Mike Crumplar became an internet sensation and a recurring figure in meme culture through his role as a chronicler of the niche 'Dimes Square' scene in Lower Manhattan. A writer and critic often associated with the 'Red Scare' podcast orbit, Crumplar’s own image—frequently featuring him in slightly awkward or self-serious poses at high-brow social events—has been adopted by the internet to represent the quintessential 'modern intellectual' or 'scene observer.' The meme is widely used to satirize pretentious art world behavior, niche political alignments, and the social anxiety of being the 'odd man out' at a trendy party. It thrives on the intersection of irony and the hyper-specific subculture of the New York City downtown elite.