Master Debater / "Both" Guy
Featured Episode
About
Master Debater, also known as "Both" Guy" and "I Refuse the Question" Guy, refers to a video of a person wearing ponytail, solo Bluetooth, leather jacket and jeans and sandals combo masterfully debating a TikToker asking him provoking questions. In mid-December 2023, the video gained virality online, inspiring memes and references.
Origin
On December 11th, TikTok[1] user @shaneyyricchh posted a one minute video in which he unsuccessfully attempts to get a passerby to make a false dichotomy choice between LGBTQ rights and economic stability. His attempt fails as the interviewee, a man wearing a ponytail, a Bluetooth headset and jeans with sandals, refuses to answer his question, retorting, "Why can't you have both?" The video (shown below) received over 1.7 million views and 93,400 likes on TikTok in three days.
https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7311446962015063342
- LGBTQ rights or economic stability?
- Why can't you have both?
- You need to pick one.
- Refuse the question.
- LGBTQ rights or economic stability?
- Why can't you have both?
- You need to pick one.
- Refuse the question.
- You can't refuse the question.
- I do.
- But you can't.
- But I did.
- But you need to pick one.
- No, I don't.
- I just said you did.
- Hahaha, so what?
- Can you pick one?
- No, because they're both doable.
- No, only one.
- I don't have to pick one because we can have both.
- But the answer is that both is not an answer. It's not a valid answer.
- I reject your question.
- You can't reject it.
- Just did.
- Can you pick one?
- I don't have to.
- Why?
- Because they're both completely doable.
- So LGBTQ rights or economic stability?
- Both.
- That's not an answer.
- Yes it is.
- LGBTQ rights or economic stability.
- Both.
- Are you trying to troll me.
- No.
- I'm just wondering which one you like more.
- I like them both,
- You can't have both.
- Yes you can.
- Not in this question.
- Haha, too bad.
- Why are you trolling me right now?
- Because I don't have to choose.
- Well, if I had to ask you gender inclusivity or economic stability?
- You can have both.
- You can't.
- Why make this so difficult? I'm trying to pass my final.
- Too bad.
- Which one do you pick?
- I pick them both.
- Uhm, that's not a vaild answer.
- Too bad.
- Okay.
[Shaking hands]
- Thank you.
-Thank you.
On December 12th, 2023, X[2] user @JediNabber posted the clip to the platform with the caption "bro won." The post received over 25.7 million views, 23,000 reposts and quote posts and 180,000 likes in two days.
Spread
The video inspired viral reactions in the following days, with several quote posts going viral. For example, on December 13th, 2023, X[3] user @PanderShirts quoted the post, writing, "He was no match for this kind of neurodivergence." The post (shown below, left) received over 18,000 reposts and 212,000 likes in one day. Later that day, X[4] user @beckyvenus wrote, "the moment i saw those open towed velcro sandals paired with a perfectly placed low pony i knewwwwwww he was gonna tear." The post (shown below, right) received over 4,400 reposts and 72,000 likes in the same period.
The viral spread of the video was followed by users posting memes based on it and using an image of the interviewee as a reaction. For example, on December 13th, X[5] user @snoopy_snoot posted a Yes Chad edit based on the video that gained over 16,000 reposts and 187,000 likes in one day (shown below, left). On December 14th, 2023, X[6] user @halomancer1 posted a meme based on the image which parodied "one has to go" social media posts and received over 5,700 reposts and 100,000 likes in one day (shown below, right)>
Various Examples
Templates
Search Interest
External References
[1] TikTok – @shaneyyricchh
[2] X – @JediNabber
[3] X – @PanderShirts
[4] X – @beckyvenus
[5] X – @snoopy_snoot
[6] X – @halomancer1
Top Comments
Geigh Science
Dec 14, 2023 at 04:05PM EST
mandrac
Dec 14, 2023 at 03:43PM EST