The meme police

by pdb on Feb 11, 2008 1:50 PM PST

So I combed through the dead memes post, because there's a lot of noise in it, and pulled together a list of agreed-upon dead memes. So, here's what I found, in no particular order:

THE BRENT LILLIBRIDGE MEMORIAL DEAD MEME LIST
That's what she said
Fail
Puking in own mouth
John Olerud sucks
+1 (or the addition/subtraction of any number, relating to a previous comment)
ICHIRO HURTS THIS TEAM BY...
intentionally commenting to test the width limits of the site
Been through the wars
Using the words "Grit" and "Hustle" when referencing Willie Bloomquist
Do. Not. Want.
Seconding something
Too soon?
I fixed your post
You misspelled...
Anagrams
Vidro fat jokes
Any comment ending with !!!11!!!1!ONE or any variant thereof
<insert baseball player here> says hi
Any reference to Sparta
300-character laziness
I think you mean Thompson/Thomsen/whatever
Using a dead meme and then commenting something along the lines "Sorry, dead meme?"

There was also one that was up for debate:
the Underpants Gnomes path to profit (step 1, (some action); step 2, ???; step 3, PROFIT!!!) So, now that the memes that we've all agreed are 'dead' are listed here, it's probably time to start policing them. In one of the threads last week, it was somewhat decided that at first, the use of any of these dead memes will be met with nothing but mockery of the user (memer?); if that mockery doesn't actually stop the meme abuse, then it may be time to move to something more severe, like a kangaroo court of some sort.

It just seemed that with the new season approaching, it was time to cull the field a little bit. New season, new memes, if you will.

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Comments

This will eliminate about 2/3rds of my GT comments

lol

I'm Gomez and I write about many things.

by Gomez on Feb 11, 2008 2:00 PM PST reply actions

Can we kill

lol also?

You scratch our backs, we'll scratch yours. Well Jules, the funny thing about my back is that it's located on my $#%&.

by AZSEAfan on Feb 11, 2008 2:29 PM PST up reply actions

we were trying to keep it

to LL-specific memes, but feel free to mock LOL; I can't stand it myself.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 11, 2008 2:36 PM PST up reply actions

I hate the way the word 'meme' has been stolen

It used to be so damn cool.

by Graham MacAree on Feb 11, 2008 2:02 PM PST reply actions

yeah

It IS cool, and some of the LL memes are decent examples. I just think it's a shame that 'meme' is now basically a synonym of 'cliche.'

by marc w on Feb 11, 2008 3:02 PM PST up reply actions

stupid always-evolving language

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 11, 2008 3:03 PM PST up reply actions

I still think of them as thought-viruses

Memeplexes are particularly interesting.

by Graham MacAree on Feb 11, 2008 3:03 PM PST up reply actions

Indeed.

by Fett42 on Feb 11, 2008 3:13 PM PST up reply actions

yes

I think there are examples of LL 'memes' that might qualify under that definition.

Memeplexes are very interesting.
Graham, you need to examine the Mariners roster construction practices through the lens of memeplexes (as an example of an apoptosis-like process, with similar pathologies possibly resulting).

by marc w on Feb 11, 2008 3:36 PM PST up reply actions

While I'm sure that could be done

If I tried it you'd just get a few paragraphs of bullshit with the conclusion that they're dumb. So I'll pass.

by Graham MacAree on Feb 11, 2008 3:43 PM PST up reply actions

You just described

Every paper I have ever written, ever.

by Liebkartoffel on Feb 11, 2008 3:46 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah, I was going to take another dig

at the social sciences in that last post, but decided that it'd be too mean...

by Graham MacAree on Feb 11, 2008 3:55 PM PST up reply actions

Eh, in a couple of years

I'm off to law school, so that should put on the right track--because if any profession relies solely on cogent, objective analysis, it's clearly law.

by Liebkartoffel on Feb 11, 2008 4:04 PM PST up reply actions

put me on the right track

apologies

by Liebkartoffel on Feb 11, 2008 4:05 PM PST up reply actions

Put meme on the right track

Study Philology.

by Llewdor on Feb 12, 2008 12:04 PM PST up reply actions

Zackly

the thing is Graham, you could write about memeplexes (which you find interesting) and the M's (which you find morbidly interesting), and probably get published in some social science journal.

