It’s been a pretty shitty week. I don’t think I need to explain why. So here’s something to help take the edge off — a new meme featuring a phrase anyone who’s ever said anything critical of GamerGate has heard, again and again: “Actually, it’s about ethics in games journalism.”
This new meme, which started really taking off today on Twitter and Tumblr, seems to be becoming the new “not all men.” Which makes sense: “Not all men” is to mansplaining what “Actually … ” is to Gatersplaining.
Here are some of my favorites, taken from Twitter and from the new Tumblr blog titled, naturally, Actually … it’s about ethics in games journalism.
I made one myself out of an old #NotAllMen meme:
I made one! #ActuallyItsAboutEthicsInGameJournalism #GamerGate #Gamersplaining pic.twitter.com/NQK1F6Myga
— David Futrelle (@DavidFutrelle) October 24, 2014
This blog, meanwhile, uses the phrase as a caption for New Yorker cartoons.
And then there’s this Tweet.
https://twitter.com/alqaeda/status/524985414973935616
Thank you, anonymous meme-makers, and whoever came up with this in the first place! We needed this.
Rats. It’s times like this I wish we could edit comments.
Little help, anyone?
In his essay, “On the Education of Children”, Montaigne suggested teaching children to laugh at bad arguments, rather than refute them, that being a subtler answer.
This, I believe, is a good example of what he had in mind.
My favorite is one I saw somewhere in another comment thread (wish I could remember and link to it):
…so the talent agent says, “What do you call your act?”
They answer, “It’s about ethics in journalism!”
Strivingally,
I think that one’s my favorite. It captures the self importance and grandiosity perfectly. They probably really do think they’re doing the Lord’s work.
I made one, but it’s on my phone. How do I get it into here without computering?
Here’s my try at it.
http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/853/674/8fb.jpg
Second try:
Apparently the comments hate me, so here’s the link:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a126/Arklier/dg0er.jpg
The ones that made me laugh the hardest were the game quotes from #gamersagainstgamergate.
This one made me laugh the hardest:
You caught MISOGYNIST REACTIONISM! Would you like to give it a nickname?
>YES
NO
Please enter your nickname.
“ETHICS IN GAMES JOURNALISM”
When I saw the name of the meme, I had to try this one.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/vaiyt/Accuallyfakubogs_cd9804_3610083_zpsd9ad1d8a.jpg
One, more, this time by a friend who just heard of the tag.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/vaiyt/IMG_25102014_000304_zps86e26ecf.png
Actual #GamerGate supporter here, These are hilarious and we’re totally hijacking this, thanks for the meme and keep them coming 😀
also actually it’s about ethics in video game journalism.
Gamergaters: would be descending into parody now if people they were attacking weren’t being harmed.
Keep proving your side knows nothing about ethics or journalism.
We’re not laughing with you. We’re laughing at you.
No.
Making your actual message indistinguishable from a parody of your message will result in great success.
Embrace the Poe.
Be the Poe.
Live the Poe.
Here’s my contribution
http://cdn.meme.am/instances/500x/55622232.jpg
And another
http://cdn.meme.am/instances/500x/55622379.jpg
I’m sure that will work out great.
“It’s about ethics in game journalism!”
“Ha ha, yeah, that’s a great meme.”
“No, really, It’s about ethics in game journalism.”
“Hoo boy, yeah, you got it. It’s totally about that thing you said.”
“I’m serious; 100% no joke, no sarcasm, it’s about ethics in game journalism.”
“Ha ha… ha. heh. hmmm. Get out.”
Because the best way to beat a meme is to become the meme.
Too on the nose?
http://cdn.meme.am/instances/500x/55622563.jpg
You jest, but that’s why all your base actually belong to me.
Kirbywarp wins the meme!
If I had any skill, I’d do something with this exchange from DS9 episode “The Nagus”:
O’BRIEN: Thank you. Now we only have two more weeks to get through before Mrs O’Brien returns from Earth, so that shouldn’t be too difficult, right? Right. Let’s take out our homework PADDs. We’ll begin with the older students. Your last assignment was to write an essay defining the term ‘ethics.’ Let’s start with Nog.
(Who has been trying to disappear under his desk)
NOG: I don’t have my essay.
O’BRIEN: Why not?
NOG: My PADD was stolen.
O’BRIEN: Is that a fact? Any idea who stole it?
NOG: It happened in Quark’s. I put it on a table and there were some Vulcans nearby
O’BRIEN: Hold on. You’re saying Vulcans stole your homework?!
NOG: Yes, sir.
O’BRIEN: Any idea why?
NOG: Because they don’t have ethics?
VULCAN: Actually, it’s about ethics in games journalism.
Seems pretty easy to add the meme in. 😛
True Confession:
Every time I read an MRA spiel and they use female as a synonym for women, I read it like a Ferengi.