Im Sorry I Cant Hear You Over The Sound Of How Awesome I Am

2005Catchphrase / Demotivational Poster / Image Macroclassic

Also known as: "I Can't Hear You Over the Sound of How Awesome I Am" · "Sorry I Can't Hear You Over How Awesome I Am"

I'm Sorry I Can't Hear You Over The Sound Of How Awesome I Am is a 2005 image macro and demotivational poster meme originating from Star Trek fan fiction parody, used to mock inflated egos and self-importance.

"I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am" is a catchphrase and demotivational poster meme that originated from a Star Trek fan fiction parody in February 20051. The line, originally attributed to Captain Kirk, became a popular image macro format used to highlight someone's perceived awesomeness or mock inflated egos. It gained mainstream attention after being used in real-world workplace incidents involving Blackwater USA contractors and an Edmonton police chief4.

catchphrase memesimage macro memesstar trek memessuperiority memes

Overview

The phrase works as a comedic flex, typically overlaid on a demotivational-style poster format. The subject of the image is someone (or something) caught in a moment that radiates confidence, absurdity, or accidental coolness. The black-bordered demotivational layout frames the caption beneath the image, turning the boast into either genuine praise or sarcastic commentary depending on context5. The phrase is sometimes shortened to "I can't hear you over how awesome I am"5.

The catchphrase first appeared in February 2005 on the website Five-Minute Star Trek, a fan project that published comedic, condensed rewrites of Star Trek episodes1. A writer going by "Kira" penned a parody of the 1967 episode "The Return of the Archons," in which Captain Kirk defeats a planet-controlling computer named Landru using the classic logic paradox "this statement is false"2. After the computer explodes, Kirk delivers the line: "I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am"1. The quote captured Kirk's signature egotism, played up to absurd levels in the parody format.

The original Star Trek episode, written by Boris Sobelman based on a story by Gene Roddenberry, first aired on NBC on February 9, 19672. In the actual episode, Kirk and Spock argue the computer into self-destruction through a logical argument about free will. The parody version compressed this into a one-liner followed by Kirk's self-congratulation1.

The first known demotivational-style image macro using the phrase appeared on Echosphere.net sometime before August 13, 20065.

Origin & Background

Platform
Five-Minute Star Trek (fiveminute.net), Echosphere.net (first image macro)
Creator
Kira
Date
2005 (phrase), 2006 (image macro)

The catchphrase first appeared in February 2005 on the website Five-Minute Star Trek, a fan project that published comedic, condensed rewrites of Star Trek episodes. A writer going by "Kira" penned a parody of the 1967 episode "The Return of the Archons," in which Captain Kirk defeats a planet-controlling computer named Landru using the classic logic paradox "this statement is false". After the computer explodes, Kirk delivers the line: "I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am". The quote captured Kirk's signature egotism, played up to absurd levels in the parody format.

The original Star Trek episode, written by Boris Sobelman based on a story by Gene Roddenberry, first aired on NBC on February 9, 1967. In the actual episode, Kirk and Spock argue the computer into self-destruction through a logical argument about free will. The parody version compressed this into a one-liner followed by Kirk's self-congratulation.

The first known demotivational-style image macro using the phrase appeared on Echosphere.net sometime before August 13, 2006.

How It Spread

The image macro format was spotted as early as August 9, 2006, when a personal blog called Big Blog of Cheese mentioned it alongside other Star Trek motivational posters. The post noted the existence of multiple online motivational poster generators that made creating these images easy, and pointed to a Flickr group where users uploaded their own demotivational creations.

By mid-September 2007, the meme crossed into real-world controversy. A demotivational image featuring the phrase began circulating among employees of Blackwater USA, the private military firm, and soldiers stationed in Baghdad. This happened shortly after the Nisour Square massacre on September 16, 2007, when Blackwater contractors killed 17 Iraqi civilians. The image was used to mock the stereotypically aggressive attitude of Blackwater employees. Coverage of the demotivational's circulation appeared on MSNBC and the Democratic Underground forum.

In June 2009, the meme made headlines again in Edmonton, Canada. An official portrait of Edmonton Police Service Chief Michael J. Boyd was turned into a poster with the caption "I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am" and mass-emailed to police staff. Dozens of copies were also posted on walls at police headquarters. Boyd, who was unpopular with rank-and-file officers due to directives like requiring clean language when dealing with criminals, launched a formal investigation. He assigned officers to take fingerprints from the physical posters and ordered IT staff to trace the email's source. Boyd stated that "it is not unusual for frustrated persons in an organization to express their displeasure with leadership" but warned that insubordination charges would follow if the creator was identified. The incident was covered by CBC News and later referenced in reports about Boyd's resignation in December 2010.

The phrase also made its way into gaming. Blizzard Entertainment added "I Can't Hear You Over the Sound of How Awesome I Am" as a World of Warcraft achievement in 2009. Players could unlock it by defeating Sinestra, the final boss of the Bastion of Twilight raid, on their first attempt without any party members dying.

