What is the initial verbal meme that triggers the Pontypool outbreak in the movie Pontypool?
posted by benzenedream on Oct 18, 2009 - 4 answers

I need help finding an internet cartoon I saw several years ago. The only thing I remember about is that it had a big monster who said "The world is a cruel place" in a scratchy, monster voice to two children. [more inside]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero on Jun 3, 2009 - 4 answers

What is the proper pronunciation of the word "meme"?
posted by Elmore on May 28, 2009 - 44 answers

A group of East African bloggers I follow have recently begun circulating the Honest Scrap Award — a sort of informal bloggers' award-slash-meme — among themselves. I thought they had created it, but a quick Google search shows that it's been around since at least December of 2008. Does anyone know where or why it started?
posted by rebekah on May 26, 2009 - 2 answers

What's the oldest recorded use of the Spam Solutions Form Response? [more inside]
posted by pwnguin on May 15, 2009 - 13 answers

You'd think a viral meme that successful would be easier to find...where is the link to it? [more inside]
posted by eralclare on Feb 13, 2009 - 2 answers

Where on the web can I see Yo Dawg images on a regular basis? [more inside]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero on Jan 3, 2009 - 7 answers

Where did the bacon internet meme come from? [more inside]
posted by bjtitus on Dec 30, 2008 - 18 answers

Where is the main link to the website that generates the fake commercial for write in president? It is like this one: [more inside]
posted by meeshell on Oct 10, 2008 - 2 answers

Trying to hunt down a minor internet meme. Looking for examples of someone (fictitiously) trying to sell something online, using copious amounts of foul language. Ex: "Holy shit, you've got to buy these motherfucking oranges, they are goddamn flavorful as hell." [more inside]
posted by ekstasis23 on Sep 10, 2008 - 25 answers

I'm looking for back story on a somewhat disturbing photograph which was circulating around the internet around 10-15 years ago. Trouble is, I no longer have a copy of the file, and can't find it. [more inside]
posted by sergeant sandwich on Aug 26, 2008 - 8 answers

Where does the "mask fell off" expression/meme from this comment come from, if anywhere? [more inside]
posted by skwt on Aug 16, 2008 - 18 answers

Hi, I'm Wendell, and I'm a Domain Name addict. And I just registered DRINKSYOURMILKSHAKE.COM with the intent of setting up something like isyournewbicycle.com but I'm open to other ideas. Feel free to aim your long straw at me...
posted by wendell on Feb 21, 2008 - 22 answers

Anyone recall seeing a Web page that said something like "Ultimate Spoiler: You are God"? [more inside]
posted by Curry on Feb 6, 2008 - 7 answers

I am 34 and grew up in Texas. I just heard a coworker ten years my junior say "Well, boys liked to pretend that the floor is made of lava." I totally knew what he was talking about. How old is this meme? How widespread is it? [more inside]
posted by 23skidoo on Feb 4, 2008 - 107 answers

Does anyone know the back story to this supposedly "unexplainable" image?
posted by roofus on Oct 10, 2007 - 20 answers

Where can I find the video all these people are watching? It's supposedly called "The Swirl." [more inside]
posted by wackybrit on Oct 9, 2007 - 10 answers

What's the origin of the meme "You know who else [does something]" with the standard answer (or implied answer) being Hitler but often replaced by something else? [more inside]
posted by luser on Sep 19, 2007 - 22 answers

The significance of a blank white 1" button? I'm told not to ask. [more inside]
posted by myrrh on Jul 27, 2007 - 9 answers

In order to assist with a business plan, I'm looking for examples (within the last 5 years) of character-driven memes or products that "came out of nowhere" and rapidly built wealth for their creators (and/or licensors). [more inside]
posted by fishfucker on Jun 27, 2007 - 23 answers

Where does the sentence structure 'Something, something and something, oh my!' come from? I'm seeing this everywhere and it's been bugging me. [more inside]
posted by Happy Dave on May 1, 2007 - 52 answers

What is the origin of the "I | ___" phrasing? [more inside]
posted by lostburner on Apr 26, 2007 - 10 answers

This photo just showed up in a coworker's email. A little searching shows this cartoon. You can also buy the costume. Which came first & how can you tell?
posted by MtDewd on Apr 20, 2007 - 18 answers

How are memes anything other than an extension/expression of the extended phenotype? [more inside]
posted by whatgorilla on Mar 11, 2007 - 20 answers

Where does the phrase "I fuc*ing concur." come from? [more inside]
posted by exlotuseater on Feb 16, 2007 - 17 answers

Where was the phrase "strangely intriguing" popularized? [more inside]
posted by hidinginabunker on Jan 21, 2007 - 7 answers

I'd like to create the definitive musical collection of internet memes for my own personal library. I need your help finding the real gems. [more inside]
posted by c:\awesome on Dec 12, 2006 - 28 answers

I have a cat, a camera, and decent photoshop skills. Help me come up with clever things to do that fit into the meme about the cats doing things that is all over the internet. [more inside]
posted by andoatnp on Nov 18, 2006 - 16 answers

