What is this S called?

[u/Polibiux]

[u/Ulpian02]

My mom unironically believed it was a satanic summoning rune

[u/kotwt → u/Ulpian02]

I thought it could summon superman...

[u/siccoblue → u/kotwt]

What's the difference?

[u/holyorifice → u/siccoblue]

superman doesn't have sex with your mom

[u/ANILsims → u/holyorifice]

is that a bird

[u/A8-94 → u/ANILsims]

Is Bird still the word?

[u/Orange-Ju1ce → u/A8-94]

Have you not heard?

[u/throwawaytrash21207 → u/ANILsims]

What of white bird shit, isn't actually shit...

[u/DadBane → u/holyorifice]

Prove it

[u/Toadsted → u/kotwt]

I had hope it would

[u/SincereChimichanga → u/Ulpian02]

I'm satan and this is a lie

[u/Khaled-oti → u/SincereChimichanga]

[u/mrmoe198 → u/SincereChimichanga]

Satan, I’m a big fan. Took a lot of guts to stand up to the big man when he was lying to Adam and Eve in setting up an unjust system.

Something I’ve always wanted to know is, are you the ruler of hell? Are you being tortured there? What’s that all about?

[u/S4T4NICP4NIC → u/Ulpian02]

Did she panic?

[u/Scribese7en → u/Ulpian02]

Kinda redundant, isn't it? Considering we were already in Hell.

[u/ares5404 → u/Ulpian02]

Lmao i hate those kinda ppl like how far has the stick gone lost up your ass for you to think "hrrrrrrr someone draw funny, must be devil work" stamps feet

[u/TheWetSock]

It appears in middle school and fades in high school. No one knows where it comes from or what it means . They just know it looks cool and they must draw it .

[u/LifeguardPotential97 → u/TheWetSock]

Actually there's a really good video by Lemmino explaining where it might've come from, it's origins are in graffiti and dates back to as early as 1890.

[u/limpdix → u/LifeguardPotential97]

I was hoping someone would mention our boy u/lemmino, he’s come a long way since his top ten day. Love his videos

[u/TrueBurritoTrouble → u/limpdix]

Became a subscriber after his DB Cooper video, man is seriously talented, gave us the iconic music "Cicada" too

[u/extention_cable → u/TrueBurritoTrouble]

dam thought we didn't know who dB was? but he put here makin music!?

[u/mindzze → u/limpdix]

What happened to him? , I love his videos.

[u/Wilco120 → u/mindzze]

He's making a very long documentary with 13 chapters or so, he is finnishing it up and itl release somewhere in the coming months, you can check his patreon or r/lemmino for updates

[u/HandImpressive03 → u/LifeguardPotential97]

How about 1533 where it appears in Hans Holbein’s painting The Ambassadors.

[u/HothMonster → u/HandImpressive03]

Well shit. https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-ambassadors/bQEWbLB26MG1LA?hl=en&avm=2

[u/OkWater2560 → u/HothMonster]

I can’t find it.

Aha! Also holy crap the zoom level in that photo.

[u/bhongryp → u/OkWater2560]

The S is a detail in the center of the embroidery Turkoman style carpet hanging from the shelf, and the crucifix (comment before yours) is in the top left.

[u/Affenbart → u/bhongryp]

It’s not embroidery but a Turkoman style carpet. Which adds another dimension to the search.

[u/Geikamir → u/OkWater2560]

Seriously. I can see the wood grain pores of Jesus' nipples with that level of zoom.

[u/OkWater2560 → u/Geikamir]

Go on…

[u/SirRevan → u/HothMonster]

Fun fact, that skull looks correct when viewed from the sides.

[u/Unajustable_Justice → u/HothMonster]

Just a regular S. It isn't like the one we are talking about at all. The only similarities is the blocked style

[u/bollockwort → u/HothMonster]

Took me a few to find it, but I am impressed it's there. I'm also impressed by the detail in the half crucifix hiding behind the curtain

[u/samasters88 → u/bollockwort]

Is it the thing right in the middle, in white?

[u/surfboard_bitch → u/LifeguardPotential97]

u/garyduder unsung hero!

[u/Proplaystowinyt → u/TheWetSock]

Where did you come from where did you go where did you come from funny looking S

[u/LetTruthSetYouFree → u/Proplaystowinyt]

Probably because they are the exact lyrics to Cotton Eye Joe with just 3 words switched at the end.

[u/EnriqueShockwav → u/TheWetSock]

It just showed up on my son’s schoolwork in a doodle. He’s in Kindergarten and I couldn’t be more proud.

