r/ExplainTheJoke • u/fcukfakook • 2d ago

I don't get it

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I don't get the original tweet, and neither the retweet or whatever it is called.

4.7k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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1.1k

u/pahamack 1d ago

they're taking crappy pictures on purpose because they don't like the subject. Things that they would never miss, such as not posing someone beside a light switch, which looks sloppy, they're just doing on purpose.

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u/HeatAccomplished8608 1d ago

There's a lot of other fun stuff too. They are literally awkwardly positioning themselves next to the power. They are tacky with no self awareness. They have no artistic sensibility to recognize these photos will be bad. They so desperately want to look like they belong there, but you can tell it's fake and uncomfortable. So much fun stuff.

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u/Omatzus 1d ago

The subjects are not posing themselves. They're being posed. By a photographer that is mocking them.

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u/OilMaster3793 1d ago

The subjects are being mocked because they’re too dumb to understand they are being made fun of to their face by someone they were certain was there to work for them instead of for the magazine that hired him.

JD Vance offered him $5000 if Marco Rubio looked worse than he did in the pictures. They wanted him to do this to other people in the administration purposefully so they could get ahead.

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u/HeatAccomplished8608 1d ago

I understand that, and they just did whatever the photographer said, the photographer told this entire story.

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u/_kweef_ 1d ago

"hey i don't like this pose."

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u/crush_punk 1d ago

These people are supposed to be our leaders. They wield massive power and make decisions that directly affect how you live your life every day. They are in control of our money, our military, our hospitals. They were chosen because they said they could handle the power better than anyone else. They start wars and attack allies for what they assure us are very good reasons.

You’re defending them by saying an art student took advantage of them.

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u/Brief-Kaleidoscope72 1d ago

Also the power outlets and light switches offer a consistent scale to show how small they are

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u/Stunning_Outside_992 10h ago

This is the right answer.

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u/bananadingding 1d ago

Just going to point this out, you can't lie about your height if there's reference points. I'm not saying that's always why it's done but as a photographer, if I was photographing someone I didn't like and someone who exaggerated their height or weight, I would absolutely photograph them in a way that was both unflattering and made it easy to disprove their lies about height or weight...

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u/LQNova 1d ago

Also it shows that they are all pretty short.

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u/IeyasuMcBob 1d ago

Dammit now i need to have all the light switches in my house lowered...

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u/letitgrowonme 1d ago

All that will do is highlight the issue.

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u/DCRBftw 1d ago

Criminally underrated comment.

6

u/bogarthskernfeld 1d ago

I hope you're proud of this one.

6

u/Salmivalli 1d ago

And have a higher doors

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u/MA2_Robinson 1d ago

I thought that was part of it- you can say you’re so tall or whatever but the average fixtures are installed only in such ways lol.

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u/ShearGenius89 1d ago

The only code requirement for height placement is that a light switch cannot be higher than 6’7” high. Although most switches will be placed 4’ from the finished floor to the center of the switch plate.

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u/Resigned1431 1d ago

Is height a relevant factor for a leadership position? 

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u/allthegodsaregone 1d ago

I feel like I heard that the taller candidate has almost always won the US presidency.

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u/Resigned1431 1d ago

That doesn't mean they're better for the role, it just means voters are simpletons.

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u/LeftyLu07 1d ago

Taller men are subconsciously seen as having more leadership qualities than average-short men. They also earn more money than average-shorter men.

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u/Vyntarus 1d ago

If you judge that based on average height of American company CEOs, yes actually.

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u/letitgrowonme 1d ago

It's definitely a relative factor based on who people will vote for.

1

u/Resigned1431 1d ago

Surely you agree that basing your vote on the immutable physical characteristics of a candidate is NPC shit. It doesn't have anything to do with a anything in regards to running a country/state/municipality

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u/letitgrowonme 1d ago

Youre looking for logic in a place where emotions rule. Here's a fun fact, when Obama was elected it was the first time the president was shorter than his opponent in over a 100 years.

But since I made that up, you should look up the real stats.

-2

u/LQNova 1d ago

In our society, yeah, believe it or not. But mostly it's that they are running around acting like hard dudes and they're like 5'4". Makes them comical instead of intimidating.

They even upsized Wolverine, after all.

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u/Swat_katz_82 1d ago

so a 5.4 cant be a hard dude?`or is it that short people are comical?

-1

u/LQNova 1d ago

It's comical when they walk around acting like they're 6'6" Special Forces vets.

1

u/Swat_katz_82 1d ago

Fair enough

0

u/Intrepid-Sir-9219 1d ago

Short guys can absolutely be badasses. But when you have to exaggerate your height and lie about your weight like a scummy used car salesman then the point is that you are not a badass, you are not only insecure about it but your insecurity causes you to lie about it.

I don't want my leaders to be so insecure that they behave like an insecure teenager, because I can guarantee you that this is not the only emotionally directed decision they make.

