Shock sites are a cornerstone of early 2000s internet culture, characterized by websites designed to surprise or disturb unsuspecting visitors with graphic, offensive, or bizarre content. Famous examples like Goatse, Meatspin, and Lemon Party became notorious through bait-and-switch tactics, where users were tricked into clicking innocuous-looking links. These sites spawned an entire genre of reaction videos and memes, capturing the moment of horror or confusion when a viewer realizes they've been 'pawned.' Today, the shock site meme represents a nostalgic yet traumatic era of the Wild West internet, often used in templates that contrast innocence with sudden, unwelcome realization.