There’s a phenomenon taking place in social interactions around the globe. Just when you think you’re in good company--BOOM!--you find yourself bewildered by a conversation everyone seems to get but you. As if social isolation wasn’t enough, you’re made to feel further ostracized when the only clarity these supposed friends offer you is, “It’s a meme.”
A unit of cultural transmission, internet memes function as conversation starters, fillers, and killers. Memes of memes (of memes of memes) tackle the meta with deceptively simplistic mashups of pictures and text. And nothing--absolutely nothing--derails a high school classroom quite like questioning the relevance and usefulness of memes. Ok, some of you may be asking, “What is this internet meme of which you speak?” Well, to answer this question, I went to the sources of many a modern day internet meme: high schoolers.
“It’s something that gets passed around the internet. It’s the genetics of the internet.” Maddie aka Hal 9000.
“Oh my f***ing god. It’s an internet joke that some people get and some people don’t.” May aka Anime-Death-Metal-Karaoke-Slayer
<Laughs> “First off, a meme. It’s like the manifestation of a joke in some capacity be it buried under who’s telling it. If you’re creating a meme, you can infuse your personality and being into it because you have so much control over how it is expressed and how you convey the meaning. I feel like memes are a very personal extension of yourself but just in joke form. There’s a level of detachment.” Joseph aka “I-woke-up-on-my-friend’s-lawn-walked-home-and-recorded-it-on-Strava-can-I-get-PE-credit-for-it”
“A thought disease. I subscribe to Dawkins’ definition of memes. Memes distract people from being able to successfully communicate. Memes are semi-agreed upon jokes that have a really short shelf life.” Aidan aka Dad-Jokes
Soooo, yeah. If you are still feeling perplexed, then I would wager these leaders of tomorrow would allege that your grasp of the infamous internet meme is absolutely, positively spot on. Like a post-apocalyptic virus turning the human race into a zombie army, internet memes leave no culture or subculture untouched, including the sport of running. Yet the assertion that these running memes are of value to the community may initially feel, well <channels inner teenage self>, cringy. But running can be stressful! Our sport induces all the feels--euphoric joy, crippling heartbreak, deep interpersonal connections, infuriating barriers followed by cathartic breakthroughs. A means--or should I say, a “memes”--of converting this kaleidoscope of feels into shared experiences provides us with a way to process and communicate, to tap into the healing power of laughter as the VIP of an inside joke.
And, so, it is without further ado, I present a collection of running-themed internet memes and, with them, the welcoming implication of belongingness to a like-minded community.
Just stop already!
If it’s not on Strava, did it even happen?
Maybe just a mile or two…
And happiness is priceless!
Put me in, Coach!
It’s called upcycling!
Created by CNW’s own Anne Monagle
…and the next and then next and…
Because it wouldn’t be complete with a “Hey, Girl.”