oh internet

a.k.a. Internet Memes for Dummies, by Dummies

Summary

Self-described "Internet Meme Database" that began by plagiarizing Encyclopedia Dramatica.

System

Apart from its YouTube videos, users submit memes through submissions, where they post up a picture and a 1-2 sentence summary. But one good look at the Submissions tab would show that a huge majority consists non-legitimate memes, forced memes, extremely minor variations of another meme, yet ANOTHER Advice Dog variants (because that never gets old, does it?), or a copypasta Rage face MS Paint comic with zero original art. The worst (as in, terrible even by their standards) of these get shoved into the Deadpool tab.

If the submission is not completely terrible, they become Confirmed memes. However, the overall "legitimacy" of some approved memes are questionable. While there are still some legitimate, time-tested memes, there are still plenty of minor variants and not-so-popular memes that somehow passed quality control.

While KYM does sometimes have a breadth of trivia, what makes this site to be loathed? The demographic. If being part of The Cheezburger Network isn't big enough of a clue, KYM consists of and appeals to the same meme-spammers that are slowly (or quickly) suffocating memes to the point of unfunniness, and is the foundation and purpose of the creation of the website itself. Although in one point of view it provides knowledge and trivia related to a meme, it also perpetuates and promotes inappropriate usage of memes, new and old.

Origins

this is on almost every page of KYM

Founded in late November of 2007, Know Your Meme began as a MediaWiki with intentions similar to that of Encyclopedia Dramatica, and infact began its content base primarily by directly copy and pasting many ED articles.

Its YouTube videos featured persons in lab-coats explaining internet phenomena to the laymen.

In March 2011 it was acquired by The Cheezburger Network, another self-described meme community.

Current status

It has moved away from the MediaWiki format and now sports a news-style layout.

The site has received criticism from many internet communities as a shameless attempt to make money off of the content of others, a tactic well known to those familiar with the rocky history between Something Awful and Ebaumsworld.

Facts

Images

Videos

Related Pages

I Can Haz Cheezburger

Something Awful

Oh Internet

Encyclopedia Dramatica

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