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Most men can be fathers, but it takes special effort to be called a dad. And a rad dad? Well, that's just a next-level accomplishment in the dad community.

Instagram page Rad Dad posts memes about stereotypical upper-middle-class American dads, e.g. Middle-aged dad who refreshes himself with a can of cold beer after mowing the lawn in his New Balance sneakers. The fact that they are described as rad and not cool or lit adds to the homage for today's middle-aged dads, as it is '80s slang, the decade when many of them were youngsters. Bored Panda selected the pinnacle Rad Dad TM memes from the page for you to chuckle at.

More info: Instagram | middleclassfancy

The page has merchandise: their designs of t-shirts, marble grey sweaters, and caps masterfully capture the style of rad dads and since they are illustrated with stuff like grills and embroidered New Balance sneakers, the whole apparel becomes super meta. Middle Class Fancy, the company that sells the merch, has its own meme page we recently wrote about. Middle Class Fancy and Rad Dad content sometimes overlap, as many of these dads do cookouts in their back yards, suggesting they are middle class.

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    Ryan Deschanel
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    3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It totally sounds like the plot of a bad movie that could exist.

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    Older dads of today might have noticed that not only is their youth slang back in right now, but fashion too. It seems that gen Z and alpha kids have found and brought back their dads' clothes from the eighties and nineties in secondhand stores, got bowl or mullet hairstyles, and started vlogging. Or flooded the streets, creating flashbacks into their youth for these rad dads. Just try to imagine a 55-year-old today teaching their son how to keep their mullet pristine or what bomber jacket goes with which basketball shoes.

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    Interestingly, the style of rad dads is not tied to a specific decade or generation so strictly. It appears that many dads just develop the same sense of casualwear style as they turn middle aged and these trends haven't changed much for over two decades now, much like middle-aged women cutting their hair short.

    #8

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    Vicky Z
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In a parallel universe a seal dad is wishing happy birthday to his kid too (right)

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    Scagsy
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That, ladies and gentlemen, is what a Legend looks like. (Yes, with a capital 'L' - he's that good).

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    With anything English slang, the authoritative source of explanation is user contribution-driven Urban Dictionary. Here is the top explanation of a "Rad dad": "1. any dad who spends quality time with his kid as much as possible. 2. dads who surf, skate, snowboard or any extreme activity and teach their kids. 3. dads with long hair, mohawks or body piercings and dont give a shite what anybody else thinks."

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    Requiem
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Im a people watcher and have done loss prevention and can see two people at different ends of a store and know whos together and who isnt.

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    What makes dads rad for you? Do these stereotypes apply to dads in your culture? What elements of dad culture have you adopted? Is it starting to take double chin selfies with a great view of salt and pepper nose hair? Growing a beer belly over the quarantine's baby boom? Share in the comments below, let's make it a safe space for rad dads.

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    iblowsheep
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    yeah but by that age it;s more likely they have done something to deserve the torture.

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    Kevin Erdős–Bacon
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No, don't argue about who's going home - revel in being on the same wavelength!

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    Manndy Fisher
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You forgot left in random places glasses with vodka so kid would think it was a water

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    California Jones
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Been there. 🙄 Then he told me I was being lazy, I just needed to focus, and eventually I was just useless. Wonder why I have a panic attack when I see equations, and failed algebra...?

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    Monic Krugell
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    and then phone their wives about everything that they actually needed in their bags for the day

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    Jessica Rabbit
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This made me laugh really hard. My husband and I have always liked to BBQ, but once he turned 35 we got a smoker and have been into it since hahaha

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    Manndy Fisher
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And now if you will be lucky to get house like this you won't be able to afford family or shoes..

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    Monic Krugell
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    lol - I could feel the uncomforted need for someone to wake up, but the want for them to stay asleep.....

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    Scagsy
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Almost true. You have to include cops and firemen. Maybe even a builder.

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