Oregon’s .GIF to the World: Gas Pumping Memes

By: Ryan Gallagher January 11, 2018
Oregonians were allowed to start pumping their own gas for the first time in 2018, and the results have been hilarious.
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As the country jumped into 2018, New Year’s resolutions rang out. Predictably, many goals will be dropped weeks into January. However, drivers in Oregon face somewhat of a forced resolution: learning to pump gas.

For years, Oregon drivers deferred to gas station attendants when their fuel levels were low. But since House Bill 2482 took effect, these drivers must now take matters in their own hands when gassing up.

The bill does not ban gas stations from employing pump attendants, though it does legalize the ability for drivers in the Beaver State to pump their own gas. Specifically, low-population counties in Oregon will be the first to implement the new self-service rule.

The change may seem innocuous to most American drivers, as New Jersey is now the only state that disallows drivers from pumping their own gas. 

So how big of a deal is self-service gas pumping? Well, this was the exact question a news source in Medford, Oregon posed to their Facebook followers. The responses that ensued soon made noise on social media:

“I don’t even know HOW to pump gas and I am 62, native Oregonian,” said one resident. “I say NO THANKS! I don’t want to smell like gasoline!”

Legitimate worries regarding physical ability and competence were initially voiced, but as the issue snowballed, unforeseen concerns came to life.

“Pumped my own gas my whole life and now my hands have literally melted down to my wrists. I’m typing this with my tongue,” wrote a Michigan native in a facetious comment on a KTVL CBS 10 Facebook post.  

Soon enough, comments like this gave way to a slew of viral memes and .gifs:

Oregonians can never fly under the radar when having to pump gas.

DumbPatrick

Drivers from the state are usually pretty obvious at the pump.

UpsideDownPump

Apparently, the law is even impacting gas station infrastructure.

BrokenPump

Pictured below is a typical Oregon driver pumping gas for the first time.

Kid pumping gas

Some drivers quickly picked up advanced pumping techniques!

OregonTweet

On the other hand, some did not.

GreenGas

And in some cases… catastrophic destruction.

ORExplosion

Now, even more viral than these .gifs and memes, is the new hashtag #PrayForOregon.

PrayforOregon

Despite receiving a mass amount of social media attention, the new law may not bring as much dreaded change as Oregon residents predict.

“Honestly, I don’t think we’re going to make a change,” said cashier Shelby Perkins at the 76 station in Prineville, Oregon. “Our regular, longtime customers love coming here and talking to us while we pump their gas.”

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