While reading the debates, I came across the debate "Can a Meme Be a Hate Symbol" and could not believe that people actually think that it can be considered a hate symbol. Obviously, memes can be used in hateful and distasteful manners, but that does not make the original meme, in this case Pepe, a hate symbol. The meme was not made with the attachment to these hateful messages and the meme can still be used in a innocent and funny way. Memes are meant to be spun into the taste that people wish them to be so they should be considered relatively neutral.
While they are not really hate symbols, they can be turned into something that sends a horrible message. Memes can be used almost like propaganda by extremist, who use them to try and make people believe their ideas. It is not always obvious because they may start on something not very extreme, but they can gradually make it more radical. This makes it easier for people to believe and accept the ideas in memes as true and right. It is best to be weary about memes, but also to remember that it is mainly not used this way.
-Josh Fernandez
I agree with your entire post. I feel like people take jokes to heart now compared to back then. We just need to be informed of the origin of memes and understand that they were originally meant to just make people laugh.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad to see something so benevolent and cheerful be masked as a hate symbol. Personally I enjoy memes, but I can most definitely see why people can project bitter attitude towards them. Most memes start off as innocent funny jokes, but because this is the internet people can make anything good appear as bad which is truly unfortunate. Especially in Pepe's case since he was never originally attached to distasteful things.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point. Memes which have the intentions of being comical can sometimes be warped into an alternative meaning by others; they shouldn't be seen as that though. Similarly, in our world, if some person were to do a bad thing, it doesn't mean all humans are bad.
ReplyDeleteWhile I do agree with the majority of this post I also think it's important to mention that the intention of something doesn't necessarily save it from what it can become. For example, the popular flag that is associated with confederates was originally intended to celebrate states rights and things along those lines but despite this intention we all know that's now how people view it. Also we must keep in mind that the "it's just a joke" defense can also be used by hate groups to disguise their true intentions of someone would to call them out.
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