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WTF

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top 200 commentsshow all 391

[–]IamAhamsterAMA 140 points141 points ago

What purpose does he have to do that?

[–]Lampmonster1 237 points238 points ago

He thinks they need the rock. He'll hold it till help comes. That's just how ants are.

[–]C-3PO 377 points378 points ago

It was actually a prank from the other ants. They were like, "Ronalds, hang onto this rock for a second." and then they all went off to the sugar mine. The Sugar Mine is the ant gay bar.

[–]mechanicorn 82 points83 points ago

You mean lesbian ant bar?

Edit: Also, shouldn't it be like, the honey pot, or something?

... I'll see myself out.

[–]Lolworth 53 points54 points ago

lesbian ant bar

I liked their cover of "Smooth Criminal"

[–]killemyoung317 2 points3 points ago

This is indeed Lolworth

[–]Lolworth 2 points3 points ago

Well, thank you very much.

[–]USMCsniper 11 points12 points ago

why lesbian? what am i missing here?

[–]Morbanth 58 points59 points ago

All worker ants are sterile females.

[–]ETL4nubs 2 points3 points ago

Did somebody say, ANTS?

[–]Tovora 2 points3 points ago

I now have something to do for the next hour.

[–]mastersprinkles 1 point2 points ago

YAY! I was going to work for an hour but this will be better. Thanks ETL4nubs.

[–]Jezzikuh 2 points3 points ago

Oh hell yes, I love this one.

[–]mechanicorn 22 points23 points ago

All worker ants are female. The only male ants are drones (they also have wings typically, not sure about all species however) which die pretty much immediately after mating. Same thing goes for bees.

[–]mfanous007 8 points9 points ago

funny thing about the ants with wings, they only develop wings when they want to move, so they can scout the land for a new place to start, pretty sweet if you ask me

[–]mechanicorn 2 points3 points ago

That is pretty cool. Ants are neat... but all I can really remember about them is what I listed and how a fuckton of drones showed up in my basement one year - scariest shit ever.

[–]Shucks88 15 points16 points ago

[–]mechanicorn 38 points39 points ago

One word: Kegels.

[–]happybadger 10 points11 points ago

JOLLY RANCHER STORY II: ENDGAME

Coming Summer 2012

[–]Crazedgoalie56 1 point2 points ago

I have you RES tagged as "mentally disturbed, also pennies". Because of that penny story you told if you had $4million.

This fits well I think.

[–]Jezzikuh 1 point2 points ago

You know a lot about ants. I like that about you.

[–]mechanicorn 1 point2 points ago

You like me for knowing a lot about ants. I like that about you.

[–]mechanicorn 1 point2 points ago

I'm a ladybot :P but yay I have the best tag in all of Reddit!

[–]Kevlar_socks 1 point2 points ago

Is it weird I understood the entomological joke?

[–]MakeLikeATreeAndGo 2 points3 points ago

"Can you go down to the hardware store and ask for a long weight?"

[–]IamAhamsterAMA 77 points78 points ago*

Good Guy Ant

[–]dancewreck 44 points45 points ago

http://imgur.com/NxJZ6 just getting toned for his summer body

[–]Thinkiknoweverything 5 points6 points ago

wat

[–]IamAhamsterAMA 5 points6 points ago

oh, i derped that reply from my phone.... edited!

[–]SnakeDiver 29 points30 points ago

Understandable, with your tiny arms and all.

[–]schunniky 3 points4 points ago

How are you typing? You don't have any arms..

[–]juhesihcaaa 1 point2 points ago

Siri.

[–]sje46 1 point2 points ago

I'm more curious as to how he even got in that position.

[–]carpe_deez 1 point2 points ago

No, Wu peed on my rug.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

Fuck, Wish we all were as considerate of others like ants are sometimes

[–]Eat_a_Bullet 48 points49 points ago

Oh my god, no. Ants are so fucking brutal and savage, and they run on chemical autopilot. They are basically robots that kill and plunder until they work themselves to death.

[–][deleted] 24 points25 points ago

But it's all for Colony and Queen.

[–]Eat_a_Bullet 27 points28 points ago

Your majesty, I present a semi-digested maggot for her highness's dining pleasure. BLEEEAGGHH!! BLEAAGGGHHH!! I beg my leave, so that her highness may eat my vomit off the dirt floor in peace.

