Memes have the ability to explain life’s absurdities in crisp plain language, and what better example than the “This Is Fine” meme? It’s simple: a cartoon dog is depicted drinking coffee at the table and everything else is on fire.
Perfectly calm and stoic, the dog manages to say the phrase that became an internet meme – “This is fine.” This unassuming panel has become a cultural symbol for handling stress, denial and chaos.
But what inspired this creation, and why has it endured as a go-to expression for life’s most overwhelming moments? Let’s explore the story behind it.
The Origins of “This is Fine”
The meme was derived from a six-panel comic called On Fire published in January 2013 by K.C. Green in his webcomic Gunshow. The star of the comic, a hapless dog named Question Hound, calmly reassures himself while chaos burns around him. As the flames close in, his nonchalance leads to his demise—he literally melts away.
There were personal reasons that Green took to drawing the comic. At that time, he was experiencing anxiety and was on his antidepressant medication. Since he developed fears regarding mental health and life’s instability, comics became a way to process.
How “This is Fine” went viral
It wasn’t overnight that the meme found its way to the internet and went viral. The first two panels appeared on the Web around January 2014 when users on social media platforms, including Reddit and imgur were sharing the comic strip.
It struck a chord. Whether dealing with exam stress, work overload or larger societal crises, people found humor and relatability in Question Hound’s oblivious optimism.
By 2015, it had become one of the recognized fads on the internet. It became synonymous with an ironic it’s all right when life is simply too much to say I can’t.
Meaning behind the “This is Fine” meme
The “This is Fine” meme has moved on from its intended context and matured into an important internet meme. It has been changed several times and most commonly during a conflict or a political upheaval.
It resurfaced during the COVID-19 outbreak since people experienced the fear in relation to the global situation. This meme has also been used in analysis of climate change, economic crisis and other subjects.
K.C. Green gave a sequel to the comic in 2016 with This Is Not Fine. In this case, Question Hound wakes up from the nightmare and attempts to put out the fire.
Green tumultuously has described varied emotions concerning the essence of the spread of the meme. Nevertheless, he is pleased with how it directly affects a lot of people’s lives and yet at times, he feels that it is used in a way that is not quite what he had in mind. Still, he acknowledges the power of its adaptability.
Green told As It Happens host Nil Köksal:
"It helped me understand the perception of one's art. Like, it might have been just a comic I had to dash off because I had a self-made schedule for my webcomic at the time. But, you know, people take what they want out of your art — without your permission half the time."
He added: "Art is open to interpretation, and that is just something I would have to live with — and I'm fine with."
Why do we love it?
The usage of the “This is Fine” is so potent because of the utter mundanity of the situation being depicted. It also very comically summarizes the human endeavor of keeping up appearances when indeed everything is out of hand.
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While saying “This is fine” might help lighten the mood, maybe take a page from Question Hound’s sequel—grab a fire extinguisher and tackle the chaos head-on.
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