Some of you are gonna keep trusting the government until your pronouns are was were
The image presented is a meme featuring two separate pictures. The top portion contains text that reads, "Some of you are gonna keep trusting the government until your pronouns are 'was/were'..." Below this caption is a picture of a man who appears to be mid-conversation, holding a wine glass with an expression that conveys a mix of humor and a touch of sarcasm. The man, who is dressed in what looks like historical or possibly Victorian-era attire, complete with a suit, vest, and cravat, and also sporting a mustache, is captured in a candid moment that suggests he is making a witty or critical comment.
The humor in the meme seems to stem from the playful and somewhat dark warning in the text, suggesting that people will continue to trust in governmental systems or figures until it's too late—implied by the use of past tense pronouns "was/were," which is typically used for things that are no longer in existence or relevant. This is a hyperbolic way of saying that such trust might lead to one's downfall or obsolescence.
The man's expression and the act of raising his glass also add a layer of irony to the meme. His demeanor suggests that he knows something that others do not, or that he finds the situation amusingly hopeless. His dress indicates that he is from a bygone era, which may indirectly suggest a wry commentary on how history repeats itself or that the lessons from the past are often ignored.
Why some people might find this funny relates to the subversive nature of memes and their ability to address serious subjects like trust in authority with a touch of humor. Satire has long been a tool for dealing with complex issues, and this meme walks that line between humor and social commentary.
For others, the humor may come from the shared sentiment that the meme expresses—a collective skepticism towards government or other powerful institutions. There's an element of camaraderie when individuals encounter a sentiment that matches their own, especially when conveyed through a popular medium like a meme, which is designed to be spread and understood quickly.
Lastly, the layer of absurdity in the idea that one's personal pronouns could literally be replaced with past-tense verbs contributes to the comedic value of the meme. It takes an abstract concept (the extent of one's trust in government) and connects it to a linguistically absurd consequence, creating a juxtaposition that strikes the funny bone. The hilarity is in the extreme and imaginative outcome that the text describes, delivered with the smugness of the man pictured, as though he's just delivered the punchline to an elaborate joke. Some of you are gonna keep trusting the government until your pronouns are was were
