I would link to a wiki site explaining it, but it's not exactly SFW, so I'll paraphrase.
It started from a blurb from an old game called Blazing Star for the Neo-Geo. It was a side-scrolling shooter game that had an awful case of Engrish. When you lost, it would pop up with this quote:
Quote from Blazing Star »
"You fail it! Your skill is not enough, see you next time, bye-bye!"
The popular imageboard website 4chan took the image and started applying it as an internet meme, simply condensing it into 'You fail', and 'fail.' This was combined with another popular meme term, 'Epic', meaning something of enormous magnitude or significance. Essentially, Epic Fail means you totally screwed up and are a total loser.
The internet nerd in me thanks 4chan for all the hilarious memes we have today, but the intelligent human being in me despises it for, well, being 4chan.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
#define ALWAYS SOMETIMES
#define NEVER RARELY
#define ALL MANY
-=GIVE US SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN=-
I'm nerd enough to link my WoW Armory Though I'll put it in a small font.
Probably one of the most idiotic [sounding] memes ever created. WHen people scream this in public I just want to shoot someone. I don't know why people think its cool to say it.
Too bad it's where some of the funniest stuff comes from...
Pedobear anyone?
Sadly, people feel the need to scream and show "epic fail", and a little part of me dies inside. It's one of the few things that makes me angry. That and people saying "It's a trap." Pisses me the **** off.
However, facepalm and pedobear make for some funny replies to comments in ASCII form.
?? What???
It started from a blurb from an old game called Blazing Star for the Neo-Geo. It was a side-scrolling shooter game that had an awful case of Engrish. When you lost, it would pop up with this quote:
The popular imageboard website 4chan took the image and started applying it as an internet meme, simply condensing it into 'You fail', and 'fail.' This was combined with another popular meme term, 'Epic', meaning something of enormous magnitude or significance. Essentially, Epic Fail means you totally screwed up and are a total loser.
Like freeform roleplaying? Try Darkness Befalls Us
Ryttare Kelasin Luna Orelinalei
Though I'll put it in a small font.
Please stop hijacking my reply box.
Thanks to a_passer_bye for an incredible signature banner!
Trade with me!
Teneb Reanimator EDH
Sunforge Mystic toolbox Casual
I'm banned from posting until next Monday. If you want to trade with me or if you want me to make you a sig, you must PM me.
Too bad it's where some of the funniest stuff comes from...
Pedobear anyone?
Trade thread!
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=556274
or
http://darjarri.com
Only new**** call other people new****.
tl;dr /b/ is dead and has been for a long time, /r9k/ is the heart of 4chan now.
Sadly, people feel the need to scream and show "epic fail", and a little part of me dies inside. It's one of the few things that makes me angry. That and people saying "It's a trap." Pisses me the **** off.
However, facepalm and pedobear make for some funny replies to comments in ASCII form.
RK9 is made of unfun and fail. /b/ isn't good but it never has been so whatever
And this post is teh spam
Then again, the question was answered, so I guess this thread really has devolved into 4chan