# Which one of these board memes annoys you the most? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 29, 2015, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802 "2015-04-29T12:54:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802/81 "2015-04-30T18:13:35Z")
> [@Apollon](#): > > …A public forum is not akin to personal or professional correspondence; it follows an entirely different etiquette and tone. To treat it as if it were something that is not, shows at least a lack of social perception, unless it is done in full knowledge, in which case it’s a sign of lack of sincerity or outright mockery. It alludes to a level of formality that is wholly inappropriate. It’s like addressing your boss as “your majesty”. The expression could express deepest reverence, in the correct context - but it only conveys sarcasm when in the wrong context. No-one does that, unless they’re oblivious of social conventions, or they want to provoke. (post shortened) What is the proper, or acceptable, etiquette and tone of an internet website post? Why do you consider formality to be wholly inappropriate? According to whom? You? The politically-correct word-police? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802/82 "2015-04-30T18:20:17Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Reglistering? > > Of course, some might not care enough, either way, to voice their opinion on the matter. That’s life. > > A poll asking if anyone might be slightly angry or upset about four selections chosen by the OP is supposed to be cheeky and fun. 🙂 > > _Annoy - > verb > › to make someone slightly angry or upset: > I know you’re doing this only to annoy me._ > > [ANNOY | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary](http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/american-english/annoy?q=annoyance) That was a typo for “registering”. Hope that clears up your confusion. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802/83 "2015-04-30T18:23:22Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > What is the proper, or acceptable, etiquette and tone of an internet website post? Why do you consider formality to be wholly inappropriate? According to whom? You? The politically-correct word-police? Every other post on the board might be a good place to begin your research. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802/84 "2015-04-30T18:24:09Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > Only by people who don’t know or don’t accept the definition of the word by the man who coined it. One person doing the same thing over and over, so that many recognize it, does not meet the threshold for meme, IMO. It’s only if it catches on. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802/85 "2015-04-30T18:29:35Z")
> [@bup](#): > > One person doing the same thing over and over, so that many recognize it, does not meet the threshold for meme, IMO. It’s only if it catches on. That is not correctly the definition of a meme. It is the definition of a successful meme. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802/86 "2015-04-30T18:32:31Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > That is not correctly the definition of a meme. It is the definition of a successful meme. I guess you could apply the term “meme” to every single personal idiosyncrasy, or, if you push it, everything a person says or does. This will, however, leave you with a definition of “meme” that is about as practically useful as a bag of busted assholes. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802/87 "2015-04-30T18:35:20Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > I guess you could apply the term “meme” to every single personal idiosyncrasy, or, if you push it, everything a person says or does. > > This will, however, leave you with a definition of “meme” that is about as practically useful as a bag of busted assholes. Do you say a gene that doesn’t successfully get passed on for whatever reason is not a gene? The idea is that ideas spread like genes. And a meme that doesn’t get passed on particularly well is still a meme. Some memes spread to very few places, some to many. The degree of propagation is not a determining factor in Dawkin’s coinage of the word. There’s no boundary of sufficient propagation which an idea must cross to be a meme. Anyway, it’s not the label “meme” that is intrinsically interesting or valuable, it is the concept that ideas propagate analogously to genes that is meaningful. As a metaphorical example, the genes of the [stick insects living on that secluded island in the South Pacific](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dryococelus_australis) are no less “genes” for being less successful at propagation than, say, the genes of _homo sapiens_. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802/88 "2015-04-30T18:41:56Z")
Incidentally, _all_ of these memes we’re discussing in the this thread are, in fact, quite successful owing to the fact that we’re discussing them and they are propagating on this message board and therefore being preserved on the Internet. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802/89 "2015-04-30T18:46:05Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > Anyway, it’s not the label “meme” that is intrinsically interesting or valuable, it is the concept that ideas propagate analogously to genes that is meaningful. True. However, even when talking (at least casually) about memetics and not lolcats, I think it’s a fair assumption that the term “meme”, in most contexts, should be understood as “somewhat successful meme”. Otherwise, I could ask: Which meme is the most delightful: Your neighbor’s curtains, the particular way I tie my left shoe, or \*\*Knorf’\*\*s habit of referring to “meme” as including “unsuccessful meme”, only to have to explain that what he means by “meme” is different from what everyone else refers to as a “meme”? I could say that. But I would sound like a blithering idiot to everyone except you and me. Or, let’s face, to everyone but me. Or, to be perfectly honest, to everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802/90 "2015-04-30T19:18:46Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > However, even when talking (at least casually) about memetics and not lolcats, I think it’s a fair assumption that the term “meme”, in most contexts, should be understood as “somewhat successful meme”. If you insist. But I would continue to argue that memes in this thread, which people are trying to call not memes, have in fact been quite successful. After all, here we are arguing about them and calling attention to them. An irritating meme is still a meme. > [@](#): > > …only to have to explain that what he means by “meme” is different from what everyone else refers to as a “meme”? It’s not my definition. It’s that of the man who coined the word and as written in respected dictionaries. ETA: The occupation of the word by lolcats is a separate problem. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802/91 "2015-04-30T19:41:59Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > Incidentally, _all_ of these memes we’re discussing in the this thread are, in fact, quite successful owing to the fact that we’re discussing them and they are propagating on this message board and therefore being preserved on the Internet. The only way to win is not to play! ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802/92 "2015-04-30T21:07:19Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > The only way to win is not to play! Pretty much. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802/93 "2015-04-30T21:24:18Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > But I would continue to argue that memes in this thread, which people are trying to call not memes, have in fact been quite successful. Oh, please do. It’s adding so much to the discussion. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802/94 "2015-04-30T21:32:13Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > Every other post on the board might be a good place to begin your research. Due to the lack of an official _Roberts Rules of Order_-type, or _Miss Manners-type_, or _Politically-Correct-Word-Police Guide to Like Totally Acceptable Interweb Posting Stuff, Dude_, I’ll go with my personal opinion which suggests that if an individual poster choses to follow a more formal posting style, it would be both proper, and acceptable, etiquette for an internet website post. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802/95 "2015-04-30T21:36:40Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > […] if an individual poster choses to follow a more formal posting style, it would be both proper, and acceptable, etiquette for an internet website post. And annoying. Sometimes. Maybe. To some people. What’s your point, anyway? Some people are annoyed by a particular thing. You aren’t. Whatever. Stop telling people what they should or shouldn’t find annoying. We’re not telling you to start being annoyed by it. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802/96 "2015-04-30T22:09:45Z")
[Offensensitivity](http://www.thecomicstrips.com/properties/bloom/art_images/cg4f7e07233d698.jpg). (Which really should be a word, in my opinion.) ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802/97 "2015-04-30T22:51:39Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > So does that mean that the common misunderstanding of what a meme is, is a meme? That would be considered ironic. You know, like rain on your wedding day or a free ride when you’ve already paid. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802/98 "2015-04-30T23:36:40Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > Hey, as I said, feel free to continue believing whatever you believe. If it makes you happy to think that a certain percentage of posters on the SDMB, for some unknown reason, hate the word “regards” irrespective of context, and take a black marker to it in every dictionary they find, go ahead. Whatever makes you feel good. > > What’s in it for you? No idea. But, again, go ahead. I won’t stop you. > > I’ll just take it as an instruction in how people cling to ridiculous interpretations for incomprehensible reasons, when a perfectly sensible one is readily available. That might explain a lot of things about society and the world in general. > > I’m also not stopping the user in question from doing what he wants. I’m just saying what I, personally, find (a bit) annoying. I’m providing one (1) data point, for that poster’s consideration. > > Are we cool? > [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > And annoying. Sometimes. Maybe. To some people. > > What’s your point, anyway? Some people are annoyed by a particular thing. You aren’t. Whatever. Stop telling people what they should or shouldn’t find annoying. We’re not telling you to start being annoyed by it. My point has been to state my position, clarify my position when I believe others have altered or misstated it, and defend my position when I believe it’s necessary. For example, I have not told anyone what they should or shouldn’t find annoying. My point is that the use of a normal valediction (ie. regards) is a normal valediction. I’m not annoyed by its use, and have seen no reason to change the status quo. Also, it is not my position that a certain percentage of posters on the SDMB, for some unknown reason, hate the word “regards” irrespective of context, and take a black marker to it in every dictionary they find. That’s your opinion of the situation, not mine. I do agree that people cling to ridiculous interpretations for incomprehensible reasons, when a perfectly sensible one is readily available. I have yet to hear a perfectly sensible reason for banning the valediction “regards”. It’s my position that keeping a normal, correctly used, valediction such as “regards” is perfectly sensible. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2015, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802/99 "2015-04-30T23:48:37Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I have yet to hear a perfectly sensible reason for banning the valediction “regards”. Oh, fine. We won’t ban it, then. You’ve convinced me. Glad we cleared that up. Good thing you stepped up to the plate. It was \*this \*close to getting banned. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802/100 "2015-05-01T00:07:12Z")
The quarry one, easily. Luckily, I haven’t seen much of it lately. “Regards, Shodan” doesn’t bug me–I’ve become kind of blinded it to it from sheer repetition. Just looks kind of old-fashioned fuddy duddy and out-of-place to me in non-epistolary contexts, much like starting every post with “Dear [username]” would be. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-one-of-these-board-memes-annoys-you-the-most/718802.md?page=6)