Meaning
What does If Only You Knew How Bad Things Really Are mean?
If only you knew how bad things really are is a copypasta meme, coming from a 2012 4chan post, to express feelings of depression.
The screenshot of the original post is used online as an exploitable and is often combined with photos of people, who seem to be masking their inner torment with a grin, that is a forced smile.
Origin
What's the origin of If Only You Knew How Bad Things Really Are?
“If only you knew how bad things really are” was first posted by an anonymous user on an unknown board on 4chan.
Spread & Usage
How did If Only You Knew How Bad Things Really Are spread?
The format would spread on to various other boards on 4chan, appearing in /pol, /int, as well as /r9k over the years.
By 2014, the copypasta was combined with a photo of President John F. Kennedy, and in later years, it would appear below the faces of several people.
External resources
- Know Your Meme – If Only You Knew How Bad Things Really Are