Not even funny anymore: Memetic Mutation

The Long Version:

So we have Memetic Mutation, a trope about every single meme ever.

...except, well, it wasn't meant to be. Just by reading the description, it's clear that it was supposed to be about memes (specifically, memetic characters) which have propagated beyond recognition. Unfortunately, since this is the internet, it's way too broad a definition and is likely half the reason why, ironically enough, that the trope itself has decayed into a Self-Demonstrating Article, with each form of media having its own article just to contain all the (wrong) "examples" within.

Oh, but the fun doesn't stop there. You remember I Am Not Making This Up? How it had over 2000 (inappropriate) wicks in its prime?

This has 3337; over 50% more than IANMTU. See for yourself.

So I'm going to request that Memetic Mutation be excised from the wiki. There's nothing we can change the definition to that would solve the problems with scope, and in any case there are just way too many examples and wicks to deal with.

The Short, Simple Version: this thing is utterly beyond salvation. Definition is too broad, the countless examples are broader, and a ridiculous number of wicks (3337, folks!) no one in their right minds would want to check by themselves. Your thoughts?

{I took out the spoiler tags. They serve no purpose but to make this harder to read. — Madrugada}

edited 30th Sep '10 6:35:47 AM by Madrugada

Having lots of wicks isn't a problem if they aren't being misused. IANMTU was put on the end of any statement remotely strange. Memes are pretty clear. I don't think this calls for outright deletion.

Also, there's over 5000 wicks. You only counted the ones in potholes.

But they are being misused, and the whole point is that the definition is too broad.

Memetic Mutation is being used for anything vaguely related to something being a meme.

Yeah, it's gotten a ton of Trope Decay. We even have a Memes namespace where this stuff is supposed to go, but I don't know who's using it.

Another big problem is that, more often than not, if you aren't already familiar with the meme, you won't have a snowball's chance in hell of the page explaining it to you. A huge number of entries are "This is a thing that exists on the Internet, but we won't deign to tell you where or in what context."

^ Yeah but the trope page itself doesn't say that the meme has to be explained. Just because certain memes fall into Small Reference Pools, doesn't mean it's the page's fault that they're not explained.

edited 30th Sep '10 8:16:45 AM by DRCEQ

Huh? One of the big things we do is explain things about 'small reference pools' so that they are not exclusionary.

If it isn't describing the meme, the article isn't even a little bit useful.

Right, I don't see how most of the meme examples are any better, different, or more justified than stuff like X Just X, which we don't tolerate.

edited 30th Sep '10 8:56:05 AM by suedenim

And the ones that are mutations don't explain what they're a mutation of.

I tried to clean it up once. I was so lost after the first dozen lines I gave up in utter frustration.

The main meme article seems useful enough; it explains what memes are, where they tend to come from, etc. Perhaps the off-shoot articles could just be relocated into the Just for Fun section? Or we could add a tag asking people to kindly explain where the meme they are adding came from (if they know), what it refers to, and/or what it means. Just so long as we don't chuck babies out with the bath water.

Maybe put in a format and anything that doesn't fit in there gets purged.

• Meme name: description of meme and how it's used.
  • Source of meme and fandom it relates to.
  • Famous instances (such as the Rick Roll during the Thanksgiving parade).
  • Further mutations and successor memes, if any.

edited 30th Sep '10 9:57:45 AM by Deboss

Brilliant! I second the motion.

Bell that cat.

Out of curiosity, would Memetic Mutation examples best be restricted to appearances in media? Rick Rolling has an example, the aforementioned parade.

Wow. I just took a look at the advertising section, and I couldn't understand almost any of it. And the only meme which seemed to have been explained is full of "this troper" natter.

I also propose Meme to be the main name, since that is what this has basically become.

We could make Memetic Mutation the trope and just move all the examples to Memes.

We're not a repository of memes, though. Know Your Meme exists for a reason.

I'm going to start on Theatre using De Boss's format. If I haven't come back in a day, send a couple of St. Bernard dogs in after me, with brandy and sandwiches...

edited 30th Sep '10 5:12:58 PM by Madrugada

But brandy won't help you!

Good luck with it.

Brandy, an excellent way to freeze to death even faster.

Also, I like Deboss' idea, but the page is going to need rather frequent scrubbing.

edited 30th Sep '10 5:55:14 PM by Arha

Well, that's the thing. This has become so memetic, so ingrained into people's minds that it might be better to just nuke it from orbit.

I doubt it's for the cold, likely for the Brain Bleach qualities. I'll send vodka and everclear.

You're gonna need a lot of help for this. And that format will be useful.