Two Buttons

The "Two Buttons" meme originated on October 25, 2014, when animator Jake Clark posted a comic on his Tumblr blog. The comic depicts a sweating character struggling to choose between two buttons labeled "BE A DICK" and "DON’T BE A DICK," representing conflicting choices. The comic was reportedly inspired by the "Sweating Towel Man" meme and the character Hank Nova from the game "TimeSplitters 2."

Later, the meme gained popularity in early 2015 when it was shared on platforms like Imgur and Reddit. This meme format visually illustrates the difficulty of choosing between two opposing options, resonating with many people. Users quickly created various derivative memes, spreading the format rapidly.

The "Two Buttons" meme typically highlights dilemmas involving conflicting or controversial choices, such as societal norms, moral decisions, or personal preferences. Examples include choosing between trusting the police and supporting gun ownership, pizza topping preferences, or simple everyday decisions exaggerated humorously. This meme emphasizes the absurdity of situations where two contradictory choices create comedic tension.