[–]helicalhell 4 points5 points ago

Since when did you leave the bullet business and tread into this trade. Vomit is a tricky business my friend.

[–]Eat_a_Bullet 1 point2 points ago

Don't tell anyone, but vomit has a profit margin like you wouldn't believe.

[–]TheSaddestGrape 7 points8 points ago

Consider this: The Queen of England probably drinks milk every now and then. Milk is a fatty substance excreted by a cow, a large, usually rather smelly, mammal.

[–]McEstablishment 1 point2 points ago

True patriots then.

[–]Frosty_lemons 1 point2 points ago

This reminds me of the ant spiral of death, where they all follow each other in a circle until they all die of exhaustion. Due to a chemical imbalance of some sort, I believe.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

I said sometimes! lol

[–]Eat_a_Bullet 1 point2 points ago

Considerate ants. Not even once.

[–]Crimsonarchon 7 points8 points ago

"Oh my god, no. Ants are so fucking brutal and savage, and they run on chemical autopilot. "

So does r/trees!

[–]lezlieprapra 12 points13 points ago

Ents.

[–]Morbanth 5 points6 points ago

Only rarely do the Ents march to war.

[–]ChummyBubbles 5 points6 points ago

Maybe brutal and savage to a bag of cheetohs or cheese nips or nutella

[–]unwholesome 2 points3 points ago

We will lay waste to Helm's Deep Dish Pizza.

[–]Burdisso 9 points10 points ago

We're not brutal and savage though. That's, like, the opposite of an Ent, maaan.

[–]SaltyBabe 4 points5 points ago

It's because to an ant "others" is really self. They are as one, no individual matters they will help if it works towards the greater good, if not, they're screwed.

[–]dwntwn_dine_ent_dist 1 point2 points ago

Thants.

[–]cuppincayk 1 point2 points ago

Really, the queen thinks this, and is forcing her slave to hold it up for her

[–]NotoriousADD 9 points10 points ago

Queens are just the breeders. They don't actually lead.

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points ago

FUCKING TED TALK GIVES YOU SO MUCH INFORMATION

[–]zanotam 1 point2 points ago

So queens are the ant sluts? /s

[–]NotoriousADD 2 points3 points ago

Pretty much. After they've settled a new colony they spend the rest of their lives (which can be up to 26 years!) popping out larvae.

[–][deleted] 57 points58 points ago

He can't remember whether he's holding the rock or standing on it. Likewise with the branch. Best to hang on to both until it comes back to him.

[–]lorddcee 2 points3 points ago

Fucking funny... but I think it has some truth in it. Makes your comment even more nice.

[–]Ah-Cool 19 points20 points ago

he's trying to murder another insect with that rock.

[–]Bender420 34 points35 points ago

Wile E. Ant

[–]Howard_Beale 9 points10 points ago

He's got, high hopes.

[–]TheAubz 17 points18 points ago

I hate so very much song lyric threads like this. We get it.. You know the words.

[–]dancingrobot 12 points13 points ago

I got you back to 0, man. I'm with you on this sinking ship!

[–]seg-fault 7 points8 points ago

I take my cues from the Cpt of the Concordia. I threw you guys some lifejacket upvotes but I'm bouncing off this bitch.

[–]A-CENTER-FOR-ANTS 5 points6 points ago

He's got, high apple pie.

[–]IamAhamsterAMA 3 points4 points ago

♪ In the skyyyy hopes! ♫

[–]pixiesong 1 point2 points ago

He's just working on his core muscles. You can't tell but that ant has incredible abs.

[–]KarmakazeNZ 31 points32 points ago

Now for the real WTF...

Is the ant trying to lift up the rock...

or pull down the tree?

[–]WeaponsGradeHumanity 12 points13 points ago

Yes.

[–]Vandey 7 points8 points ago

it wants both :(

[–]rasmusir 2 points3 points ago

One word: catapult.

[–]CleverReference 57 points58 points ago

DAE see a squished ant on the bottom of the rock, or is that just me? If so, this is suddenly a tragic picture :(

[–]cuppincayk 67 points68 points ago

He uses his rock to crush those that would defy him.

[–]auraslip 7 points8 points ago

drop a rock down a bug hole.... you gotta lot of dead bugs

[–]ThirdTimeRound 9 points10 points ago

My name's Johnny Rico, and I say kill 'em all!