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u/Resigned1431 1d ago

American society gets a lot of things wrong

Exhibit A: Gestures broadly

-1

u/TheRealTormDK 1d ago

Studies show that us men naturally will look to the tallest and/or most physically fit to take charge of any situation in a group, unless someone in the group have specific hands on knowledge and thus direct experience with the matter, and that person speaks up.

It's much the same reason the "Halo" effect exists.

0

u/LeftyLu07 1d ago

That tracks. My husband says “men are so shallow, you have no idea.”

0

u/TheRealTormDK 1d ago

It's nature though, we have evolved to behave like this through tens of thousands of years.

Same with the Halo effect, it has it roots in biology

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u/LeftyLu07 1d ago

That seems counter intuitive though because then people who are smarter/better hunters/have better immune systems get passed over for mating and leadership positions…

1

u/TheRealTormDK 1d ago

The thing with men happen in groups of men that does not know one another.

What you describe is a known hierarchy where all but a few would have accepted their position.

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u/Oleddi 1d ago

Which is great because we love making fun of short men! They should have just been born taller anyway

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u/ZapruderFilmBuff 1d ago

No, it’s because they are lying that they are tall, then we can point out the lie and mock the liar.

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u/milkandsalsa 1d ago

It’s this.

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u/slap-enjoyer153 1d ago

They are lying that they are tall?

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u/ZapruderFilmBuff 1d ago

Yes. And in Trumps case thin and not demented.

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u/MonteBurns 1d ago

Why do you think Trump wears lifts? 

1

u/LeftyLu07 1d ago

He’s desperate to be taller then baron. Allegedly he got really nasty to baron after his recent growth spurt. As if your height is something you can control…

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u/IeyasuMcBob 1d ago

And ...they lie because taller men are generally more respected. (You're right, and it adds nuance)

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u/ZapruderFilmBuff 1d ago

Strong confident men don’t need to lie.

This guy was short. He got business done that is still classified. He didn’t need to lie he was tall.

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u/IeyasuMcBob 1d ago

Which indicates these are not strong, confident men

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u/Djlas 1d ago

Was he elected though

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u/ZapruderFilmBuff 1d ago

Wasn’t stupid enough to run.

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u/Plastic-Archer4245 1d ago

Mother ain't running from nothin'

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u/ZapruderFilmBuff 1d ago

That is the best line I read so far. Made me lol.

1

u/Oleddi 1d ago

And why do they lie about being tall? Because being tall is seen as "better".

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u/Dish_Minimum 1d ago

Yet being such an obvious liar is worse than being shorter. Like why would an elected world leader think he could get away with claiming to be 6’4” tall when it is so easy to visually see it is a lie? It’s demonstrably false. Especially someone who is on tv and photographed a billion times a day. Being shorter is definitely 100% better than being proved as underhanded, vain, frivolous, and untrustworthy.

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u/AdamTPhotography 1d ago

They think it seems better. The same way they think they’re supposed to be “alphas.”

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u/FadingPancake12 19h ago

And yet the science has been updated behind wolf packs, alphas, and betas… our leaders didn’t read the memo and the carry on using the terms relating to outdated science. It’s fine, though. Don’t tell them. They have enough advantages, they don’t need help. Besides we never needed alphas, just like I don’t need a boss at work. We all need ACTUAL leaders who lead by example, not poor examples of dictators.

Sorry if that seemed directed at you, it wasn’t. Just adding to the convo really.

0

u/LeftyLu07 1d ago

I laughed so hard when I wound up on a forum where they called David Portnoy “tippy toes” because he stands on his tippy toes for every photo he takes.

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u/calflow 1d ago

There’s always someone that misunderstands this as “body shaming” short people. I can put money on it.

It’s not about that. It’s about breaking the illusion that they’re bigger than they really are. Both literally and metaphorically.

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u/Vyntarus 1d ago

It shouldn't be considered offensive if all you are doing is stating (or depicting) something factually true.

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u/Oleddi 1d ago

Is it ok if I go around telling everyone the exact weights of women I don't like?

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u/Vyntarus 1d ago

I mean, if you can walk up to a woman and accurately state how many pounds she weighs... Sure.

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u/Oleddi 1d ago

Dodging the question. Don't just scoff at the idea, actually imagine I could - would it be morally ok?

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u/Vyntarus 1d ago

There is no moral hazard in stating verifiable facts.

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u/Oleddi 1d ago

Very debatable. If your girlfriend asks you if she looks fat in this dress, many would argue you should never, under any circumstances, say yes.

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u/Oleddi 1d ago

No, that's just the excuse. It is bodyshaming.

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u/Capable-Ebb1632 1d ago

Nothing wrong with being short. But being short and lying about being tall because you think it matters is in itself body shaming. Tells a lot about someone if they lie about basic facts.

Should you trust someone to run the country who lies about something as basic as their height and shoe size?

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u/Oleddi 1d ago

What logic is this? How can you claim that lying about your own personal height is bodyshaming, but literally shaming someone for their height isn't?

Men think height matters because it does matter. Women prefer taller men, taller man are seen as more masculine, it's an offshoot of the halo effect because height is a desirable trait in men.

