Meme's for Dummies
What is a meme? Just a picture? A witty saying? Is it a new phenomenon or has it been around since the press?
According to Wiki:
The word meme is a shortening (modeled on gene ) of mimeme (from Ancient Greek Greek pronunciation: [mmma] mmma , "imitated thing", from mimeisthai , "to imitate", from mimos "mime") [4] and it was coined by the British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins in The Selfish Gene (1976) [1] [5] as a concept for discussion of evolutionary principles in explaining the spread of ideas and cultural phenomena. Examples of memes given in the book included melodies, catch-phrases , fashion, and the technology of building arches. [6]
So one could say that a meme is as old as culture itself, but aided by modern technology.. the radio, the TV, slogans.
But the modern meme, meaning the one that came from the internet era is something else. It is the clever combination of picture and word to produce something more than it's parts. It is not a graphic, as graphics are used to explain. So here is a graphic to explain the meme:
http://gizmodo.com/what-exactly-is-a-meme-512058258
Hope that this has been informative.
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I have 2 questions :
What is the objection to making a meme into an article or a seed ?
Where is the line between meme and non-meme ?
LOL! Hoping to prevent any further misunderstandings.
I've read the various definitions of "meme" and I' me still confused! What does it all meme ???
From Wiki:
Tell me that makes any sense, seriously. "A unit for carrying ideas" ??? What ???
Wiki says the greek word was "mimema" which means "imitated thing". At this point I'll go with that.
Sure.
In advertising the unit is the paper ad or slogan.
None of the definitions I've read make any sense. It may be because it's the end of a long week and the several beers I've consumed. I'll think about it Monday.
OK, think of what we do with memes, Pat. We take them copy them and then pass them on to like minded people. Doesn't that fit with your definition?
Hey, I could use one of those beers.
I'm going with this one:
I've been rectumfied
In Dawkins' initial conception,he presented the idea of an'information ecosystem'something like a 'biosphere', an environment, 'inhabited' by ideas or concepts, as if ideas or concepts were actual living organisms, that propogated themselves from brain to brain-- he even used the analogy of a virus, something that replicated itself, that could/would be mutated, modified, as it spread from one mind to another.
"Meme" was the term coined to identify or label an idea or concept that could 'pass itself' from one human brain to another, either by verbal communication or by simple observation: the act of chipping a flint arrowhead is a 'meme'-- a concept that can pass from one brain to another when one person watches another chipping the flint. Probably the earliest 'memes' all 'spread themselves' through behavior: the idea/concept/ of 'making fire' was clearly a powerful 'meme', a 'unit' of information that literally changed the world of early man. The development of language & writing enhanced the ability of 'memes' to propogate through the 'mental environment', moving from brain to brain more quickly, efficiently and across wider areas than behavior/observation enabled them to spread. Visual images are another example of 'meme'-- ideas or concepts that 'propogate' through the eyes into the brain and are then passed along by displaying the same (or a similar) image to another (witness the current 'storm in a teacup' across three separate threads on NT today)
The more 'spreadability' a meme has, the better it is able to 'propogate itself' through the 'information environment', the more 'successful' or 'powerful' the meme is-- so obviously the development of the Internet presented an ideal 'environment' for memes, enabling them to pass from mind to mind much more rapidly than ever before in history. (Note how common it is now for us to speak of images, phrases or ideas as "going viral". Dawkins himself once commented that anything that 'goes viral' is pretty much by definition a 'meme'-- a concept that is 'propogating itself' from mind to mind as if the idea/concept were 'infectious'.)
Note that a 'meme' is not necessarily related to truth, falsehood, reality or verifiability... 'Aryan superiority' is a meme that spread incredibly rapidly in the 1930s and 40s, and still 'spreads itself' today, without any observable/verifiable 'truth'. The Virgin Birth is a meme, the Resurrection is a meme, Islam is a meme, and so are Communism, white supremacy, Bigfoot and the Marlboro Man.
Ironically, the term 'meme' itself has mutated since it was appropriated (or spread itself) into the Internet environment. On one hand, practically any graphic image or image/text combo will be lauded by some as a meaningful or significant 'meme', so 'potent' or successful that it constitutes a 'discussion' or 'presentation' in & of itself. On the flip side, another image, image/text or phrase will be dismissed by some as an 'insignificant meme', apparently because the idea/concept doesn't 'propogate itself' into certain brains...