[–]xXBlUnTsM0KA420Xx 1 point2 points ago

Oh man. I'm now imaging that is actually a trap to kill a small mammal/rodent. Wait till it comes past the bam. Obviously the dead ant was the one they tested it on first.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points ago

Thanks for ruining my day. D:

[–]SwimmingNaked 236 points237 points ago

I will create a wallpaper from that, with the word "Sometimes it's not about choosing what to hold on to, but what to let go of."

[–]SwimmingNaked 182 points183 points ago

[–]happybadger 170 points171 points ago

Now make another inspirational one, but instead of that quote put "DAMN YO THIS ROCK HEAVY AS SHIT".

[–]the_catacombs 312 points313 points ago

[–]Patrick5555 28 points29 points ago

Now do an ethnic version of " hang in there"

[–]didaskaleinophobic 91 points92 points ago

Chang in There

[–]CFGX 18 points19 points ago

That's making me so changry. Dammit, now I'm doing it!

[–]bebesee 8 points9 points ago

I like that the National Geographic logo is still there. Makes it very official.

[–]Nurfy 3 points4 points ago

Holy shit this is just what I needed. Thanks a bunch.

[–][deleted] 50 points51 points ago

[–]dancewreck 16 points17 points ago

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points ago

I wouldn't put it past the photographers, just to get the shot, honestly.

[–]iamnotatroll 8 points9 points ago

how many poor ants were ripped apart before he found one that would hold together long enough to focus and click the shutter?

[–]ethzilla 6 points7 points ago*

[–]seamouse 45 points46 points ago

I'm sorry, but I can't give you an upvote as long as there is an "is" in there.

[–]Cdf12345 5 points6 points ago

You also received an F for accuracy.

[–]Curds_and_Whey 102 points103 points ago

welp............. http://imgur.com/KPpvk.jpg

[–]YourAnMoran 3 points4 points ago

Needs more Helvetica

[–]deekaydubya 10 points11 points ago

Needs 100% more Comic Sans

[–]Teacup_Kitsune 15 points16 points ago

100% more of nothing is still nothing, this is the right amount of Comic Sans.

On the other hand, it could use more cowbell.

[–]Bacon_Cats_And_Tits 8 points9 points ago

100% more of nothing is still nothing

So...200%?

[–]Legio_X 20 points21 points ago

I'm honestly curious, does anyone actually find those kind of quotes to be inspirational? I can't read them without laughing at how sappy they are.

[–]abundantplums 13 points14 points ago

For years, I laughed at shit for being sappy. I still chuckle to myself about trite-isms like "Live, Laugh, Love." When it comes down to it, you can choose to judge things, or you can seek their value.

[–]RoboLemur 6 points7 points ago

I couldn't agree more. We love our culture of cynicism, but it's not always the best thing.

[–]jackzander 2 points3 points ago

Since you're honestly curious:

If you think they have to literally inspire, you're doing it wrong.

[–]TheAmityvillain 2 points3 points ago

That's one huge, ugly word.

[–]Post_op_FTM 1 point2 points ago

sounds like some Alcoholics Anonymous mantra.

[–]sweetpineapple 13 points14 points ago

How did it end up in that position/spot?

[–]bradleyg5 8 points9 points ago

the only thing I can think of is the rock was on the ground with the ant. The photographer lowered the stick, the ant grabbed hold, then the photographer raised the stick up and took a picture.

Look how high the rock is off the ground, did he fly up with the rock and grab the stick? how does he get the rock off the ground in the first place if the stick is stationary

[–]seg-fault 15 points16 points ago

Photographer planted it there, is my guess. Occam's Razor and all.

[–]Siofsi 2 points3 points ago

But the photographer couldn't have forced it to hold onto a rock or a twig. Him placing the ant there just raises further questions! We must get to the truth, somebody find that ant!

[–]highchildhoodiq 1 point2 points ago

I'm an ant AMA.

[–]trot-trot[S] 25 points26 points ago

[–]cassus_fett 22 points23 points ago

the photo is obviously doctored, its been flipped upside down, its supposed to be an ant doing a leg press

[–]Miora 32 points33 points ago

Now if we could only make them adult sized and train them....we would have some awesome potential there.

[–]argonaute 74 points75 points ago*

Unfortunately if ants were bigger they wouldn't retain any of their relative super strength, and would actually be weaker than humans would. They only seem strong because they are so small- muscle strength approximately increases to the second power of size (as the diameter of the muscle gets larger), but weight increases to the third power.

