Philosoraptor

2008

Date: January 2008 · Place: Atlanta, Georgia, then LolDinosaurs.com · Figures: Sam Smith aka LandsharkRides, illustrator · Tags: Image Macro, Stock Character 01. A T-Shirt Design Sam Smith, an Atlanta-based designer working under the name LandsharkRides, draws a velociraptor with one claw pensively raised to its chin in January 2008. The image is first sold as a t-shirt design on LaughingSquid and his personal store. It is lifted to LolDinosaurs.com and then to 4chan, where users overlay the standard Impact font with self-undermining philosophical questions. The character is named Philosoraptor. 02. The Stoner Syllogism Format Philosoraptor captions follow a strict grammar of pseudo-paradox: If poison expires, is it more poisonous or no longer poisonous? The format is the first stock-character image macro to spawn a recognizable genre of recursive logical-joke writing. Smith trademarks the character in 2012 after years of unauthorized merchandise. The trademark is upheld and Smith continues to license the image. Sources • KnowYourMeme, 'Philosoraptor' • Sam Smith / LandsharkRides original art portfolio • Forbes, 'How Philosoraptor Became Big Business' (12 March 2012)