This story contains material that might be NSFW.
The sentiment that “this could be us, but you playin’”—i.e., messing around when you could be settling into a deeply meaningful relationship like the one depicted in an accompanying photo—has lately taken Twitter and Tumblr by storm. In the process, we’ve all revealed a lot about our romantic ideals.
Probably too much, if we’re being quite honest. To wit:
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlayingpic.twitter.com/5CrsAy4Mb6
— Thought Otter (@ThoughtOtter) February 6, 2014
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlaying😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/xUb9SgruHm
— ✞~WeCameAsJon~✞ (@PittsburghKiddd) February 6, 2014
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlaying How every relationship should be. pic.twitter.com/NltemcXrIK
— The Booty Officer_ (@GeezLuis_) February 6, 2014
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlayingpic.twitter.com/pi8U1y00ng
— اخمنرع (@_megameat) February 6, 2014
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlayingpic.twitter.com/uDuAcLfo0o
— Caillou (@actualycaillou) February 6, 2014
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlayinpic.twitter.com/7DaOFnxHgm
— Brian Feldman (@BAFeldman) February 6, 2014
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlayingpic.twitter.com/dvEO8CtywT
— Madi Schweikert (@madi_schwei) February 6, 2014
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlayingpic.twitter.com/AA4nEdX9cy
— Lane Bland (@Laneb3) February 6, 2014
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlayinpic.twitter.com/DYjHdzZ7CH
— jon (@senderblock23) February 4, 2014
#thiscouldbeusbutyouplayinpic.twitter.com/rSIlfxngMT
— -Khan- (@34_1) February 6, 2014
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlayinpic.twitter.com/SFMythTnxB
— Jesucristo Caribeño (@r_marrero12) February 6, 2014
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlayingpic.twitter.com/hwGMks0Jlh
— The Wolf of Wall St (@WallStreetWoIf) February 6, 2014
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlayinpic.twitter.com/xoE06mgYXK
— The Albany Squirrel (@AlbanySquirrel) February 5, 2014
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlayinpic.twitter.com/4p73m8Oqin
— This Could Be Us (@butyouuplaying) January 27, 2014
There have been, of course, a number of not-as-funny twists on the original meme—just replace “playing” with just about any other word and you’re there. More compelling by far are the many, many NSFW (if sometimes sweet) contributions to the original hashtag.
You’ve been warned.
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlayin@alexisbogoevskipic.twitter.com/VRWhPgjKWw
— David Funk (@davefunkk) February 6, 2014
Well, it’s important to have role models, anyway.
Photo by Amanda Sicard/Flickr