The Best practical description of memes I've ever found

Heath Robinson · Post by **Heath Robinson** » Sat May 30, 2009 9:55 am

A great many people like to talk about memes. They can quote you the original definition from Dawkins' book. Applying that definition, however, seems beyond a great many people. They make mistakes and deem only the things that we on the internet explicitly term "memes" to be examples.

That's wrong. Very wrong. So, I'd like to direct you guys to Susan Blackmore's TED talk.

Caedrus · Post by **Caedrus** » Sat May 30, 2009 11:07 am

Heath Robinson wrote:They make mistakes and deem only the things that we on the internet explicitly term "memes" to be examples.

Wait, when did anyone actually make that argument? I've missed out on this one.

Koumei · Post by **Koumei** » Sat May 30, 2009 12:15 pm

There are some who only consider something a meme if it's one of those random things that caught on over the Internet - basically, lolcats, Habeeb it, Epic Fail Guy and all those other things that basically started with 4chan.

I prefer to differentiate those by using the word "cliche" (it was an old wordfilter for meme).

There are also those who use meme merely to cover those stupid questionnaires people email to each other. I differentiate those by using the word "spam".

While the above are examples, they certainly aren't the beginning and end of memes - the term can even be applied to things that have nothing to do with the Internet or silly catchphrases, but there are those that don't really see that.

Also, it's a stupid word (made slightly better if you mispronounce it as "meem" rather than "meh meh") usually only used by annoying people.

Mr. Bane · Post by **Mr. Bane** » Sat May 30, 2009 12:24 pm

But...That's not what cliches are. In fact the meaning of lolcats is still very very clear: Cats are funny.

And spam doesn't adequately define the process. If I send you a message full of donkey porn I'm sending you spam.

If I send you a message full of lolcats, I'm sending you a meme. Yes, they are undesired, but I'm spreading an mental virus.

No one expects you to forward spam. Memes, however, are designed to be forwarded.

CatharzGodfoot · Post by **CatharzGodfoot** » Sat May 30, 2009 5:37 pm

Mr. Bane wrote:If I send you a message full of donkey porn I'm sending you spam.

Just wait, it'll be a meme.

Sir Neil · Post by **Sir Neil** » Sun May 31, 2009 1:28 am

Koumei wrote:(made slightly better if you mispronounce it as "meem" rather than "meh meh")...

I thought it was supposed to rhyme with "gem".

CatharzGodfoot · Post by **CatharzGodfoot** » Sun May 31, 2009 6:02 am

Sir_Neil wrote:
Koumei wrote:(made slightly better if you mispronounce it as "meem" rather than "meh meh")...
I thought it was supposed to rhyme with "gem".

It does in the word "memetic" at least...

Crissa · Post by **Crissa** » Sun May 31, 2009 7:57 am

The people who coined the word 'meme' pronounce it 'mee-m' not 'mem'. The second e is silent.

-Crissa

ckafrica · Post by **ckafrica** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 6:31 am

Sorry for being a phonetics geek, but the second E is not exactly silent. The second E is causing the first E to be pronounced as a tense vowel rather than a lax vowel. The same way it it does between Pete and Pet, or Site and sit.

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The Best practical description of memes I've ever found

The Best practical description of memes I've ever found

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