Not to mention the fact that due to how insects are designed it is impossible for them to grow exceedingly large (e.g. no lungs/respiratory system, no closed circulatory system). They breathe through a system of tubes (tracheal system) connected to the air via holes in the insect's body (spiracles), and the oxygen will get absorbed through the tubes via relatively high surface area to volume ratio. Make the ant much bigger, and this system no longer can pass enough air and absorb sufficient oxygen for the greatly increased volume compared to surface area for the ant.

So basically a ton of things that makes insects work and awesome only works because they are so small.

[–]joelypolly 34 points35 points ago

Unless of course the oxygen content in air was higher. Which kinda was the reason there use to be huge insects in the distant past

[–]zanotam 6 points7 points ago

I was going to post this and feel all proud, then I felt really proud of reddit, but then I realized that, well, "Of course reddit is going to know that fact about giant insects in the time of dinosaurs.... At least half of the site was a 2nd/3rd grade boy at one point and, well, it's a fact about insects AND dinosaurs man."

[–]Miora 4 points5 points ago

Oh man!!! Well there goes one super evil genius plan....Thanks for the awesome explanation though.

[–]MissionIgnorance 0 points1 point ago

They breathe through a system of tubes

...kind of like the Internet?

[–]Aero_the_Dragonborn 46 points47 points ago

Last time we tried that, they overran Greyditch.

[–]test_alpha 8 points9 points ago

Ants already make themselves adult sized. No interference necessary. That ant right there is the size of an adult ant, in fact.

[–]googie_g15 3 points4 points ago

I don't think anyone wants to willingly destroy the world. Outside of a Bond movie that is.

[–]pwn_star 10 points11 points ago

i would willing destroy the world if i had the power to

[–]throwawaydopehead 4 points5 points ago

Honestly? Why?

[–]a_derp_in_thailand 2 points3 points ago

yeah why? Conquer it I would understand...but destroy it?

[–]vteckickedin 2 points3 points ago

Because some men just want to watch the world burn

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]pwn_star 2 points3 points ago

yeah if everyone just died at once then there would be no one left to care about us. it would be as if none of our existence ever happened. the whole collective knowledge of human existence would disappear with us and that is a comforting thought to me. the only pain in death is felt by those who are left behind to grieve. if we all leave then there would be absolutely no pain felt. there would be nothing

[–]Miora 1 point2 points ago

Oh yeah....there are some people out there who want to watch the world burn. -But I still want a ride able ant...-

[–]HatesFacts 1 point2 points ago*

Higher CO2 content in the air would make them larger.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

GOOD LORD, NO!

[–]Pressuredrop23 7 points8 points ago

The question is, Why is that rock so fucking important?

[–][deleted] 52 points53 points ago

This is more /r/badassinsects than /r/wtf.

[–]googie_g15 99 points100 points ago

I clicked that expecting an awesome subreddit. I am disappoint.

[–][deleted] 22 points23 points ago

thank you for saving me a small amount of time. I have spent that time I would have wasted typing this response to you and giving you an upvote.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

Thank you. You almost saved me time too.

[–]DisposableNick 7 points8 points ago

If I didn't have to read all this shit, you would have saved me time.

This comment perpetuates and exacerbates the problem.

[–]donpapillon 6 points7 points ago

[–]googie_g15 5 points6 points ago

And I have now subscribed and already submitted something.

[–]donpapillon 1 point2 points ago

[–]Sunshinepipedream 1 point2 points ago

now that I've subscribed, and was actually here and read the origins of this sub, do I get a voucher to collect my hipster points somewhere? :)

[–]Desolator001 1 point2 points ago

I believe you may have just started something great.

[–]yroby 5 points6 points ago

This happens every year. The Iron Ant competition.

[–]lactosefree1 38 points39 points ago

Bitch really wants that rock. Bitches love rocks.

[–]seamouse 28 points29 points ago

yeah, but gravity's tryin to rock block that ant

[–]safariplanet 6 points7 points ago

He's going to have to be a bit boulder in his approach or he shale not succeed. Limestone.

[–]harmonicoasis 1 point2 points ago

"You wanna get the rock outta here?"

"...Rock yeah..."

[–]pseudopseudonym 5 points6 points ago

They're minerals, Marie. God fucking damn.

[–]h2sbacteria 1 point2 points ago

Yeah, except he's sterile and will never have sex in his life. Sort of like some redditors. Poor ant.

