r/explainlikeIAmA

33K archived posts · Nov 2011 – Sep 2026

Consistent Quality[citation needed]!

r/explainlikeIAmA

~~If you are anything BUT 5 years old, and you're confused by something, this is the place for you.~~ Now that /r/eli5 clarified that they want simple explanations, (fake) 5-YEAR-OLDS ARE NOW WELCOME TO THE SUBREDDIT. But not in a creepy way.

Created Nov 28, 2011

105KMembers (last snapshot)

33KArchived posts

^welcome

#Easy Start Guide

Comment: Explain [whatever the topic is] in [whatever the context is].

Post: Explain [whatever] like IAmA/You Are A [anything you want, literally anything, like so literally anything that you can say "nothing" like "the existentialist void" and that is completely acceptable].

Example: Explain how silly putty picks up ink from comics like IAMA Nigerian email scammer slowly falling in love with you.

#Rules (READ THESE)

Don't be an asshole.

Top-level comments must respond directly to the prompt.
Top-level comments must be 150 c h a r a c t e r s or more. Posters can allow an exemption by including the [SHORT] tag in the title.
Top-comments must be your own writing.
Use proper spelling and grammar unless the question explicitly calls for something else.
Prompts and responses should be well-thought-out, not low-effort karma-grabs.
Prompts likely to start flame-wars ("Explain freedom like I'm Donald Trump") may be removed at the mods' discretion.
Responses that could offend or start a flame war may also be removed. See recommendation 3, below.
Please clear metaposts with the mods before making them.
When in doubt, refer to rule 1.

#Recommendations

Answers should be comprehensible to an English-speaker. That is, replying 'WOOF WOOF WOOF' to 'ELIAMA dog' will get your comment removed. Foreign language with translation is fine.
Prompts should not be 'lazy', as seen in rule 6. That is, no joke prompts such as 'Explain like I am AutoModerator'; these will be removed.
If what you are writing is liable to offend any group, its satirical point should be clear.
Remain in character for the duration of your response. This is implied by rule 2.

The mods have the final say in removing posts, comments, or anything not following the rules. Good answers will get love, karma, & a secret present (flair).

Rule-breakers face removal, flair of shame, and/or bans.

#How flair works

This sub gives out special kinds of flair that denote different things. Please see the wiki page for information on the various types.

How To: Flair Links

#Examples

Here is a list of comments that represent why this sub exists. They're good; read them!

#Other Awesome Subreddits

r/explainlikeIAmA

I kinda hope every question ends in "...like I am a stripper"

- jonnybegood

Rule 0: Read the sidebar before voting or posting

Other communities

Reddit Rebuilt is an independent, non-commercial archive and is not affiliated with Reddit, Inc. Content belongs to its original authors.