Akshually, we’re called lurkers.
Read-onlys are cancer. Post stuff you want to see.
Submitted 1 month ago by ultrahamster64@lemmy.world to [deleted]
https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/f85e30be-a472-4d26-bfe1-1fdbc6a14d17.jpeg
Comments
mystik@lemmy.world 1 month ago
griD@feddit.org 1 month ago
Since you already complained about the wrong vocabulary, I can continue with my lurking ways.
SnokenKeekaGuard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 month ago
bit of an over reaction wouldn’t you say
Empricorn@feddit.nl 1 month ago
Said the cancer. /s
SnokenKeekaGuard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 month ago
650+ posts and 1800+ comments (from this account). Its one of 7. 😭
ultrahamster64@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Sorry for spamming two posts in a row, I just needed to get that out of my system
SnokenKeekaGuard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 month ago
Na na not a problem mate, there’s original content and they’re both different. Keep it going. Add a third and it’d still be fine
Dogiedog64@lemmy.world 1 month ago
No, fuck you.
Exusia@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Nah as long as they Upvote content and don’t complain about content being posted they can stay lurkers.
(If they do complain they can be the change they want to see and post, that’s what I did)
beefbot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 month ago
Bustedknuckles@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I posted twice, automod got one of them, but the other was gloriously empowering. Can recommend 8/10
spankmonkey@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I made one post and feel like I’ve earned my retirement.
pinkystew@reddthat.com 1 month ago
But i don’t have any feet pics
owsei@programming.dev 1 month ago
Do you have feet and a camera?
vonbaronhans@midwest.social 1 month ago
Hey I comment from time to time, that’s contributing! Kind of!
fossilesque@mander.xyz 1 month ago
Title: The Revolutionary Impact of Meme-Driven Discourse on Lemmy: Insights, Innovations, and Intangible Gains
Abstract
In an era where digital communication is dominated by concise, witty, and often nonsensical forms of expression, memes have transcended the boundaries of entertainment to become essential instruments of social critique, community-building, and intellectual engagement. This article investigates the transformative potential of memes on Lemmy, a federated social media platform that prides itself on fostering open, decentralized discourse. Through rigorous qualitative analysis (i.e., browsing posts and chuckling), this study explores the nuanced ways in which memes contribute to the ecosystem of online dialogue, providing an empirical framework that can guide future meme scholarship. We argue that memes on Lemmy play a critical role not only in conveying complex ideas with astonishing brevity but also in shaping user behavior, platform dynamics, and even worldviews.
Introduction
Lemmy has quickly evolved into a vibrant hub for meme-based communication, capturing the attention of digital anthropologists, sociologists, and anyone with at least one ironic bone in their body. While initial user interactions on Lemmy centered on reasoned discourse, data, and logical debate, the influx of meme-sharing has provided what we term “communicative levity”—a significant reduction in cognitive load for all participants, made possible by short, humorous, highly shareable images. This shift to meme-centric engagement has profound implications for the quality and nature of dialogue on Lemmy, as users increasingly rely on memes as both a communicative tool and a coping mechanism for existential dread in the digital age.
Methodology
Our methodology involved immersive ethnographic engagement within various Lemmy communities, focusing specifically on meme-rich communities (such as !memes@lemmy.ml, !memes@lemmy.world, and !lemmyshitpost@lemmy.world ). Over the course of two intense months, researchers scrolled through countless threads, selectively upvoted “bangers,” and ignored “cringe” content, in an effort to capture the platform’s most salient contributions to meme culture. In addition, researchers conducted in-depth interviews with self-identified meme aficionados, who were questioned about their motivations, strategies, and meme curatorial practices. The findings were subjected to rigorous interpretative analysis, mostly through captioning screenshots and trading them in our own group chat.
Results
The results indicate an overwhelmingly positive effect of meme-sharing on user engagement, particularly in terms of:
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Increased Participation: Memes draw users out of their habitual lurking and into active participation. Even the most resolutely silent observers are compelled to “at least leave an upvote,” fostering a sense of community solidarity without the burden of actual interaction.
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Community-Building: Through shared laughs, inside jokes, and occasional emoji debates, memes create an invisible web of collective understanding, transcending barriers such as political ideologies, hobbies, or fondness for cat photos. Memes allow users to “agree to laugh” rather than “agree to disagree.”
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Conceptual Compression: Complex socio-political theories, cutting-edge critiques of capitalism, and even meta-commentaries on Lemmy’s own user interface can be condensed into a single image with minimal text. Notably, an increase in JPEG quality has been found to correspond with a decline in meme coherence, thereby reinforcing the platform’s aesthetic.
