# SDMB memes you wouldn't mind dying a quick and quiet death. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 16, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095 "2009-02-16T14:47:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095/21 "2009-02-16T18:33:13Z")
I say we dispose of the whole “Fighting Ignorance” theme. Let’s face it, the War on Ignorance is over, we’ve lost, just like we’ve lost the Wars on Drugs and Terrorism. People _want_ to be ignorant, plain and simple. And that includes us. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095/22 "2009-02-16T18:38:21Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > The one where SDMB posters think they are some sort of intellectual elite. I’d say SDMB posters are slightly above average at best. Have you ever had a job where you had to interact with the public? ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095/23 "2009-02-16T19:07:45Z")
We should get rid of the meme that we should get rid of some SDMB memes. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095/24 "2009-02-16T19:17:01Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > The word _memes_. This +1 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095/25 "2009-02-16T19:19:08Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > It bores me, but I seem to be in the minority. No, we already have a perfectly good word. Meme is just silly. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095/26 "2009-02-16T19:24:01Z")
I don’t know if this would be considered a “meme”, exactly, but I don’t care to read any more threads about someone whining about their love life (or lack of same). The solution in most cases (but not all) to said problems is usually very transparently obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095/27 "2009-02-16T19:29:54Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > 1. “Og” instead of “God” > 2. “Cow-orker” instead of “coworker” > 3. Hi, Opal! > > Yes, all three memes. 1. 1920’s death ray 2. Nuke it from orbit ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095/28 "2009-02-16T19:42:21Z")
Not limited to the SDMB, but: the infuriatingly persistent idea that Tesco / Walmart are taking over the world, and the demise of local shops is a bad thing. The idea is ridiculous on two fronts: a) It’s harder to imagine a more competitive market than the grocery market. Everybody in the UK can name at least ten national supermarket chains, and loads of other smaller or regional retailers. Competition is cut-throat. b) As somebody who grew up in a village and was served by local shops, take my word for it: it’s shit. You do **not** want to be served by small, local shops: no choice, high prices, bad customer service and attempts at price fixing/market distortion. Local shops are dieing in droves because they are shit, not because Tesco is forcing them out. People have had enough of their bullshit and vote with their wallet. Thankfully, there’s a rumour a Tesco Express is coming to my village. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095/29 "2009-02-16T19:42:50Z")
> [@Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](#): > > I don’t think the word meme is particular to the SDMB. I’m not sure why you’d want to do away with it though, it’s a very useful word. “Meme” is a useless words because it’s a synonym for “idea” and thus contributes nothing new to the English language. It’s as if some people chose to replace “box” with “flibb” or happy" with “jurango”. What’s the point of word that means the same thing as a word that’s already widely used? ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095/30 "2009-02-16T19:54:32Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > “Meme” is a useless words because it’s a synonym for “idea” I think it’s closer to “an idea that has caught on and is repeated often”. Not every idea is a meme. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095/31 "2009-02-16T20:02:00Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > “Meme” is a useless words because it’s a synonym for “idea” and thus contributes nothing new to the English language. It’s as if some people chose to replace “box” with “flibb” or happy" with “jurango”. What’s the point of word that means the same thing as a word that’s already widely used? A ‘meme’ is not the same as an ‘idea’. A meme is actually a way of looking at ideas that proposes that they spread from mind to mind like viruses do from body to body, and that their spread can be documented using the same sort of tools that epidemiologists use when looking at diseases. So there’s a whole hypothesis behind the concept of the meme that is not there behind the concept of the idea. And if people could _predict_ what ideas would spread most effectively as memes, they could make a fortune in the advertising and propaganda worlds. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095/32 "2009-02-16T20:02:35Z")
I’ve seen that before in the past, and wondered then, too - what word is the exact same as “meme?” As **Polerius** says, “idea” is not exactly the same as “meme” - it’s good to have words with nuances and slightly different meanings. It adds richness and subtlety to language. I for one support the use of the word “meme.” (And you’ll pry my smileys from my cold, dead keyboard - I have a dry, ironic sense of humour, and I can look like an ass when I’m trying to make a joke.) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095/33 "2009-02-16T20:05:48Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > 1. Nuke it from orbit But it’s the only way to be sure! ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095/34 "2009-02-16T20:09:51Z")
[FWIW, here’s Cecil’s take.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2495/what-is-a-meme) Under that definition, or the ones in the preceding posts, what the OP was talking about were not memes. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095/35 "2009-02-16T20:12:00Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > The one where SDMB posters think they are some sort of intellectual elite. I’d say SDMB posters are slightly above average at best. How is that a meme? Also, cite? ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095/36 "2009-02-16T20:20:44Z")
The one where people type up a perfectly good rant, and then at the end add “Oh, and because this is the Pit: shit, ass, fuck, cocksucker, etc!” You don’t _have to_ swear in the Pit. You don’t _have to_ avoid swearing outside of the Pit. Nobody gives a flying fuck either way. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Alan\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Bird)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095/37 "2009-02-16T20:38:21Z")
“Try the decaf” as the first post after a perfectly good rant. “How YOU doin’?” ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095/38 "2009-02-16T20:51:21Z")
Oh! Oh! “You owe me a new keyboard, (because I spilled my soda on it for laughing so much or something similar)” That was a lot of fun. In 1997. Let’s give the old boy a well deserved rest, shall we? ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095/39 "2009-02-16T21:07:35Z")
As Og is my witness, the meme I’d most want to get rid of is the meme that there are memes that should be gotten rid of. Every small group of people is going to have its own group of inside jokes, jargon, and esoteric lunacy. I say, enjoy it, or ignore it. It’s not so difficult. You can take Og away from me when you pry my keyboard away from my cold, dead fingers. Either that, or when you ban me. Until then, I invoke Og. ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095/40 "2009-02-16T21:07:40Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > [FWIW, here’s Cecil’s take.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2495/what-is-a-meme) > > Under that definition, or the ones in the preceding posts, what the OP was talking about were not memes. Sure they are. From Cecil quoting Dawkins, “Examples of memes are tunes, ideas,\*\* catch-phrases\*\*, clothes fashions, ways of making pots or of building arches.” (Bolding mine). And from Cecil himself, “[a] joke is a meme.” The examples cited in the OP are catchphrases (i.e., a phrase that attracts or is meant to attract attention) and _intended to be_ (though generally not, or at least no longer) humourous, thus making them also jokes. That they are repeated/have caught on/have gotten a mind of their own makes them memes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-memes-you-wouldnt-mind-dying-a-quick-and-quiet-death/486095.md?page=3)