Also called Bear Grylls Survival Meme
Treat a minor inconvenience as a survival situation. Give the problem a plain top caption and follow it with an overprepared response.
The snowy mountains and outdoor gear make an ordinary problem look like an expedition. A closed cafeteria or an overactive air conditioner can become a reason to switch into survival mode.
The response should be excessive for the situation. The joke is the gap between the small inconvenience and the seriousness of the preparation.
Bear Grylls caption memes draw on his survival-TV persona from Man vs. Wild, also known as Born Survivor. Know Your Meme records a September 7, 2010 Reddit post using the catchphrase “better drink my own piss” as an unnecessary response to an ordinary situation. [1]
That recurring line gave the early format its name. You can use the same mismatch between problem and response with other, less graphic captions, as in the examples below. [1]
Keep the top line factual and small. In the bottom line, describe a response that belongs on a much more demanding trip.
You can use a safe, mundane substitute for survival equipment: desk biscuits become rations, a coat becomes expedition gear, or a measuring jug replaces the missing mugs.
Original captions to try with this template.
An ordinary lunch problem is handled like a shortage of supplies.
The mountain setting exaggerates how cold the room feels.
A small household workaround gets the seriousness of a survival decision.
References for this template. Example captions are original.
Documents the 2010 Reddit post, the recurring catchphrase, and later caption sites.
