The Happy Wojak vs Depressed Wojak meme is a variation of the classic 'Feels Guy' character that emerged on imageboards like 4chan around 2010. While the original Wojak represented sadness and loneliness, users eventually created a smiling counterpart to illustrate stark contrasts in life, finances, or relationships. This two-panel format is frequently used to show a person's facade versus their internal reality, or to compare a naive expectation with a harsh, depressing outcome. It has become a foundational element of internet subculture, representing the dual nature of the human experience through simple MS Paint-style illustrations.