The 'But I Didn't Listen!' meme is a versatile format used to illustrate the humorously painful realization that someone ignored sound advice. While often associated with characters like Grandpa Simpson or Patrick Star who admit to their own stubbornness, the template has evolved into a universal symbol for relatable failures. It typically features a character looking distressed, manic, or defeated while confessing their refusal to heed a warning. In internet culture, it's frequently used to mock one's own poor decisions in investing, gaming, or daily life, capturing that specific brand of self-deprecating humor where the outcome was predictable yet unavoidable.