Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru

The idea of the "Internet meme" has indeed cheapened the idea of memes in general. I guess there is nothing you can do to stop the shifting meaning of words and concepts.

I'm prepared to call this sort of thing a fetishization or yet another bit of Internet-manifested hyperreality. But a meme? I think that's a stretch, just like most other things labeled as such. But I guess calling things "hyperreality" isn't as quaint as calling it a "meme."

That said, I must admit I was unable to look away. It was like some kind of grotesque novelty that had me staring---enthralled even.