The 'Safety Not Guaranteed' meme originates from a genuine classified advertisement placed in a 1997 issue of Backwoods Home Magazine. Written by John Silveira as a filler piece, the ad requested a partner for time travel, famously warning that safety was not guaranteed and that the author had only 'done this once before.' It gained internet fame in the early 2000s on sites like 4chan and YTMND, eventually inspiring a critically acclaimed 2012 indie film. The meme is celebrated for its deadpan humor and the eerie, adventurous curiosity it evokes, making it a staple for internet users who appreciate absurdist or retro-themed comedy.