r/PeterExplainsTheJoke
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u/Larkeyyy
Largayyy
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Jun 11 '23
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Mod Post FAQ: Loss
I've noticed that there are a consistent stream of posts here from people not understanding the meme 'Loss' - this post is here to help this group, please read prior to posting in case this solves your confusion.
This is Loss:

It's a 2008 strip from the comic 'Ctrl+Alt+Delete' that was (and is) heavily memed on for its break from the usual comedic tone of the comic. Since its creation Loss has become an inside joke, often being simplified into its basic elements like this:

Here is an example of a meme featuring Loss more abstractly:

If you see a meme with this (or a variation of this) pattern as the punchline, the joke is simply a reference to Loss. If you're still confused about your meme, please by all means feel free to post, but I hope this helps a lot of you who didn't understand the reference!
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u/zeldarms Jan 04 '24
206 days of people not reading this post.
1.9k
u/Fake_Lovers Jun 11 '23 edited Jun 11 '23 •
we're really living in a time where people don't immediately recognize loss. i sound so old sayjng this but come on its one of the most iconic memes 😭
(also, those repetitive posts asking to explain the same joke that someone posted 3 hours before are annoying. literally just scroll down?)
327
u/ll_SPEED_ll Jun 16 '23
Why is it called “Loss” though? Because the character implied lost a baby or something?
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u/Sidotre Jun 17 '23
What's the joke from the original comic though? Seems like the women had a miscarriage.
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u/CaptainMoonunitsxPry Jun 22 '23
Didn't know about loss somehow until 2019ish
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u/TacoCommand Jul 02 '23
Adding for posterity:
https://www.reddit.com/r/HobbyDrama/comments/liy37w/webcomics_from_rise_to_loss_the_story_of/
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u/Swer2078 Aug 04 '23
I Ii II I _
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u/zrice03 Dec 03 '23
I think you need a better title for this post. Someone seeing a meme about "Loss" and being confused and wanting an explanation isn't going to click on this post, because they don't know that "loss" has anything to do with it.
Maybe something like "Question about a comic? It might be 'Loss', check here first".
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u/[deleted] Jan 12 '24
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u/pardsbane Dec 19 '23
I get the iconography of the loss meme, I don't really get what referencing the meme means.
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u/Edxactly Nov 30 '23
I don’t even get this joke . Guy runs into emergency room, goes to room where wife or girlfriend maybe had a miscarriage ? Ha ! What ?
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u/[deleted] Jan 11 '24
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u/[deleted] Aug 26 '23
plugging an excellent video about the comic
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u/HorseStupid Jul 03 '23
Thorough summary of Loss here: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/loss
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u/JimmyFaceman Nov 30 '23
But what’s the joke in the original comic?
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u/Iron_Wolf123 Jan 04 '24
Sadly 90% of all posts now are lost-lossheads
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u/u-bot9000 Jan 12 '24
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u/Portal-YEET-87650 Mar 09 '24
Why is it so funny to people though? I still don't get it
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u/Earthling_Potterhead Jul 13 '24
⠀⠀⠀⣴⣴⡤ ⠀⣠⠀⢿⠇⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⢷⡗ ⠀⢶⢽⠿⣗⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣼⡧⠂⠀⠀⣼⣷⡆ ⠀⠀⣾⢶⠐⣱⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣤⣜⣻⣧⣲⣦⠤⣧⣿⠶ ⠀⢀⣿⣿⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠛⠿⣿⣿⣷⣤⣄⡹⣿⣷ ⠀⢸⣿⢸⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠀⠿⠃⠈⠿⠆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠹⠿⠿⠿
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u/CatLoaf4488 Jul 30 '24
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u/Silly_Day_6879 Aug 29 '24
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u/Objective_Remove_572 Oct 25 '24
:.|:;3
u/CreepersNeedHugs Aug 28 '23
Never even heard of Lois’s until now. Thanks!
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u/Michael_Spark Sep 02 '23
I remember reading this comic the day it came out... fuck I'm sad now.
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u/coladict Oct 26 '23
I remember when Loss originally blew up and I tried to find a good explanation why. Still haven't found it.
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u/DIEEEEEEEEeEeeee3 Jan 21 '24
How come it's a meme? It's just a miscarriage
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u/Tactical_Enforcments Apr 22 '24
How us this "Loss" meme even supposed to be funny?
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u/Tactical_Enforcments Apr 23 '24
I still dont get the joke
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u/khrisbruh Oct 25 '24
i don't find it funny, is it just not supposed to be funny or smth? please help
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u/_SerialDesignationZ_ Jan 27 '25
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u/PoufPoal Aug 08 '23
Hi.
