This image features an altered picture of a character that appears to resemble Homer Simpson from the animated television series "The Simpsons." The text above the image reads "14 year old me: wow! I can't believe I got all that music for free!" and is followed with "The family pc:" indicating that the content below is a reaction or consequence related to the text above.
The depiction of Homer Simpson is purposefully blurred and distorted, with colors running and an overall impression of corruption or damage. His iconic yellow skin seems smeared, and his eyes are obscured by a white bar, resembling the style of censorship bars used to cover sensitive content. The image implies that the computer, represented by the character's face, has been compromised or affected adversely.
The humor in the image arises from the juxtaposition of the innocent excitement of a young person acquiring music for free, presumably through downloading from the internet, and the ensuing effect this has had on the family computer. It is suggestive of an era when music piracy was rampant and the methods employed to acquire music illegally often came with the risk of downloading malicious software.
The implication that the "free" music downloads have caused the family computer to become infected with viruses or malware is what lends to the comedic aspect of the image. For those familiar with the digital age problems of early internet use, the situation is instantly relatable and therefore humorously nostalgic.
The visual gag of using a character with an altered and corrupted appearance serves to anthropomorphize the family PC, providing a face to the unseen digital afflictions it has undergone. This personification of the computer adds to the comedic value by inferring a physical sickness that mirrors the way in which a computer would behave erratically due to a virus.
Finally, the image might be funny to people who remember the less secure early days of internet usage when this sort of misadventure was a common tale. The blend of nostalgia for the time period, understanding the context of digital piracy and its consequences, and the clever visual representation of the affected PC create a humorous and resonant meme for those who connect with its message. 14 year old me wow I can t believe I got all that music for free The family pc