shares in five years (shown below, left).

On December 27th, 2020, the Facebook^[4] page Philosophy Of Life posted an image macro of Michael Corleone from The Godfather that received over 6,800 reactions and 2,300 shares in three years (shown below, right).

In March 2023, a version based on a humorous Monkey Haircut redraw featuring Attack on Titan characters saw viral spread (author unknown, shown below). For example, on March 12th, 2023, iFunny^[5] user coughing posted the macro, with the post gaining over 2,400 smiles in one year.

On X / Twitter, the macros achieved popularity as reaction images over the following years, being used to reply to users who unnecessarily replied and engaged in online arguments.

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References