“You have won the internet today”

[NittyLittleThing]

Does this saying make anyone else cringe?

It almost fills me with rage. I see it a lot on Twitter/X and on here as a reply to someone’s unfunny comment.

How can you ‘win’ the internet?

& yes, I am fun at parties.

It's just a daft saying when someone has said something outstandingly funny.
It's as bad as people saying (name of celebrity ) must be protected at all costs. Usually when someone reports on Keanau Reeves or Jack Black.

I'm pretty apathetic about it. I don't LOVE it but it doesn't fill me with rage 😂

The OP's comment wins the Internet.

It had to be done.

This drives me mad too!

1. it's often said in response to some cliche/dull comments

2. it is always said by a dull person who is clearly in no position to judge a good comment let alone an internet-winning one

3. I know it's not that big a deal but this thread gave me the opportunity...

Oh lord I’ve been seeing this for 15 years (was on Twitter in the fairly early days)

Fair enough to find it annoying but personally there are things that wind me up much more!

Aye, and it’s normally the most panny, unfunny comment too.

Rage has been instilled

Only ever saw it in response to outrageously witty comment. A lot of the time I agree with the sentiment so no rage here, I’m afraid.

I’m usually irritated by phrases like that but I’m fine with it - I don’t think it’s cringe.

The ubiquitous “ick” on the other hand….

I always found it quite funny. It’s been around for years.

It’s really irritating, I hate people that trot out stock phases. The ‘you are [insert name] and I claim my £5’ has a similar effect on me.

I hate it. It doesn't make sense. And it's nearly always posted as a reply to a spectacularly unfunny comment.

Finally! Someone else says it. I agree OP. YANBU.

Nah, I like it. If some one said it to me, I would take it as a huge compliment considering how vast the internet is.

One phrase I always like seeing is when someone posts a picture of something ghastly, and someone pipes up with "what a terrible day to have eyes".

Honestly. I have run this over a d over, but it just is not a stock phrase to me. Any name? I just cannot make this make sense! Is there a cultural or youth thing I am just deeply out of touch with?

I quite like it but see it as old school Twitter so it’s comforting in that Twitter was so fun then

the £5 thing is an expression from the 60s or 70s I think? I’ve only heard friends of mum’s age group using that, I don’t know where or when that originated. Is it from a quiz show?

I find it annoying too. Maybe it was funny the very first time I read it. I think it annoys me because I’m quite a literal person. It’s not that the concept of winning the internet makes no sense so much as the idea that the poster is acting as though they are in charge of giving out prizes!

I’ve had it said to me by a random stranger. I was well chuffed. It was around the time of the Brexit vote and I captioned a photo of Johnson and Gove with “Referendum and Referendumber”. Hilaire, non? Thank you OP, you’ve reminded me of what a wit I am!

Yeah, I used to see it on message boards in the early 2000s.

It’s a ‘50s and ‘60s thing, I think, but obviously carried on among those who knew it from then.

It comes from old newspaper promotions. A paper would send a person to Margate, Blackpool or whatever and you could win a prize if you spotted them and went up to say “you are X and I claim my £5”. I suppose the nearest modern equivalent is radio stations’ promotions where you have to answer the phone and say the code phrase to win.

Ah, I discovered that it’s much older than I thought:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobby_Lud

I have never won the internet. AIBU to be concerned?
Do I need to log it with 101? Contact the governors?
Ring 111 or go straight to A&E?
Should I ask for a refund or contact the ombudsman?
Is the internet cheating on me?
What does one have to do to win the internet? Do the Elders of the Internet decide who wins? Maybe Moss and Roy from IT can help?

Amazing!

I like it.

Ha ha yes the 'protected at all coats cliche is annoying'... i usually see it under a picture of an older person doing something sweet.. or David Attenborough...