Philosoraptor Meme Template

A dinosaur pauses to think much too hard about a simple phrase. Put an everyday assumption at the top and a question that complicates it at the bottom.

The claw near the chin makes the raptor look absorbed in a serious question. The caption gives that pose a small puzzle, a wordplay problem, or a conclusion that sounds more profound than it is.

The two lines should depend on each other. Start with something ordinary, then take its wording literally or point out the contradiction in what people say.

Sam Smith created the illustration for his Lonely Dinosaur T-shirt shop in 2008. In an email to Know Your Meme, he described a philosophy-student friend as the inspiration for the thinking pose and name. [1]

The drawing appeared with added captions on 4chan by February 2009. The word Philosoraptor had been used before Smith’s design, but this particular green dinosaur became the familiar image for mock-serious questions. [1]

Place the premise above the dinosaur and the question below its chin and claw. Keep the face visible so its thoughtful look can make the question feel disproportionately serious.

Try reading a common phrase literally. Your question can be silly, but the connection between the first and second lines should be clear on one read.

The everyday assumption

The premise above the dinosaur.

The unnecessary question

The question near the lower edge.

• Let the bottom line complete the thought at the top.
• Use a familiar phrase rather than a long explanation.
• Keep the question open; the image does not need an answer.