» Thu Dec 15, 2011 9:29 am
No, overused doesn't mean the same as meme, speaking as one who pioneered the concept of "meme" with Bubblefish and OS2012 on the NASA forums a decade ago.
A meme is viral information, which is only able to be such due to certain interesting properties of the only intelligent creatures we know who process information in such ways. Granted, there are secondary characteristics involved, specifically the "mob mind" nature of an animal surviving on a planet, but whether people choose to dwell in that or not, it is the PAST of what we are.
We also have free will. We make derivative works. We have our own ideas, and we can CHOOSE not to jump on a particular bandwagon. If we DO choose to make the leap, we can CHOOSE not to svck at it, by flexing some creative muscle, and putting out a little effort.
Yes, some people expect to smear poop on a wall and be recognized immediately as an artist. That particular meme, the instant gratification "I can do anything you all do with no real effort whatsoever" IS quite overused.
But I decide when funny is overused, and even when the IDEA of an arrow to the knee is "overused" by some standards, the DERIVATIVE WORKS are still knee-spankin' new.
It's like saying a fire has gone out because the first thing it burned has turned to ash. Members of the Galactic Federation need to learn to think more multi-dimensionally.