this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2023
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Memes
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Does anyone else remember when something had to go viral first before it became a meme? Seems like the causality changed and now people "create" memes. Back in my day one did not simply create a meme, it had to become one.
The Star Wars kid, numa numa, all your base, Ellen Feiss, double rainbow etc. Can't remember my first still image meme. Maybe overly attached girlfriend, scumbag Steve, good guy greg, one of those.
The origin of the words meme implied it had to spread to become a meme.
The word has definitely changed in meaning.
It doesnβt really need to spread. If you take the gene comparison, a meme that doesnβt spread is like a person who has no kids. They still have genes even if they donβt spread them.
Yeah, I guess that's true. I just always thought of the phrase referring to the things that spread, but memes and genes can die without spreading.