# Is it my imagination or is the "meme" column not new?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-my-imagination-or-is-the-meme-column-not-new/229206>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [February 14, 2004, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-my-imagination-or-is-the-meme-column-not-new/229206 "2004-02-14T13:43:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-my-imagination-or-is-the-meme-column-not-new/229206/1 "2004-02-14T13:43:34Z")

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I recognise every word of the [meme column](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040213.html), yet it is dated February 13th 2004. Is it wrongly dated, has it been published elsewhere before, has Cecil (heaven forbid!) committed plagiarism, or am I hallucinating?

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-my-imagination-or-is-the-meme-column-not-new/229206/2 "2004-02-14T14:54:50Z")

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Unless you read the print column in your local alternative weekly newspaper within the last week or so, you’re imagining things.

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**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2004, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-my-imagination-or-is-the-meme-column-not-new/229206/3 "2004-02-14T19:33:16Z")

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> [@Priceguy](#):
>
> I recognise every word of the [meme column](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040213.html), yet it is dated February 13th 2004. Is it wrongly dated, has it been published elsewhere before, has Cecil (heaven forbid!) committed plagiarism, or am I hallucinating?

Hmmm … I had exactly the same thought when I read the column. 😕

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**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-my-imagination-or-is-the-meme-column-not-new/229206/4 "2004-02-15T06:11:54Z")

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Perhaps the meme column is a meme itself. It’s genetically encoded in all of us!

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**Author:** ![Metaxy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Metaxy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metaxy)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-my-imagination-or-is-the-meme-column-not-new/229206/5 "2004-02-16T07:17:45Z")

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> [@Harvey The Heavy](#):
>
> Perhaps the meme column is a meme itself. It’s genetically encoded in all of us!

Memetically encoded, thank you.