I've Never Been PC Over Memes Until Today

[–] sidewalker_Principle 2 points (+2|-0)

I can understand where you're coming from. I've generally let tragic memes just be a way to make light of a serious situation. When I saw the bay memes and the sandy hook memes I laughed, but it was uncomfortable and I rationalized it as a way to bring humor to a dark subject.

I was always one to believe that laughter is a medicine and it was healthy to make a joke every now and then.

But with this event...it's way too calculated to be a meme from the very beginning. This guy designed the entire attack to be memetic, from the music he played to the phrases scrawled on the weapons. He took meme magic too far.

It is so calculated that I dare say it is becoming a shitty forced meme, and I don't feel that anything to come from this is natural. What I mean is that most memes arise from the ashes of a situation as a natural response to deal with it, but this whole thing smells orchestrated from the onset to go viral and become memetic.

[–] MirrorMan 5 points (+5|-0)

I know this is a stretch, but memes are symbolism and religion incorporates symbolism. Again, a stretch, but the event feels like an act of violence committed by one religion towards another. What really makes this strange is that meme symbolism felt detached before this event. Prior to this reality played out and then the events were viewed through a filter that used meme symbolism to satirize the events. By incorporating the meme symbolism into the act and not letting the filter be applied in reflection much of the darkly comedic power is tainted.

Suppose this had been reversed and an Islamic terrorist had shouted, "Allahu akbar" before shooting. In a darkly comic twist someone could take the footage and splice in the shooter saying, "subscribe to pewdewpie." That was the realm of memes. It was reserved for a clearly alternative and absurdist filter applied to reality as a form of satire. To turn it into a reality just feels so wrong. I can't help but draw religious parallels.

Another ridiculous stretch, but say you and a roommate bought a stupid asian cat statue. You get drunk and make a joke about the statue being "money cat" and all success springs from money cat. You and your roommate keep the joke alive for a few months. Maybe you start to touch money cat for good luck before you leave the house or other stupid superstitions. Then one day you come home and your roommate has ritually sacrificed your real cat to money cat. That is what this feels like.

A satirical symbolic filter has begun to manifest as a form of religious extremism. This particular religion is bone chilling because while other religions work to create structure and hierarchy this religion is founded upon deconstruction. It is the court jester turned king. A perversion of the purpose of the role.

[–] jobes 3 points (+3|-0)

Then one day you come home and your roommate has ritually sacrificed your real cat to money cat

This feels too specific of an example to not have a backstory

I've Never Been PC Over Memes Until Today

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/s/Whatever