A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Perhaps something smells bad?

Maybe I’m just showing my age, not getting some fundamental part of youth culture, but can someone humor the old codger that writes this blog and please explain to me why half the people who send me photos are making some variation on this facial expression?

what-stinks.jpg

Comments

336 responses to “Perhaps something smells bad?”

  1. Anna Avatar

    That is the MySpace pose. Or the “I was raised by a gang of pimps” pose.

  2. Anna Avatar

    That is the MySpace pose. Or the “I was raised by a gang of pimps” pose.

  3. Anna Avatar

    That is the MySpace pose. Or the “I was raised by a gang of pimps” pose.

  4. original_sly Avatar
    original_sly

    haha here in new zealand if you make that face it’s kinda like having maori lips. people do it to look staunch 😀

  5. original_sly Avatar
    original_sly

    haha here in new zealand if you make that face it’s kinda like having maori lips. people do it to look staunch 😀

  6. original_sly Avatar
    original_sly

    haha here in new zealand if you make that face it’s kinda like having maori lips. people do it to look staunch 😀

  7. xeightx Avatar
    xeightx

    lawlz when in doubt, i blame it all on myspace
    *makes retarded face in mirror and takes a picture (with visible flash reflection*

  8. xeightx Avatar
    xeightx

    lawlz when in doubt, i blame it all on myspace
    *makes retarded face in mirror and takes a picture (with visible flash reflection*

  9. xeightx Avatar
    xeightx

    lawlz when in doubt, i blame it all on myspace
    *makes retarded face in mirror and takes a picture (with visible flash reflection*

  10. Dr Knowitall Avatar
    Dr Knowitall

    Because, to take oneself seriously is to act accordingly with adults. Plans, ambition, self-respect… these things are cool for most young nihilists. They’re concerned with impulse, which requires apathy, and self-deprecating humor. When impressing peers is a primary preoccupation, youthful pride has its own social consequences: namely the insecure projections from others that the prideful are too good for them, that pride is not a malleable trait that can be adapted cohesively into the social group. Fortunately, most of us grow into mature, boring adults who take our own brand of photos: mundane, banal, and redundant.

  11. Dr Knowitall Avatar
    Dr Knowitall

    Because, to take oneself seriously is to act accordingly with adults. Plans, ambition, self-respect… these things are cool for most young nihilists. They’re concerned with impulse, which requires apathy, and self-deprecating humor. When impressing peers is a primary preoccupation, youthful pride has its own social consequences: namely the insecure projections from others that the prideful are too good for them, that pride is not a malleable trait that can be adapted cohesively into the social group. Fortunately, most of us grow into mature, boring adults who take our own brand of photos: mundane, banal, and redundant.

  12. Dr Knowitall Avatar
    Dr Knowitall

    Because, to take oneself seriously is to act accordingly with adults. Plans, ambition, self-respect… these things are cool for most young nihilists. They’re concerned with impulse, which requires apathy, and self-deprecating humor. When impressing peers is a primary preoccupation, youthful pride has its own social consequences: namely the insecure projections from others that the prideful are too good for them, that pride is not a malleable trait that can be adapted cohesively into the social group. Fortunately, most of us grow into mature, boring adults who take our own brand of photos: mundane, banal, and redundant.

  13. Uraniumhobo Avatar

    honestly i cant stnd that face >_<

  14. Uraniumhobo Avatar

    honestly i cant stnd that face >_<

  15. Uraniumhobo Avatar

    honestly i cant stnd that face >_<

  16. trooperboots Avatar
    trooperboots

    She’s fucked if the wind changes

  17. trooperboots Avatar
    trooperboots

    She’s fucked if the wind changes

  18. trooperboots Avatar
    trooperboots

    She’s fucked if the wind changes

  19. ImmureME Avatar

    I’m casting my vote for a result of the “scene.” If they have a lip ring, septum, blonde and brown extensions in their hair or any combination or the three and they look between 14-20 years old then definitely. I would bet money that the majority of the pictures you get of (mostly) girls doing that are “scene kids.”

  20. ImmureME Avatar

    I’m casting my vote for a result of the “scene.” If they have a lip ring, septum, blonde and brown extensions in their hair or any combination or the three and they look between 14-20 years old then definitely. I would bet money that the majority of the pictures you get of (mostly) girls doing that are “scene kids.”