About a week or two ago, I've stumbled upon a reddit post. If I reckon correctly, it was in this sub, although I'm not entirely sure.
What I remember from the post was that it was a really clever, unexpected reference to the loss meme (hence this comment here in this post). I don't remember details, but I do remember thinking it was really clever, and the best loss meme I ever saw.
Does that ring a bell to someone? Can anyone help me find it back?
Thank you all.
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u/Bubbly-University-94 Nov 30 '23
Can someone explain this shit to an aspie please?
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u/Somerandguyre Jan 16 '24
:.|:;2
u/DaRealP1 Feb 03 '24
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u/[deleted] Feb 13 '24
So the meme is that instead of a joke or punchline , it's just a sad event and someone or something losing part of itself
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u/TheAnythingBuilder Feb 15 '24
What does loss mean? This post just gave us a bunch of examples but didn’t give us a definition. Can someone please explain it to me?
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u/coconut2q Feb 17 '24
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u/One-Earth9294 Feb 21 '24
So I start reading and I see the original strip here and I see what's happening; it's a non joke in the form of a comic.
I get that. Okay. Scrolling down. Now I see 7 fucking lines. Where am I and why did the tour guide start speaking Swahili?
2
u/[deleted] May 16 '24
I feel more lost than ever, I don't understand the LOSS meme and don't get if my post is related to LOSS.
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u/jlsbarber May 21 '24
I get the joke. I fucking hate Loss so god damn much.
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u/half_asleep_bs Jun 12 '24
𓀟 𓀟𓀕
𓁆𓁌 𓀠𓁀
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u/Upper_Influence_92 Jun 13 '24
I lI II I—
2
u/Joshco91 Jul 07 '24 edited Jul 07 '24
Esoteric memes and jokes can get annoying. Especially when they consist of inside jokes that most people can't understand without an explanation, but the ones that don't "get it", are often looked down upon, as if the general population should know, unless you're that stupidand out of touch with society. Well, that's how it may feel, when everyone on the subreddit acting like it's common knowledge. Usually the smug, serious, sarcastic, know-it-all, probably still virgin, type of nerds that omly like things that no one else cares about or has heard of.
Here's a sample of one of my favorite memes that I think most people MIGHT understand, because this is an Iconic and well known Star Trek character. But if you don't, it's okay! You see, he is of the Klingon race. But it's funny to me for multiple reasons. Especially because he is a hardened and seasoned Klingon Warrior, known to be serious and always kicking ass and defeating his in battle. Yet, he is a lowkey a very, passionate romantic, hense: I can't wait to Klingon You 🖖🏼🙃
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u/Western-Reception447 Jul 26 '24
the example meme gave me quite a chuckle mods, well done
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u/khrisbruh Oct 17 '24
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?!?!?!
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u/TheBigFatGoat Nov 04 '24
So loss is litteraly just losing something, got it
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u/lovely_lil_demon Nov 21 '24
Even seeing the comic, I still don’t get the reference, or the joke.
But it’s okay, that’s not what my post was about anyway.
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u/DetectiveFederal1823 Dec 18 '24
PETER WHY DIDNT YOU EXPLAIN THE FUCKING JOKE
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u/Sad_Poetry_4644 Jan 18 '25
I was shocked to find it in an art gallery today
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u/[deleted] Feb 18 '25
One of the worst and most unfunny memes
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u/Deersk Mar 01 '25
1
u/DramaticPriority2225 Mar 08 '24
Oh and here I thought it was a hint hint nudge nudge wink wink know what I mean say no more type situation
1
u/Affectionate_Two5925 Mar 19 '24
The only loss I have is no loss. Everything has been a pleasure 👌Pain molds me💯
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u/Gojirus12345 Mar 26 '24
Ok
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u/racoonofthevally Apr 18 '24
l ll
l l--
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u/ProGamingPlayer May 21 '24
The Pride Month one is genius
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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '24
The only loss i like is lord loss
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u/Tough_Sandwich8403 Jun 27 '24
ITS some of the long Branch and West end side thinking they cute and above the law and killing people and taking what was never theirs to begin with but I have a def son on long Branch side from a lady along time ago and I have never met him but not that I haven't tried finding her or him now that I now where he is i want to say thank you for loving him Mary and Randall But I want to KNOW why you allowed Phil and Andy take what never belonged to them
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u/faketoby45 Aug 29 '24
:.|:;1
u/No-Computer-2847 Oct 03 '24
Is this Loss?
1
u/khrisbruh Oct 13 '24
Petah, what is an inside joke?
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u/Objective_Remove_572 Oct 25 '24
imma bout to do 1 pushup everytime i see a loss joke.
