In the vast, chaotic landscape of internet culture, “hornyposting” has emerged as a surprisingly structured language. It’s no longer just about expressing attraction; it’s about how committed you are to the bit. At the center of this evolution are Would Memes, a trend that has rapidly mutated into a three-tier hierarchy of thirst that categorizes digital desire into distinct levels of intensity and absurdity.
Hornyposting, defined by internet archivists as posting content indicative of “unsatisfied sexual desire,” has been around since at least 2017. But the recent segmentation into “Would,” “Will,” and “Did” offers a fascinating glimpse into how users escalate engagement through hyperbole.
Defining the Terms of Engagement
To understand the hierarchy, you first have to speak the language. These terms might look like simple auxiliary verbs, but in the comment sections of Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), they function as specific indicators of intent.
- Would: The entry-level admission. It implies a theoretical willingness. It’s the “I would if I could” of internet thirst, a safe, often ironic acknowledgment of attraction.
- Will: The escalation. This shifts the tense from conditional to future certainty. It signals determination, removing the theoretical barrier and implying that the poster is actively planning to make it happen (regardless of how impossible that actually is).
- Did: The ultimate assertion. This past-tense declaration claims the act has already occurred. It is almost always used for comedic effect, often on posts about fictional characters, inanimate objects, or abstract concepts, signaling the highest level of delusion.
The Hierarchy Explained
This “Would-Will-Did” structure operates like a funnel of engagement.
Level 1: Would (Low Risk)
The “Would” meme gained traction in late 2022, notably sparked by a viral image of a cat speaking into a microphone with the single caption: “would.” It’s a low-stakes way to join the conversation. Engagement here is typically broad but shallow—a simple nod of agreement.
Level 2: Will (Medium Risk)
Moving to “Will” requires more commitment to the joke. It moves the user from a passive observer to an active participant in the fantasy. It’s aggressive, absurd, and typically garners more specific replies and reactions because it challenges the status quo of the comment section.
Level 3: Did (High Risk/High Reward)
“Did” is the peak. It shuts down the conversation by claiming victory. Because it is functionally impossible (you cannot actually date a fictional demon from a video game), it relies entirely on the shared humor of the community.
Engagement Metrics in Hornyposting
While specific data on the “Would/Will/Did” split is elusive, we can look at broader engagement trends in meme culture to understand why this hierarchy works. Research published in Sustainability (2022) indicates that comments and user intent play a massive role in how memes spread.
The table below illustrates how engagement intention shifts based on the “risk” or alignment of the comment.
| Engagement Level | Description | Avg. “Like” Intention Score (1-7 Scale) | Avg. “Share” Intention Score (1-7 Scale) |
| Consensus (Would) | Content aligns with the user; comments are supportive/safe. | 4.42 | 3.24 |
| Conflict (Will) | Content aligns with the user; comments are controversial/aggressive. | 3.84 | 2.50 |
| Chaos (Did) | Content is polarizing; comments are unhinged/high-risk. | 4.10 | 2.90 |
Data adapted from Kovacheva et al. (2022) regarding meme engagement behaviors.
The data suggests that while “safe” alignment (Would) generates steady likes, high-risk commentary (Did) can trigger significant interaction, even if it polarizes the audience.
The Role of Humor and Irony
The engine driving this entire phenomenon is irony. The more inappropriate or bizarre the target, the funnier the “Will” or “Did” becomes. This is a common tactic in niche internet communities. For instance, accounts like Catturd Twitter utilize a specific brand of provocative, in-group humor to drive massive engagement. While political rather than thirst-focused, the mechanic is identical: state something absurdly absolute to trigger a reaction.
In the “Would/Will/Did” hierarchy, the humor comes from the gap between reality and the comment. Saying “Would” to a picture of a celebrity is normal. Saying “Did” to a picture of an eldritch horror monster is the kind of semantic absurdity that drives modern meme culture.
Semantic SEO and Authority
From a content perspective, understanding these nuances is crucial for Semantic SEO. Search engines are getting better at understanding intent. They know that a search for “Would meme” isn’t looking for grammar tips. By clustering related terms, “hornyposting,” “internet slang,” and “viral trends,” creators build topical authority.
This approach aligns with Google’s E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) guidelines. You demonstrate expertise not just by defining a term, but by explaining its usage, context, and evolution within the culture. You aren’t just a dictionary; you’re an anthropologist.
Conclusion
The transition from “Would” to “Will” to “Did” is more than just a change in verb tense; it’s a roadmap of internet escalation. It turns passive scrolling into active, often hilarious, participation. As brands and creators look to engage with younger, terminally online audiences, understanding these unspoken hierarchies of thirst is essential. It’s the difference between looking like a tourist and speaking the local language.
