this post was submitted on 29 Aug 2025
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Ooga chukka ooga chukka
Ally McBeal
Single female lawyer
Working for her client
Wearing sexy miniskirts
And being self-reliant
This is the true beginning.
This was a "viral video", but was it a "meme"?
A "viral video" is practically the definition of a meme.
According to which definition?
The definition of meme.
That's the Dawkins version of a meme, not an Internet meme. An internet meme is typically defined differently:
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
An internet meme is a unique form of expression that relies on images and other types of text-based media to create jokes or commentary about specific events.
a humorous image, video, piece of text, or GIF that is spread across the internet, typically on social media, and often with slight variations.
By some definitions some viral videos would count, if they're viral because they're funny. By those definitions, if they're viral because they're critical news like the George Floyd murder, they're not memes because they're not humorous.
Personally, I don't think it's an internet meme unless:
What made image macros into internet memes was people taking the same macro and using different text. Otherwise it's just a viral item of internet context.
My definition is not necessarily "right", but I like it.
All three definitions you provided are well within Dawkins' definition.
The reason for their spread is irrelevant. The fact that it's "a piece of culture that is spreading" is what makes it a meme.
Again, this is well within the definition of "meme".
You're arguing that "Internet meme" should be it's own thing, when it fits perfectly well within the overarching definition of "meme".
Yes, just like "motorcycle" fits perfectly well within the overarching definition of "vehicle" but it's still useful to have a more specific term.
But there already is a "more specific term" - "internet meme". It's a meme that (mostly) originates/spreads over the Internet. Job done.
That's my point, that's not a good definition of an Internet Meme.
I'm so confused... It's like you wanted a separate definition of "internet news article" because these often have click-bait titles, unlike (most) TV or newspaper articles.
It's the same thing. Just the medium is different.
It's not the same thing, it's not just the medium that's different. That's my whole point.
You keep saying that, but you haven't explained the difference yet.
https://sh.itjust.works/comment/20741233
OK, let's break them down.
"Image", "video" and "GIF" are the same thing - an image. It's just moving in some cases.
So we're left with "humorous, amusing or interesting form of expression that relies on images and text, and spreads across the Internet".
"Humorous, amusing or interesting" can be skipped, because if it "spreads across the Internet" means there's a reason for it. For that matter, the reason could be that people feel angry or infuriated, and a lot of others. So let's just skip these altogether and just leave the fact that it's spreading.
We're left with "a form of expression that relies on images and text, and spreads across the Internet".
Where "a form of expression that relies on images and text" is "an idea".
So, your "unique" definition of "Internet meme" is just: "an idea that spreads across the Internet".
Which is to say: it's a meme. The method of spreading is irrelevant, the important bit is the spread itself. Doesn't matter if it's by word of mouth, newspapers, TV broadcasts, radio, or the Internet, it's just the transportation method.