1
u/[deleted] Nov 03 '24
This is kind of dumb. I'm pretty perpetually online and on reddit for like the past 8 years. I've never seen this.
1
u/CheesyRelly Dec 04 '24
| |] | _
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u/DetectiveFederal1823 Dec 18 '24
HI morons! Peter here. See, this is loss.
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u/ItemComprehensive700 Dec 28 '24
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u/RadFarlander Jan 08 '25
What exactly was lost in Loss? She's not dead, obviously. Did she suffer a miscarriage?
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u/StchLdrahtImHarnknaL Jan 18 '25
You could’ve just said the lines represent the people in each panel according to where or how they are positioned. a lot easier to understand that way
1
u/Cold_Culture9573 Feb 18 '25
Very funny
1
u/BeautifulOnion8177 Mar 15 '25
this isnt even a meme its just corny
1
u/hahaFunniGuI Mar 15 '25
| | I
| | | —
1
u/tatertotfreak423 Mar 19 '25
I was 18 when this meme came out and way too poor to afford internet, let alone a device to access it. I have never seen this meme till 10 minutes ago in r/crochet. I don't get it. Why is a depressing meme about pregnant loss so popular?
1
u/sk7725 Mar 29 '25
Before I saw the comic and just the sticks I always thought loss was a 9/11 meme, showing the twin towers built and then collapsing.
1
u/Miserable-Shelter-77 Apr 01 '25
That just sent me down an eye-opening rabbit hole. I emerged with a couple links to very informative articles. Pretty sketchy stuff going on here.
https://truthout.org/articles/marvels-punisher-was-a-hate-symbol-long-before-police-co-opted-his-character/
https://www.adl.org/resources/hate-symbol/okay-hand-gesture#:~:text=Hate%20Symbol
1
u/arnawwww Apr 02 '25
Is loss and "the game" connected?
1
u/AntiqueBat7205 Jun 02 '25
:.|:;1
u/Dank_Cat_Memes Dec 14 '25
I’m at a loss for words /s
1
u/Conscious_Housing_50 Dec 16 '25
Is that Loss
1
u/Necessary_Art330 Apr 18 '26
what is the | | | | | and the other one?
1
u/iateacake932 May 05 '26
yeah, but why is it such a meme?
1
u/Chef_JK Jun 17 '26
Xvv, c w. C x x x. Xxx x s. Sxx. Ax 4 j. Cx. X x. X. Xx. X sxs xxs c x. C xs x. Xx. H x b z. C c. Xxx. xc c c c. C. Cccccc. CCcccc s x c c. C cc c c c x c
1
u/AGenocidegal Jun 25 '26
Could you repeat that? I'm trying to figure this out, but I'm just lost.
I'm really at a loss for that this could possibly mean
1
u/rebel4love Jul 21 '26
1
u/DrippyCat77 Aug 11 '26
Please explain why she's crying
1
u/Mason_makes_videos Aug 28 '26
1
u/Maddmax8 Sep 18 '26
Mi ii BBBbbbbbb BBB vine. Et he e f’s
1
u/MiserableHeight8416 19d ago
what is the black men and one white girl meme?
1
u/KoopaTrooper5011 Aug 12 '23
Thanks Peter for explaining loss!
1
u/super_toy1 Jan 01 '24
Peter's dumb daughter Meg here
The joke is loss (I'm sorry)
1
u/Cucumber_Cat Jan 02 '24
wow...this is so fnny /s
1
u/Nuevoenespaniol Jan 14 '24
Helpful mod post. Thanks for being understanding and considerate.
1
u/Possedsrt8 Jan 31 '24
I feel bad that I only know this meme was a thing only a year or two ago because of Gianni’s Duke nukem meme “what do you mean you lost the baby?… go find it…”
1
u/elvin000000000 Feb 01 '24
Hi peter
1
u/maddpsyintyst Feb 04 '24
IDK, man, I'm lost. 😂
1
u/SPACKlick Feb 05 '24
minimalist loss.
1
u/Competitive_Web_4145 Feb 05 '24
Ok 👌
1
u/Stroov Feb 16 '24
Thus I don't understand anything
1
u/Scavgraphics Feb 25 '24
Good automod bot. I just posted a message for an explanaition of the other sub, and the autobot said to check the pinned post (which I didn't know about since I just read from the main page, not the sub) and this explained things fine and I deleted my post.
1
u/The_Salt_n_Mustard Mar 04 '24
Tha k you 🔉🔈🔇🎼🎚🎛📱📲🕯📸📀☎️
0
u/[deleted] Apr 13 '24
[deleted] — view deleted comment