[u/Cuddling-Hellhound → u/TheWetSock]

It’s an SCP!!!

[u/NATHAN325 → u/Cuddling-Hellhound]

Literally memetic

[u/Sad_Possibility8050 → u/NATHAN325]

Memetic hazard

[u/Jay-diesel → u/Sad_Possibility8050]

Memetics benevolence

[u/alickz → u/NATHAN325]

An actual god damn mother fucking MEME

DAWKINS DIED FOR THIS RIP

[u/Cross_Contamination → u/Cuddling-Hellhound]

Oh fuuuuuuuck.

[u/DaEpicNess666 → u/Cuddling-Hellhound]

Actually it’s just an S

[u/etrob90 → u/TheWetSock]

On our planet it stands for hope.

[u/ObiShaneKenobi → u/etrob90]

“Hope this fuckin bell rings”

[u/YouDownWithOPD → u/TheWetSock]

We always referred to it at as the "Stussy S" in school

[u/vinylectric → u/TheWetSock]

We always knew it as Stüssy. It was some brand in the 90s

[u/bannana → u/vinylectric]

ok, but we were drawing that S in the 70s

[u/SonovaVondruke → u/vinylectric]

Stussy never used this icon as part of its branding.

[u/SnooLobsters4972 → u/SonovaVondruke]

Wait what? This is a Mandela effect because I distinctly remember it being on a shirt in the 90’s

[u/vinylectric → u/SonovaVondruke]

Well we didn’t have internet back then, but that’s what we knew it as

[u/SummerSeaFaery]

When I was growing up in the ‘90’s in SoCal, I almost got expelled from SECOND GRADE for putting this “gang sign” on my artwork I turned in for homework. So, that’s my guess. Gang sign.

[u/my1stone → u/SummerSeaFaery]

San Diego or Orange County...? Checks out

[u/SummerSeaFaery → u/my1stone]

Ventura

[u/DeylanQuel]

I don't know, but I'm pretty sure the guy that taught us to draw it is the same guy that told us about Marylin Manson getting a rib removed and Richard Gere having gerbil-related issues.

[u/lmkwe → u/DeylanQuel]

Holy shit I know that guy!

[u/DeylanQuel → u/lmkwe]

That's the thing... everybody knows that guy. That guy was spreading rumors and desk-art far and wide across the globe. He was like the Santa Claus of pre-internet middle schoolers.

[u/Bobletoob → u/DeylanQuel]

He's the real scp

[u/CosmicCryptid_13 → u/Bobletoob]

Ya know…that’d make a pretty cool scp. All he does is poses as (shapeshifts into?) a middle-schooler and spreads urban legends and stuff

[u/yuyuyashasrain → u/CosmicCryptid_13]

I’m convinced. Canon accepted

[u/CosmicCryptid_13 → u/yuyuyashasrain]

Same. Now I wanna make an scp entry for it. Or something. I could workshop the idea and stuff.

[u/yuyuyashasrain → u/CosmicCryptid_13]

Please do

[u/CosmicCryptid_13 → u/yuyuyashasrain]

Aight I’ll make something. I already have my own universe based on urban legends and stuff so I’ll make something then I’ll spin it for other universes

[u/Qui-434 → u/CosmicCryptid_13]

class: uhhhh yes

[u/APileOfShiit → u/CosmicCryptid_13]

Containment procedure: Each week introduce a tween age child into enclosure, making sure they have no knowledge of any urban legends. In case of security breach, check [REDACTED] School for a strange "new kid" and encourage to reenter enclosure.

[u/mindbleach → u/CosmicCryptid_13]

Too direct. He's an apparition caused by chemicals in SysCo pizza. You can still see him today, if you go to a really shitty cafeteria, but he might manifest in your brain as a dude who's really into crypto.

[u/CosmicCryptid_13 → u/mindbleach]

That can work too lol

[u/Sandman1031 → u/Bobletoob]

SCP-42069

[u/ryohazuki224 → u/DeylanQuel]

The fact that those things, like cooties or even the idea of cooties, or words like "umbers!" spread in the pre-internet days means that humanity is just determined to spread memes, no matter what.

[u/Beamstalk44 → u/DeylanQuel]

Its also the same guy that taught the 2 different paper fold games. One was like square and folded up. The other had a weird shape were u could grip it from the bottom. Both had something to do with fortune telling.

The crazy thing many may not remember. This is also the guy that taught you the "yankle doodle" satire memes in elementary.

