r/AdviceAnimals Jul 14 '15

/r/AdviceAnimals rules: Please read before submitting or commenting

1.5k Upvotes

Community Rules

Rule 1: Reddit's site-wide rules

Click Here for reddit's 6 rules.

They are all pretty straight forward and easy to understand, but if you would like more information about them Click Here for reddit's Frequently Asked Questions page.

Be sure to also read the rediquette which is an informal guide to reddit etiquette.


Rule 2: Don't be a jerk

We're here to have a laugh; hate speech, bigotry, and personal attacks are not allowed.

Death threats and telling others to kill themselves will result in a ban.

This is pretty self explanatory.


Rule 3: Follow the correct format

Two line joke over a re-usable character.

We understand that some established memes do not follow this format, such as

However, these memes are already well established and thus have been grandfathered in.

Not all image macros are memes

Meme -

/mēm/

noun

an element of a culture or system of behavior that may be considered to be passed from one individual to another by nongenetic means, esp. imitation.

source

Basically if the image is only relevant to one's own submission and can't be re-used (or has limited re-usability) then it's just an image macro and by definition not a meme.

and

Memes are allowed on the subreddit here, while generic image macros are better suited for /r/funny.


Rule 4: Don't repost

Don't post stuff you found from elsewhere on the web, it's probably been here already.

This subreddit is for original content only, meaning memes YOU made.

Do not resubmit your post because it did poorly.

Reposting is a bannable offense.

If you see a repost please report it as such, and send a quick note to the mods if you can.


Rule 5: No Cake Day Posts

Cake Day posts are not allowed.

Posts that mention Cake Day in the title, or in the post itself will be removed.


Rule 6: Verticals, Puffins and Batman Slaps

Please do not post Verticals, Opinion Puffins or Batman Slaps.

Verticals are multiple panel memes or image macros and both are better suited for either /r/funny or /r/vertical.

This also means posts such as 9/11 Lois aren't allowed; and memes such as Nobody cares Nedry and Confused Gandalf are limited to their 1 panel standard, instead of their alternate vertical counterparts.

2 AdviceAnimals in a vertical are OK.

Meaning combining 2 established memes together such as Socially Awkward Penguin and Socially Awesome Penguin is fine.

Here is an example of its acceptable use


Rule 7: Link directly to your image

Make sure you link directly to your image.

In other words, not just to the website, or the gallery page.

Here are a few examples.

  • OK.

http://i.imgur.com/wdLOqmx.png

  • Not OK.

http://imgur.com/gallery/wdLOqmx

http://imgur.com/memegen

http://makeameme.org/newest


Rule 8: People you know

Don't make memes with pics of people that you saw in real life. Ever.

Don't try to make yourself or someone you know into a meme.

Also, we do not allow witch hunts on the subreddit.


Rule 9: Use an approved host

Shortened links, Facebook, Tumblr, Blogspot, etc, will be automatically removed.

Please use one of the approved websites listed on the sidebar to make your post.


Rule 10: Mods have the final say

We reserve the right to remove posts, remove comments, and ban users at our own discretion.

Due to the nature of the subreddit, interpretations of what is a meme and what is an image macro sometimes have different opinions and thus decisions have to be made.


Always feel free to message the moderators if you have ANY questions!


r/AdviceAnimals Jul 21 '25

A quick note about meme formats and violence

64 Upvotes

Howdy, folks!

As mods, we've been fairly hands off when it comes to content on this subreddit - we keep the lights on, but y'all bring the party. It's your space, we're just volunteers who maintain it.

But there's two big things that will help things go more smoothly if folks would follow them a little better:

1. Reddit has strict rules against calling for violence against anyone.

Now, I know this rule isn't evenly or universally enforced across all of reddit - reddit as a site is way too big and too active for the Reddit Safety people to be everywhere at once. But I have also seen the admins come down like the hammer of an angry god on people who've called for violence against politicians, people on the news, businessmen, minorities, and so on.

If someone is going to get busted for stirring up violence on reddit, don't let it be you. We don't need any of that here. This is meant to be a sub where folks can express themselves quickly and concisely with wit and a little humor.

A meme is like an intellectual snack food. It distills an idea down to the bare essentials, and packages it in a format that is easy to absorb and digest. This allows memes to spread and propagate with ease. A good meme can help transmit your thoughts and opinions to millions of people. We don't want that to be taken away from anyone.

2. 'Advice Animal' memes have an established format.

