# 3251 Upvotes 3251 Upvotes is a four-panel exploitable comic format from early 2017 that mocks the type of low-effort content that gets massively upvoted on Reddit. The template features a simple line-drawn character who says something generic or pandering, then looks surprised at their own upvote count. It spread across Reddit, 4chan, and Imgur throughout 2017, with its most popular iteration scoring nearly 50,000 points on r/dankmemes. ## Origin The first known version of the 3251 Upvotes comic was posted on January 5, 2017, by Reddit user Redkurtain in the r/dankmemes subreddit[2]. In this original version, the character simply says "Lamb Sauce," referencing the Gordon Ramsay meme that was popular at the time. The final panel displayed the upvote tally at 3,251, which gave the format its name. The post pulled in over 5,300 points with a 91% upvote ratio and 30 comments within eleven months[2]. The comic's simple line-drawing style made it easy for anyone to edit, which was key to its spread as an exploitable template. - **Platform:** Reddit (r/dankmemes) - **Creator:** Redkurtain (original poster on Reddit) - **Date:** 2017 ## Overview The 3251 Upvotes format is a four-panel comic drawn in a crude, minimalist style. In the first panel, a stick-figure-like character says something deliberately unoriginal or crowd-pleasing. The second panel shows the character looking around expectantly. The third panel typically contains a reaction or additional low-effort statement. The final panel reveals an upvote counter reading "3,251" or a similar number, driving home the joke that Reddit rewards the most generic content with thousands of upvotes[2]. The format works as meta-commentary on Reddit's voting system. By putting obviously lazy or pandering statements into the template, users highlight how easily shallow content rises to the top of popular subreddits[2]. ## How It Spread Within weeks of the original post, other users started plugging their own text into the format. On February 27, 2017, Redditor system_requirements posted a version with a hat photoshopped onto the character, who says "won in tarna-" (a reference likely truncated from the source). That variation earned over 3,100 upvotes with a 95% approval rate[2]. The meme jumped to 4chan on April 9, 2017, when an anonymous user posted it in the /pol/ board. This version swapped the Reddit-focused humor for chan culture, with the character saying "coherent political discussion" in the first panel and "/pol/ btfo" in the third[1]. The thread picked up more than 80 comments before being archived[2]. On May 14, Imgur user iStabs adapted the format for Imgur's own upvote culture. Their version read "Upvote if you remember some generic shit we all remember," with the fourth panel adjusted to show "3,272 points." It racked up over 6,000 upvotes and 226,000 views in seven months[2]. The biggest single iteration landed on September 28, 2017, when Redditor FXRGRXD posted a square-format version to r/dankmemes. The third panel read "Rick and Morty fans are not as intelligent as they think they are," tapping into the widespread mockery of the Rick and Morty fanbase that peaked in late 2017. That post exploded to over 49,000 points (89% upvoted) with 800 comments[2]. ## How to Use The 3251 Upvotes format is straightforward to create: 1. Start with the four-panel template featuring the simple line-drawn character. 2. In the first panel, write something deliberately generic, pandering, or low-effort that you'd expect to get upvoted on Reddit (or whatever platform you're targeting). 3. The second panel typically shows the character looking around or staying silent. 4. The third panel can include a follow-up statement or reaction, though some versions leave it as another beat of silence. 5. The fourth panel shows the upvote/point counter at 3,251 or a similar number. ## Fun Facts - The original "Lamb Sauce" version referenced Gordon Ramsay's "Where's the Lamb Sauce?" meme, which was itself a major r/dankmemes trend in early 2017[2]. - The most successful version (49,000+ points) rode the wave of anti-Rick and Morty sentiment that dominated Reddit in fall 2017[2]. - The upvote number "3,251" from the original post became the meme's name even though later versions used different numbers[2]. - The meme crossed three major platforms (Reddit, 4chan, Imgur) within its first five months[2][1]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is 3251 Upvotes? 3251 Upvotes is a four-panel exploitable comic format where a crudely drawn character says something generic or pandering, and the final panel reveals they received thousands of upvotes for it. It satirizes low-effort content that performs well on Reddit[2]. ### Where did 3251 Upvotes come from? The format originated on January 5, 2017, when Reddit user Redkurtain posted the first version in r/dankmemes. The character said "Lamb Sauce" and the upvote counter showed 3,251[2]. ### What does 3251 Upvotes mean? The meme is a critique of Reddit's voting system, pointing out that unoriginal, crowd-pleasing content often gets massively upvoted while more creative posts get ignored[2]. ### How do you use 3251 Upvotes? You place deliberately generic or pandering text in the first panel of the four-panel template. The final panel showing the high upvote count is the punchline, implying that such lazy content is exactly what gets rewarded online[2]. ### Is 3251 Upvotes still popular? The meme's peak was in 2017, with its biggest post hitting 49,000 points in September of that year. It has largely faded from active use since then[2]. ### Who created the 3251 Upvotes meme? Reddit user Redkurtain created the original comic and posted it to r/dankmemes on January 5, 2017[2]. ### What was the most popular 3251 Upvotes post? The most upvoted version was posted by Redditor FXRGRXD on September 28, 2017, mocking Rick and Morty fans. It received over 49,000 points and 800 comments[2]. ### Did 3251 Upvotes spread beyond Reddit? Yes. The format appeared on 4chan's /pol/ board in April 2017 and on Imgur in May 2017, with each community adapting the joke to fit their own platform culture[1][2]. ## References 1. [/pol/ - Politically Incorrect » Thread #120306935]() 2. [3251 upvotes - Know Your Meme]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/3251-upvotes Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library