[u/BaconFlavoredToast → u/lmkwe]

"Of course I know him. He's me!"

[u/Zarathustrahn → u/DeylanQuel]

Don't forget the rumor that Taco Bell's meat is considered just barely meat.

[u/sixtus_clegane119 → u/Zarathustrahn]

Chihuahua meat. That’s why there is a chihuahua in the commercials

Also the hotel level of goldeneye you could get to by using game shark and going across the river in the dam level.

[u/Extra-Imagination-13 → u/sixtus_clegane119]

I forgot about the little chihuahua 🥹what if they cloned it and used the clones

[u/boringsimp → u/DeylanQuel]

Yes... i heard the marylin mansin thing as well. Also that corey Taylor slit a ladys throat for satan. And had operation on his forehead to push back his hairline. So he can fit the mask better.

[u/Original-Childhood → u/DeylanQuel]

In my school it was Justin Timberlake who removed a rib

[u/shitstain_hurricane → u/[deleted]]

Playing an extreme game of Operation, obviously.

[u/DeylanQuel → u/[deleted]]

So he could fellate Richard Gere's gerbil?

[u/pelerinli → u/Original-Childhood]

In Turkey it is Eminem or Manson, depends on your age.

[u/TheTankCleaner → u/Original-Childhood]

That seems way less believable than Manson doing it.

[u/kenman884 → u/Original-Childhood]

My school had it as Michael Jackson.

[u/PsychologicalStep210 → u/DeylanQuel]

Allegedly

[u/Rendakor → u/PsychologicalStep210]

Like Boots and the ostritch.

[u/sm00thArsenal → u/DeylanQuel]

It was Prince with the ribs in my day.

[u/model3113 → u/DeylanQuel]

and lil kim having her stomach pumped.

[u/Clover2008 → u/DeylanQuel]

So the gerbil thing not true?

[u/DeylanQuel → u/Clover2008]

Nah, others are saying it was a rumor that was drummed up by Stallone, but that's a little less fun.

[u/Clover2008 → u/DeylanQuel]

My world has been shattered. FYI, in 3rd grade Andrew K told me about Marilyn and Mr Gere, and in 6th grade same dude drew that S everywhere.

[u/kr580 → u/Clover2008]

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/richard-gere-gerbil/

[u/hbilalshah]

HERE

This guy made a video on the origin of it a few years ago

[u/AjarTadpole7202 → u/hbilalshah]

Before I click on the link, is that lemino?

[u/DireWolfPvP → u/AjarTadpole7202]

Yes

[u/HungrySeaweed1847 → u/DireWolfPvP]

Damn, I was hoping that it would be a more conclusive video.

Lemmino is great entertainment but what a disappointment that video was.

[u/P529 → u/HungrySeaweed1847]

Just watched it and have to agree.

[u/KiWePing → u/AjarTadpole7202]

just LEMMiNO

[u/keystothecuff → u/AjarTadpole7202]

exactly what i thought, and i was right

[u/dontfactcheckthis → u/hbilalshah]

TL;DW?

[u/LittleWaithu → u/dontfactcheckthis]

No official origin is ever discovered but there’s many possibilities based off earliest appearances.

[u/1DayIllDieButNot2Day → u/LittleWaithu]

It really is an scp

[u/xSantenoturtlex → u/1DayIllDieButNot2Day]

[S]cp

[u/ExceptionTheGOAT → u/1DayIllDieButNot2Day]

What's the fuck is a scp?

[u/Frost5574 → u/ExceptionTheGOAT]

SCP (Secure Contain Protect) Foundation is a user made world where there's monsters and weird shit called anomalies and they're ranked on how dangerous they are. From least to most dangerous; safe, euclid, and keter.

If you ever hear storied of SCP-173 or SCP-096, the numbers indicate a specific monster or weird shit. They each have their own stories and powers. Most of the time they just kill shit. All of them contain the letters SCP to indicate they're part of the foundation.

Imagine an organized creepypasta but each pasta shares the same universe. They're also controlled by this super government organization that collects and contains these SCPs.

[u/Arthur_da_King → u/Frost5574]

Dafuq did I just read

[u/NikSorakisAbitch → u/ExceptionTheGOAT]

MEMETIC HAZARD DETECTED

[u/nicolasmcfly → u/dontfactcheckthis]

It's earliest appearance is on the background graffiti of a 70s documentary and nobody seems to know where it came from.

Also, Too Lazy, Didn't "Write"?

[u/dontfactcheckthis → u/nicolasmcfly]

Watch. And isn't L long? I meant long but I guess I am lazy. So thank you!

