Users would label the file as something desirable (like a popular movie or music video) on peer-to-peer (P2P) software like LimeWire or Kazaa to trick others into watching it.
The specific use of the .wmv extension is a hallmark of that era. Before the dominance of YouTube and streaming, video files had to be downloaded individually. The small file size of thick.100.wmv (indicated by the "100" likely referring to a 100KB or similarly small size) made it extremely easy to distribute on slow dial-up or early broadband connections. thick.100.wmv
It shows a person with a severe, gaping facial injury or deformity being manipulated by a medical professional (often identified as a doctor or nurse). Users would label the file as something desirable
Seeing if one could watch the entire clip without looking away became a "rite of passage" in certain online subcultures. The small file size of thick
In the 2000s, internet culture was heavily influenced by the phenomenon. Videos like "thick.100.wmv," "2 Girls 1 Cup," and "BME Pain Olympics" were used as: