The 'Absolute Madman' meme originated from a 2014 4chan thread where a user posted a photo of his friend Dean lying on the floor next to a box of cereal, describing the act as 'absolutely mental.' The phrase 'the absolute madman' is British slang that was ironically applied to Dean's completely harmless and ordinary behavior. It quickly evolved into a popular reaction image and caption used to mock people who attempt to appear edgy or rebellious while doing something entirely mundane. Today, it serves as a staple of internet irony, often used to highlight the gap between a person's perceived coolness and their actual, harmless actions.