Meme

:[[Viral]] redirects here, for viraL, see [[Ryan]]

masses.]]
, a common type of meme.]]

A meme is anything with an amusing or [[lulz]]y characteristic that is spread on the [[internet]]. They come in many forms, usually as an [[image]], [[gif]], [[video]], or even just words. The term "meme" was coined by [[Richard Dawkins]] in his book [[Evolution|The Selfish Gene]], shortened from mimeme. But it was originally used then to describe the spreading of a cultural or genetic phenomena through means of imitation between one and another. No one uses it that way anymore, except elderly [[fags|sociology majors]].

Before meme was used, it was referred to as an "internet phenomena" or simply an "idea". But now, even your grandma will know it. In [[tl;dr|short]], memes are a way for even [[you|friendless losers]] to have unfunny inside jokes on the internet.

Sometimes [[blog]]gers refer to memes as a word game or short [[quiz]] taken and posted as [[comment whore|comment bait]]. The more comments a user receives about their results, the higher the chances are of that thing spreading.

You can bet your [[life]] that every meme you know [[anti-lulz|hasn't been funny]] since about 20 seconds after its [[inception]], which was [[at least 100|approximately one billion years ago]] for all memes.

Creation

A meme cannot be created by any one person. Every [[noob]] tries this [[over 9000]] times. A meme, like the [[Herpes]] or [[AIDS]], is a gift to be shared, something to be cherished, but not some lame token of glory for some basement dwelling no life fag. A meme is created by the reaction to, not the invention of, a subject (typically an image). In fact, the best memes are created by accident and are the result of a particularly lulzworthy image being seen by the right people at the right time.

However, IF YOU MUST try to create a meme, try sharing something unique on [[b/|/b/]] instead of gay ass [[advice dog]] knockoffs.

Lifespan

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Memes are like bacteria or fungi. Some are benign, some are symbiotic helpers, some are the plague. This general outline describes the life stages of a meme.

# Memeception / Larval: A meme is [[original content|born]] in a niche sub-community, sometimes starting as an [[in-joke]], and gestates there until it matures. Some memes get an assist by being based on [[IRL]] events and go directly to stage 3. [[Forced meme]]s go directly to stage 6.
# Maturation: The meme integrates across the community local to where it was born, settling into a stable reproductive form.
# Cross Pollination: The meme begins [[aids|spreading]], reaching many different corners of the internet, where it is either rejected as toxic, or accepted and allowed to breed within those cultures.
# Mimicry: The [[santorum|frothy byproducts]] of meme reproduction [[Tosh.0|surface IRL]] and are mistaken for original content by [[normies]] that have no connection to the communities. This may lead directly to stage 6.
# Mutation: Memes that successfully replicate and adapt live on. Fluke offshoots are culled. The meme survives in the wild, with a natural cycle of activity and dormancy. Over time it can bear little to no resemblance to the original, but generally retains its prominent feature/s. A meme may survive here indefinitely.
# Artificial Selection: [[Chuck Norris|It]] makes its way to [[old media]], becoming [[lolcats|dumbed down for a mass audience]] and put on Snorg Tees and [[Facebook]] bumper stickers. Those that gave birth to the meme are [[Troll's Remorse|filled with regret]]. [[Cancer]] sets in.
# Extinction: The meme can no longer reproduce or mutate due to its new environment removing those requirements. Its ability to [[shitposting|survive]] is eradicated through [[Grumpy Cat|litigation]]. The meme becomes calcified, leaving only fossils behind.

Successful Replicators

A short list of forms that survive in multiple environments.
* [[Something_Awful#Photoshop_Phriday|Absurd Photoshopping]]
* [[Copypasta]]
* [[Macro]]
* [[Reaction Face]]

[[Forced Meme]]

A forced meme is one that is not created by a community, but is instead created by a single person or company in its "final form". They are mostly slogans, catchphrases, and hashtags, made by advertising campaigns trying to astroturf something. They do not succeed in becoming real internet phenomena unless it's through mockery of the original. They can occur naturally, rarely, but those have very short lifespans.

Pronunciation

Perhaps one the most interesting aspects of the topic of memes is the pronunciation of the word itself. Since the word meme is used primarily [[OTI]] in modern day, it's usually not spoken aloud. Thus, a great deal of confusion has formed amongst the [[retarded]] masses of the Internets. Very few people seem to know how it's properly pronounced, and idiots still argue (and probably always will) over how exactly one says the word meme. Some possibilities:

:*MEEM (think of, cream)
:*MEE·​MEE (pee pee)
:*MAYM (same)
:*MAY·​MAY (baby)
:*MEM (them)
:*MEH·​MEH (yeah yeah)
:*MEH·​MAY (memé by the faux-posh)
:*And any additional combination of the above sounds

Naturally, only one of these can be correct. Of course, anybody with a handful of brain cells can come to the conclusion that all but one of them sound fucking retarded. If you still can't figure out how it's pronounced, its the first one. Now that you know you should probably get back to being a loser and [[fapping|fapping]] at pictures of your [[loli|13 year old]] cousin, or [[an hero|what ever else it is you should be doing.]]

TL;DR: Anyone [[Asperger's_syndrome|kewl]] enough to try and say this shit IRL is fucking retarded. This includes Justin Bieber, nobros, your dad, anyone currently reading this and [[You|faggots in general]].

Gallery

Videos

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See Also

ism a meme?]]
* [[6-7]]
* [[Death of a Meme]]
* [[Forced meme]]
* [[IRL meme]]
* [[Memefag]]
* [[Meme Combining]]
* [[Nyu's Art Meme]] - Tart-lets ruin everything
* [[Old meme]]
* [[Permit Patty]]
* [[Pogs]] - Memes in Pog form
* [[Sparkle Motion]]
* [[This Fuckin' Guy]]
* [[Unfunny]] - What all memes are
* [[X is now a meme]]

External Links

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