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Tumblr was a social media giant in the early 2010s. It was the perfect middle ground, offering more text characters than Twitter and less clutter than Facebook. For many people, it was a glorious era of online networking

Thankfully, the Curated Tumblr subreddit keeps those days alive in today’s world of “reels” and “shorts.” As the name suggests, it’s a collection of screenshots from the platform that touch on political discourse, life’s absurdities, and everything in between.

We’re keeping this a lighthearted list that’s more about the silly and mundane. Enjoy scrolling and have yourself a nice throwback to a simpler time on the internet.

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    #2

    We Sadly Live In A Society

    We Sadly Live In A Society

    AkariPeach Report

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    Andrew Keir
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Probably because if we don't, things are even worse for us. Just sayin' ...

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    If you came of age in the Instagram and TikTok era, you’re likely not as familiar with Tumblr’s appeal. But looking at its About page will tell you a lot about its character and personality. 

    “Wholesome chaos” was the phrase used to describe the site’s contents. It also encourages self-expression because “Tumblr is whatever you want it to be.”

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    The internet defines Tumblr as a microblog. However, its founder, David Karp, does not use this description. In an interview with Media Bistro, he describes it as “the easiest way to share yourself.” 

    Karp also emphasizes Tumblr’s flexibility regarding the type of content users can create. Because it is easy for anyone to self-publish, he believes it helped draw in a broad audience. 

    #8

    That's How It Works

    That's How It Works

    Green____cat Report

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    Vinny DaPooh
    Community Member
    3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yep. I'm the guy the defense wants on the jury. You committed a crime and got immediate karma so now want the true victim to pay? Your honor, are we allowed to hang the plaintiff?

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    #9

    Astronaut

    Astronaut

    Green____cat Report

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    xolitaire
    Community Member
    3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    oh noooo so you can't pay your way into space anymore? Bummer. Well then, how about you use that money to pay your workers better? Sound good?

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    “It’s the gay people in your phone” is another description written on the site. This comes from Tumblr’s similar claim to be the “queerest place on the internet.” 

    According to Adweek statistics published in 2021, one in four users on the platform identify as LGBTQIA+. A Tumblr user is also said to be 193% more likely to be part of the queer community compared to other social networking sites.

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    #10

    Scenes Are Meant To Be Seen

    Scenes Are Meant To Be Seen

    Green____cat Report

    #11

    Professionalism

    Professionalism

    Green____cat Report

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    Karina
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What a lovely story about cool prople. My bar is low, but this was wholesome

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    #12

    Most Embarrassing Thing That Can Ever Happen

    Most Embarrassing Thing That Can Ever Happen

    best_thing_toothless Report

    To solidify Tumblr’s reputation as queer-friendly, Sydney-based writer and photographer Jonno Revanche wrote an article for The Guardian in 2016. Here, he described the platform as his “saviour” that made him see he “wasn’t monstrous and unloveable.”

    “While it may seem simple or silly, social media allowed me to express elements of myself I felt like I couldn’t in my day-to-day life,” he wrote. 

    #14

    Accidentally Based

    Accidentally Based

    reddit.com Report

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    Verena
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Only problem: Somebody has to deliver. Which was solved e.g. in social and health services (as a grneral overall term) in most of Europe, by everybody chipping in so those in need of health treatment, parental leave etc do get help.

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    #15

    What's Your Corpse To Water Ratio?

    What's Your Corpse To Water Ratio?

    _CharmQuark_ Report

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    justagirl
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's also called, "Not thinking about the corpse when swimming" so yes if you somehow camouflage a corpse n a pool, don't tell me, and tell me to swim in it i will be fine.

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    Tumblr seems to have always catered to a younger, more progressive audience. For author and DePaul University professor Allison McCracken, it became the youth’s “best option for an online ‘private’ public space.” 

    In a journal article she published in 2017, she credits the platform’s ability to “bring a broader range of voices” than any college classroom could. She also believes Tumblr was able to “offer developed minority representation” when the media wasn’t able to.

    #16

    Yeah, You’d Think They’d Be Able To Put Two And Two Together On This One

    Yeah, You’d Think They’d Be Able To Put Two And Two Together On This One

    Entity055 Report

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    Moo
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I personally think without the social stigma more people would come out as bi, but who knows

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    #17

    Tit For Tat

    Tit For Tat

    IthadtobethisWAAGH Report

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    StrangeOne
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Taylor sounds like an insufferable girlfriend. I'm sure she's just as bad, if not worse, to her boyfriends and makes it hard for them to please her in strategy. Her muse is break-ups. If she doesn't have fights, falling outs, break ups, her career would be over.

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    Despite its reach and popularity among the younger demographic, Tumblr had its fair share of controversies. In 2018, it announced a prohibition on “adult content” after an iOS ban on the app due to child pornography issues. 

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    In an official statement, Tumblr assured its users that it would continue to work to keep the platform a “safe place for creative expression, self-discovery, and a deep sense of community.” However, it received backlash, with affected users attacking its queer-friendly claim.

    #19

    Rich People And Ghosts

    Rich People And Ghosts

    MelanieWalmartinez Report

    #20

    Boring Queers

    Boring Queers

    Hummerous Report

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    Nat Rich
    Community Member
    3 months ago

    This comment has been deleted.

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    #21

    [u.s.] Vocal Minority

    [u.s.] Vocal Minority

    Hummerous Report

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    VikingAbroad
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They should be able to give a short review of the book and tell you on which page the offensive material is, and whether or not it is reoccurring in the book before being even allowed to ask for a book ban.

