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Merriam Webster dictionary defines a meme as an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture. And it’s no secret that they have become the unofficial fuel of the internet. From Bernie’s mittens and Pence’s fly to the year 2020 and the ship stuck in the Suez Canal, everything gets turned into a meme. And while they’re often fun and give us a much-needed cringe fix, sometimes they get a little harsh and cross the line.

But thanks to the Twitter page “Wholesome Memes” that aims at spreading positivity, we now have a feel good-only collection of some of the best memes out there. “We spread internet memes and images that promote health or well-being of body, mind and/or soul,” reads their description and their whopping 1.3M followers live by it.

And in a world savaged by the brutality of cold facts, sad news, and post-2020 blues that turned out to be no better than that cursed year itself, Wholesome Memes are more relevant than ever.

More info: WholesomeMemes.com | InstagramFacebook | Twitter

The internet can be a beautiful place, but it can also be a miserable, mean, fake place full of unwanted toxicity from people, directed at people, or it may come from the type of content itself. And memes, generally a fun meta way to communicate ideas online, can also sometimes turn sour.

For example, according to The Verge, a new study funded by the European Union aimed to determine how influential these memes truly were, particularly in swaying the election. In examining over 160 million images from Twitter, Reddit, 4chan’s Politically Incorrect board (/pol/), and Gab, gathered between July 2016 and July 2017, researchers found that the most popular racist memes existed on fringe political channels like /pol/ and r/The_Donald, with the latter being the most effective at spreading racist memes to both alt-right and traditional websites.

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Serial pacifist
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People so often don't appreciate the everyday gifts we get. Great reminder.

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“These online pockets of hate speech help propagate alt-right memes by co-opting popular themes and images, like Pepe, for instance, by making racist rhetoric accessible and even fun. Memes were the Trojan horse that allowed the out-group to infiltrate and influence the in-group,” stated The Verge.

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Fortunately, a big amount of viral images-turned-memes can open ways to positive, prosocial behaviors as well. But it vastly depends on the type of society we live in. “Memes are a reflection of our culture. They lead us to reexamine some of their own behavior,” suggests Rosanna Guadagno, a researcher at the Peace Innovation Lab at Stanford University.

Since memes touch upon a relatable emotion or moment, it’s possible that on some occasions, if used in a negative setting, it becomes a wake-up call. “If you think [the meme’s message] reflects poorly on the people who engage in that behavior, you’ll choose not to engage in that behavior,” Guadagno explains.

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If we agree that memes are indeed the modern form of culture, we have to face the fact that this form is now inevitable. And it’s really upon us how we’d be using them and what ideas we’d be communicating with their help.

In such context, the Wholesome Memes page may seem more relevant than ever. The project serves as a great example of putting memes to a constructive use to share some much-needed feel-good emotion.

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Bettie-Jean Neal
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks good to me. Would have been nice if the one I tried to hug when I was a toddler didn't try to kill me instead of hugging back. B*stard.

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ner_diz avatar
Serial pacifist
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unlike politicians, who are supposed to be public servants, but people are nice to them and consider them their 'rulers'.

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Ivo H
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh how I hate the fact that there are names for toxic people... It's so disrespectful for all the people with that name! Just assuming something based on name alone is really idiotic. (and yes, I know it's a joke and no, it is not getting any better because of it).

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StrawberryParfait
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OR, we could, you know, just stop giving names to toxic people and just call them "toxic people".

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ner_diz avatar
Serial pacifist
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think anyone should be labeled by a name. A Karen and a Kyle can be wholesome real-life people (it's enough to google people like Karen Armstrong, Kyle Gann...)

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Baby Panda
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

right, my mum has a good friend named karen who is a really sweet person but when the word karen was rebranded she started going by her last name instead

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Donkey boi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My friend Karen, loves the whole Karen thing, she started the Facebook petition 'Karen's, against Karen's, who are against the Karen trope'. A lot of gaming Youtubers do use Steve to mean friend.

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Molly Lassen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Totally agree. My grandpa’s name was Steve and he was one of the most wholesome people I knew.

