Drinking Out of Cups

Not my chair, not my problem. That's what I say.

On October 11, 2006, a video appeared on YouTube that defied explanation. A CGI lizard—rendered with the unsettling simplicity of early 3D animation—ranted in a thick Long Island accent about... things. Seahorses. Captain Knots. Mr. Balloon Hands. Chairs that were not his, and therefore not his problem.

The audio came from musician Dan Deacon, who in 2003 had recorded himself watching television with the sound off, performing an improvisational monologue as a character embodying Long Island culture. Animator Liam Lynch later paired the audio with the lizard, creating something that existed outside normal categories of content.

"Who's this guy? Mr. Balloon Hands? No way. Get real."

"Seahorses. Forever."

The video accumulated millions of views despite—or because of—making absolutely no sense. Viewers debated endlessly whether Deacon had been on drugs during the recording. He insisted he hadn't. The internet wasn't sure it believed him.

"Not my chair, not my problem" became a catchphrase for aggressive disengagement. It captured the particular energy of refusing to care about things that weren't your responsibility—a philosophy that resonated with anyone who had ever wanted to simply opt out of a situation.

The meme peaked in 2007-2008, coinciding with Deacon's rise in the indie music scene. Soundboard apps were developed. The phrases entered the lexicon of a certain generation of internet users.

Who is Drinking Out of Cups? Not anyone's problem anymore. That's what we say.

Seahorses. Forever.