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5 Reasons Why The 'Cover Yourself In Oil' Meme Still Dominates The Internet In 2025

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The "Cover Yourself in Oil" meme has cemented its place in internet history, not just as a fleeting joke, but as a bizarre, pseudo-scientific cornerstone of modern meme culture. As of December 2025, this simple, four-panel comic continues to see a massive resurgence, proving that the absurd logic of the early internet is far from dead.

The meme’s enduring popularity lies in its perfect blend of nostalgic "Rage Comic" aesthetics and a modern, deeply ironic sensibility. It’s a cultural artifact that keeps evolving, often reappearing in new, surreal contexts that baffle newcomers and delight seasoned meme enthusiasts.

The Bizarre Biography of a Viral Phenomenon

The "Cover Yourself in Oil" meme is a prime example of how older internet formats, specifically the Troll Science genre, can achieve a powerful, viral second life. Its "biography" is less about a person and more about a concept that became an entity in itself.

  • Original Concept: A four-panel comic strip, typically featuring the Troll Face character.
  • Core Premise: The character proposes a ludicrous, pseudo-scientific "solution" to a common problem.
  • The "Oil" Logic: The specific logic is: 1) Oil floats on water. 2) Wait for it to rain. 3) Cover yourself in oil. 4) Fly (because the rain, being water, will lift the oil, and thus you).
  • Origin Date: The earliest known version surfaced around February 2020, primarily on platforms like 9GAG and Reddit.
  • Genre Classification: A sub-genre of Troll Science (or Troll Physics), which itself is a part of the broader Rage Comics movement of the late 2000s and early 2010s.
  • Key Entities: Troll Face, Troll Science, Rage Comics, 9GAG, Reddit, Imgflip, Dank Memes, Ironic Memes, Trollge, Oil Floats on Water, Density, Buoyancy.
  • Cultural Significance: It marked a major point in the Troll Face Revival movement, where the classic character was re-contextualized for a new generation.

5 Reasons Why the Oil Meme Is Still Relevant in Late 2025

Unlike most viral trends that fade within weeks, the "Cover Yourself in Oil" meme has maintained a consistent presence for years. Its longevity is a testament to its flexibility and its deep roots in internet culture. Here are the main factors keeping it fresh and relevant in late 2025.

1. The Resurgence of Troll Face and Trollge

The "Cover Yourself in Oil" comic was a catalyst for the massive Troll Face and Trollge revival. The original Troll Face, a symbol of early internet trolling and annoyance, was largely dormant until the ironic use of the oil meme brought it back into the spotlight. The new wave of memes often uses the classic Troll Face in surreal, unsettling, or deeply ironic scenarios, a style now known as Trollge. This revival has led to countless new Troll Face Edits and short-form videos on YouTube and TikTok, ensuring the oil meme remains a foundational text in this new era of absurdity.

2. The Perfect Blend of Nostalgia and Ironic Humor

For older internet users, the meme is a blast of nostalgia, recalling the era of Rage Comics and simple, deliberately flawed logic puzzles. For younger users, the joke is purely ironic. They understand that the premise—flying due to oil being less dense than water—is scientifically absurd, and that’s the entire point. This dual appeal allows the meme to bridge the gap between different generations of internet users, giving it a broader reach than most memes. The deliberately low-effort art style of the original Troll Science panels only enhances the comedic effect of its ridiculous claims.

3. The Flexibility for New Contexts and LSI Variations

The meme’s simple structure—a four-step plan culminating in an impossible result—makes it incredibly easy to remix and adapt. Instead of flying, users substitute the final panel with a completely unrelated, often surreal outcome. This has spawned numerous LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) variations, including:

  • "Cover Yourself in [Liquid]" (e.g., "Cover Yourself in Piss," where nothing happens, mocking the original).
  • Parodies that replace the Troll Face with other classic or trending characters.
  • Edits that use the setup to explain complex, unrelated real-world events with the same absurd Troll Physics logic.

Platforms like Imgflip and Tenor are constantly updated with new templates and GIF versions, ensuring the meme remains a dynamic part of the dank memes ecosystem.

The Pseudo-Science Behind the Joke: Density and Buoyancy

The humor of the "Cover Yourself in Oil" meme hinges on a fundamental misunderstanding of basic physics, specifically density and buoyancy. The core statement, "Oil floats on water," is true, as oil is generally less dense than water. However, the conclusion—that a person covered in a thin layer of oil will be lifted into the air by rain—is completely false.

The meme playfully ignores the concepts of mass and volume. While the oil layer would float *on* a body of water, the amount of oil on a person’s skin is negligible. The tiny amount of water in the rain would not generate enough force to lift the person's entire body mass, even if the oil layer somehow remained intact. The joke is a satirical take on oversimplified, flawed logic, a hallmark of the original Troll Science comics which often ended with the iconic phrase, "Problem, Faraday?" or simply, "Problem?".

4. Its Role in Ironic and Absurdist Meme Culture

Modern meme culture, especially on platforms like Discord and various subreddits, favors absurdist humor and ironic detachment. The "Cover Yourself in Oil" meme fits this perfectly. It’s a joke that requires the audience to be in on the absurdity. Sharing it signals a deep understanding of internet history and a commitment to the "post-irony" style, where a joke is so old and so ridiculous that it becomes funny again. This shared cultural awareness is a powerful driver of its continued viral spread.

5. A Consistent Presence in "Meme of the Year" Discussions

Despite its age, the meme continues to be featured in discussions and polls for "Meme of the Year," even in 2025. This constant mention, even as an honorary or historical entry, keeps the phrase "cover yourself in oil" in the public consciousness and ensures that new content creators are exposed to its format. This cyclical attention guarantees that the meme is never truly retired, but merely waits for the next viral trend to attach itself to.

In conclusion, the "Cover Yourself in Oil" meme is a cultural marvel. It’s a nostalgic nod to Rage Comics, a foundational text for the Trollge revival, and a perfect example of how scientific absurdity can generate long-term, ironic humor. Its simple premise and enduring flexibility mean that for the foreseeable future, the internet will continue to ask: Problem?

5 Reasons Why the 'Cover Yourself in Oil' Meme Still Dominates the Internet in 2025
cover yourself in oil meme
cover yourself in oil meme

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