Interesting in light of Dawkins original propositions: a characteristic of 'memes' is that they are mutable and adaptable, subject to metamorphosis in the process of propogating themselves...
Wow Jim,
That was really interesting. the term has a real sociological background.
You know it's true. When I went to a site where you can make your own memes, I saw how the same visual had so many different sayings that spread totally different ideas. So this is mine and some others that I found:
Hey, that explains so much, BF, LOL!
Great job!
I'm past that point of imbibation, cheers, Badfish
Good thing that you didn't go to that other place BF...
Shouldn't this be known as the ''meme generation''.?
is this where I say I'm voting for the cat....
I'm as confused as you, Pat! I have never even heard this word before today! Do I live in a hole???
Stephi,
You must not have teens. They love memes. It really is part of the internet world, in the way that we use them today. Ad agencies sometimes would refer to a campaign as a meme or a series of memes. Think of them as visual slogans. There are even sites that you can go to, to make your own memes. All the ones in this article were made by either me or badfish. They can be fun and creative, too. If you taught an older grade, I would tell you to use them in class. It helps to bring history more into the modern world. Like a meme to join the Revolutionary War.
For sure! My kids send them to me all the time... usually to bust on my chops.
LR,
Me too!
I am not a meme... I am a free concept!
Robert,
From some of your previous comments, you might be of the opinion that NT has a low level of discussion and therefore, what worse could a meme make it. But no matter, memes don't encourage any discussion. They are a concept, a singular message, a catch phrase. There is no dispute about this in the internet world.
At our core, we are a discussion site. Yes we have other directions that the site takes, to please almost every flavor, but the sole purpose of the forum is to discuss, which a meme as a starter, doesn't do. And I have to agree with Mike, who made the call, that it is also against our CoC.
Well, you've taken a confusing subject and made it more understandable! Thanks, I guess that's what a good meme does.
Matthew is always coming home from his Japanese class, telling me that they watched an Anime. I guess that is an illustrated storyline-- like a cartoon?
I can easily see how a meme can be used as an illustration for derision, and that doesn't follow a path conducive to discussion.
Gene,
Your sunny upbeat comments are always an inspiration.
I agree Robert.
Also true. I go with the less is more idea.
Honestly Robert, this whole thing has taken me by surprise. Yes, I would like more quality discussions. No, I don't want to moderate for that. But this one item, a meme, shouldn't make or break NT. Just trying to keep this place from going straight into the toilet and there are grounds for it in the CoC. Imagine if the mods had figure out what stupid memes were offensive or not. What a moderating nightmare for both the members and the mods.
LMAO.... we could use them for a fundraiser to help cure depression.
After reading through this whole article and giving it careful consideration, I think this whole discussion is ridiculous on a website that promotes itself as....
A News Social Network for Adults
...unless my understanding of what an adult is has also been co-opted and perverted by the culture@web.
Yeah, but would ya Robert, if you had to moderate this mess?
There you go Brolly.
Zackly!
Bad Fish,
And do you find something wrong with it? It was a joke, and I know that you know what that means. Humor does not equate with adultness or childishness.
Perhaps you misunderstood me BF, or perhaps I was not clear:
This article and two others have as an underlying concept the web definition of meme and whether the use of such a meme should ever be curtailed to fit with community norms. The fact that this discussion has arisen speaks to the childishness of the membership, because the members have a low tolerance for tolerance. They get bent out of shape over perceived slights, or trash talk to another member, to the point where a moderator is called in because someone has, in actuality or perception, crossed the bounds set out by Code of Conduct. Then, the mod has to come in and be seen as the bad person to one or more of the participants, which then causes feelings to be hurt, and leads to discussions such as this one.
I do not believe that web memes or any other means of communication that can come through your computer should be restricted in any way. We are all adults and should be able to speak our minds as well as read or be informed in a manner that is in keeping with the CoC. If one can't do these simple things, then I suggest that one learns the concepts that are hopefully taught to our children before we let them go to school. That shouldn't really be that hard, but I know that for some it is... (sic)
Robert said:
No. My opinion.
It sound like THE Russell is in favor of memes not being outlawed .
Not surprising . You seem to classify many things that you don't understand as "pointless" .
So because one meme was "pointless" or useless that means all memes are outlawed ? Your understanding of legal principles is non-existent .