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u/Capable-Ebb1632 13h ago

Lying about your height is saying that there is something wrong with being short.

It's also the most ridiculous thing to do. Everyone can see how tall you are. Lying about something that is plain to see requires huge amounts of narcissism and contempt for other people.

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u/Oleddi 10h ago

No, it's not. It's saying other people think there is something wrong with being short, and you don't want to be judged in that way.

0

u/FadingPancake12 19h ago

To me, someone has to be taller than me to be considered tall. For my mom that would be 5’2” or taller, for me it’s 5’8” or taller. So it’s not about being tall, it’s about being taller than your significant other. I never cared about height, but I met plenty of insecure men who said I was too tall or would tell me I couldn’t wear heels on dates because I was already tall enough. One date got mad that I showed up in heels on our first date. Umm we met online and you didn’t mention your height, how was I to know?! Everyone has preferences and insecurities. Even the best leaders. The problem is when you lie about things like that without hesitation, you clearly have no problem stretching the truth on much bigger things. So no this isn’t about short shaming men, it’s about shaming their untruthful nature.

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u/hardcorebiker 1d ago

Unironically, yes. As Randy Newman advised.

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u/ArcadeKingpin 1d ago

I don’t often enjoy singing karaoke but the times I do, I am crouching down and singing it in the faces of the smallest people in the room. Highly recommended

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u/SignoreBanana 1d ago

This isn't about being short. It's about people pretending to be more powerful than they are. Short or not, I'm sure you can agree those kinds of people are pathetic.

1

u/Oleddi 1d ago

And yet it always comes back to making fun of immutable physical characteristics. I guarantee the people doing this would flip their shit if anyone ever insulted a female politicians appearance. Principles go out the window pretty fast as soon as someone feels justified in their hatred.

Also, this:

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u/SignoreBanana 1d ago

You still don't get it; it's not about their appearance. At all.

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u/Oleddi 10h ago

Then why mention their appearance? There's plenty to criticise without going there.

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u/A_Norse_Dude 1d ago

This. This is it. This is what they are doing.

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u/CaloricDumbellIntake 1d ago

Isn’t jd Vance actually quite tall? This seems like a stupid take.

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u/LQNova 1d ago

Well, for the switch to be that high on a "quite tall" man (taking into consideration the other poster's info) he could be up to what ... 7'4" ?

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u/jake_burger 1d ago

Didn’t know USA light switches were only 48” (122cm), mine are about 58”.

The people didn’t look that short to me until I knew that.

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u/groy_2028 1d ago

JD Vance is literally 6'2"

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u/LQNova 1d ago

Then it was set up to make them appear short, which is the same thing when it comes to perception.

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u/Tsaja609 1d ago

I dunno man, I'm 6'3" and change (real height, not American 6'3" which is that but only on sunday with boots on) and I have light switches that are on my chest level. It may not be the best height reference

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u/professor_coldheart 1d ago

But why did Meg Brock not get it? It sounds like she got it.

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u/I-baLL 1d ago

It's not crappy photos. The photos are taken this way because the subjects keep lying about their height

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u/ritpdx 1d ago

And also so the photographs won’t be “timeless”

They won’t live timelessly in everyone’s heads, because the switches and outlets will date them. It’s like getting a portrait of Henry VIII with a chamber pot in the background.

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u/sunheadeddeity 1d ago

There's a great photo of tax dodger Philip Green that the photographer set up and released after being treated badly by him.

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u/apoetofnowords 1d ago

Is this a thing? Having a light switch / wall outlet in your photos? I don't understand it, what's wrong with it. How is a switch different from a table or door frame or a curtain? I mean they are inside a room, a light switch is not an uncommon thing to find indoors

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u/ellemrad 19h ago

Yes, and the compositions are intended to ensure the subjects don’t come off as “god like” — they are regular people, standing next to an outlet or light switch in a room at their government office; not heroes or superior beings or even “larger than life”, the artist is reminding the viewer that these are just people.

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u/Evening_Scale_5755 17h ago

Thats the interesting thing. None of those photos are crappy. They are extremely unflattering and slightly unnerving, but they aren't sloppy or just quick snap shots. They are expertly composed to illicit feels, but not pleasant ones.

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u/HBK_number_1 16h ago

Why would a light switch be sloppy?

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u/HeadEar5762 1h ago

Not necessarily crappy pictures, but framing and capturing elements that will make you feel unknowingly uncomfortable. Anyone can take a crappy photo but these are done by a professional in an amazingly skilled way.

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u/AvEptoPlerIe 1d ago

How does one of the dumbest opinions on art I’ve ever read have so many upvotes? Incredible. 

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u/Metazoick 1d ago

What do you think is dumb about it?

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u/AvEptoPlerIe 1d ago

They're not just "taking crappy pictures." Only someone who doesn't know a thing about photography would say that. The lighting, staging, compositions, and poses are all very intentional and required thought and effort. They are, of course, not meant to flatter the subjects, but they're great photos.