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:
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlaying pic.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
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlaying pic.twitter.com/pi8U1y00ng
— اخمنرع (@_megameat) February 6, 2014
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlaying pic.twitter.com/uDuAcLfo0o
— Caillou (@actualycaillou) February 6, 2014
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlayin pic.twitter.com/7DaOFnxHgm
— Brian Feldman (@BAFeldman) February 6, 2014
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlaying pic.twitter.com/dvEO8CtywT
— Madi Schweikert (@madi_schwei) February 6, 2014
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlaying pic.twitter.com/AA4nEdX9cy
— Lane Bland (@Laneb3) February 6, 2014
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlayin pic.twitter.com/DYjHdzZ7CH
— jon (@senderblock23) February 4, 2014
#thiscouldbeusbutyouplayin pic.twitter.com/rSIlfxngMT
— -Khan- (@34_1) February 6, 2014
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlayin pic.twitter.com/SFMythTnxB
— Jesucristo Caribeño (@r_marrero12) February 6, 2014
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlaying pic.twitter.com/hwGMks0Jlh
— The Wolf of Wall St (@WallStreetWoIf) February 6, 2014
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlayin pic.twitter.com/xoE06mgYXK
— The Albany Squirrel (@AlbanySquirrel) February 5, 2014
#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlayin pic.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 @alexisbogoevski pic.twitter.com/VRWhPgjKWw
— David Funk (@davefunkk) February 6, 2014
Well, it’s important to have role models, anyway.
Photo by Amanda Sicard/Flickr
