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Has anyone ever told you that you have a dark sense of humor? Well, you might need to thank them for this compliment because, inadvertently, they have just called you smart.

The reason for this conclusion is the fact that researchers have looked into the intelligence patterns of people who like dark humor. Scientists found that they have higher IQs than those who aren’t big fans of the morbidly hilarious.

If you don’t know whether dark humor is for you, the list below can be a good indicator of that. It contains a whole bunch of unsettling images that are both a little weird and a little hilarious. Shared online by the Instagram page Disturbing Zone, it is the epitome of chaotic meme energy. Scroll down to see some of our favorites.

#1

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Cara G
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I see nothing unsettling about this. They look quite nicely settled actually.

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In all honesty, this list might not be the best example of dark humor. You see, to analyze dark humor, scientists had to determine what it is. 

Their definition? “Humor that treats sinister subjects like death, disease, deformity, handicap, or warfare with bitter amusement and presents such tragic, distressing or morbid topics in humorous terms.”

So, yeah, Shrek memes might not be the best example of that. However, once you look at how those researchers determined the correlation there, the connection to these memes might seem a little more obvious. 

Firstly, it is important to note that scientists were presenting images to the participants, not solely written jokes. They were humorous comics with dark undertones by Uli Stein. So, in a basic sense, it is similar to memes.

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Then comes the main argument. The researchers claim that the reason people with higher IQs like dark humor is the fact that it is harder to understand what is funny about them. Discerning them is a tough thing to do, so much so that they call it “a complex information-processing task.” There are layers there that take more mental work than an ordinary gag.

#6

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CoMa4
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If your man don’t love you like this, he ain’t the one ☝️🤣

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If that didn’t sound like a very apt description of a meme for you, then let me break it to you: memes are layered jokes that often require context and additional knowledge to fully grasp them. In other words, you need to be in the know and do a little bit of mental processing to laugh. In that sense, they are very similar to the dark humor examples used in the study.

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#7

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San
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dammmm you Mcdonalds........ why do you take so muck time. You r a fast FAST food joint. You made the guy skip death. Wtf

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#9

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San
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Breaking news lobster who escape death by boiling shares the details of the gruesome event.

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The difference between the two is that dark humor requires you to do some additional emotional labor. As in, for you to find a dark joke funny, you have to emotionally distance yourself from the joke to see it as amusing and not threatening.

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When it comes to memes, the emotional connection is usually attached to the gag. For example, it’s not uncommon for the images to evoke nostalgic feelings. Still, a lot of the memes also get into disturbing/disgusting territory, so removing yourself from the initial feeling of repulsion to see the hilarity of it might also be necessary.

All in all, if you found this collection of memes funny, you might just be a brilliant genius. Or you might just be aware of the social context that makes these specific memes funny. Either way, we hope you had a chuckle!

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#20

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Ty Stratton-Quirk
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"We've been trying to reach you about your car's extended warranty..."

San
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Frog. Kiss me and I will take about our Lord and saviour frogus christ

Leekun
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Do you have a moment to talk about our lord and savior, Jesus Croak?"

Isabella Austin-Lewis
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This makes me think of a Ring doorbell video where there was a frog and when a lady rang the bell the frog went YEET at her.

Julia Mckinney
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

*croaks* "Rainer BEEERR!!!!" (call out to any Northwesterners of a certain age here tonight!)

Cyndielouwhoo
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He's clearly a Nigerian Prince changed into a frog...if you kiss him he'll share all that money he's been trying to give away!

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#27

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#34

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San
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Us humans have corrupted the Navi race. The pore guy is poisoning his lungs. Sad . We human need to be better role models

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#40

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San
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The cat was hit by lighting . It gave him super speed .now he uses his power to fight crime and save.... oh wait he is using his speed to steel food from humans.

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#65

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CoMa4
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Look at this distinguished gentleman. Look at the way he is sitting. Yes, very distinguished. Mm-hmm, I see.

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#67

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San
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is so cruel. Making a poor kitty cat do manual labour like this. This is animal abuse . Some one call peta

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#73

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San
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I forbid this inter organism relationship. Its agents God. Call me a bigot all you want . But this is wrong

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#101

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Karma Black
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

After the geostigma crisis was resolved, Cloud Strife fell on hard times...

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#102

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#105

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#114

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James016
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to have a Renault 5 and quite frankly it's better as plant pot than as a car.

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#116

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TotallyNOTaFox
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

♫ Cut this cake into pieces, get out your fork! Chocolate cream calories, don't give a f**k while I'm eating my piece. Would it be wrong would it be right, chances are I won't be light, sugar rush's a might, with a glass of milk on the side ♫

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#127

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#131

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hitex
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That better not be lit! I'm a smoker, & this is disgusting & shameful - poor pup probably gets 2nd hand all the time

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#134

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Jay Son
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Somehow this looks like that purple creature from day of the tentacle...

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#137

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#138

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CoMa4
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Congratulations on your daughter’s engagement, how do you feel about? This. This is how I feel about it.

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