We Get It, You Like Memes | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

We Get It, You Like Memes

An "educational" article on handling memes-- and the friends who love them a little too much.

64
We Get It, You Like Memes
Photodisc / Digital Vision / Getty Images

NOTE: This article is not in any means trying to single out one person. This is an accumulation of experiences I've had with many people over the course of my life, and if anything, I'm mostly pointing at myself for doing these things. Please enjoy.

We all have that one friend. That friend that clings onto a funny trend for dear life by their teeth, sucking the enjoyment and novelty out of it like a consumerist parasite by over-referencing it until nothing but an empty husk is left of what once was considered "fresh" and "cool". Then, and only then, do they swiftly latch onto another joke, never conforming to the constant march of time and its evolving trends. Sometimes it gets to the point where you subconsciously avoid prolonged interaction with them, as means of sparing yourself from hearing the same handful of jokes. I am talking, of course, about the "meme friend".

Now, let me be clear: I'm not saying that being the meme friend is bad. There's nothing wrong with the occasional meme to lighten up the mood or to get people chuckling. To be quite honest, I don't think it would be a stretch to say that I'm the meme friend in my own friend group. And, trust me, I've made these same mistakes many times over. I probably still do and don't even realize I'm doing it, too. It's tempting to revert back to jokes that you remember fondly from a few months ago, but just like everything else in life, things change-- and you can't just throw up one of those "doge" memes like you could back in 2012 and get the same reaction. Being the meme friend requires you to have a steady finger on the pulse of the times. If you're reading this, chances are you're a twenty-something college student, so based on this information, referencing relevant jokes shouldn't be that hard to do.

Repetition also has to do with the death of memes, too. If someone repeats the same joke over and over, after a while it's going to stop being funny. Trends can only hold onto their original novelty and charm for so long, and memes are absolutely no exception to that. That one dog meme was funny the first seven times you quoted it, and it only continues to get funnier with each telling. Have you shown me that specific version of "We Are Number One"? Yes. Twice, now. Haha.

It's fun to reference memes in order to get a good laugh out of your peers, but for God's sake, don't just rely on them as your sole source of humor. The whole point of memes are to build upon them and apply them to situations that make them even funnier. Imagine them as an element you would add to a meal, but not eat on its own, like wasabi or garlic. You wouldn't just eat a whole clove of garlic like an orange slice: you would add it to something to make it better.

On the other hand, there's a difference between quoting a meme for the sake of it being a meme and quoting it for the sake of it being an inside joke. If you're my friend and have talked to me within the past month or so, chances are you've heard me say things like "It's bad, Todd" or "I'm glad, Todd" at least three or four times in a given conversation. This is because of this image:


Think of the name "Todd" as a replacement for "guys", if you will.

The point being, I am not free of sin when it comes to these sorts of things, either. The only way I have learned is through trial and error, and I'm sure I've irked a few friends over the years. Now, I only reference things when I know it fits the given scenario and doesn't disrupt the flow of conversation with interjections of "Oh my God, not this again" or intermittent groans of disapproval. Know your audience, folks.

Maybe it's a matter of personal preference, but at the end of the day, memes are a garnish, not a meal. We love you, meme friends, but could you tone it down just a little?

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

188637
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

13924
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457122
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26192
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments