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It must be an older person thing.

I've had no patience with meme culture since it became a thing, though. Not just recently.

A joke explained is a joke enjoyed!

I'm pretty fond of memes all in all, although A.) they have become pervasive and B.) the Shaggy memes really aren't funny to me.

If I were to say that you are getting old, then I would have to join you, as I also find memes annoying. Especially the new ones. So let's just go with they are getting more and more idiotic, and have cemented themselves into our culture in a primarily negative way.

Yes they are annoying and the word it self is just as annoying.

Only if they pronounce it "me-me"

Memes are fine. Some are good, some are bad, some are overused, some people don't know when to stop.

So, like everything else.

When did the lame lazy-a$$ stoner with a talking dog become a meme-thing, anyway?

I was away from social media for 4-5 days and suddenly all my friends and acquaintances were sharing them - and memes werent funny to start with.

I've had no patience for memes for a good decade + now. It makes me feel a little less isolated everytime someone elses admits they're not all that great.

 chromedog wrote:
When did the lame lazy-a$$ stoner with a talking dog become a meme-thing, anyway?

I was away from social media for 4-5 days and suddenly all my friends and acquaintances were sharing them - and memes werent funny to start with.

It happened suddenly a few days ago. Shaggy memes were suddenly all over Reddit and other places. No idea where they came from. It was funny at first, but like with many memes it was way too overused and became stupid. Give it a few days more and it'll be dead. Reddit at least has already moved on for the most part.

Sorry. Couldn't help myself.

No problem. Do you think this is true? like some idiot tomorrow creates another idiot website with a really idiotic name like twitter and eventually if you don't join that idiotic thing you are not aware of what is going on in the world in terms of technology

Perhaps each generation gets less and less funny and humorously talented?

Once upon a time you had ancient great philosophers dissing one another with wonderfully nuanced comments.

After a while there was Monty Python with their insane but well thought out style of comedy.

Then you had comedians who told the utterly ludicrous stories of their life like Ross Noble and Billy Connoly.

Now you have distorted pictures with emojis plastered on them or blaring earrape versions of music.

Just imagine what insane depths we will descend to. This is the Dark Age of Techno- I mean Humour.

cody.d. wrote:
Perhaps each generation gets less and less funny and humorously talented?

Once upon a time you had ancient great philosophers dissing one another with wonderfully nuanced comments.

After a while there was Monty Python with their insane but well thought out style of comedy.

Then you had comedians who told the utterly ludicrous stories of their life like Ross Noble and Billy Connoly.

Now you have distorted pictures with emojis plastered on them or blaring earrape versions of music.

Just imagine what insane depths we will descend to. This is the Dark Age of Techno- I mean Humor.

Its a fact in my opinion that each generation is getting less and less talented in almost all artistic/creative subjects movies/music/art/comedy.

Its a fact in my opinion

That's a contradiction silly, but there is some merit in what you say. Though with many of exceptions; gaming for instance is in many ways an artform that can create some truly breathtaking imagery. Perhaps it's more of a case of "The need for content" that produces a large amount of lackluster humor/art in all it's forms that can make anything feel stale and unfunny. Take Hero Movies as an example? Some are gorgeous, some feel produced and little else.

cody.d. wrote:

Its a fact in my opinion

That's a contradiction silly, but there is some merit in what you say. Though with many of exceptions; gaming for instance is in many ways an artform that can create some truly breathtaking imagery. Perhaps it's more of a case of "The need for content" that produces a large amount of lackluster humor/art in all it's forms that can make anything feel stale and unfunny. Take Hero Movies as an example? Some are gorgeous, some feel produced and little else.

what contradiction?. Yeah you're right but i think definitely in the case of music/comedy/movies i think its true.

Culture has gotten farther and farther away from my tastes ever since they were cemented.

You cant really have a in-depth conversation addressing the issues with out discussing politics. ( which is not allowed (

Am i incorrect?

 Stormatious wrote:
You cant really have a in-depth conversation addressing the issues with out discussing politics. ( which is not allowed (

Am i incorrect?

Are you addressing me? I only meant in terms of entertainment and literature, not politics. (Although I agree there's plenty to talk about in politics...on some other board somewhere.)

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:

 Stormatious wrote:
You cant really have a in-depth conversation addressing the issues with out discussing politics. ( which is not allowed (

Am i incorrect?

Are you addressing me? I only meant in terms of entertainment and literature, not politics. (Although I agree there's plenty to talk about in politics...on some other board somewhere.)

No im saying its all related in such a way where the core issue can not be addressed with ouit going there, yeah i think mi addressing you.

The more people you have, the wider range of preferences and capabilities, and thus the narrower the avenue to communicate things to as large a subsection of the population as possible and have it be appreciated and understood. It's a question of lowest common denominators. Though good memes have the capacity to carry layered messaging that will have broad appeal as well as insight.

@OP:
I agree. Memes are a pain in the butt. Those brats using them have to grow up.

 Ginjitzu wrote:


Sorry. Couldn't help myself.

See? This isn't creative, it isn't funny. It just feels like you've randomly dumped it on the conversation like, 'Look guys, I saw something funny somewhere else, you should laugh now!' - When laughing at random things is so utterly off topic for the post. Not to mention the use of something like that in a thread where the majority of the posters have specifically said they find it annoying is pretty poor form.

It's the animated gifs that annoy me. I thought that fad had passed around 2001, but no, they're back and just as lousy.

 Kilkrazy wrote:
The problem with memes as a form of communication is that they depend on the assumption of a shared cultural heritage.

For example, there are currently many memes using clips from Game of Thrones. These are meaningless to anyone who has't watched Game of Thrones. Plus, unlike an unfamiliar phrase in English or a foreign language, they can't be looked up. You have to have watched the programme to know the background which gives the particular character and situation its meaning which extends to the meme.

In this respect memes perform a similar function to jargon and slang, defining an "in group" and excluding an "out group". In other words, the point of memes is not to facilitate communication, it is to limit communication to the initiated.

Of course this depends on context. If I put a Space Marine meme into Dakkadakka, I have a reasonable belief that members of the forum are aware of the fluff background of Space Marines. This is the shared cultural experience which gives the meme meaning, If I go and put the same meme into a Daily Mail discussion thread about vaccines, it won't be any use.

Finally, here is a comic about language.

This is what it boils down to for me - often, it's an "in-joke" that if you are not au fait with that particular bit of culture, then the meaning entirely escapes one. I often see memes referring to popular movies but as I seldom watch movies anymore, more often than not, the entire point of the meme whooshes over my head. If you are trying to convey a point to a group of individuals, it might be better to explain in actual terms rather than posting a picture that risks half your intended audience missing out on the meaning. Memes should be appropriate to context and to audience and quite often, they aren't.

XuQishi wrote:
It's the animated gifs that annoy me. I thought that fad had passed around 2001, but no, they're back and just as lousy.

I SO agree with you on that front. I got into a discussion on TFW2005 (Discussion is a LOOSE term, here) with someone about not liking a fan favorite fiction, and broke down how it was bad. The responses? A John Cena gif to show shock, and some weird gif of someone in a board meeting jumping out the window in response to my reasoning. If a poster on a forum has about a 25% gif post rate, I usually just put them on ignore. I hate hitting ignore because even my worst enemies online may have something valuable to say, but if I can't get through someone's gak posting, then it doesn't really matter WHAT positive contribution they have.

AdmiralHalsey wrote:
I've had no patience for memes for a good decade + now. It makes me feel a little less isolated everytime someone elses admits they're not all that great.

This is basically how I feel, I've barely broke 30, and I still roll my eyes every time I see someone bringing meme culture out into the real world.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

AdmiralHalsey wrote:

 Ginjitzu wrote:


Sorry. Couldn't help myself.

See? This isn't creative, it isn't funny. It just feels like you've randomly dumped it on the conversation like, 'Look guys, I saw something funny somewhere else, you should laugh now!' - When laughing at random things is so utterly off topic for the post. Not to mention the use of something like that in a thread where the majority of the posters have specifically said they find it annoying is pretty poor form.

To add to that, what is the purpose of that meme? It's some little kid saying "The future is now old man." It's meaningless to me. I've no clue what the context is, what the show is or who the actor is. I understand you might be trying to make a point here, but I just don't get it. I see stuff like this, roll my eyes and move along. It cuts off any chance of two people having a real dialogue.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Stormatious wrote:
You cant really have a in-depth conversation addressing the issues with out discussing politics. ( which is not allowed (

Am i incorrect?

Don't even get me started on that my friend.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Iron_Captain wrote:

 chromedog wrote:
When did the lame lazy-a$$ stoner with a talking dog become a meme-thing, anyway?

I was away from social media for 4-5 days and suddenly all my friends and acquaintances were sharing them - and memes werent funny to start with.

It happened suddenly a few days ago. Shaggy memes were suddenly all over Reddit and other places. No idea where they came from. It was funny at first, but like with many memes it was way too overused and became stupid. Give it a few days more and it'll be dead. Reddit at least has already moved on for the most part.

I still don't even know what these memes are, I've not even bothered to go and look.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
Culture has gotten farther and farther away from my tastes ever since they were cemented.

it does seem like our shared culture in the US is getting more and more abstract and generic, while saying nothing about us as a people, outside of our love for fame and material possessions. The other day, a student and a professor were in my office (I'm a weird hybrid IT person) and we were all having a discussion. The professor is in his 60s and he made a comment in regards to A Prairie Home Companion. I immediately got it (my dad loves that program, I grew up with it). The student on the other hand, she asked what it was, and when the professor explained it to her, she just shrugged and said "I didn't even know radio was still used."

Seriously, kids don't know radio is still a thing?

I am very fond of the Dewey meme and i think it is particularly well used here, to be honest.

 Togusa wrote:

AdmiralHalsey wrote:

See? This isn't creative, it isn't funny. It just feels like you've randomly dumped it on the conversation like, 'Look guys, I saw something funny somewhere else, you should laugh now!' - When laughing at random things is so utterly off topic for the post. Not to mention the use of something like that in a thread where the majority of the posters have specifically said they find it annoying is pretty poor form.

To add to that, what is the purpose of that meme? It's some little kid saying "The future is now old man." It's meaningless to me. I've no clue what the context is, what the show is or who the actor is. I understand you might be trying to make a point here, but I just don't get it. I see stuff like this, roll my eyes and move along. It cuts off any chance of two people having a real dialogue.

How is this any different to any idiom or metaphor or reference, other than the thing you need context for is an image and not a phrase?

I have to agree with Yodhrin with approach that some are good and some are meh. It's partly dependent on your taste as well as being within the context that its based on. They're certainly useful in my job as a tutor, as I use a lot of the memes online as a springboard to base some of my word questions and have it as a way to contextualize their work material in a less boring manner.