# The Scroll of Truth The Scroll of Truth is an exploitable webcomic meme created by artist Tate Parker, first posted to Tumblr on February 2, 2017[1]. The four-panel comic depicts an adventurer discovering an ancient scroll containing an uncomfortable truth, only to angrily toss it away while yelling "Nyehhh!" The format took off when users began replacing the scroll's text with their own unpleasant truths, making it one of the most popular exploitable templates of 2017[2]. ## Origin Tate Parker posted the original webcomic, titled "Truth," to his Tumblr on February 2, 2017[2]. In the comic, the archaeologist character finds the Scroll of Truth, which reads "no one reads your rants on your Facebook page." He throws it away yelling "nyehhh"[1]. The post picked up over 930 notes on Tumblr within two months[2]. A related concept appeared earlier when artist Nathan Pyle tweeted a comic on September 7, 2016, showing Indiana Jones discovering a "crystal which utters only truth" that tells him "some of your problems are your fault"[2]. While not the same format, it explored a similar joke structure of an adventurer rejecting uncomfortable honesty. - **Platform:** Tumblr (original comic), 4chan / Reddit (viral spread) - **Creator:** Tate Parker (artist) - **Date:** 2017 ## Overview The Scroll of Truth follows a simple four-panel structure. An explorer ventures through a cave, discovers an ancient scroll labeled "The Scroll of Truth," reads its message, and then throws it away in disgust while exclaiming "Nyehhh!" The joke is that the scroll reveals something the reader doesn't want to hear, making the explorer's childish rejection the punchline[1]. What makes the format work is its flexibility. The third panel, where the scroll's text appears, can be blanked out and replaced with anything. Parker designed it this way on purpose. "By basically changing one panel you could have the comic say whatever you wanted it to say and have it still make sense," he told the Daily Dot[1]. The mismatched fonts people use when editing in their own text actually make it funnier than if the lettering matched the original hand-drawn style. ## How It Spread The meme's breakout moment came on March 26, 2017, when a 4chan user named memedistributor posted a blank template of the comic to /pol/, inviting others to create their own photoshopped versions[2]. The same day, the format jumped to Reddit. User Watashi_o_seiko posted a version to r/dankmemes where 9gag discovers a scroll reading "you will never be dank"[2]. Another Redditor, Goodguykarlmarx, submitted a version to r/dankmemes that pulled in over 2,700 upvotes within 10 days[2]. The meme spread rapidly across Reddit's ecosystem in early April. On April 2, a version about camping snipers hit r/battlefield_one, collecting more than 1,900 upvotes and 140 comments[2]. By April 3, users on r/MemeEconomy were already discussing whether Scroll of Truth memes were a "safe or risky investment"[2]. On April 4, a version reading "Some of your problems are your own fault" reached r/funny with over 1,000 upvotes[2]. The format attracted a wide range of uses. Some people posted self-deprecating truths they themselves refused to accept, while others went on the attack, using the scroll to call out things they thought other people were in denial about[1]. It also became a vehicle for commentary on current events and other memes. One popular version mocked the hype around McDonald's Szechuan sauce revival driven by Rick and Morty fans[1]. Deep fried versions appeared on 4chan, layering the comic with heavy Photoshop filters, glowing eyes, and the "B" emoji[1]. The meme also went meta, with versions where the scroll's text commented on the comic itself or placed the comic inside the comic, creating recursive loops[1]. ## How to Use The Scroll of Truth template is straightforward to remix. Take the four-panel comic, blank out the text in the third panel (the scroll's message), and write in your own uncomfortable truth. The format typically works in two ways: - **Self-deprecating mode:** Write something you personally don't want to admit. The joke is that you, like the explorer, would rather reject the truth than face it. - **Callout mode:** Write something you think a specific group or fandom is in denial about. The explorer represents them refusing to accept reality. The text often looks funnier in a generic digital font rather than matching Parker's hand-lettered style. Some users label the explorer character as a specific person, group, or platform to sharpen the joke. ## Cultural Impact Parker initially felt frustrated when the comic appeared on iFunny with a new watermark and no attribution[1]. But as the remixes spread, his attitude shifted. "I started seeing it pop up more and more and I saw that people were doing some really funny things with it, and I realized it had turned into a meme and that people could do whatever they want with it," he told the Daily Dot[1]. Like many exploitable formats, the Scroll of Truth attracted some edgy and political uses, including versions claiming "there are only two genders" or "Hitler did nothing wrong"[1]. The Daily Dot compared this trajectory to what happened with Pepe the Frog, though the Scroll of Truth never faced anything as extreme as Pepe's co-option by the alt-right[1]. Parker accepted the situation gracefully: "There's always going to be people who are going to use stolen content for their own purposes. Who am I to say what someone else can or can not say? I'm just happy I made something that makes it easy for people to make others laugh"[1]. ## Fun Facts - Parker said he designed the comic to be easily remixable, but didn't expect it to blow out as big as it did[1]. - His personal favorite version featured the scroll revealing: Cartoon Network shouldn't show so many Teen Titans Go! reruns[1]. - The comic's original scroll message, "no one reads your rants on your Facebook page," hit over 930 notes on Tumblr before the exploitable format even took off[2]. - The r/MemeEconomy subreddit debated the meme's "investment potential" just days after it went viral[2]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is The Scroll of Truth? The Scroll of Truth is an exploitable webcomic by Tate Parker in which an adventurer finds a scroll containing an uncomfortable truth and angrily throws it away while yelling "Nyehhh"[1]. ### Where did The Scroll of Truth come from? Parker posted the original comic titled "Truth" to his Tumblr on February 2, 2017. It went viral after a blank template was shared on 4chan's /pol/ board on March 26, 2017[2]. ### What does The Scroll of Truth mean? The meme plays on the idea that people would rather reject uncomfortable truths than accept them. The explorer's childish "Nyehhh!" reaction is the punchline[1]. ### How do you use The Scroll of Truth? Blank out the text on the scroll in the third panel and replace it with your own uncomfortable truth. You can play it as self-deprecating or as a callout toward a specific group[1]. ### Is The Scroll of Truth still popular? The format saw peak usage in 2017 and remains a recognizable template, though its usage has declined from that initial wave[2]. ### Who created The Scroll of Truth? Artist Tate Parker created and posted the original comic to Tumblr on February 2, 2017[1]. ### What does "Nyehhh" mean in the meme? "Nyehhh" is the sound the explorer makes when he throws the scroll away in disgust, representing a childish refusal to accept an uncomfortable truth[2]. ### Did the creator approve of the meme? Yes. Parker told the Daily Dot he was initially upset about uncredited reposts but came to embrace the meme, saying he was "just happy I made something that makes it easy for people to make others laugh"[1]. ### Has The Scroll of Truth been used for controversial content? Some users posted edgy or political versions, including "there are only two genders" variants, though it never faced the level of political co-option that Pepe the Frog did[1]. ### Was there a precursor to The Scroll of Truth? Artist Nathan Pyle tweeted a comic with a similar concept on September 7, 2016, showing Indiana Jones discovering a truth-telling crystal, predating Parker's version by several months[2]. ## References 1. [What Is the Scroll of Truth Meme and Why Is It So Real]() 2. [The Scroll of Truth - Know Your Meme]() 3. [Pepe the Frog]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/the-scroll-of-truth Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library