5 ms·

I think these communities are worried about the culture they've created becoming more commercialized than it already is?

• Zarkonnen 15y ago
  Absolutely. I have this theory that part of the reason that meme culture is often so absurd, obscure and frequently offensive exactly to prevent its co-option and commercialization.
  • Jimmie 15y ago
    Case and point: Two years ago Hot Topic started selling "rage guy" t-shirts. The internet decided it would be having none of that and coerced the meme "rage guy" into "race guy" by pumping out tonnes of racist comics. Hot Topic were forced to withdraw its t-shirt range. http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/race-guy http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/race-guy
    • tedunangst 15y ago
      I don't really track Hot Topics current inventory, but the same page you link to says they unwithdrew it one day later.
      • Jimmie 15y ago
        Huh, I didn't know that. I was working from memory and didn't read the article. I wonder if they still sell the shirts?