Several Facebook groups were created around the phrase, with at least one accumulating over 28,000 likes by March 2012. The image was also featured on CollegeHumor and spawned merchandise on platforms like Redbubble and Zazzle, with products ranging from t-shirts to badges.

How to Use This Meme

The format typically follows the classic demotivational poster layout:

1

Find a photo of someone or something looking exceptionally cool, confident, or obliviously impressive

2

Place it inside a black border with extra padding

3

Add the caption "I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am" (or a shortened version) in white text beneath the image

4

The humor works best when the subject is either genuinely impressive or hilariously unaware of their own absurdity

Cultural Impact

The meme's jump from internet joke to real-world workplace tool is its most notable legacy. The Blackwater incident in 2007 marked one of the earlier cases of an internet meme being used as commentary on a deadly serious current event, with the demotivational format providing dark humor about a private military firm's controversial conduct. The Nisour Square massacre itself led to criminal convictions of four Blackwater employees, though they were later pardoned by President Trump in December 2020.

The Edmonton police incident demonstrated how memes could function as tools of workplace protest. What might have been a simple joke in an online forum became a genuine act of organizational dissent when applied to an unpopular police chief. Former constable Marko Duran, who left the force citing a hostile work environment under Boyd, told CBC that "good chiefs or good leaders of any organization, they inspire and motivate their people, and Mike Boyd certainly hasn't done that". Boyd eventually stepped down as chief effective December 31, 2010, citing personal reasons.

Fun Facts

The Five-Minute Star Trek series published condensed parodies of nearly every episode across the franchise, but this single Kirk line from "The Return of the Archons" became far more famous than any other joke on the site.

"The Return of the Archons" was historically significant for introducing Star Trek's Prime Directive for the first time.

Edmonton Police Chief Boyd's investigation into the poster included dusting physical copies for fingerprints, treating an internet meme printout like crime scene evidence.

The World of Warcraft achievement requires a flawless raid boss kill with zero deaths, making the "awesome" boast something players actually have to earn.

Frequently Asked Questions

References (14)

  1. 1
    Five-Minute "The Return of the Archons"article
  2. 2
    Five-Minute Star Trekarticle
  3. 3
    “I’m sorry, I can’t hear you over the sound of how awesome I am.” | Big Blog of Cheesearticle
  4. 4
    I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am - Know Your Memeencyclopedia
  5. 5
    List of Google Easter eggsencyclopedia
  6. 6
    The Return of the Archonsencyclopedia
  7. 7
    Mike Boyd (police officer)encyclopedia
  8. 8
    Blackwater (company) - Wikipediaencyclopedia
  9. 9
    Mike Boyd (police officer) - Wikipediaencyclopedia
  10. 10
    I'm Sorry, I Can't Hear You Over the Sound of How Awesome I Am.article
  11. 11
    Edmonton police chief investigates rank-and-file revolt: sources | CBC Newsarticle
  12. 12
    Sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of how AWESOME I am by digerati | Redbubblearticle
  13. 13
    Badge Rond 2,50 Cm je suis désolé de ne pas vous entendre parler de l | Zazzle.frarticle
  14. 14
    Global Newsarticle

Im Sorry I Cant Hear You Over The Sound Of How Awesome I Am

2005Catchphrase / Demotivational Poster / Image Macroclassic

Also known as: "I Can't Hear You Over the Sound of How Awesome I Am" · "Sorry I Can't Hear You Over How Awesome I Am"

I'm Sorry I Can't Hear You Over The Sound Of How Awesome I Am is a 2005 image macro and demotivational poster meme originating from Star Trek fan fiction parody, used to mock inflated egos and self-importance.

"I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am" is a catchphrase and demotivational poster meme that originated from a Star Trek fan fiction parody in February 2005. The line, originally attributed to Captain Kirk, became a popular image macro format used to highlight someone's perceived awesomeness or mock inflated egos. It gained mainstream attention after being used in real-world workplace incidents involving Blackwater USA contractors and an Edmonton police chief.

catchphrase memes image macro memes star trek memes superiority memes

Overview

The phrase works as a comedic flex, typically overlaid on a demotivational-style poster format. The subject of the image is someone (or something) caught in a moment that radiates confidence, absurdity, or accidental coolness. The black-bordered demotivational layout frames the caption beneath the image, turning the boast into either genuine praise or sarcastic commentary depending on context. The phrase is sometimes shortened to "I can't hear you over how awesome I am".

The catchphrase first appeared in February 2005 on the website Five-Minute Star Trek, a fan project that published comedic, condensed rewrites of Star Trek episodes. A writer going by "Kira" penned a parody of the 1967 episode "The Return of the Archons," in which Captain Kirk defeats a planet-controlling computer named Landru using the classic logic paradox "this statement is false". After the computer explodes, Kirk delivers the line: "I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am". The quote captured Kirk's signature egotism, played up to absurd levels in the parody format.

The original Star Trek episode, written by Boris Sobelman based on a story by Gene Roddenberry, first aired on NBC on February 9, 1967. In the actual episode, Kirk and Spock argue the computer into self-destruction through a logical argument about free will. The parody version compressed this into a one-liner followed by Kirk's self-congratulation.