[u/Horskr → u/dontfactcheckthis]

At the end, he also finds a similar (but rounded version) version in a book published in 1890 by a Princeton professor that may have evolved into the pointed one we all know.

[u/TellAPhony → u/hbilalshah]

Beat me to it. This video is excellent.

[u/Ok-Mulberry-7237 → u/TellAPhony]

Beat meat to it. This video is excellent.

[u/aegelis → u/Ok-Mulberry-7237]

Beat me too. This video is excellent.

[u/tasadek → u/aegelis]

Be mean to it, this is an excel document.

[u/naheana → u/TellAPhony]

reminded me immediately of that video. too bad he couldn’t actually discover the origin.

[u/xJanise]

"cool s" or "standard grafitti s" are 2 names ik are used for it

[u/ThatOneNerd21 → u/xJanise]

I called it super s

[u/naheana → u/ThatOneNerd21]

same?? idk where u guys got the “cool s” from

[u/OrganizationPublic91 → u/naheana]

The cool s is what Wikipedia calls it

[u/Zippy0723 → u/ThatOneNerd21]

this is the way.

it is super S

[u/Narrow-Tap116 → u/xJanise]

Whaaaaat all throughout my time in school it was distinctly known as the "gangster s"

[u/YourLocalMedic → u/Narrow-Tap116]

Only ever heard "the cool s"

[u/rentz_due → u/YourLocalMedic]

Is that when she inserts an ice cube after she’s done eating her Taco Bell

[u/Extra-Imagination-13 → u/Narrow-Tap116]

I always thought it was a gang symbol

[u/Working-Telephone-45 → u/Narrow-Tap116]

We all call it "Legendary S"

[u/Similar_Election5864 → u/Narrow-Tap116]

It was the sk8er s for us. It was cool and obviously only the coolest people could write/draw it properly ahah

[u/Red_Neck_Slim_Jim → u/xJanise]

Me n my friends call it the "Skateboard S"

[u/ApertureTheProtogen → u/xJanise]

Had a name for it: “Awesome S”

[u/07md]

The beginning of every graphic designer

[u/brodega → u/07md]

Yes, that will be £100,000 for a squiggle

[u/EconomySwordfish4]

Super s

[u/Ocean-in-Motion]

That sir, is a Somersloop

[u/tsunami845 → u/Ocean-in-Motion]

grid shutdown noise intensifies

[u/Sunyxo_1 → u/Ocean-in-Motion]

Comply.

[u/wow_its_kenji → u/Sunyxo_1]

Harvest.

[u/GoateeDwarf → u/wow_its_kenji]

It.

[u/Mulder1917]

The original viral meme. Before the internet, it was drawn by all kids in all schools nationwide.

[u/NesCie0617 → u/Mulder1917]

Try all around the world. It was pretty big in Asia as well. I’m pretty sure it was well known in Europe too

[u/Hillz44]

Just “The S”

[u/Bardic_Space_Orc → u/Hillz44]

It really doesn't need more. If you ask someone if they drew "the s" in school they will know what you mean.

[u/Stickytape777]

In the 90s it was referred to as the Stussy or stoo-see symbol.

Edit: Holy guacamole! Never thought I'd get a reaction like this lol. Love the comments.

[u/woombie → u/Stickytape777]

stussy 😩🤤

[u/Binormus__ → u/woombie]

Bustussy

[u/marginwalker3 → u/Stickytape777]

wait, stoo-see? it's not stuh-see?

[u/Drag0nfly_Girl → u/marginwalker3]

There's an umlaut over the U (Ü), which makes an oo sound.

[u/Stickytape777 → u/marginwalker3]

That's how everyone I knew said it lol They always said it like Stoo-see

[u/[deleted] → u/Stickytape777]

I've heard this too but sadly I was drawing this way before Stussy.

[u/IntoTheMystic1 → u/Stickytape777]

Was it just a SoCal thing in the 90s or was it pretty universally known as stussy?

[u/mouthsmasher → u/IntoTheMystic1]

I grew up in Washington state and remember it being called stussy as well

[u/Runinbearass → u/Stickytape777]

Clothing brand

[u/Starexcelsior → u/Runinbearass]

And yet they never used this S

[u/ProfZussywussBrown → u/Starexcelsior]

I’d swear I had a Stüssy hat with the S in the early 90s, but I would not at all be surprised if it was a Mandela effect, Fruit of the Loom cornucopia type situation.