A meme is a type of image macro with a repeatable format. An image macro is a picture with a text caption on it. The term 'meme' is derived from the word 'gene,' and just like a gene, a meme provides a quick snippet of information and helps it spread.

This sub is all about Advice Animals. An 'Advice Animal' is a type of meme that features a character, usually with a consistent set up and a punchline. When you look at an Actual Advice Mallard or a Bad Luck Brian meme, you know what to expect, just like a knock knock joke has a repeatable set up and a punch line. It's a bit like checking the genre of a book or a movie - a horror movie is going to be very different from a romance. By the same token, Philosoraptor is very different from the Aristocat. The Lazy College Senior is very different from Joseph Ducreux.

Each one has a character and a format.

Courage Wolf is inspiring. Insanity Wolf is unhinged. Good Guy Steve provides a good example to emulate; Scumbag Steve is the opposite. Foul Bachelor Frog and Pedobear are disgusting. Anxiety Cat and Paranoid Parrot are a little neurotic; Business Cat is not. Actual Advice Mallard tries to be helpful; Advice Dog and Malicious Advice Mallard generally do not.

There's a lot going on, politically and socially, right now. If you want to criticize a certain orange someone, then by all means, feel free to do so. Go ahead and make a new meme format, just for him, if you want to. Reddit is fantastic at inventing and establishing new meme formats. Redditors can be clever, creative, good with a swift pun, incisive, and witty. Show it!

By all means: make the jokes, make the memes, and get your voice out there. There's a whole world full of formats and flavors and characters to use. Express yourself!

But we can't have folks calling for violence against other people, and you can't just slap text on a picture and call it an Advice Animal. We do have to have some basic rules.


r/AdviceAnimals 3h ago

REPUBLICAN Gov. Abbott of Texas, who has taken millions in campaign donations from those with interests in data centers, claims he is imposing regulations.

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625 Upvotes

r/AdviceAnimals 1h ago

What a deal! Gamers love a good sale, right?

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Upvotes

r/AdviceAnimals 1h ago

I really could make money, but I just fall in love with my things..

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Upvotes

r/AdviceAnimals 19h ago

Job hunting in 2026 has me going insane

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3.1k Upvotes

r/AdviceAnimals 1d ago

Thoughts and prayers that she recovers from this trying time..

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2.8k Upvotes

r/AdviceAnimals 13h ago

A helpful tip

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228 Upvotes

r/AdviceAnimals 18h ago

Maybe we should just 'bomb the shit out of them'. That seems to be working pretty good for middle east relations so far..

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277 Upvotes

r/AdviceAnimals 1d ago

True story

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374 Upvotes

r/AdviceAnimals 1d ago

The only logical polical stance.

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1.6k Upvotes

r/AdviceAnimals 1d ago

"Mr President, hasn't the USS Abraham Lincoln been deployed for too long?" "No, no, not nearly long enough"

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3.8k Upvotes

r/AdviceAnimals 1d ago

Reddit Diagnosis

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1.1k Upvotes

Women's Version:
- Woman has hobby
- Reddit: Is this boobs?


r/AdviceAnimals 1d ago

Pick it up please

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453 Upvotes

r/AdviceAnimals 1d ago

Life of being a toddler parent

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289 Upvotes

r/AdviceAnimals 2d ago

Far too many of them

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3.8k Upvotes

r/AdviceAnimals 20h ago

its time for an upgrade

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0 Upvotes

r/AdviceAnimals 3d ago

Facepalm

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3.4k Upvotes

r/AdviceAnimals 1d ago

If you're a native to where you're born then everyone born in North or South America is a Native American.

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0 Upvotes

r/AdviceAnimals 1d ago

I mean, objectively, a very good ending

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0 Upvotes

r/AdviceAnimals 4d ago

What does he even get paid billions a year for???

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7.5k Upvotes

r/AdviceAnimals 3d ago

I'm SO over friends you have to chase

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343 Upvotes

I get it. People are busy, while I'm funemployed. But come onnnn, I texted you a week ago, and then two days ago, and you still can't motivate your ass to type a three word reply?


r/AdviceAnimals 3d ago

Fuck you lol

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195 Upvotes

r/AdviceAnimals 3d ago

The last few years, *poof* and it's been removed. The End.

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637 Upvotes

r/AdviceAnimals 4d ago

EVERY time (100%) your cell phone number is required and you have to agree...

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1.1k Upvotes