The Absurdist Origin: Why The Internet Keeps Saying "We Are Not Humans We Are Horses"

The phrase "We are not humans we are horses" has galloped its way across the internet in late 2024 and throughout 2025, becoming a bizarrely popular, yet deeply absurd, piece of viral content. This seemingly nonsensical declaration is far more than a simple typo or random thought; it is a direct, satirical reversal of a poignant line from one of the most-watched television series in history, transforming a moment of profound human choice into pure, chaotic internet comedy. As of December 15, 2025, the meme continues to be used in video edits and community discussions, cementing its place as a cornerstone of contemporary digital absurdity.

The core of its virality lies in its ability to flip an emotionally charged, philosophical statement into a punchline, often accompanied by heavily edited video clips or CapCut templates. This deep dive will explore the meme’s true origin, its latest cultural context, and the communities that keep this strange, equine-centric mantra alive.

The Shocking Reversal of the Squid Game Finale

To truly grasp the meaning behind "We are not humans we are horses," one must first understand the powerful source material it parodies. The original line, "We are not horses. We are humans," is spoken by the character Seong Gi-hun (Player 456) in the final moments of the global phenomenon *Squid Game*.

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• The Original Context: In the series, Gi-hun uses the phrase to argue against the game's wealthy VIPs and the Front Man, who view the contestants as mere animals—or "horses"—to be bet on and exploited. The statement is a powerful declaration of human dignity, free will, and the capacity for moral choice, even in the most desperate circumstances. It's a refusal to accept the dehumanizing premise of the game.
• The Meme Reversal: The viral phrase "We are not humans we are horses" takes this powerful, philosophical moment and turns it completely on its head. It rejects the very notion of human exceptionalism and free will, instead embracing a kind of joyful, animalistic nihilism. This reversal is the source of its shock value and comedic appeal, suggesting an acceptance of being treated as a commodity or a creature driven purely by instinct.
• Viral Spread: The meme gained massive traction on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and CapCut, where users created video edits often featuring the *Squid Game* final scene with the roles reversed or characters replaced by literal horses, or characters from horse-centric media.

The Role of Uma Musume and Other Fandoms

While the initial spark came from the *Squid Game* parody, the phrase found a dedicated home and new life within specific online communities, most notably the fandom surrounding *Uma Musume Pretty Derby*.

The *Uma Musume* franchise centers on "horse girls"—characters who are human-animal hybrids based on famous Japanese racehorses. These characters compete in races and idol performances. The community quickly adopted the "We are not humans we are horses" meme as an ironic, self-referential joke.

The phrase perfectly encapsulates the core concept of the anime/game: the characters are clearly intelligent, emotional, and very human-like, yet they are fundamentally defined by their equine nature. Using the meme became a way for fans to celebrate the absurdity and unique identity of the "horse girls".

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Key Fandom Entities Keeping the Meme Alive:

• r/UmaMusume: A primary hub for fan-created content and discussions where the phrase frequently appears in threads and image captions.
• CapCut Templates: The availability of easy-to-use video templates on CapCut allowed the meme to be rapidly disseminated across TikTok and other short-form video platforms, enabling users to quickly insert their own absurd content.
• Shitposting Subreddits: Communities like r/ShitPostCrusaders and various general meme subreddits use the phrase for pure, non-sequitur humor, often completely divorced from its *Squid Game* or *Uma Musume* origins.

The Deeper, Absurdist Philosophical Meaning

Beyond the surface-level humor and fandom inside jokes, the enduring popularity of "We are not humans we are horses" taps into a modern philosophical current: the embrace of internet absurdity and the rejection of grand narratives.

In a world saturated with complex socio-political issues, a simple, nonsensical statement can be a form of cognitive relief. The meme acts as a form of topical authority on internet nihilism, where the most meaningful response to overwhelming complexity is often pure, unadulterated silliness.

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LSI Keywords and Entities in the Absurdity:

• Dehumanization Satire: It satirizes the feeling of being a cog in a machine (a "horse" or beast of burden) in modern capitalist society, but instead of fighting it, the meme joyfully accepts it.
• Existential Humor: It's a lighthearted take on existential dread, suggesting that if humanity is inherently flawed or "evil" (as some philosophers like Xunzi have argued), perhaps it’s better to simply be a noble, unburdened animal.
• Meme Economy: The phrase itself is a valuable piece of the "meme economy," a self-sustaining cycle of creation, adaptation, and re-contextualization that defines modern digital communication.
• Post-Irony: The meme operates in a post-ironic space: it is both a joke and a statement. It’s funny because it’s absurd, but the absurdity itself is a comment on the original source's seriousness.

Ultimately, the longevity of "We are not humans we are horses" is a testament to the internet's power to appropriate, mutate, and re-contextualize cultural artifacts. It began as a viral parody of Seong Gi-hun's desperate plea for humanity, evolved into an in-joke for horse girl enthusiasts, and has settled into a universal expression of delightful, existential chaos. It is the perfect modern meme: simple, endlessly adaptable, and just strange enough to keep everyone clicking.