Iceberg tier parodies/memes are a genre of list-type images in which a person's
expertise on a topic is represented by an iceberg metaphor.
The main premise of these images is that everything can be described using an iceberg - You may think you know everything about it while looking at a
surface level, but if you dive deep enough you'll see that the iceberg is much bigger, and with much more to explore. Using this metaphor, the surface would represent the information most accessible to the public, while the rest of the iceberg would represent much less known and more obscure information, and would make up most of it. The deeper in the iceberg you go, the more obscure it gets.
Originally iceberg tier images were primarily made as a joke but in recent years they have been taken more seriously, as people are fascinated by
the mystery aspect.
Iceberg images are usually spread either on 4chan and Reddit where they are added or expanded upon by other users, or, as of recently, on Youtube in the form of Iceberg Explained videos, which have been gaining popularity ever since mid-2020.
Notable icebergs are
the Deep Web Iceberg, the Fetish Iceberg, the Conspiracy Iceberg, the Cinema Iceberg, the Music Iceberg, the
Super Mario 64 Iceberg, blameitongorge's Lost Media Iceberg, the Minecraft Iceberg, the Roblox Iceberg, the Disturbing Movie Iceberg and the many Youtube Icebergs.
Iceberg Tier Parodies are usually built like this:
The Sky - here lies the most common knowledge. Literally everyone knows about this.
The Surface - you are a casual. You
participate in
the community but don't go further than that.
Shallow Waters - you have officially entered
the rabbit hole. This knowledge can be gained either by extended activity in
the community or very shallow research.
Body of the Iceberg - you have either been very active in the community or are a deep researcher. This is the start of your descent into madness.
Bottom of the Iceberg - information from here on can only be obtained by old members of the community or by very heavy researchers. You have either been in the community from its very beginning or have asked your way around.
DEEP WATERS - INFORMATION LIKE THIS IS EXTREMELY HARD TO FIND - HIDDEN IN OBSCURE FORUMS AND DELETED POSTS, AND
OFTEN OBTAINED THROUGH TESTIMONY BY OLD MEMBERS - FROM HERE ON INFORMATION BECOMES VERY HARD TO CONFIRM.
THE ABYSS - INFORMATION THAT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND - OFTEN MUDDLED WITH MYTHS. MOSTLY FOUND BY COMPLETE ACCIDENT AND IS RARELY EVER DOCUMENTED.
NO RETURN FROM HERE - YOU HAVE OFFICIALLY ASCENDED. IF YOU ARE IN THIS TIER YOU ARE NO LONGER HUMAN, AS THIS INFORMATION IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A MERE MORTAL TO OBTAIN.
??? - EVERY COPY OF THIS DEFINITION IS PERSONALIZED
