# What is the context of this famous photo? (Don't Worry Sir, I'm From the Internet) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 8, 2010, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-context-of-this-famous-photo-dont-worry-sir-im-from-the-internet/563385 "2010-12-08T06:48:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-context-of-this-famous-photo-dont-worry-sir-im-from-the-internet/563385/1 "2010-12-08T06:48:52Z")
I have seen [this](http://i5.tinypic.com/6af5bps.jpg) photograph time and time again all over the internet. In the background are two men in military gear, one carrying the other over the shoulder and holding a machine gun. In the foreground is a very fat boy also dressed in a military getup, though obviously not a real soldier. The photo reads: “Don’t Worry, Sir, I’m From the Internet.” What is the story behind this photo? Was the kid photoshopped in? Who are the two guys in the background and where are they? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-context-of-this-famous-photo-dont-worry-sir-im-from-the-internet/563385/2 "2010-12-08T08:27:16Z")
The meme is old and on many other pics in variations. [Here’s a copy of the photo](http://www.cslacker.com/images/funny/people/rednecks_hicks/fat_soldier/) without text on it, so this may be its source. ---
**Author:** ![Brandinho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Brandinho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brandinho)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-context-of-this-famous-photo-dont-worry-sir-im-from-the-internet/563385/3 "2010-12-08T08:37:14Z")
Yeah, it’s just a meme. It’s referring to the game Counter-Strike and the manner in which many 400 pound pale as freshly fallen snow players tend to envision themselves as real life bad men because they can point and click quickly. Oh, and if I had to wager a guess, I’d say all 3 are playing airsoft. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-context-of-this-famous-photo-dont-worry-sir-im-from-the-internet/563385/4 "2010-12-08T11:26:07Z")
Are both figures in the background real? They look like dummies to me (certainly the one being carried). ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-context-of-this-famous-photo-dont-worry-sir-im-from-the-internet/563385/5 "2010-12-08T12:47:29Z")
I have a vague recollection that I saw it in [http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/12/2009\_in\_photos\_part\_1\_of\_3.html](http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/12/2009_in_photos_part_1_of_3.html), or the equivalent for 2008. Or maybe I’m conflating it with the soldier with no pants. ---
**Author:** ![Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-context-of-this-famous-photo-dont-worry-sir-im-from-the-internet/563385/6 "2010-12-08T13:46:38Z")
> [@Wallenstein](#): > > Are both figures in the background real? They look like dummies to me (certainly the one being carried). The guy doing the carrying does seem to be walking awfully upright to be carrying a person on his shoulders. I really know nothing about airsoft, but I suspect the picture is taken at some place for that or some other kind of game/simulation. The cable spool, fence sections, and little hut in the background would provide nice cover for such. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-context-of-this-famous-photo-dont-worry-sir-im-from-the-internet/563385/7 "2010-12-08T13:58:24Z")
not much info here: > **[Don't Worry, I'm From the Internet](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/dont-worry-im-from-the-internet)** > > Don’t Worry, I’m From the Internet is a catchphrase meme often seen in image macros featuring people dressed in cosplay costumes. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-context-of-this-famous-photo-dont-worry-sir-im-from-the-internet/563385/8 "2010-12-08T14:42:10Z")
They’re airsofters or the like. Note that the fat kid has no insignia at all on uniform, which appears to be the old US woodland camo BDU or a variant of it. The other two guys each have uniforms different from his and also from each other. The fat kid’s M-4 has a commercial flash suppressor that is different from the one on an issue M-4. The FN MAG 58 the guy in the background is carrying has a picturesque length of what I’ll bet are dummy cartridges hanging off of it. When used from the bipod, it would more typically have a cloth bag attached that contains and protects the ammo belt. They’re hobbyists wearing bits and pieces of military surplus gear and posing with their expensive toy guns. Fatty fatty fat fat does appear to be wearing a real Cold Steel push dagger on the suspender of his carry harness. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-context-of-this-famous-photo-dont-worry-sir-im-from-the-internet/563385/9 "2010-12-08T20:08:05Z")
The two guys in the background are pretty clearly photoshopped in. His face is much too dark for the amount of light in the photo, and the depth doesn’t look right for the position in the photo. I’m guessing it’s from some movie, but I don’t know which. The rest of the photo is some air soft competition field, and the kid is just some rich fat kid that has a lot of gear. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-context-of-this-famous-photo-dont-worry-sir-im-from-the-internet/563385/10 "2010-12-08T20:18:49Z")
[minor hijack]How does an airsoft competition work? In paintball, its pretty easy to see if you’ve been hit, but I can’t imagine its particularly easy with airsoft pellets, especially if your all decked out in heavy clothing and a helmet, as the kid in the picture is[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-context-of-this-famous-photo-dont-worry-sir-im-from-the-internet/563385/11 "2010-12-08T21:56:17Z")
> [@treis](#): > > The two guys in the background are pretty clearly photoshopped in. His face is much too dark for the amount of light in the photo, and the depth doesn’t look right for the position in the photo. I’m guessing it’s from some movie, but I don’t know which. He’s wearing camo facepaint, or whatever the correct term is for that gunk you put on your face. I am convinced he’s definitely really in that shot, not photoshopped, and that he is carrying a dummy, like **Wallenstein** suggests. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-context-of-this-famous-photo-dont-worry-sir-im-from-the-internet/563385/12 "2010-12-08T22:40:21Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > [minor hijack]How does an airsoft competition work? In paintball, its pretty easy to see if you’ve been hit, but I can’t imagine its particularly easy with airsoft pellets, especially if your all decked out in heavy clothing and a helmet, as the kid in the picture is[/hijack] It’s a combination of honor, and others calling you out. Most largish games I attended had “refs” on the field to call out folks that were ignoring hits. Plus, depending on the range of engagement, you can see when there are bb’s hitting a target. ---
**Author:** ![busterpickle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@busterpickle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/busterpickle)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-context-of-this-famous-photo-dont-worry-sir-im-from-the-internet/563385/13 "2010-12-09T05:46:32Z")
That fat white kid could be photoshoped in, or, the camera fired the flash. If the camera has a wide angle lens and the aperture wide open, since it does look overcast in the photo, it would create that look that we see where the fat kid looks real big and up close and the guy in the back looks “off”. The guy in the background could be really far away but we really don’t know for sure. It’s obviously a staged photo and the guy could actually be carrying a real person, just more or less standing there vice walking around. The guy could be really strong and that kid on the back could be a waif. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-context-of-this-famous-photo-dont-worry-sir-im-from-the-internet/563385/14 "2010-12-09T18:32:12Z")
A fireman’s carry doesn’t really require you to lean forward much. The weight is mostly on your shoulders, and thus over your pelvis. That’s kind of the point. It looks real to me. And as we used to say “Why would the Army buy \_\_\_\_s when we’ve got perfectly good soldiers right here?” In this case, \_\_\_ equals “carrying dummies”. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-context-of-this-famous-photo-dont-worry-sir-im-from-the-internet/563385/15 "2010-12-10T19:07:57Z")
> [@Tristan](#): > > It’s a combination of honor, and others calling you out. > > Most largish games I attended had “refs” on the field to call out folks that were ignoring hits. > > Plus, depending on the range of engagement, you can see when there are bb’s hitting a target. Interesting. I have friends who spent many years in the [SCA](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_for_Creative_Anachronism), and in the bouts, fighters who didn’t admit hits were called “rhino hiders” - as in, their hides are as thick as rhinoceroses (rhinoceri?), and they couldn’t feel anything. The usual solution was for one of the very feared, seasoned fighters to step in and pound them progressively harder and harder, until they were cured of the need to rhino hide.