[–]mimic 1 point2 points ago

She

[–]adencrocker 1 point2 points ago

she, not he

[–]invertedcheese85 10 points11 points ago

This isn't /r/wtf, this is just fuckin' awesome.

[–]thehotdogman 5 points6 points ago

Are those the remains of its insect brethren on the bottom of the rock?

[–]godlesspinko 2 points3 points ago

Impressive. But can he move a rubber tree plant?

[–]quintiliusvarus 2 points3 points ago

Anyone knows an ant cant move a rubbertree plant

[–]Virginal_Anxiety 2 points3 points ago

Why is this in WTF? This is INSPIRATIONAL!

[–]dmccrae 1 point2 points ago

Yeah, it's the sort of thing you'd see on an office wall, with "Hang in there!" as the text.

[–]josephanthony 2 points3 points ago

"Gittle helpf, flease?"

[–]Braingothink 2 points3 points ago

I can't believe that sicko photographer glued the ants legs to a rock and its head to a branch.

[–]zeug666 56 points57 points ago

I for one welcome our glorious ant overlords.

[–][deleted] 59 points60 points ago

go to hell

[–]on_the_redpill 12 points13 points ago

while he's down there pour boiling water down his hole.

[–]gnorty 5 points6 points ago

that is an amazing thing for sure.

Another amazing thing - I have a brain thousands of times bigger than that whole ant. I have tried hard enough, and I cannot think of any good reason the ant wants that rock so bad. But the ant knows - he knows well enough to hold on with his teeth to save that rock falling.

TIL ants have awesome brains

[–]ShawnSDavis 10 points11 points ago

haha I see it more as a computational error. Like its brain just isnt capable of making the choice between what to do :P

[–]blastinonions 7 points8 points ago

Who are you to judge an ant?

[–]fvrgs 1 point2 points ago

now that's impressive

[–]chicagoblue 1 point2 points ago

Just let it go, 'cuz man, it's gone.

[–]seekfear 1 point2 points ago

why don't we make an army of this and invade Russia or Poland. Which ever is closer...

[–]MONDARIZ 1 point2 points ago

Ants, is there anything they can't do?

[–]Taurius 1 point2 points ago

A metaphor for life? "Let go of your fear, it's holding you down." or "Fuck my job!"

[–]Sp33d0J03 1 point2 points ago

Weighted pull-ups.

[–]DoktorTeufel 1 point2 points ago

What a showoff.

[–]xBrandomatiic 1 point2 points ago

He apparently is trying to catch the smallest RoadRunner known to man.

[–]imnotabus 1 point2 points ago

He's just working out,

That's P90X for Ants

[–]TerraHertz 1 point2 points ago

That ant probably started the day with a brilliant plan, started doing some really cool shit, then things went seriously downhill. Maybe he couldn't even tell you exactly he got to the state he's in now, but he's still trying to hold things together. Hero ant. But stoopid.

Seriously though, the only way that could have happened, is if the 'branch' was originally close to the ground, then was raised somehow.

Moral: sometimes you just got to know when to let go of stuff.

[–]Digipy 1 point2 points ago

How did he get into that position?

[–]mfanous007 1 point2 points ago

DAE wonder how it got there? im sure it diddnt carry the rock down that branch and hang on, and i cant seem to see how he grabbed the rock and reached up and got to the branch?

[–]2times 1 point2 points ago

Antlas!

[–]kabanaga 1 point2 points ago

ant: "Hake huh hock"
What?
"hi hed...hake huh HOCK!"
WHAT?
"I said, take the rooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[–]srxx 1 point2 points ago

Obviously glued the poor animal to the rock and branch.

[–]Ericgzg 1 point2 points ago

But.... How? How did it get up there with the rock like that in the first place?

[–]darkangelx 1 point2 points ago

fuck even the ants in china are better than the ones in america...

[–]oOoGaugeoOo 4 points5 points ago

Hmmm

[–]blood_fart 1 point2 points ago

Unfair to ants.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

I for one welcome our....awwwww...goddammit....

[–]ponyuptexas 0 points1 point ago

that is incredible!

[–]Jpoche 0 points1 point ago

Like a boss...

[–]Skaarah 0 points1 point ago

Why did the little ant hold the big rock up in the air?

[–]Benj5L 0 points1 point ago

HAIL ANTS