We Are Not the Same

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Part of a series on Sigma Grindset / Hustle Culture Memes. [View Related Entries]

About

We Are Not the Same is a catchphrase that was popularized on Twitter in the fall of 2019. The catchphrase has been used in memes that parody self-aggrandizing comparisons, such as "You pray for me to fall, I pray for you to get back up. We are not the same." The parodies often end with a self-deprecating punchline. In 2021, the format regained virality with ironic image macros featuring actors Giancarlo Esposito and Mads Mikkelsen following a viral Gamer Joker meme posted in May 2021.

Origin

In August 2019, self-aggrandizing posts in which users compared themselves positively against an imaginary person by stating a certain difference in personal priorities gained prominence. The format used the catchphrase "we are not the same" as its punchline (examples shown below). For example, on August 6th, 2019, Twitter^[1] user @Lala_Ridley posted a tweet that received over 15,400 retweets and 38,000 likes in two years (shown below, left). On September 1st, 2019, Twitter^[2] user @_Mari_Taylor posted a tweet that gained over 6,600 retweets and 12,900 likes in two years (shown below, right).

In late September 2019, the first parody meme based on the catchphrase went viral. The image macro reading "You in her DM's I'm in her refrigerator we not the same," created by an unknown user, first gained virality on Facebook and Instagram. On September 29th, 2019, the Facebook^[3] page I GOT MEMES made the earliest found repost of the macro, with the post gaining over 520 reactions and 770 shares in two years (shown below, right).

Spread

Starting in early October 2019, parody versions of the format gained spread on Twitter. For example, on October 7th, 2019, Twitter user @mannykpolo posted one of the earliest parody versions that received over 320 retweets and 970 likes in two years (shown below, left). On October 18th, 2019, Twitter user @mrsilkysmooth24 reposted the refrigerator joke, with the tweet accumulating over 6,300 retweets and 20,200 likes in two years (shown below, right).

Starting in late October 2019, the format grew more widespread and the parodies grew increasingly absurd. For example, on October 28th, 2019, Twitter^[4] user @noturwaifu69 tweeted, "you’re dating for marriage i’m dating for twitter content we are not the same," gaining over 30,000 retweets and 197,900 likes in two years (shown below, left). On November 3rd, 2019, Twitter^[5] user @raih0u_ (previously @MisterNasty_) made a post that gained over 30,100 retweets and 111,000 likes in two years (shown below, right).

In late November, the spread of the meme was covered by the Daily Dot^[6] and The Tab.^[7]

2021 Resurgence

Prior to May 16th, 2021, Instagram^[8] user puberty420 posted an ironic Gamer Joker Whisper post / image macro captioned, "You jerk off to p---ography. I jerk off to abstract ideas like success and money and power. We are not the same" (original post no longer available; repost shown below). The post was created in the vein of Sigma Male memes prominent during that period.

Starting on May 16th, the image received viral spread online through multiple reposts. For example, on May 16th, 2021, Redditor D3mOnSlay3r64 reposted the image to the /r/im14andthisisdeep^[9] subreddit, where it received over 9,700 upvotes prior to being removed. On May 17th, Redditor harerp reposted the image to /r/Cringetopia,^[10] with the post gaining over 14,300 upvotes in six months. On June 10th, 2021, Redditor Abigpizzapie337 posted the image to /r/shitposting,^[11] with the post gaining over 3,400 upvotes in five months.

On May 16th, Instagram^[12] user voiceover_shill posted a voiceover version of the meme that gained over 4,800 likes and 20,700 views in five months (shown below, left). On May 19th, Reddtor 900xAndy posted the earliest found derivative meme within the trend, altering the caption to "I jerk off to big chungus cereal." The post received over 16,600 upvotes in /r/ComedyNecrophilia^[13] in five months (shown below, right).

On June 8th, 2021, Redditor Gurnskii reposted an image macro based on a photograph of actor Mads Mikkelsen (author unknown, shown below, left). The post received over 5,900 upvotes in the /r/196^[14] subreddit prior to being removed. The image received viral spread in the following weeks, including reposts on Instagram,^[15] Reddit^[16] and iFunny.^[17] In mid-June 2021, the first edit of the image went viral (shown below, center).^[18] On July 6th, Redditor maskbot posted a version of the image based on a photograph of actor Giancarlo Esposito, known for his portrayal of Gustavo Fring in Breaking Bad, to /r/okbuddychikanery^[19] subreddit, where it received over 920 upvotes in four months (shown below, right).

Prior to September 2021, We Are Not the Same memes based on photographs of both Mikkelsen and Esposito saw moderate spread online.

In September 2021, the meme format experienced a surge in use after on September 11th, 2021, Redditor MerritR3surrect posted a version of the meme that gained over 12,200 upvotes in /r/okbuddyretard^[20] subreddit (shown below).

Following the post, the format achieved explosive popularity in /r/okbuddyretard subreddit, also spreading to Twitter, iFunny and Facebook.

Sigma Males

Sigma Males refers to a supposed classification for men who are successful and popular, but also silent and rebellious, a type of man who likes to "play by his own rules." In most analyses, they are considered "equal" to Alphas on the hierarchy but live outside of the hierarchy by choice. John Wick has often been cited as a popular example of a Sigma Male. After the discovery of the classification was discovered by Twitter user @LilySimpson1312, it was mocked online by people expressing distaste for the greek alphabet system of male classification.