The 'orz' meme (also written as OTL or or2) is a visual representation of a person kneeling in a kowtow position, expressing despair, failure, or intense admiration. Originating in East Asian internet culture during the early 2000s, specifically within Japanese and Taiwanese message boards, the letters are read from left to right: 'o' is the head, 'r' represents the arms and body on the ground, and 'z' shows the bent legs. Unlike many visual memes, orz relies on typography to convey a physical posture of submission or 'giving up.' It gained worldwide popularity as a way to react to unfortunate news, gaming losses, or embarrassing social blunders, eventually evolving into various iterations like 'OTZ' or 'STO' depending on the platform.