As defined by the r/cursedimages mods:
an image/video that causes confusion, eeriness or
dread; or where the following questions are difficult/impossible to answer:
Who?: Only
applies if there is someone in the image itself who the common person would not know the identity of. It does not apply to the question "Who did/made this?" since that applies to nearly every image.
What?: Either applies to "What is this?" if "Who?" does not apply, and always applies to "What is happening?" Even if you can tell what is happening, this question can be
rhetorical if the situation is purely absurd in nature.
Why?:
Applies to "
Why is this happening?" or "Why did someone do this?" or "Why would any sane person do this?".
How?: Applies only if an action is being done or has been done in an image to wonder how it happens. If it can be reasoned as to why, this question does not count.
In a similar
vein,
cursed comments make you think: "What the hell did I just read?", "Why would anyone type this out?". They tend to be overly edgy comments.