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 | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
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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.
People so often don't appreciate the everyday gifts we get. Great reminder.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
Unlike politicians, who are supposed to be public servants, but people are nice to them and consider them their 'rulers'.
"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)
We should test products on these senseless humans instead of these great animals.
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Why do people see pit bulls as vicious and dangerous? They are such a good breed of dog.
I got an older pittie and many people said not to rehome her because they are vicious and i dont know her temperament. Let me tell you, she was loving and would wait at the front door for my son at the same time every day when he came home drom school. And when my ex-husband tried to put his hands on me, she protected me.
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I have a pittie, and she is just the most adorable thing. Very cuddly, and, she knows a lot of words.
I used to love pitties but I don’t think I can anymore. Got in an attack when I was younger, got stitches, got picked on and as a grown woman I still kinda do get bad looks, people look at me as if I’m a fox with rabies. I want to love pit bulls again but I’m not sure if I can..
Totally different than hating them for no reason because you have an actual fear for a valid reason. If it was another breed of dog , you'd probably feel like that about them as well. You saying you want to love them shows that you know they are not all bad, just that you have had experiences that have conditioned you to feel that way and that's a hard thing to overcome for some people. Honestly the emotional damage from the Bullying you have gone through is enough to trigger a fear like this because you identify the dog as the cause. A lot of people just hate pitties because they hear bad things about them, your situation is so much different so don't feel bad! You can care for them without having to love them. I'm sorry you have had to go through this!
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Breed-specific legislation is abhorrent and needs to go. I've met soooo many pitties that were rescued from the most horrendous situations, and they were loving even after that.
Pitties are only given a bad rep because they look muscular so they have been trained to be fighting dogs throughout history. Bad behavior isn’t inherited, it’s taught.
This isn’t true. https://www.google.com/amp/s/nedhardy.com/2020/06/03/pitbull-nanny-dog/amp/
I don't fully agree to this because there are lot many cases of pit bulls attacking babies. But I do understand that if they are properly trained and fed they're really loving dogs.
The dogs that bite people should have never been in that situation in the first place. I'd trust my dogs with my life but wouldn't leave a young child unattended with them. Kids, especially young ones, can be rough and not understand the body language a dog is giving. More over, many/most of the attacks are from dogs not properly socialized or mistreated by people who simply wanted to look tough by having a tough looking dog. The stats showing the bites vs breeds labels all pitbull breeds together, which includes staffies and other bully breeds, so really it's taking several breed stats and lumping them together, giving an unfair picture of the actual numbers.
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Worked as a dog groomer for almost 15 yrs. i had labs, goldens, fluffy little bichons, and individuals every other breed i ever groomed try to bite me. Chow chows were an automatic muzzle until i got to know them because they're such fierce pups. I never had a single pit bull even so much as growl at me. They're a very special breed and whats been done to them is a tragedy
Put me between a young pit bull (left off leash by a human who said it was "too energetic to train"...) and a cat. Cat lived. i lived. Dog lived. I took injuries. The owner got a warning from animal control. And still lets taht pit bull run off leash, lest he spend energy on his own dog. I've seen it charge people. Moral: Good owner equals good dog.
Pitbulls, when trained right and well-loved, truly are one of the most lovely dog breeds of which I am aware
Absolutely, they are absolute guardians of children. Once humans got together and thought they were 'tough' fighting dogs however, they got a bad rap. Idiot owners.
My daughter's dog (dog is obviously a family pet but is very attached to my daughter) is a Pit Bull/Bull Mastiff/Boxer mix that requires a drool cloth kept in the kitchen, but has never once drooled on my daughter, whom has sensory issues and hates her clothing or hands getting wet unless it's a bubble. They can be amazing pets in the right situation.
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Pure B.S. What ever ninny wrote this never worked in a Hospital Emergency Room.
:) see? Pitbulls are sweet and they would only harm you if they are trained to, you harm their owner, or you harm them.
The breed that attacks people the most every year in the UK is the golden retriever
A study of fatal pitbull attacks between 1990 and 2007 found that 85% of victims were children, the youngest just one month old, according to The Canadian Veterinary Journal. 94% of pit bull attacks on children were found to be unprovoked.
German Sheperds are like this too. They're both amazing dogs . They're a lot alike in temperament
My mum's neighbor had a pit who was her first best friend (she was a toddler). My grandma trusted that dog enough to leave mum in the neighbors yard so they could "catch up on the day" and she could do her housework. Granted, this was around 1940, but still. My grandma was a worrier, but not with this dog.
"In the 10 years from 2009 to 2018, pit bulls killed or maimed 3,569 people in the USA and Canada." By dogbite.com Tell that to those 3,569 people. Bullshit!
My son was attacked by a pitbull. Needed plastic surgery to his face. It was uncalled for and owned by a careful family who raised it from 4 days old as she was a vet nurse. My son was very dog aware and the dog knew him.
The same thing happened to my brother but the dog was a Rottweiler. The thing is both a rot and pit could kill a child if they intend to. They were playing and then the corner of my brothers nose is ripped off and face is torn up. The dog had also never bit anyone before so something happened in that dogs mind. Immediately the dog seemed like it realized it hurt him but Just like people a lot of dogs don't know their size or their strength. Just a couple weeks ago a family members large dog killed their small dog playing. He broke her neck. So I truly believe sometimes they don't know their power. The dog that but my brother meant to bite my brother yes but do I think he meant to hurt him that bad? No. I think it was a warning because if he had intended to do it, it would have and could have been much worse and he wouldn't have instantly realized.
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"You can beat them over the head with a crowbar, stab them repeatedly with a knife, kick them, throw water on them, burn them even gouge their eyes out and it won't stop an attack in progress. They are impervious to pain" you my unfine sir, sound like someone who does illegal dog fights.
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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.
That's been one one silver lining of this pandemic. Getting to see newscasters' pets.
We admire those who "never met a stranger," and so should acknowledge that they never met a bore.
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.
Note: this post originally had 92 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
And you are too. *insert heart emoji here* (sry,, I'm not on a phone)
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Fun fact: it’s transgender visibility day today! The memes along with all the support my friends are giving me has melted my transgender heart.
Where did all the jerks come from? go away! or maybe stop being a jerk and enjoy? :-)
Thank you. This made my heart smile. I hope whoever reads my comment is doing good and smiles bright. I love you all.
Hey Ryan you doing okay you seem to be posting a few negative comments?
Load More Replies... And you are too. *insert heart emoji here* (sry,, I'm not on a phone)
Load More Replies... Fun fact: it’s transgender visibility day today! The memes along with all the support my friends are giving me has melted my transgender heart.
Where did all the jerks come from? go away! or maybe stop being a jerk and enjoy? :-)
Thank you. This made my heart smile. I hope whoever reads my comment is doing good and smiles bright. I love you all.
Hey Ryan you doing okay you seem to be posting a few negative comments?
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