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The internet took a turn for the worse once memes surfaced
- Thread starter Imp the Dimp
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Mr Fahrenheit
Member
Memes have been around quite a time longer than four years OP.
xDUMPWEEDx
Banned
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Trojita
Rapid Response Threadmaker
icanhazcheezburger?
Snkfanatic
Banned
No Trojita, you are a doge, you cannot haz.
shysaursoft
Member
Language is memetic. If you speak a language, you are likely propagating memes.
So.. cool story bro. High five. See you later alligator. Don't let the bed bugs bite.
(Image Macros are memetic, but that's not what a "meme" is in the pure definition.)
Google Trends show the rise of people *searching* for memes along specific phrases and avenues. You are transposing people searching for a thing, for a thing existing in the first place. Discussion about memes has gone on as long as the late 70s, and likely earlier just under a different name.
All Your Base was called a meme back in early 2000s already. Don't rely on Google Trends for any kind of useful datum, it can be misleading to assume what and when people search for things is the same as the thing itself. The map is not the territory.
The term "meme" has become generalized to mean "funny cat picture" or "10th level irony succ here come dat boi", which is unfortunate, but that's language for you. Words mean what culture ends up making it mean.
Memes have been around forever bro.
Are Hamster dance and YTMND memes too? I don't remember anybody ever referring to these earlier Internet thing as memes.
Places with intelligent people and good discussions that aren't like 4chan. Places that are as far away from 4chan as humanly possible.
RandomHopeInc
Member
Nothing can be expressed better than with pics of Harambe #dixoutforharambe
shysaursoft
Member
They are memes, but early general populous Internet didn't yet have the language to refer to them as memes. They spread and propegate like memes, and carry cultural payloads, like memes, so if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck... (sorry for the meme).
But early 00s, it was just "viral video" or "funny cat picture", etc. One could argue they weren't really that good at being memes, because their selection pressures were partially artificial due to the structure of the internet, how people find and access content, etc. So they propegated, but they weren't really a stable idea by themselves, they required people's way of finding them funny to propagate.
"Why did the chicken cross the road" is a meme. And a joke. And one that is now so prevalent, we don't really think of it as a meme anymore.
Mechanized
Member
Memes aren't bad. People using Memes as seemingly their only form of communication is bad. THAT is a recent trend. But I guess it can just be linked to the world being bigger and more connected that lets people bash out digital diarrhea more frequently.
hydrophilic attack
Member
i want to be a meme when I've grown up
We have worse in that area too. Now we have "feels." I just shuddered from typing that word out.
Phobophile
A scientist and gentleman in the manner of Batman.
Back in my day, we used to call memes "image macros"
Memes have been around forever bro.
I remember when I was a kid and my Father brought me to the computer to show me this meme. He loved it.
Yes, they are. Memes are basically the passing of ideas or concepts through people. Its why that's the word used for what is known as Internet Memes.
I can confirm that memes have always been a thing. I was online mid-early 90s. Freaking goatse was everywhere back then.
Mushroomer25
Member
Shitty memes have been a part of this twisted society since the beginning. Bad jokes based entirely on reference to themselves, and mindless repetition. All Your Base, O RLY, Bunny With A Pancake On His Head - the list stretches back as far as the eye can see.
old manatee
Banned
During the 90's you almost had to be a semi-intelligent person just to dial into the internet, much less figure out how to contribute to it. The whole process was so finnicky and complicated, it really weeded out a lot of dumbasses.
I knew tons of people who were around for the birth of the internet, but couldn't be arsed to use it for like 15 years until it became a brainless, always-on thing in their pocket with a simple touch interface. Then all of a sudden they were Mr. Facebook 24/7.
Now everyone can press like one button to stream endless high-quality videos of themselves pooping for the whole planet to see.
It's just democracy. Every fuckface gets to contribute. Back in the day our uncles were too stupid to spam racist Obama memes, but the process got easier and easier over time, until no racist was left behind.
I knew tons of people who were around for the birth of the internet, but couldn't be arsed to use it for like 15 years until it became a brainless, always-on thing in their pocket with a simple touch interface. Then all of a sudden they were Mr. Facebook 24/7.
Now everyone can press like one button to stream endless high-quality videos of themselves pooping for the whole planet to see.
It's just democracy. Every fuckface gets to contribute. Back in the day our uncles were too stupid to spam racist Obama memes, but the process got easier and easier over time, until no racist was left behind.
Reverend Funk
Comfy Penetration
If you don't like memes fuck you!
Nose Master
Member
They're not new, but yeah, they're awful. Jokes that were mildly funny repeated and "iterated" on infinitely until you cringe at the sight of them. Harambe, for instance. That meme was never funny, and now it's back so we get another two weeks of "HARAMBE RIGHT." It's the entirety of the internet sending you shitty chain emails.
Chuck Norris saw this thread and roundhouse kicked OP in the face.
Also:
Frodo Lives!
Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!
Member
wow
such thread
many posting
much reply
wow
such thread
many posting
much reply
wow
I'm kinda with you OP.
I'm not gonna take a hard "never" stance on them (they can be deployed cleverly) but most people using them are basically the internet equivalent of that guy at work who just quotes movies and family guy instead of actually being funny.
I mean, even the ones people are posting ionically in this thread are obvious and boring.
I'm not gonna take a hard "never" stance on them (they can be deployed cleverly) but most people using them are basically the internet equivalent of that guy at work who just quotes movies and family guy instead of actually being funny.
I mean, even the ones people are posting ionically in this thread are obvious and boring.
Neuromancer
Member
___ ___ ate my balls
SweetDonuts
Member
Our lord and saviour pepe
ZackieChan
Member
GifGafIsTheBestGaf
Member
Also chill, OP.
I, for one, look forward to 100 years from now when memologists from the Massachusetts Institute of Memetic Sciences will comb through the ruins of Trump's America to find some rare memes to add to the memeseium. Imagine categorizing all the pepes, image macros and dancing baby gifs. Doctorates will be written about the golden age of memes at the beginning of the 21st century, 22nd century memes will be worthless trash in comparison.
I, for one, look forward to 100 years from now when memologists from the Massachusetts Institute of Memetic Sciences will comb through the ruins of Trump's America to find some rare memes to add to the memeseium. Imagine categorizing all the pepes, image macros and dancing baby gifs. Doctorates will be written about the golden age of memes at the beginning of the 21st century, 22nd century memes will be worthless trash in comparison.
DeadlyParasite
Member
Memes have been prevalent for way longer than 4 years ago lol.....
GifGafIsTheBestGaf
Member
i rather have bubbleheads and memes left and right than colored text with special effects and shit to be honest
Permanently A
Junior Member
Are you being the person Harambe knew you could be?
Like others have mentioned dancing baby, ytmnd, hamster dance, etc. Memes have been around since the dawn of the internet. I believe running around quoting movie lines during recess as a kid was a form of memememing before the internet existed.
Now play him off keyboard cat...
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Now play him off keyboard cat...
Like others have mentioned dancing baby, ytmnd, hamster dance, etc. Memes have been around since the dawn of the internet. I believe running around quoting movie lines during recess as a kid was a form of memememing before the internet existed.
Now play him off keyboard cat...
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Like others have mentioned, they were not everywhere. I've been on forums since 1996. I don't know what hamster dance is.
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