• GrammarPolice@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      Meme - Media, usually humorous, which is copied and circulated online with slight adaptations, such as basic pictures, video templates, etc.

      There are other similar definitions there that are in line with my opinion.

      • Tattorack@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        That definition is not in line with your opinion. Textbook fallacy here. XD

        Nowhere on the definition you just posted does it say a meme is required to be funny in order to fit the definition of a meme. It says that a meme is usually humorous, and not even as a central element to the main body of the definition.

        You’re very strongly and deliberately glossing that part over.

        But speaking of definitions:

        Merian Webster:

        1. an amusing or interesting item (such as a captioned picture or video) or genre of items that is spread widely online especially through social media.

        2. an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture

        Cambridge Dictionary:

        a cultural feature or a type of behaviour that is passed from one generation to another, without the influence of genes

        American Heritage:

        1. A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another.

        2. Any unit of cultural information, such as a practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another.

        3. A self-propagating unit of cultural evolution having a resemblance to the gene (the unit of genetics).

        I can keep going with Britannica, and Wikipedia itself, and Word.com, but these are all the top results of a simple search.

        • GrammarPolice@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          The definitions you provided are associated with the meme definition coined by Richard Dawkins. The only definition that is somewhat inline with the one commonly referenced in internet culture is the 1st one under Merriam Webster.

          Memes are often funny, but can also not be funny (i guess the better phrasing is some memes can have a different intention other than being funny) which is why i gave a special pass to “oh-so-relatable” memes. This post isn’t a meme because it elicits no real response other than agreement or disagreement with the message. It might be a joke, but not all jokes are memes.

          Colloquially speaking however, memes nowadays can be considered anything posted in image format with some text. Which is why, although not funny, wholesome memes are considered memes.

          I’m enforcing the literal interpretation of memes.

          • Tattorack@lemmy.world
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            24 hours ago

            No you’re not, or you would be enforcing Richard Dawkins’ definition. So far nothing you’ve said disproves that definition of memes in relation to how they present themselves in Internet culture.

            Do not conflate your personal opinion with enforcing an objective definition.

            • GrammarPolice@lemmy.world
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              23 hours ago

              Clearly we’re at a standstill and this argument is going nowhere, so i think this is a good place to stop. Have a good day sir.