MemeFilter: What is the origin of the "I am in ur [something], [doing something]" meme? It usually uses JeffK-esque spelling ("ur", and a lot of z-endings). Some examples inside. [more inside]
posted by Plutor on Sep 22, 2006 - 16 answers

Can anyone tell me what this animated gif is lifted from?
posted by arielmeadow on Sep 20, 2006 - 5 answers

The pickle phobia video hit my office yesterday and now everyone is offering opinions on why someone would be afraid of pickles. Look, there's [more inside]
posted by DragonBoy on Jun 27, 2006 - 32 answers

Where can I find these giant plastic cups? [more inside]
posted by Mark5four0 on Jun 22, 2006 - 6 answers

What are your guesses as to what "the War in Iraq" be known as in ten years? [more inside]
posted by trinarian on May 30, 2006 - 39 answers

X3/internetsfilter: *SPOILERS*Question about a line in the new Xmen movie as related to an internet meme.*SPOILERS* [more inside]
posted by fidgets on May 27, 2006 - 17 answers

I have a great idea for a meme with assorted merchandise involving a deceased musician and his likeness. How do I pitch this to the appropiate person so that I might profit legitimately and what are the typical terms of such an arrangement?
posted by keswick on Mar 30, 2006 - 3 answers

I've been getting bombarded by all my friends with the video meme craze of the day, "Incredible Fishing Video." [more inside]
posted by analogue on Jan 13, 2006 - 12 answers

I'm looking for the name of the funny, slickly-produced, xmas-themed videos that went around like a web meme. They featured a 70s pimpy-looking guy called "[firtstname] Christmas." It was one of the first net memes, probably around the time of "Mahir - I kiss you!" I don't know much else, except that he punched an old lady in the face in one episode. [more inside]
posted by scamper on Dec 15, 2005 - 2 answers

Who can tell me more about this animated gif of people dancing? [more inside]
posted by arielmeadow on Nov 28, 2005 - 18 answers

Does anybody recall a short video that circulated around a few years ago involving a live-action Bert & Ernie, living in a condo, with melodrama (and chuckles) in copious amounts? [more inside]
posted by socratic on Nov 15, 2005 - 3 answers

Where did the video of an old lady kicking a baby originate? [more inside]
posted by the biscuit man on Oct 25, 2005 - 5 answers

What actually did "whiten your teeth while you sleep"? [more inside]
posted by Johnny Assay on Sep 29, 2005 - 8 answers

I'm trying to track down a site that had two still portraits that suddenly, eerily, start to move. [more inside]
posted by condour75 on Jun 16, 2005 - 10 answers

Ugh, this is driving me CRAZY. Any idea where I can find that awesome video of the declawed cat attacking the baby (with the drumbeat soundtrack)? I wish ask.metafilter included giving readers cupcakes for their answers.
posted by hautenegro on May 12, 2005 - 8 answers

In Soviet Union, $noun $verbs you! What is the origin of this meme? It's everywhere online. Searching google and mefi/askmefi havn't helped... someone must know!
posted by adzm on May 6, 2005 - 11 answers

What is the origin of the often-used phrase "conspiracy theory?"
posted by sonofsamiam on Mar 16, 2005 - 14 answers

[SlashdotMemeFilter] What is the link between Natalie Portman and hot grits? I know it started on Slashdot, and I realize the obsession with Natalie Portman is a result of the more recent Star Wars films, but I have never been able to find what she has to do with hot grits. How did this meme get started? P.S. Google's got nothing and my questions to Ask Slashdot got bounced.
posted by furtive on Jan 16, 2005 - 8 answers

"Dag! That is tight as hell!" It used to be (c.1999) that if you went to the URL www.tightashell.com you'd get a weird picture of a fabio-looking guy with girls hanging all over him and the caption "DAG! That is tight as hell!" It seems the site has changed hands several times over the years, and is now some weird blog. Anyway my question is two-fold.

1) Reality Check: Does anyone else remember this site?

2) Does anyone have a cache of it? =)

Thank you, that is all...
posted by idontlikewords on Dec 13, 2004 - 4 answers

What is the origin of the

1. Do one thing
2. Do another thing
3. ??????
4. Profit!

meme?
posted by jpoulos on Jan 13, 2004 - 6 answers

How do you become an internet phenomenon? I am a writer who wants exposure and my friends keep telling me to start a website. I've started many a blog--all dismal failures--and need perhaps good advice on how to (a) construct a unique, functional website that is easy to post on and (b) get exposure. Figured this was a good place to ask. Thanks!
posted by adrober on Jan 6, 2004 - 32 answers

Ever say an uncommon word or phrase -- such as "doxology" or "round-a-bout" -- in a crowded room and hear it travel across the room to different conversations? This happens to me all the time, but I have no idea what the term for it is, or if there even is one. Any guesses? In a related question, what do you call a freudian slip that you hear instead of say? (For insteance someone says "hold my glass" and you hear "hold my ass".)
posted by woil on Dec 24, 2003 - 6 answers