It's like a Sokal hoax, but, y'know, BASEBALL.

by marc w on Feb 11, 2008 3:56 PM PST up reply actions

I've always liked

the word "trope," mainly because you can just randomly throw into a paper and your English professor assumes you know what you're talking about.

by Liebkartoffel on Feb 11, 2008 3:11 PM PST up reply actions

But again 'Trope' is a cool word

in its own right. Let's not let it be sullied by lazy conflation with 'joke' or 'cliche' or 'habit.'

by marc w on Feb 11, 2008 3:28 PM PST up reply actions

I'm not trying to replace

"Trope" with "meme," I'm just impressed that we have a word that essentially means anything non-literal in the English language. It's like saying "stuff," but all smart-like, and junk.

by Liebkartoffel on Feb 11, 2008 3:44 PM PST up reply actions

As you well know

the social sciences are rather fond of coining two new words, then a third as the higher level word defining the category that the first two belong two, and then a fourth as the process of the first two operating in the world.
And a fifth defining the study of the fourth.

by marc w on Feb 11, 2008 3:57 PM PST up reply actions

Are you saying this thread is a study in

memeology?

by Matthew on Feb 11, 2008 4:26 PM PST up reply actions

Ooooh.

Good idea. I was thinking about going to Evergreen for my graduate degree. I needed to make up a degree to strive for. Memeology would be a great choice!

Why did the Evergreen student cross the road?
To get two credits...
//also applies to Fairhaven College @ WWU...

Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on Feb 11, 2008 4:33 PM PST up reply actions

Hey,

Tropology-ology-ology-ology-ology is a legitmate discipline, show some respect.

by Liebkartoffel on Feb 11, 2008 4:39 PM PST up reply actions

no,

that's a stutter.

by Matthew on Feb 11, 2008 4:42 PM PST up reply actions

N-no

Th-th-this is a st-st-st-stutter.

by Liebkartoffel on Feb 11, 2008 5:08 PM PST up reply actions

If you're stuttering in text.

It's not a stutter. It's Parkinson's.

...and now I'm here

by CapSea on Feb 11, 2008 5:28 PM PST up reply actions

That post

Is why I love this site.

Bwahahaha.

by Slica on Feb 11, 2008 6:14 PM PST up reply actions

P-P-P-Poor S-S-Stuttering K-K-Kennn

by Last Fan Of Jose Lopez on Feb 11, 2008 6:47 PM PST up reply actions

Fish Called Wanda Reference.

THAT is why I love this site!

All this optimism is bringing me down...

by Thingray on Feb 12, 2008 4:32 PM PST up reply actions

That's why?

I gotta be honest, it doesn't come up much.

by Jeff Sullivan on Feb 12, 2008 4:41 PM PST up reply actions

[blank] is why I love this site!

Soon to become a overused phrase around here.

by Robert on Feb 12, 2008 10:12 PM PST up reply actions

Same with "this new layout sucks"

by Jeff Sullivan on Feb 12, 2008 10:18 PM PST up reply actions

this new layout sucks is why I love this site!

by Matthew on Feb 12, 2008 10:54 PM PST up reply actions

+5ish

Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on Feb 13, 2008 10:14 AM PST up reply actions

You just killed LL.

And to think, I could have chosen to support the Yankees or Red Sox...

by EnglishMariner on Feb 11, 2008 2:02 PM PST reply actions

I'm just the messenger.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 11, 2008 2:09 PM PST up reply actions

Sweet

i can still talk about Idaho

by Corco on Feb 11, 2008 2:09 PM PST reply actions

Just don't expect it to go unmocked.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 11, 2008 2:09 PM PST up reply actions

Dead meme:

"by David Corcoran on <x>"

by Graham MacAree on Feb 11, 2008 2:10 PM PST up reply actions

Heavens no

by Jeff Sullivan on Feb 11, 2008 2:35 PM PST up reply actions

only if you include either

the word Aryans or the phrase "come for the mountains stay for the meth"

by InSpokane on Feb 11, 2008 2:41 PM PST up reply actions

Raptor Jesus says hi.

by Jordan of Boise on Feb 11, 2008 2:09 PM PST reply actions

Was I the only one who pictured

Apu washing his Trans-am and singing "The Dream Police" after seeing the diary's name?

Howdy, neighbors! May I spray you with the hose in a playful fashion?

Uh, spray the boy.

by Jed MC on Feb 11, 2008 2:10 PM PST reply actions

I already used

"the meme police, they live inside of my head" in another post, and I didn't want it to become a meme. Wow, how meta.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 11, 2008 2:15 PM PST up reply actions

So if these memes are dead 'round here...

...what do we do to managers and players who spout the typical post-game dead clichés???

Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on Feb 11, 2008 2:12 PM PST reply actions

We already mock them plenty

No change necessary

http://www.lookoutlanding.com/story/2008/1/31/203812/750

Although we could send them kangaroo court bills...

by seattlebruin on Feb 11, 2008 2:15 PM PST up reply actions

crap wrong link im retarded brb

by seattlebruin on Feb 11, 2008 2:16 PM PST up reply actions

Better

http://www.lookoutlanding.com/story/2008/1/31/191127/227

by seattlebruin on Feb 11, 2008 2:16 PM PST up reply actions

If they post here, we mock them

and if they don't, we ignore them.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 11, 2008 2:16 PM PST up reply actions

KENJI JOHJIMA HAS BACK SPASMS

by Corco on Feb 11, 2008 2:23 PM PST reply actions

That one was deemed OK

someone brought it up and several others said it should still live, so it didn't make the list.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 11, 2008 2:27 PM PST up reply actions

don't make me quote NWA

by InSpokane on Feb 11, 2008 2:24 PM PST reply actions

Fake Conversations,

new ironic usernames based on players (Washburn4CyYoung, etc.), and <ducks> are deader than dead.

by G_ on Feb 11, 2008 2:35 PM PST reply actions

Power pitch?

And to think, I could have chosen to support the Yankees or Red Sox...

by EnglishMariner on Feb 11, 2008 2:40 PM PST reply actions

Hmm

I personally like the sarcasm from 'been through wars'.

I also somehow doubt we've seen the end of 'grit' and 'hustle' when it comes to Bloomquist. How many more words can we use to describe him? Bust out the Thesaurus...

by Slica on Feb 11, 2008 2:45 PM PST reply actions

Which is the point, really

memes encourage laziness. Find good ways to say "grit" and "hustle" without using those words, and you're golden.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 11, 2008 2:46 PM PST up reply actions

He's got a lot of... gristle?

by Graham MacAree on Feb 11, 2008 2:48 PM PST up reply actions

and that, boys and girls,

is how a meme comes into the world.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 11, 2008 2:49 PM PST up reply actions

That's what Buhner said...

Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on Feb 11, 2008 2:55 PM PST up reply actions

Paul, how many autographs on one

print did you get? With all 5 sigs, it would be among the greatest pieces of M's memorabilia ever.

by Jed MC on Feb 11, 2008 3:10 PM PST up reply actions

So far...

Just Buhner's. I thought about asking Niehaus, since his baldish head is somewhat in the picture, but I wanted Buhner's first. I really wish it was easier to get autographs, because this at least has to have Bloomquist's and Raul's...

Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on Feb 11, 2008 3:25 PM PST up reply actions

Genius!

...

by Slica on Feb 11, 2008 3:06 PM PST up reply actions

Gritty Bear will not die.

...and now I'm here

by CapSea on Feb 11, 2008 3:32 PM PST up reply actions

The ideas behind wars/grit are fine

just saying wars/grit is lazy, though. I think we'd all prefer that people find new ways to make old jokes.

by Jeff Sullivan on Feb 11, 2008 2:53 PM PST up reply actions

Gotcha

Its inevitable that people are going to come up with more stuff during the next season, anyway.

Bi polar rules.

by Slica on Feb 11, 2008 3:08 PM PST up reply actions

Gumption,

Moxie, gung-ho, Get-up-and-go, gutsiness, tuck, mettle, nerve, pith, pluck, vim, heart, spunk, verve, pep, punch, spark, push, zip, pizzazz, juice, puissance, and my personal favorite:
doughtiness.

by Liebkartoffel on Feb 11, 2008 2:52 PM PST reply actions

Ooh, and I almost forgot:

Piss-and-vinegar, as in full of.

by Liebkartoffel on Feb 11, 2008 2:54 PM PST up reply actions

doughtiness!

I like that word.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 11, 2008 2:56 PM PST up reply actions

Wait, you forgot one.

Using a dead meme and then commenting something along the lines "Sorry, dead meme?"

...and now I'm here

by CapSea on Feb 11, 2008 3:31 PM PST reply actions

updated.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 11, 2008 3:40 PM PST up reply actions

Thank you, sir.

Also, for the time being, I understand why it is not on the list, but I'd like to put a formal request in for the phrase "1-2 punch" to be outlawed no later than the morning after the 2nd game of the season.

...and now I'm here

by CapSea on Feb 11, 2008 3:42 PM PST up reply actions

How come Shotgun Anus

never caught on?

And I don't think I will ever stop "thats what she said" or "Grit" for willie.

Shop smart......Shop s-mart...... YOU GOT THAT!!!!

by Scruffy Lefty on Feb 11, 2008 4:30 PM PST reply actions

I don't think any of them

need not ever be used again. They just need to be used about 10% as often as they are. TWSS can still be funny if used at the right, perfect moment. The problem with memes is that a person will overuse them to cover for the fact that he/she is not funny.

Using TWSS after any mention of the word(s) long, hard, ball, hole, stretch, etc isn't automatically funny. You actually have to be, you know, clever about it.

That's my rant on the subject.

by Matthew on Feb 11, 2008 4:41 PM PST up reply actions