{"slug":"trolley-problem","name":"Trolley Problem","url":"/templates/trolley-problem.jpg","w":600,"h":317,"top":"","bottom":"","description":"Create a Trolley Problem meme. The classic philosophical thought experiment becomes a format for any decision between two bad options with someone holding the lever.","keywords":"trolley problem meme, trolley meme, ethical dilemma meme, two choices meme, lever meme","year":2016,"origin":"A sketch of the classic trolley problem from philosophy: a runaway trolley, a lever operator who must choose, one person on one track, a group on the other. The internet turned this ethical thought experiment into a format for presenting two bad choices. For similar impossible decision formats, see the Two Paths meme.","format":"template","textBoxes":[{"label":"The trolley","x":3.3,"y":25.5,"w":30.9,"h":33.7,"placeholder":"The runaway force","fontFamily":"Arial","fontColor":"#FFFFFF","strokeColor":"#000000","strokeWidth":2,"isBold":true,"isAllCaps":true,"textAlign":"center","fontSize":32,"opacity":1},{"label":"One option","x":57.7,"y":30,"w":40.4,"h":26.2,"placeholder":"One option","fontFamily":"Arial","fontColor":"#FFFFFF","strokeColor":"#000000","strokeWidth":2,"isBold":true,"isAllCaps":true,"textAlign":"center","fontSize":32,"opacity":1},{"label":"The other option","x":51.5,"y":65.9,"w":47.6,"h":24.6,"placeholder":"The other option","fontFamily":"Arial","fontColor":"#FFFFFF","strokeColor":"#000000","strokeWidth":2,"isBold":true,"isAllCaps":true,"textAlign":"center","fontSize":32,"opacity":1}],"exampleCaptions":["MY FREE TIME","BEING PRODUCTIVE","REWATCHING THE SAME SHOW FOR THE 5TH TIME"],"exampleAltText":"Trolley Problem meme about free time being pulled between productivity and rewatching the same show","exampleRefreshDate":"2026-05-15","howToMake":["Open the Trolley Problem template with the classic sketch ready for your scenario","Label the trolley with the force or resource that is rushing toward a decision","Label the single-track option with one possible outcome","Label the multi-track group with the other possible outcome","Download and present your moral dilemma to anyone who enjoys overthinking ordinary decisions"],"seo":{"aliases":["Trolley Meme Format","Trolley Dilemma Meme","Two Tracks Meme","Lever Meme","Philosophy Meme"],"description":"A sketch of the trolley problem: a trolley on tracks heading toward a fork, a figure at the lever, one person tied to one path, a group tied to the other. Three textboxes let you cast your own scenario into the framework. The format works whether the stakes are genuinely impossible or embarrassingly petty.","definition":"A sketch of the classic trolley problem thought experiment. Used as a meme format to present any two-option dilemma, typically with neither option being clearly correct.","useCases":[{"category":"Everyday Dilemmas","examples":["MY WEEKEND / DOING LAUNDRY / DOING ANYTHING ELSE","MY MONEY / RENT / THAT THING I WANT BUT DO NOT NEED","MY EVENING / GOING TO BED EARLY / FINISHING THE SERIES TONIGHT","MY ATTENTION / THE MEETING / THE SLACK MESSAGES ABOUT THE MEETING"]},{"category":"Food & Lifestyle Choices","examples":["MY APPETITE / EATING HEALTHY / ORDERING THE THING I ACTUALLY WANT","MY WILLPOWER / THE GYM / THE COUCH THAT IS RIGHT THERE","MY SATURDAY / BEING PRODUCTIVE / BEING HORIZONTAL UNTIL 2PM"]}]}}