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Cognitive Offloading: Our research reveals a “surge of relief” reported by users upon encountering a meme after several paragraphs of verbose, heavily cited posts. Memes serve as intellectual palate cleansers, allowing the user to maintain sanity in an otherwise information-dense feed.
Discussion
The meme-centric approach on Lemmy does not come without challenges. The brevity and humor intrinsic to memes inevitably introduce the risk of misunderstanding, oversimplification, or, worse, banal memes that disrupt the platform’s intellectual sanctity. However, these risks are far outweighed by the significant, if intangible, benefits that memes provide. In the context of Lemmy, we propose that meme-sharing represents an innovative genre of meta-discourse, in which users not only engage with the content but also critique and subvert the platform’s normative expectations for reasoned debate.
Moreover, memes on Lemmy offer a novel platform for introspective reflection, as users regularly confront the existential absurdity of life in the modern world through humorous, often surreal images. As one respondent poignantly remarked, “Memes aren’t just entertainment; they’re coping mechanisms.”
Conclusion
Our research underscores the pivotal role memes play in shaping user interactions on Lemmy. Far from mere distractions, memes foster a dynamic ecosystem of cognitive offloading, community bonding, and philosophical humor that reflects the zeitgeist of a generation defined by digital connectedness and meme culture. We conclude that memes are not only the future of social media engagement on Lemmy but also a valuable contribution to the evolution of human communication itself.
Future Research Directions
Further studies should investigate the comparative impact of memes on similar federated platforms, analyze meme-sharing as a form of digital anthropology, and establish frameworks for distinguishing “high-quality” memes from “low-effort” ones. Such scholarship will undoubtedly enhance our understanding of the meme economy and contribute to more robust academic discourse on social media behavior.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the users of Lemmy for their enthusiastic, if occasionally chaotic, contributions to meme discourse. Special thanks to the anonymous user who suggested our team try making our own memes, “for the culture.” We hope to continue scrolling, upvoting, and sometimes even laughing.
Track_Shovel@slrpnk.net 1 month ago
I haven’t even finished reading this and I’m saving it as pasta. The fact you put this much effort into a shitpost is amazing.
interdimensionalmeme@lemmy.ml 1 month ago
Here’s a more conscise version
Résumé: The Revolutionary Impact of Meme-Driven Discourse on Lemmy
Overview: This article explores the influential role of memes in shaping discourse on Lemmy, a federated social media platform known for its decentralized dialogue. By analyzing user interactions, the study reveals how memes foster engagement, community, and intellectual coping mechanisms within the platform.
Key Findings:
Increased Participation: Memes encourage even passive users to engage, promoting active involvement with minimal effort. Community-Building: Shared humor and inside jokes create a collective sense of belonging that bridges differences among users. Conceptual Compression: Memes can distill complex ideas into easily digestible formats, simplifying otherwise intricate subjects. Cognitive Offloading: Users report relief and mental rest when encountering memes, breaking up the intensity of serious discussions.
Methodology: The research involved ethnographic immersion in meme-centric Lemmy communities, participant observations, meme analysis, and interviews with dedicated users.
Challenges: While memes introduce risks like oversimplification or poor-quality content, their benefits—facilitating meta-discourse and offering coping mechanisms—largely outweigh these issues.
Conclusion: Memes are integral to Lemmy’s ecosystem, enhancing user interaction, community cohesion, and dialogue through their unique blend of humor and insight. This positions memes not just as entertainment but as vital communication tools.
Future Research: Suggested directions include cross-platform meme studies, deeper anthropological analysis, and criteria for evaluating meme quality.
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stelelor@lemmy.ca 1 month ago
TTH4P@lemm.ee 1 month ago
I can only post when I’m feeling strong, because I’m terrified of y’all disapproving. :(
0xb@lemm.ee 1 month ago
Sorry. The topics I know about and find something to share are the same for lots of other people and literally always someone beat me to it.
Plus I get anxious thinking that I’m gonna have to reply to a lot of people.
But thank you to all of you who do post.
BigBananaDealer@lemm.ee 1 month ago
most people will forget something that was already posted. 2 of my most liked posts are me posting the same song a month apart and no one realised it (not even me until i checked 😂)
JoYo@lemmy.ml 1 month ago
i love posting in dead communities and getting downvotes.
other_cat@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Yeah THAT blows my mind a bit? I posted to an empty community and it got deleted. What the fuck? It wasn’t offensive and it was on topic. It was a niche community too.