The first known demotivational-style image macro using the phrase appeared on Echosphere.net sometime before August 13, 2006.

Origin & Background

Platform
Five-Minute Star Trek (fiveminute.net), Echosphere.net (first image macro)
Creator
Kira
Date
2005 (phrase), 2006 (image macro)

The catchphrase first appeared in February 2005 on the website Five-Minute Star Trek, a fan project that published comedic, condensed rewrites of Star Trek episodes. A writer going by "Kira" penned a parody of the 1967 episode "The Return of the Archons," in which Captain Kirk defeats a planet-controlling computer named Landru using the classic logic paradox "this statement is false". After the computer explodes, Kirk delivers the line: "I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am". The quote captured Kirk's signature egotism, played up to absurd levels in the parody format.

The original Star Trek episode, written by Boris Sobelman based on a story by Gene Roddenberry, first aired on NBC on February 9, 1967. In the actual episode, Kirk and Spock argue the computer into self-destruction through a logical argument about free will. The parody version compressed this into a one-liner followed by Kirk's self-congratulation.

The first known demotivational-style image macro using the phrase appeared on Echosphere.net sometime before August 13, 2006.

How It Spread

The image macro format was spotted as early as August 9, 2006, when a personal blog called Big Blog of Cheese mentioned it alongside other Star Trek motivational posters. The post noted the existence of multiple online motivational poster generators that made creating these images easy, and pointed to a Flickr group where users uploaded their own demotivational creations.

By mid-September 2007, the meme crossed into real-world controversy. A demotivational image featuring the phrase began circulating among employees of Blackwater USA, the private military firm, and soldiers stationed in Baghdad. This happened shortly after the Nisour Square massacre on September 16, 2007, when Blackwater contractors killed 17 Iraqi civilians. The image was used to mock the stereotypically aggressive attitude of Blackwater employees. Coverage of the demotivational's circulation appeared on MSNBC and the Democratic Underground forum.

In June 2009, the meme made headlines again in Edmonton, Canada. An official portrait of Edmonton Police Service Chief Michael J. Boyd was turned into a poster with the caption "I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am" and mass-emailed to police staff. Dozens of copies were also posted on walls at police headquarters. Boyd, who was unpopular with rank-and-file officers due to directives like requiring clean language when dealing with criminals, launched a formal investigation. He assigned officers to take fingerprints from the physical posters and ordered IT staff to trace the email's source. Boyd stated that "it is not unusual for frustrated persons in an organization to express their displeasure with leadership" but warned that insubordination charges would follow if the creator was identified. The incident was covered by CBC News and later referenced in reports about Boyd's resignation in December 2010.

The phrase also made its way into gaming. Blizzard Entertainment added "I Can't Hear You Over the Sound of How Awesome I Am" as a World of Warcraft achievement in 2009. Players could unlock it by defeating Sinestra, the final boss of the Bastion of Twilight raid, on their first attempt without any party members dying.

Several Facebook groups were created around the phrase, with at least one accumulating over 28,000 likes by March 2012. The image was also featured on CollegeHumor and spawned merchandise on platforms like Redbubble and Zazzle, with products ranging from t-shirts to badges.

How to Use This Meme

The format typically follows the classic demotivational poster layout:

1

Find a photo of someone or something looking exceptionally cool, confident, or obliviously impressive

2

Place it inside a black border with extra padding

3

Add the caption "I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am" (or a shortened version) in white text beneath the image

4

The humor works best when the subject is either genuinely impressive or hilariously unaware of their own absurdity

Cultural Impact

The meme's jump from internet joke to real-world workplace tool is its most notable legacy. The Blackwater incident in 2007 marked one of the earlier cases of an internet meme being used as commentary on a deadly serious current event, with the demotivational format providing dark humor about a private military firm's controversial conduct. The Nisour Square massacre itself led to criminal convictions of four Blackwater employees, though they were later pardoned by President Trump in December 2020.

The Edmonton police incident demonstrated how memes could function as tools of workplace protest. What might have been a simple joke in an online forum became a genuine act of organizational dissent when applied to an unpopular police chief. Former constable Marko Duran, who left the force citing a hostile work environment under Boyd, told CBC that "good chiefs or good leaders of any organization, they inspire and motivate their people, and Mike Boyd certainly hasn't done that". Boyd eventually stepped down as chief effective December 31, 2010, citing personal reasons.

Fun Facts

The Five-Minute Star Trek series published condensed parodies of nearly every episode across the franchise, but this single Kirk line from "The Return of the Archons" became far more famous than any other joke on the site.

"The Return of the Archons" was historically significant for introducing Star Trek's Prime Directive for the first time.

Edmonton Police Chief Boyd's investigation into the poster included dusting physical copies for fingerprints, treating an internet meme printout like crime scene evidence.

The World of Warcraft achievement requires a flawless raid boss kill with zero deaths, making the "awesome" boast something players actually have to earn.

Frequently Asked Questions