Again , your understanding of legal principles is non-existent . NT requires a legal principle [a binding rule ] with which to eliminate an article . Without that there is no justification for "The meme had nothing useful to offer and should have been put out of it's misery."
LMAO at the complete ignoramus . Don't you know any f'in thing at all ?
Never thought I'd be saying this, but... kudos and a tip of the Swami's turban, RG.
Your original observation was an attempt at reason (which will undoubtedly by a) mocked, b) misunderstood, c)disregarded...)
Spot on, Broliver--- another passive-aggressive storm in a teacup...
If you can go for the Arthritis, she might go for you, Bigfish...
I'd pay good money to not have to see that....
"There's no such thing as a free cat--"
I think youhave to whitewash the chain-link fence to get it (apologies to Mark Twain)...
Hey... the dead cat was a low blow.
No I'm pretty sure they ran right over the top of him.
We've reached the point where nothing is too low... I foresee a comment from BF in the near future
And as it was foretold, so it came to pass...
The ultimate in sport fishing--- pursuit of the elusive Large Mouth...
John
You win the award again!
Not sure who "dude" is?
But the point is that Bruce did not make a comment to you and that is the basis for your award
I thought about what you said and as usual I came to the conclusion that it was the usual
I am not telling you to quit stirring the pot (all the pots) becauseyou do itso well, just recognize what you are doing starting on adding fuel to an argument no participating in a debate
OK Guys...
Yes, there is nothing in the CoC that says that you can't put up that disgusting picture in my article. Mike was wrong to delete it. They have been restored. But I have to say, that this pushes the 1st to the limit. There is a concept that your rights end when they step on someone else's toes, and that meme offends the group standards. That picture is disgusting and I have emails from the women and even guys on the site complaining that the picture is disgusting and I'm not talking about Mike either..... But hey, you want to play the CoC card that's OK. We could have a CoC that reads like the tax code, if you like. I see that is where we are going with both memes and having common decency.
John,
You are kind of missing the point. This is about pushing the envelope.... which that meme does.
OK, I will delete it. I thought you didn't want it deleted. Just trying to stay within our current CoC.
John,
I am not coddling anyone. I am going by the letter of the CoC, which obviously needs to be updated, since people don't know how to control themselves.
Bruce, you made your point. Now why don't you do the decent thing and delete this picture. Hey, I've put pictures up that have been deleted and I didn't get bent out of shape about it. You know this is not appropriate at all on a site that is viewed by over 6,0000 people with no age limit.
Some of the photos posted remind me of a bunch of kids that saw their first porno mag and have to show the pictures to their buddies. Frickin kid stuff.
I agree with Mike, some of that shit should have deleted.
This whole shit-storm has next-to-nothing to do with 'memes' and a helluva lot to do with passive-aggressive attitudes and a determination to tap-dance around the edges of the CoC and troll the mods. This site has some of the least-overbearing moderation anywhere, but there is a cadre of dipsticks who have to demonstrate that they can't be 'controlled' and will go to any length to prove it. The real 'issue' here is a declaration that 'Congress shall make no law abridging the freedomof people to be total asshats'...
Here is a meme with a message that needs to be heard:
Good message Larry but is it really a meme ?
It was when I got it Petey, I have just expanded on it a bit.
Well, I'm still here, Larry.
And that's the attitude that has gotten us to this point where our children are killing other children because they have no respect for anyone else.
Yes you are Perrie and a damn fine person I might add.
Yo keep using the word hit there is a huge difference with hitting some one and spanking a child's bottom.
If it is done out of violence then I have to agree with you if it is applied as correctional whether you like it or not it has its place and worked fine for a long time before Dr. Spock and the tree huggers came along.
I respect your opinion BF, I can't force you to respect mine.
And thank you as well BF, by the way my son was spanked once (one swat to the bottom) in all his 15 years and if you ask him he doesn't remember it at all but he will tell you that in my home there are consequences for doing something wrong.
LOL Bruce,
That is one thing that I have no envy over...
Right back at ya Larry!
You just noticed that now?????
This thread got strange by about the bottom of page 3 and has mostly devolved, derailed and devalued from there on down. Sorry PH, you've given it your best shot...
I have seen the word on different blogs.....this one was fun and fascinating to read through, so I'm last.....and new at this. I did not know what it might mean.....I just though it was saying you are a self centered person.....a Me, Me, and nobody else butME!
No meme! LOL!