TechnicallyColors@lemm.ee 1 month ago
Whenever I have something to say, someone has already said it. People are always on the ball here.
finitebanjo@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Just because of that I’m gonna lurk for a whole week straight and theres not a damn thing you can do to stop me.
rain_worl@lemmy.world 1 month ago
chemotherapy?
tino@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I’m Comment-only. I don’t read.
ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org 1 month ago
There is an API you can use with
pythorheador other libraries to schedule posts very easily. @MentalEdge@sopuli.xyz uses it to automate loads of posts from his pic collections in local storage, and will gladly provide you with source code and assistance.MentalEdge@sopuli.xyz 1 month ago
There is also schedule.lemmings.world where you can schedule all kinds of stuff with your account, using a nice UI.
ultrahamster64@lemmy.world 1 month ago
That’s so cool! Thank you for sharing!
jawa21@lemmy.sdf.org 1 month ago
Holy shit thank you. I hacked together a script with a crinjob months ago. This is so much more elegant.
cmeu@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Every time I post it’s in the wrong community or against some rule and I get the hammer
I post things I want to see, but I’m apparently alone in that desire
beastlykings@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
Been there, felt the pain
PunchingWood@lemmy.world 1 month ago
What annoys me about Reddit-like communities (yes including Lemmy) is that there’s this downvote feature.
The whole idea of these discussion boards is to have… discussions. So it’s annoying when you make a post or reply to someone with a constructive reply or argument, and then people can’t be arsed to actually reply, they just downvote to disagree and move on. It’s like the equivalent of people just going like “lol no” and then walk away.
Frankly it’s a feature that feels like it completely contradicts the point of online forums.
brucethemoose@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I agree.
But also downvoting is very useful as community moderation. I participate in some communities with regular, scummy spam posts that are technically off topic and not quite bannable, and I like that there’s a community mechanism to bury them.
PunchingWood@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Yeah I don’t think it’s entirely useless, it’s mostly useful for filtering out spam posts and unrelated stuff from communities.
Just on a comment/discussion level it feels like it’s not that great.
Blyfh@lemmy.world 1 month ago
There are instances who don’t have 'em and even frontends that allow you to hide it.
TherapyGary@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 month ago
That’s one reason I picked blahaj for my instance- no downvoting
horse_battery_staple@lemmy.world 1 month ago
To all the “Someone already said it!” Filter by hot. Or even better new. Then you can be the first to say your beige take.
Underwaterbob@lemm.ee 1 month ago
To everyone saying that someone has already said what they want to say: post anyway. You’d be surprised how significant tiny differences in perspective can be.
chuckleslord@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Can’t. I get way too invested in this shit and its bad for my mental health.
rain_worl@lemmy.world 1 month ago
i posted once!
someguy3@lemmy.world 1 month ago
The math checks out.
SnokenKeekaGuard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 month ago
Jesus man I remember your username, either you comment a lot or post from a different account? What is it?
Exusia@lemmy.world 1 month ago
1k comments in 2 months. Something near 16 comments a day.
pixelscript@lemm.ee 1 month ago
Nah. The real cancer is the quiet plurality of users who just scroll through the post feed and only voting, not even reading comments. The ones who are responsible for the occasional thread that has entirely negative comments but gets upvoted to the stratosphere anyways.
atocci@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I just bought a drone, hopefully it arrives by this weekend and I’ll start posting some pictures
Voltage@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 month ago
I posted about kanye on a community for kanye and still got hated for it.
sfxrlz@lemmy.world 1 month ago
So we will cancer on
RabbitMix@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 month ago
hey, I got social anxiety, I’m not posting BECAUSE I don’t want to hear people’s thoughts on me.
Emerald@lemmy.world 1 month ago
And then you get to hear peoples thoughts on you not posting anything
Itdidnttrickledown@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Lame.
FQQD@lemmy.ohaa.xyz 1 month ago
Image
ultrahamster64@lemmy.world 1 month ago
“I’m in this picture and I don’t like it”
Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 1 month ago
…Obama? GUYS!!! OBAMA HAS A LEMMY ACCOUNT AND I FOUND IT!!!
Or maybe I found Obamas clone…wait, how much of sci-fi is real now? I mean, I know we got the star trek communicators, and space travel…I know we did SOME cloning. We cloned a sheep. Have we cloned a president yet? Hopefully not reagan…or bush…or trump.
God it feels weird knowing that trump was actually president. That is a real thing that happened for 1 full term. And the weirder thing is, it’s scarily close to happening again in a week!!!
Ok…I guess the actual status of it wouldn’t be official until January, but you know what I mean!