Memes are weird. One day you’re looking at a serious piece of dark fantasy media, and the next, a single frame of a character looking slightly traumatized is plastered across every corner of Reddit and Twitter. If you’ve spent more than five minutes in anime circles over the last few years, you’ve definitely seen it. A blonde guy with a thousand-yard stare leaning in close to a confused teenager. The caption? Sorry that was a strange thing to ask. It’s hilarious. It’s awkward. Honestly, it’s one of those rare internet artifacts that manages to be funnier the less context you actually have. But for the people who really want to know where this came from, the story is actually a mix of brilliant character writing and the chaotic energy of the Attack on Titan fandom.
The Origins of a Modern Classic
Let’s go back to 2013. The Attack on Titan anime was taking over the world. We’re talking about Episode 15, "Special Operations Squad: Eve of the Counterattack." Erwin Smith, the Commander of the Survey Corps, is standing on a balcony with the protagonist, Eren Yeager. Eren is still a kid at this point, basically a human weapon who doesn’t understand the political machinations happening around him.
Erwin leans in. He looks intense. He asks Eren, "What do you see? Who do you think the enemy is?"
Eren is baffled. We’re all baffled. Then, Erwin just pulls back, stares into the middle distance with those massive eyebrows, and drops the line: "Sorry, that was a strange thing to ask." In the original Japanese, it’s “Gomen, kimyo na koto o kiita ne.” It was meant to be a moment of foreshadowing. Erwin knew there were spies among the military. He was testing Eren to see if he’d noticed anything. But without that context? It looks like a man who just realized he’s been making eye contact for way too long and tried to backpedal out of a socially catastrophic situation.
Why It Exploded into a Meme
The internet loves awkwardness. It thrives on it. The "strange thing to ask" format took off because it perfectly captures that feeling of saying something totally unhinged and then trying to reclaim your dignity.
You see it everywhere now.
Someone will post a completely normal photo of a cat, and the comment section will be filled with: "Do you think the concept of time is a linear prison or a fluid construct? Sorry, that was a strange thing to ask." It’s a linguistic reset button.
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The visual component is what really sold it, though. In the manga, Hajime Isayama’s art style has this raw, almost jittery quality. When the anime adapted it, Wit Studio gave Erwin this incredibly stoic, almost haunting face. The contrast between his high-ranking military status and the utter randomness of the question is peak comedy. It’s the "Sir, this is a Wendy’s" of the anime world.
The Reddit Factor and the "Erwin Meme" Era
If you want to find the ground zero for the meme’s evolution, look at the Attack on Titan subreddit, specifically r/ShingekiNoKyojin and the more chaotic r/titanfolk. Around 2017 and 2018, as the manga was reaching its climax, fans started using the template for "daily" posts.
One user, u/Shark_Seven, famously posted a version of this meme every single day for years. Every day.
These weren't just the same image. They were edits. Deep-fried versions. Crossovers with other shows. It became a community ritual. You’d wake up, check the sub, and see what "strange thing" Erwin was asking today. This level of dedication is why the phrase sorry that was a strange thing to ask stayed relevant long after the episode aired. Most memes have the shelf life of an open gallon of milk. This one is more like honey—it just doesn't spoil.
Context vs. Absurdity
Is it still funny if you know the context? Kinda. Actually, it might be funnier.
In the show, Erwin is a genius. He’s a tactical mastermind who eventually leads a suicide charge that breaks the hearts of fans everywhere. Knowing that this legendary, "dedicate your heart" hero started his iconic journey by being a total weirdo to a 15-year-old is great. It humanizes him.
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But the absurdity is the real driver. The phrase has transcended the show. You’ll see people use it in Discord chats who haven't even seen a single episode of Attack on Titan. They just know it as the "awkward question" meme. That’s the ultimate goal for any piece of media—to become a part of the cultural lexicon where the source material is secondary to the vibe.
Breaking Down the Visual Language
Let's look at the actual composition of the shot.
- The Proximity: Erwin is way too close to Eren. Personal space doesn't exist in the Survey Corps.
- The Eyes: Erwin isn't looking at Eren; he's looking through him.
- The Lighting: It’s sunset. Everything is orange and dramatic, which makes the mundane nature of the apology even more jarring.
When you mix high-stakes drama with low-stakes social fumbles, you get gold. It’s the same reason why the "distracted boyfriend" meme worked or why "Hide the Pain Harold" became a legend. We recognize the internal panic in Erwin’s eyes. We’ve all been there. We’ve all said something that sounded cool in our heads and then realized, mid-sentence, that we sound like a crazy person.
The Evolution of Anime Memes
It’s interesting to see how this fits into the broader landscape of anime humor. Usually, anime memes are pretty niche. They rely on "inside baseball" knowledge. But sorry that was a strange thing to ask is universal. It’s about communication failure.
Compared to other AoT memes—like the "Potatoes" meme with Sasha or the "Freedom" meme with Eren—this one has more legs because it's a template for conversation. It’s a way to pivot a topic. It’s a tool.
I remember seeing a thread on Twitter where someone was explaining their very specific, very niche hobby (I think it was competitive lawnmower racing). They went on a 20-tweet rant and ended the whole thing with the Erwin image. It was the perfect self-aware nod. It told the audience: "I know I'm being a lot right now."
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Real-World Usage and Impact
Believe it or not, this meme actually helped keep the Attack on Titan community engaged during the long breaks between seasons. When Season 1 ended, there was a four-year gap before Season 2. FOUR YEARS. Most shows would die in that time.
The fans kept the flame alive through memes. They took these small moments and turned them into icons. The "strange thing to ask" wasn't just a joke; it was a lighthouse in the dark for a fandom waiting for more content. It’s a testament to how digital culture can sustain a brand.
How to Use the Meme Correctly
If you're going to use it, you gotta do it right. You can't just slap the text on any old picture.
- The Build-up: You need to ask a question that is genuinely unhinged. Ask about the ethical implications of eating a mermaid. Ask why we park on driveways but drive on parkways.
- The Pivot: Use the phrase immediately after the question. Don't wait for an answer.
- The Visual: If you aren't using the Erwin image, you’re doing it wrong. The eyebrows are essential to the delivery.
Moving Beyond the Meme
What can we actually learn from this? Beyond the laughs, it’s a lesson in how we handle social friction. We’ve all had those moments where we overstep or misread the room. Sorry that was a strange thing to ask is a way of acknowledging that weirdness. It’s a verbal shrug.
In a world that’s increasingly polarized and intense, having a shorthand for "I realize I’m being weird" is actually kind of healthy. It’s an olive branch. It says, "I'm human, I'm awkward, and I'm aware of it."
Actionable Takeaways for Meme Connoisseurs
- Watch the Source: If you haven't seen Attack on Titan Episode 15, go watch it. Seeing the "strange thing to ask" in its original context adds a layer of appreciation for the animation and the voice acting (Daisuke Ono kills it as Erwin).
- Embrace the Awkward: Next time you're in a Slack channel or a group text and you say something that lands with a thud, don't delete it. Just drop the Erwin meme. It’s the fastest way to turn a "cringe" moment into a "based" one.
- Follow the Creators: Check out the artists on Pixiv and Twitter who still do "Erwin and Eren" skits. The creativity in the AoT fan-art community is still peak, even years after the manga finished.
- Stay Curious: The core of the meme is a question about the nature of the enemy. It’s a reminder that in any situation—work, life, or giant monster fighting—it’s always worth asking who the "real" enemy is, even if it feels a little strange.