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“It Was My Privilege” meme: meaning, origin and rare card

"It Was My Privilege" is a sarcastic punchline from 4chan greentexts.

MyMemeCards editorial teamPublished 8 min read
It Was My Privilege meme
The “It Was My Privilege” meme, 2013

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In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “It Was My Privilege” is a rare card of the Memes World series 71, number 21262 of the collection, and the 210th best-known meme of its 300 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.

What does the “It Was My Privilege” meme mean?

This meme satirizes the debate on male privilege. It depicts a man performing a standard social action, which is then framed as systemic domination. The final response, delivered with feigned sincerity, highlights the perceived absurdity of criticizing traditional politeness. The dominant emotion is dark humor and ridicule towards the moralization of simple daily interactions.

Where does the “It Was My Privilege” meme come from?

The expression originates from greentexts posted on the imageboard 4chan. The first known discussion dates back to January 9, 2013, though the exact author of the original thread remains unknown as 4chan does not preserve durable archives. Know Your Meme confirms this textual origin and describes the phrase as the punchline of stories where male courtesy is misinterpreted as patriarchal domination. The format relies on the "green text" code specific to the platform, with no associated audiovisual source. The typical scenario contrasts a mundane gesture (carrying bags, yielding a seat) with an ideological reading of it. Spread later to Tumblr, Reddit, and various internet forums, it solidified its status as a satirical reference in Anglophone cultural debates.

  1. 2013First documented appearance of the thread on 4chan on January 9, 2013.

How to use the “It Was My Privilege” meme

  • Use this reply to end an anecdote where your politeness is misinterpreted as a superiority complex.
  • Employ it in an ironic comment to parody accusatory discourses on gender dynamics.
  • Use it as a punchline in a humorous greentext denouncing the over-analysis of ordinary social gestures.

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The “It Was My Privilege” card in MyMemeCards

It Was My Privilege card
NumberNo. 21262
RarityRare
CollectionMemes World series 71
Fame71/100 · #210 of 300
Recycle value10 MemeCoins (30 in Shiny)
Rarities of the Memes World series 71: 300 cards
  • Rare300100%

How to get the “It Was My Privilege” card

Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; It Was My Privilege comes out of the Memes World series 71 as a rare card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.

Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 10 MemeCoins.

Open your free pack

5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.

Free · no account needed

Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details

Memes like “It Was My Privilege”

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Frequently asked questions

What does It Was My Privilege mean?

It is a sarcastic punchline used to mock accusations of patriarchy. It ironically repeats a politeness formula to highlight the absurdity of certain social criticisms.

Where does the It Was My Privilege meme come from?

It comes from 4chan greentexts, appearing as early as January 2013. No video or TV show is associated with its origin.

Who created It Was My Privilege?

The precise author is unknown. The meme emerged collectively from the anonymous culture of 4chan around January 9, 2013.

Is It Was My Privilege true?

The phrase itself is fictional and serves as a satirical punchline. It does not reflect sociological reality but a humorous caricature.

How do I get the It Was My Privilege meme card?

Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “It Was My Privilege” is a rare card of the Memes World series 71. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.

How rare is the It Was My Privilege card?

It is a Rare card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.

Sources: It Was My Privilege: The 4chan Greentext Meme Explained · knowyourmeme.com · memes · greentext-storiesGreentext Stories | Know Your Meme · Greentext Stories: The 4chan Format Explained - meme.com · checked on October 13, 2026.

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