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    By the time the controversy arose, Tumblr had already spiked in value and had been sold to media giant Yahoo! for a whopping $1.1 billion in 2013. In an interview with Inc. at the time of the sale, Karp admitted he wasn’t expecting it to happen that year. However, a “remarkable opportunity” presented itself. 

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    “This was an unbelievable opportunity to shortcut a lot of the very hard things that we’re about to be going through,” he explained.

    #22

    Autism Awareness

    Autism Awareness

    MelanieWalmartinez Report

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    clairebear
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Omg you can't group us. As the saying goes, If you have met one autistic person, you have met one autistic person. We present differently.

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    #23

    😔

    😔

    BarovianNights Report

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    Cat Palmer
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The first part happened to me: after a sudden massive decline in health I was found to be dangerously deficient in a vitamin (B12, fwiw). Sadly the "solved all my problems" bit has yet to take effect.

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    Tumblr remained with Yahoo! for four years before moving to Verizon Media. Two years later, in 2019, Verizon sold the platform to Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com. 

    This time, the price tag was far less. Reports didn’t specify the amount, but it was believed to be “well below” $20 million, a far cry from its original purchase value.

    #25

    Gargle My Balls, Microsoft

    Gargle My Balls, Microsoft

    linuxaddict334 Report

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    Karina
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I bought a cromebook, and had to find a way to distale security so I could downlod... VLC 😅🤬

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    #26

    Catholicism Patch Notes

    Catholicism Patch Notes

    TotemGenitor Report

    Now, we’re shifting the attention to you, dear readers. What do you think about Tumblr as a social media platform? Where do you think it stands in comparison to TikTok and Instagram? Let’s create a discussion in the comments!

    #28

    True Allyship 🏳️‍🌈

    True Allyship 🏳️‍🌈

    The_Kyojuro_Rengoku Report

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    The explanation
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Then again, maybe if you question somebody's identity and sexuality, they'll be annoyed. Also, what if their friend was gay but hadn't come out yet? Seems a jerkish way to treat your friends

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    #29

    A Collection Of Alternative Sayings

    A Collection Of Alternative Sayings

    swizzlesweater Report

    #30

    Racist, But Funny

    Racist, But Funny

    Hummerous Report

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    ScarletRos
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My son is autistic and in a special needs school and the kids are allowed to leave class and go outside if they need to.

    Jack Burton
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I want to be a native american with positive racist teacher, i need to go outside and connect with nature

    Verena
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I like that people notice that something like "positive racism" exists. However, the common word for that is "empathy".

    Colleen Glim
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Every child should be allowed to do this. Taking a break when you’re overwhelmed makes it much easier to deal with

    Probably Legal
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I’m homeschooled, and I can confirm that taking breaks to reconnect with nature/walk the dog is the most flocking amazing thing

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    #33

    Evolution

    Evolution

    MelanieWalmartinez Report

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    CanadianDimes
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Evolution is reactive, not proactive. There's no goal per se, as in, a species isn't trying to evolve toward something, just trying to adapt to changing conditions so as to not die.

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    #35

    From What I Can Tell This Hasnt Been Posted Here Yet So Here

    From What I Can Tell This Hasnt Been Posted Here Yet So Here

    YetGayerWombat Report

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    Verena
    Community Member
    3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It fascinates me endlessly, how in the one hand people are totally loving electronics taking over human work and free stuff on internet, and at the same time complain about not being able to find well enough paid work. Guys, we are 8 billion, not 2,5 as in 1950s happy fantasyland. These 8 billion need food, clothing, shelter and entertainment, which requires them to find well enough paid jobs. Shopping deadcheap stuff from deadcheap countries ruins your local economy and employment. By this making a few incredibly rich and you screaming hell and fire because they are rich.

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    #37

    Good Person

    Good Person

    diichlorobenzen Report

    #38

    Female

    Female

    SuperDuperOtter Report

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    lenka
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Unless the story involves her breasts, vagina or menstruation then adding 'female' to boss is irrelevant. Just don't. If the story involves your boss's breasts, vagina or menstruation then perhaps you should be reconsidering whether your relationship is appropriate and just not tell the story at all.

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    #39

    I Love How Stupid The Cybertruck Is

    I Love How Stupid The Cybertruck Is

    Jakitron_1999 Report

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    Moo
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I saw a cyber truck with a shattered windshield, Elon is a liar

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    #40

    [u.s.] Confederate Surrender Day (Was Yesterday)

    [u.s.] Confederate Surrender Day (Was Yesterday)

    Hummerous Report

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    TotallyNOTAFox
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What is is the difference between Georgia and Germany? It took only one Sherman to defeat Georgia... (Just a history joke I heard recently)

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    #41

    [marvel] A Simple But Elegant Solution

    [marvel] A Simple But Elegant Solution

    Mr_Muda_Himself_V3 Report

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    Navindu Wijewardena
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    for further context: the man shown is Matt Murdock, a.k.a Daredevil (Marvel). He's blind.

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    #42

    >greentext Form

    >greentext Form

    Sonic_the_hedgedog Report

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    justagirl
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    are you allowed at whatever this guy went to if you're not lgbtq+? cause it sounds pretty lit.

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    #43

    "This Country Used To Build Railroads!"

    "This Country Used To Build Railroads!"

    Xurkitree1 Report

    #44

    Sex

    Sex

    MelanieWalmartinez Report

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    Chihuahua Mama
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    *Talking to an incel* "Yes, complaining about 'females' is good, but have you tried sex"

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    #45

    Book-Ish

    Book-Ish

    Hummerous Report

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    Auntriarch
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A bible, unless it's one you had in primary school but your friend wrote something really naughty in it and you didn't dare give it back when you left and told the teacher you'd lost it.

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    Note: this post originally had 55 images. It’s been shortened to the top 45 images based on user votes.