[u/NeedsMoreBunGuns → u/ProfZussywussBrown]

Although frequently referred to as the Stüssy S, Emmy Coats (who has worked alongside Shawn Stussy since 1985) has stated that it was never a symbol of the Californian surf company.

[u/GerFubDhuw → u/Starexcelsior]

I'd never even heard of that brand before 2016. The S I knew and where I'm from we definitely didn't call it stussy... Not saying that stussy wasn't around but it wasn't in the popular consciousness like the S was.

[u/A_fellow_crusader]

I though it meant savage, but it seems like the entirety of the internet has a different explanation

[u/Hoopsie_Doopsie]

I always called it the Superman S. Lol. I doubt that’s correct tho.

[u/How_TF_ → u/Hoopsie_Doopsie]

I too had always called it the Superman S

[u/flashgordon493]

It stands for hope

[u/YhormBIGGiant]

Chinese S

Cool S

THE S

S

Like....we all just know what it is. We know the instructions, it must be hard coded in our brain or something or is just THE pattern that our brain defaults to.

[u/Elliothc13]

"Cool S" or "Universal S" if I remember correctly. LEMMINO made a good video investigating where it could have come from:

https://youtu.be/RQdxHi4_Pvc

[u/oborse]

I always thought it meant Stussy

[u/Bjorn_Gylfi → u/oborse]

Reccomend watching “the universal S” by Lemmino, very good video!

[u/Klayman55 → u/oborse]

Lies!

[u/NoInitiative4821]

I always thought that S was short for Stussy.

[u/Wooden-Trainer4781]

Sommeersloop

[u/Wooden-Trainer4781 → u/Wooden-Trainer4781]

COMPLAY

[u/exploooooosions]

These days we all know it isn't related to Stüssy but we all called it the Stüssy S back in the 80s

[u/Interest-Desk]

This S is basically the longest lasting ever meme.

[u/Mate90425]

Sabaton S

[u/WickerLockbox]

Stoners.

[u/Anxious_Extreme_6532]

Always called it an “S Chain” cause u could continue doing it from the top or bottom to form a chain shape

[u/PissinginTheW1nd]

We always called it “super s”

[u/Destringe → u/PissinginTheW1nd]

Sameee

[u/LittleWaithu]

The universal S, here’s an interesting video of you wanna learn about it by Lemmino

https://youtu.be/RQdxHi4_Pvc

[u/_Bluntzzz]

I have an S in my name and for a little while I would do the holy grail of all S’s the all mighty whenever I’d write my name on schoolwork

[u/EnderTheGreatwashere]

According to my parents it’s called the “Super S”

[u/The_Thur]

In France, we call that an American S. Never knew why.

[u/LeeKinanus]

yeah but could you line up like ten in a row all connected?

[u/Sunlagooda]

Somersloop

[u/Uglulyx → u/Sunlagooda]

Comply

[u/PurpleCatWithC4]

I gotta say I just drew stick people having wars on my paper, and tanks, helicopters..I think I was always day dreaming about playing C&C Generals and just you know made my own story to it, I even wrote text to it explaining the battle, the story

[u/Thepresenceofpower]

It’s not an S. On my world it means hope.

[u/LeviathanEugenious]

So I've read the s is called a "cool S" and it's earliest known place is in a 1533 painting called "the ambassadors". It's right in the middle of the table cloth

[u/AP_Things807]

I just recall that we called it the “Diamond S” back in middle school.

[u/IreneLyman]

Ah, the nostalgic memories! It was around the late 80s when Stussy, the clothing brand, emerged, coinciding with our early adventures of sketching those designs.

[u/politepain]

Most common name I've seen is "cool S"

[u/TurdSandwich42104]

Does this still happen in middle school today?

[u/manonfire493]

Somersloop. Comply. Power_Grid_Shutdown.wav

[u/Smolbeanigar]

I draw d*cks on the back of my notes during my middle school

[u/TaylaAdidas]

Awesome S

[u/NASTYHAM83]

It's drawn wrong

[u/X03R_mysterious]

fun fact! we dont know the origin of the cool S and its circled around the world

[u/boringsimp]

Sum41 s. Is what my schoolmates called it

[u/Zendakon]

In Satisfactory it's called a SomerSloop

[u/Starexcelsior]

The universal S

[u/TacovilleMC]

FINALLY, MY KNOWLEDGE HAS USE!!!

The great name for this holy symbol, as it is know among mortals, is the great "Somersloop". Use this knowledge with care.

[u/NyZyn]

Grew up in KCK, didn't know that everyone didn't see this as a $ sign.