The Are You Winning Son or “Are Ya Winning, Son?” meme originates from an MS Paint webcomic depicting a father asking his son, immersed in a hen*ai VR game, if he’s winning. This exploitable template has evolved from dark, isolating gamer stereotypes to wholesome family gaming scenarios.
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Are You Winning Son Meme Origin
The comic likely started on 4chan around early 2014, featuring “Anon-kun” and posted to RPG Codex forums on January 11th, 2014. It quickly spread to FunnyJunk on March 21st, 2014, with captions mocking future VR obsessions.
Early Spread
By 2015, variations appeared on MemeCenter, Reddit’s /r/justneckbeardthings (950+ upvotes), Tumblr (2,600+ notes), and FunnyJunk, often showing depressing outcomes like the son merging with his machine or su*cide. These reflected 2010s stigma against gaming, blamed for violence despite no evidence.
Also Read: Fell For It Again Award Meme Origin and Meaning Explained
2020 Resurgence
In May 2020, wholesome edits surged: Reddit’s i9980XE post got 1,400+ points showing a happy son; Twitter’s @helen edit earned 7,000 retweets and 68,000 likes. “Are Ya Winning, Dad?” flips portrayed gaming dads, mirroring shifting views with esports growth and family play.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Origin Date | January 11, 2014 (RPG Codex) |
| Creator | Unknown (likely 4chan Anon-kun) |
| Core Concept | Father asks VR-hen*ai-gaming son: “Are ya winning, son?” |
| Early Tone | Dark, isolating (su*cide, cyborg merges) |
| 2020 Shift | Wholesome family gaming, dad as gamer |
| Notable Posts | Reddit 1.4K pts (May 2020), Twitter 68K likes |
The meme highlights gamer isolation turning to bonding, amid stats like 164 million adult gamers in 2019 and parents increasingly joining kids.
It’s an MS Paint comic of a dad asking his VR-gaming son (obsessed with hentai) if he’s “winning,” exploitable for gamer life scenarios.
Unknown anonymous artist, typical of early 4chan webcomics.
