Stop It, Patrick! You’re Scaring Him! Meme Template

Squidward says something, SpongeBob misunderstands it, and Patrick makes the imagined problem worse. Fill the six panels with a short comic misunderstanding.

The joke develops through bad explanations. A perfectly ordinary statement becomes a supposed fear, then Patrick enthusiastically demonstrates the thing he has been told is frightening.

Read left to right across each row. The final panel is SpongeBob’s alarmed attempt to stop Patrick, so save the strongest reaction for the end.

The scene comes from the 2006 SpongeBob SquarePants episode “Wishing You Well.” Trapped in the well with SpongeBob and Patrick, Squidward says he is claustrophobic. SpongeBob interprets the word as a fear of Santa Claus, and Patrick responds with a Santa impression. [1] [2]

A six-panel Mass Effect edit posted to Reddit on October 13, 2018 is an early documented example of the caption template. Later versions replace the misunderstood word and Patrick’s response. [2]

Start with Squidward’s statement in the upper-left panel. Patrick asks what it means at the right. In the middle row, SpongeBob gives the wrong explanation and Squidward objects.

Finish with Patrick’s demonstration in the lower-left panel and SpongeBob’s warning at the right. Keep each line brief so the six-panel conversation stays readable on a phone.

Squidward’s statement

Bottom of the upper-left panel.

Patrick’s question

Bottom of the upper-right panel.

SpongeBob’s explanation

Bottom of the middle-left panel.

Squidward’s objection

Bottom of the middle-right panel.

Patrick’s demonstration

Bottom of the lower-left panel.

SpongeBob’s warning

Bottom of the lower-right panel.

• Read across each row before moving down.
• Make the misunderstanding easy to follow.
• Use short dialogue rather than object labels.
• Let Patrick act on the wrong explanation.