The S#!% [Person] says videos started just before the new year with Sh*t Girls Say – Episode 1, created by Kyle Humphrey & Graydon Sheppard. The video was a humorous look at things girls say, and it touched off a wave of similar videos. Now videos in that same style have become a full-blown internet phenomenon, filling the internet with videos of people walking and talking just like little Rory Calhouns.
To keep this somewhat work-related, here are 7 videos that show what various professions are saying. Warning: These videos are Mostly Safe for Work (aside from a few curse words).
1. Lobbyists
Hopefully this isn’t what’s actually being said behind closed doors in D.C.
2. Web Designers
These people work hard every day to help make sure we have an Internet to goof around on.
3. Creative Directors
Apparently this is what managing creatives leads to.
4. Scientists
This might explain why we don’t have flying cars yet. Or superpowers.
5. Project Managers
I was going to write a quip here, but it was out of scope.
6. Bartenders
This guy needs to figure out some way to unwind after work.
7. Programmers
It’s only right that the programmer take on this meme is a subversion of the original idea.
Internet Meme’s have always been an interesting phenomenon–seemingly random occurrences become huge Internet sensations spreading virally around the world. Below are the Top Internet Memes of 2009, complete with a little background, stats and where you can find the meme if you’ve just awoken from a coma.
Beyonce’s Single Ladies
Background: Singer Beyonce Knowles released a music video for her song, “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It). [more on Wikipedia]
Meme credentials: In addition to an entire host of Internet videos, the song and choreography have also been used in an SNL sketch, on the TV show Glee, by US President Barack Obama, in a promotion for Trident Gum, and was the source of controversy that started the Kanye / Imma Let You Finish meme (see below).
You knew it was a meme when: a baby dancing to the song generated over 5 million hits on YouTube and became a meme in and of itself. [January 26, 2009]
Background: A dad records how his kid reacts after having oral surgery. [more on Wikipedia]
Meme credentials: The original video was viewed over 3 million times within 3 days of posting and now has over 34 million views, plus countless spin-offs.
You knew it was meme when: DavidAfterDentist.com launched with merchandise featuring some of the phrases from the video. [February 4, 2009]
Background: The Baidu 10 Mythical Creatures started as a hoax on a Chinese Encyclopedia site as a way of protest against online censorship in China–each of the mythical creatures’ names sound very similar to Chinese curse words. [more on Wikipedia]
Meme credentials:The mythical creatures have been talked about all over the web, have inspired a number of YouTube videos, and have spawned similar posts such as “Baidu 10 Legendary Weapons” and “Baidu 10 Secret Delicacies.”
You knew it was a meme when: The Chinese State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television issued a directive seemingly in response to the Internet phenomenon [March 30, 2009].
Where to find it: The original post is no longer up, but you can find the whole Baidu 10 Mythical Creatures post on Wikipedia.
Susan Boyle
Background: Susan Boyle impressed judges and the audience with her singing of “I Dreamed a Dream” on the TV show, Britain’s Got Talent. [more on Wikipedia]
Meme credentials:Various videos of Susan singing the song have been viewed over 100 million times and she has since released her first album, I Dreamed A Dream.
You knew it was a meme when: The TV show South Park made a reference to the singer. [April 22, 2009]
Background: Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift during her acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV VMAs to protest her victory over Beyonce. [more on Wikipedia]
Background: A squirrel popped-up right as a couple was taking their own picture in a national park. [more on Wikipedia]
Meme credentials:Not only has the original picture been viewed thousands of times, but the squirrel has been photoshopped into countless other pictures.
You knew it was a meme when: Banff National Park, the location where the photo was taken, set up Facebook and Twitter pages for the squirrel. [October 2009]
Where to find it: The original Crasher Squirrel picture is now on National Geographic.
Balloon Boy
Background: A family falsely claimed their son was stuck in a balloon that floated away. [more on Wikipedia]
Background: Argleton is a settlement that only exists on Google Maps and Google Earth, but not in the real world. [more on Wikipedia]
Meme credentials:The term Argleton has generated more than 25,000 hits on Google and Argleton merchandise is now popping up as if Argleton was a real place.
You knew it was a meme when: The Argleton.com domain was registered and put up the message “What the hell are they talking about? We, the good citizens of Argleton do exist. ” [November 1, 2009]
Email
.
on Amazon.com.