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IlovemydogShilo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate the fact that the name Karen is used negatively. There are 3 Karen's in my life and all 3 are the most beautiful women. One is my aunt. One is a family doctor who has been with as more as a friend than a doctor especially after my dad died and now looking after my mother after her recent cancer diagnosis and the third is a day nurse who comes regularly to the house to give mum her medication and always makes sure we know we can call her if we need to. Despite what the internet says Karens are wonderful.

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Vicky Z
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What if we stop using names for these purposes?? I'm sure there are plenty of good Karens and Kyles and plenty of bad Steves as well!

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Night Owl
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, and he's the only one I recognized here (and even that was mostly because of the color of his shirt and because of the little croc)

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Sophie Cwik
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just found out that my friend's mom is named Karen and she's soo nice

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IFXO
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i only know steve irwin but okay he deserves this 👌

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Erudite Birdy
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe not the best choice. _ Evil Steve > A person of extreme evil usually called Steve; A man who shows no compassion for others. _ Example: That guy over there is evil steve. _ https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Evil%20Steve

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Coo Dat
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Steve Irwin was a nut who dangled his own infant in front of a crocodile. Watch it on YouTube.

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Cicimelia
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I break out my 'inner Cheryl' whenever I'm taking a wholesome stance and using my privilege for good. Cheryl was my mum's name and she ALWAYS fought for those whose voices needed to be heard. I'm a proud Cheryl!

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Batwench
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Chris is also a good name for nice people. I have yet to met a Chris I didn’t like.

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Roxy Eastland
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, no. If the name for an annoying person we're stuck with is Karen then the name for a wholesome person has to also be a recognisably female name. Fair's fair.

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blugeagua
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And Stephanie for women? Although I wouldn't put Rogers on there. He betrayed Tony in the past so he's not that wholesome.

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Richard MacDonald
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Impossible, too many d**k frat-boy 'Steves'. On the other hand my mother's name is Karen, and she's the sweetest woman ever and doesn't even know about the trend. It would break my heart to tell her. Lol.

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Everydayhuman83
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I REMEMBER STEVE FROM BLUES CLUES.............................................................

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Mrs Spigot
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm afraid Steve is already the name of our rescue dogs imaginary friend who is responsible for any norty goings on

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Fred L.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Isn´t the name already taken in form of Scumbag Steve?

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Sarah Simons
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly just knowing that some people remember Blue's Clues is enough to make my day.

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Zandybob
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not so sure, I know a couple is Steves and they're both right twats

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Ayia Grace
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Steve is amazing, Steve is kind, be more like Steve. :)

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Aubrie Allen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And don't forgot about Stephen, because my dude is the sweetest cutest dude in the world!

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John C
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who's the "Steve" in the hospital bed with a cup of coffee?

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ChekovsCurlyHair
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s Stefan Karl Stefansson. He was an actor who was in LazyTown. Honorary Steve. ;)

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Ednineson Vertus
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Apparently the blues clues guy is a drug addict but who knows it's just a theory a movie theory

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N G
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Pitbull terriers were an entirely calm, centred and placid breed until they became the exclusive property of tattooed w*nkers called Darren" (Mitch Benn - one of his live shows. I might have gotten the name wrong)

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Linus Nilsson
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah, the good old "education beer"! I remember my music teacher always used to have one. He got fired when he stopped showing up for work though.

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Bettie-Jean Neal
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's been one one silver lining of this pandemic. Getting to see newscasters' pets.

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Yort
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

More like, I search for a question, find someone asking the same question from 10 years ago, all the answers say to just google it, but the only google results are people telling the asker to google it.

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Sum Guy
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These people are godsent... It's hello at the beginning of the ride and the goodbye at the end of it all. perfect

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sofacushionfort
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We admire those who "never met a stranger," and so should acknowledge that they never met a bore.

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Ivo H
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nothing's better than the same few playlists over and over again!

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Bettie-Jean Neal
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's so me. I know all my neighboring doggos' names, but have no idea their owners' names. I have full on conversations with the doggos without ever even looking at the owner, even though they're the ones answering my questions. My neighbors must think I'm nuts.

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