The always has been meme is one of the most recognizable astronaut-based internet memes. It uses a simple but effective setup: one astronaut discovers something that seems surprising, while another astronaut responds as if the discovery has been obvious all along. The familiar phrase “Always has been” turns an ordinary observation into an exaggerated joke.
Over time, the always has been meme has appeared in countless versions involving work, school, technology, gaming, social media, shopping, and everyday frustrations. Although many people associate the format with the famous “Wait, it’s all Ohio?” variation, its history goes back further than the realistic astronaut image that became widely popular around 2020.
What Is the Always Has Been Meme?
At its core, the always has been meme is about an unexpected realization. The first astronaut represents someone who thinks they have discovered a new or shocking fact. The second astronaut already knows the supposed truth and calmly answers, “Always has been.”
The humor comes from the contrast between surprise and certainty. The first character treats the information as a major discovery, while the second treats it as something that has never been a secret. This makes the always has been meme especially useful for situations where people suddenly recognize something that has actually been obvious for a long time.
For example, a workplace version might involve someone realizing that a meeting could have been an email. The response is simply “Always has been.” The short exchange works because many readers immediately understand the observation.
Where Did the Always Has Been Meme Come From?
The history of the always has been meme developed gradually rather than appearing in its modern form all at once.
According to the source material, an early precursor appeared on Reddit on December 11, 2016. It was an MS Paint-style drawing featuring two astronauts discovering that Earth was flat, with one astronaut pointing a gun. A more recognizable version appeared on 4chan on August 7, 2018, using America as the unexpected discovery.
The format gained additional attention through Ohio-themed edits in 2019. By 2020, more realistic astronaut-and-Earth versions had spread widely and became the template most people recognize today. The always has been meme subsequently expanded into many different subjects and online communities.
Why Does the Always Has Been Meme Mention Ohio?
One of the best-known versions asks, “Wait, it’s all Ohio?” before receiving the response, “Always has been.”
Ohio became connected with the always has been meme through the broader “Ohio vs. the World” internet joke. In this style of humor, creators exaggeratedly portrayed the entire world as Ohio. An Ohio-themed edit recorded by Know Your Meme appeared on iFunny in October 2019 and later circulated across several social platforms.
The joke is intentionally ridiculous. There is no serious suggestion that Earth is actually Ohio. Instead, the format presents an absurd idea as though it were a secret truth that everybody already understood.
Why Is There a Gun in the Meme?
The gun adds an exaggerated conspiracy element to the always has been meme.
The first astronaut appears to discover information that they were supposedly never meant to learn. Meanwhile, the second astronaut already knows the information and appears ready to stop the discovery from being revealed. This turns an otherwise simple realization into an absurd secret-revelation scene.
The weapon is not necessary for the basic joke to work. Versions without it can still communicate the same realization-and-confirmation structure. However, the original visual makes the situation appear more dramatic and conspiratorial.
How Does the Always Has Been Meme Work?
A successful always has been meme generally follows three basic stages.
1. The Assumption
The audience begins with an ordinary belief. For example, someone may believe social media is mainly about connecting with friends.
2. The Realization
The first astronaut suddenly proposes an exaggerated alternative, such as realizing that social media is largely advertising.
3. The Confirmation
The second astronaut responds with “Always has been.”
This final part is what completes the joke. Without the confirmation, the image is simply an observation. With it, the observation becomes a humorous suggestion that the supposedly new discovery has always been true.
Why Is the Always Has Been Meme So Reusable?
The always has been meme does not depend on one celebrity, movie, event, or news story. Its basic concept is universal: someone discovers that reality is different from what they expected.
That makes the format suitable for workplace habits, school, technology, gaming, social media, sports, politics, fandoms, internet culture, and everyday frustrations.
The familiar astronaut image already communicates most of the situation. Creators therefore only need to change the caption to create a new joke.
Funny Always Has Been Meme Examples
The flexibility of the always has been meme can be seen through simple examples:
Work:
“Wait, the meeting could have been an email?”
“Always has been.”
School:
“Wait, the test is mostly from one paragraph?”
“Always has been.”
Technology:
“Wait, restarting it actually fixes the problem?”
“Always has been.”
Social Media:
“Wait, everyone posts only the best part of their day?”
“Always has been.”
Gaming:
“Wait, collecting resources is the actual game?”
“Always has been.”
These examples work because they describe familiar situations rather than completely random ideas.
How to Make an Always Has Been Meme
Creating an always has been meme does not require complicated design skills. Start by choosing a familiar observation and turning it into a dramatic discovery.
Short captions are usually more effective. A line such as “Wait, it’s all meetings?” is easier to understand quickly than a long explanation. The second astronaut’s traditional “Always has been” response also acts as an important recognition signal for the format.
The main goal is to make the audience understand the joke immediately.
Always Has Been Meme Templates and Generators
The source identifies Imgflip and Kapwing as two options for creating the format. Imgflip has a commonly indexed blank 960 × 540 PNG and an online generator for adding captions. Kapwing also provides an editable version and supports image, GIF, and video meme creation through its browser-based editor.
For a basic image meme, a simple editor may be enough. More advanced editing tools can be useful when creating animations, videos, or customized social-media formats.
“Always Has Been” or “Always Have Been”?
The standard name of the always has been meme uses “Always Has Been.” The phrase follows the singular subject in expressions such as “It has always been.”
Although “always have been meme” is sometimes used as a search variation, the source identifies “Always Has Been” as the safer and more recognized wording when referring to the meme format.
Why the Always Has Been Meme Is Still Popular
The always has been meme has remained useful because its humor does not depend on a particular moment in internet culture. New audiences can understand the joke without knowing the original event that made the template popular.
The format has also developed many variations, including altered planets, different characters, additional astronauts, versions without the gun, and completely different punchlines. This ability to change while remaining recognizable has helped the always has been meme remain useful as a general reaction format.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Always Has Been Meme mean?
The always has been meme shows someone discovering a surprising “truth,” followed by another character confirming that the situation has supposedly always been that way.
Where did the Always Has Been Meme originate?
Its history includes a 2016 Reddit precursor, a recognizable 2018 version, Ohio-related edits in 2019, and the realistic astronaut format that spread widely in 2020.
Why is Ohio used in the meme?
Ohio became associated with the format through the “Ohio vs. the World” internet trend, which humorously portrayed the entire planet as Ohio.
Why does the astronaut have a gun?
The gun exaggerates the discovery by making it appear as though the first astronaut has uncovered a secret that the second astronaut wants to protect.
Where can I find an Always Has Been Meme template?
The source identifies meme-template platforms such as Imgflip as places offering the familiar blank template and tools for adding custom captions.
Final Thoughts
The always has been meme became popular because it turns a simple realization into an exaggerated revelation. Its astronauts, Earth setting, dramatic visual, and memorable response create a format that can be adapted to almost any familiar situation.
From its earlier versions to the Ohio trend and realistic astronaut template, the always has been meme has evolved while keeping the same basic joke. Its strongest versions are simple, recognizable, and based on observations that audiences immediately understand.
