Ironic Animals and Viewing Screens

If you spent your time growing up in a similar fashion as me, you probably have spent a good chunk of your life of the internet. I personally feel right at home on the internet, my head is a vault filled with metric gallons of memes. I really have been far even as decided to use even go want do more look like. I remember when YouTube was a year old, deviant art was full of idiots (and to some point, still is) and icanhascheezrger was no more of a conglomerate as there were fails on the internet. I remember so many things from my days of randomly browsing the internet. But I wasn't a regular on sites like YTMND or Funnyjunk. My upbringing was more on AlbinoBlackSheep, and eventually, Youtube. 

For those of you who may not have heard of AlbinoBlackSheep just imagine a mix between Newgrounds and AddictingGames, flash games and flash videos without the ranking system, it feels like a more casual site. ABS (similar to the break system) was the site to first introduce me to memes, and from there, my love of the iternet. The flash videos on ABS range from completely random to down right stupid, only adding to and shaping my own sense of humor.

What I got most from ABS was Animutation. (Use care while watching some of the videos, some are quite NSFW)  Animutation was created by Neil Cicirega, you may have heard of him, he made the Potter Puppet Pals series and is quite popular on YouTube. Hyakugojyuuichi, which is riddled with so many refrences and memes (most of which are ancient) that going back and reviewing them now almost baffles me. But, I remeber this flash video well. Although you may not have heard of Animutation, you can be certain that if you've watched enough flash videos, you've seen the style. You know when you cut out the obttom of the mouth on a picture, and then move it back and forth to show speak? Just one part of 13 year old Cicirega's brilliance.

For those of you who have been to or have now viewed ABS, you may find it quite odd, or just think of me being an idiot for liking what makes absolutely no sense, and you know what? I really don't care. There is a reason that I can't look at JJ the Jetplane, the Smurfs and Mr. Bean the same way anymore. There is a reason I break out everyrime I hear the word Ixofalxonigl, and there is a reason that I enjoy memes, and it all started with these random few videos, and if you got the time, brainpower (or perhaps lack of) and stomach to watch (some of these videos do contain child-ruining content. You have been warned) then go on ahead, and you know what? Welcome to the internet.

--Santa

The Internet: A Non-Interactive Guide

Hello fellow Internet user!

I am Santa, guide of the internet. As you may very well know, the internet is not always a very nice place. So, I’ve decided to write a few things about the internet to help YOU out! That’s right, ladies and gentlemen; you will now be able to browse the internet with ABSOLUTE EASE.

Okay, now that I’ve typed that, I’m going to stop typing with all the up-tightness. Today, internet, we will be discussing about the theories of the internet. I originally intended for this blog to be about the internet, video games, AND technology. And we’ve all seen how well I’ve been able to keep that up. BUT NO MORE! I shall continue with my explanation of the internet, and what could be a better way to start than to just talk about the wonders of the internet today. Today, we big our focus on memes. But first:

So, today’s internet is comprised of about 3-4 parts: LOL Cats, memes, trolls, and Facebook. This is all just generalized, of course. These parts full under different categories, such as:

·         Facebook: The general internet at-large. Think of sites that have nothing to do with the actual internet (IE Google, Walmart.com, Facebook)

·         LOL Cats: The generally innocent parts of the internet—think of Icanhazcheezburger. They’re here for innocent fun.

·         Memes: The fun part of the internet. This is where all of the jokes are made (for the most part) and where most online comics are (xkcd, Cyanide and Happiness, Memebase)

·         Trolls: The “bad” part of the internet lives off 10 year old lays and flat mountain dew. (Omegle, Funnyjunk)

Now, I’m not saying that “m covering all parts of the internet here. I’m not. This is PG blog after all. But the media views the lower two parts as kind of iffy. Some people think that trolls are the spawns of Satan.  Well, here’s something I’ve noticed: I find the internet to be the ONLY frontier in the world for freedom of speech. Now, I’m not campaigning for trolling, but I’ve just got to say…

Good luck trying to rid the world of it. Trolling will always be around. As will be bullying, and I use this to support my case: human nature. Humans really are (when it comes down to it) naturally cruel. Now, there are a few exceptions, I’m sure, but the idea that people think that they can just plain knock it out of existence is just insane. That’s like stating you’re going to wipe out poverty, crime, and hate. Sure, your utopia sounds all fun and great, but you really CAN’T believe it, can you?

I like to see myself as an advocate for the freedoms of the internet. And the reason I am is simple: its plain, stupid fun. The idea of memes is simply a playoff of references, and therefore makes everything simply fun.  What’s the point of “My Life is Average”? It’s evolved from average daily experiences to a full on sensation of pretty cool stories. What’s the point of memes like Chuck Testa or Paula Dean riding things? It’s hilariously stupid. It’s a cute little joke to everyone who’s seen it, bringing people together who know the references.

Memes are eventually destroyed by time. They lose their luster. I thought the Chuck Testa meme got old after two days, but every time I see a reference of taking an arrow to the knee, I still find myself laughing.

I could go on about the old memes for years, but I get the feeling a 10,000 word post won’t get me anywhere. So, I’ll end it on this note: keep the internet a place of freedom-- it’s one thing when someone is slander someone it’s another when someone is just lightly poking fun. Do we really want our newest generation to grow up to be completely sheltered? I mean, come on, we got to teach them sometime to get a backbone, and man up. The world isn’t a hunky-dory place where everyone gets along and sing songs about happy elves.  Although, that would be interesting. Too bad it’d never work. Until then….

--Santa