  21. ImmureME Avatar

    I’m casting my vote for a result of the “scene.” If they have a lip ring, septum, blonde and brown extensions in their hair or any combination or the three and they look between 14-20 years old then definitely. I would bet money that the majority of the pictures you get of (mostly) girls doing that are “scene kids.”

  22. Ruth Avatar
    Ruth

    I can’t even make that shape with my lips!

    It just looks like I’m pouting badly… which I’m really quite thankful of.

  23. Ruth Avatar
    Ruth

    I can’t even make that shape with my lips!

    It just looks like I’m pouting badly… which I’m really quite thankful of.

  24. Ruth Avatar
    Ruth

    I can’t even make that shape with my lips!

    It just looks like I’m pouting badly… which I’m really quite thankful of.

  25. brentleyy Avatar
    brentleyy

    In the bay area its called the “thizz face”
    Its the face you make when you chew up an e-pill

  26. brentleyy Avatar
    brentleyy

    In the bay area its called the “thizz face”
    Its the face you make when you chew up an e-pill

  27. brentleyy Avatar
    brentleyy

    In the bay area its called the “thizz face”
    Its the face you make when you chew up an e-pill

  28. matt Avatar
    matt

    bucket of bunnies is the win and every other comment pales.

  29. matt Avatar
    matt

    bucket of bunnies is the win and every other comment pales.

  30. matt Avatar
    matt

    bucket of bunnies is the win and every other comment pales.

  31. starred_and_scarred Avatar
    starred_and_scarred

    Here I thought I had my late 20s finger squarely on the pulse of youth culture and yet…I’ve never heard of a “thizz face” until this very moment. I feel so old and yet so superior.

  32. starred_and_scarred Avatar
    starred_and_scarred

    Here I thought I had my late 20s finger squarely on the pulse of youth culture and yet…I’ve never heard of a “thizz face” until this very moment. I feel so old and yet so superior.

  33. starred_and_scarred Avatar
    starred_and_scarred

    Here I thought I had my late 20s finger squarely on the pulse of youth culture and yet…I’ve never heard of a “thizz face” until this very moment. I feel so old and yet so superior.

  34. Arkaday Avatar
    Arkaday

    Ok, I think the bonnet is worse than the face.

  35. Arkaday Avatar
    Arkaday

    Ok, I think the bonnet is worse than the face.

  36. Arkaday Avatar
    Arkaday

    Ok, I think the bonnet is worse than the face.

  37. Dani Avatar
    Dani

    bucket of bunnies = win

  38. Dani Avatar
    Dani

    bucket of bunnies = win

  39. Dani Avatar
    Dani

    bucket of bunnies = win

  40. kwaniesiam Avatar
    kwaniesiam

    Hm lets see. Terrible expression, awful fashion. Why even bother posting this? It’s just another scene sheep making a stupid face to get attention for the ugly picture.

  41. kwaniesiam Avatar
    kwaniesiam

    Hm lets see. Terrible expression, awful fashion. Why even bother posting this? It’s just another scene sheep making a stupid face to get attention for the ugly picture.

  42. kwaniesiam Avatar
    kwaniesiam

    Hm lets see. Terrible expression, awful fashion. Why even bother posting this? It’s just another scene sheep making a stupid face to get attention for the ugly picture.

  43. max Avatar
    max

    KILL IT WITH FIRE

  44. max Avatar
    max

    KILL IT WITH FIRE

  45. max Avatar
    max

    KILL IT WITH FIRE

  46. tony Avatar
    tony

    she looks like shes pooping. that must be her poopin hat.

  47. tony Avatar
    tony

    she looks like shes pooping. that must be her poopin hat.

  48. tony Avatar
    tony

    she looks like shes pooping. that must be her poopin hat.

  49. kristen Avatar

    i’m on the boat with the person who said everyone is reading *way* too far into a stupid facial expression.

    someone start on the bonnet… that’s not even a possible fashion statement

  50. kristen Avatar

    i’m on the boat with the person who said everyone is reading *way* too far into a stupid facial expression.

    someone start on the bonnet… that’s not even a possible fashion statement

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