So, I heard folks talking about this “unc meme” thing. It popped up here and there, and you know me, I like to keep an ear to the ground, figure out what’s what. Or at least try to. Sometimes it works out, sometimes, well, you get a story out of it.
Diving into the “Unc Meme” Puddle
First thing was trying to nail down what an “unc meme” even is. Is it short for “uncle meme,” like the kind your relative forwards you? Or something to do with a college? The internet wasn’t giving up its secrets easily. So, I did what I usually do. I started collecting. Scooped up anything people were calling an “unc meme.” And let me tell you, it was a mixed bag. A lot of them felt, uh, earnestly wholesome. Or maybe just a bit off-key, like someone humming a tune but getting a few notes wrong. You know that feeling? Trying hard, but not quite hitting the mark.
I looked at a bunch of them. Some were pictures with text that was just… basic. Others seemed to be inside jokes I was definitely on the outside of. I spent a good afternoon scrolling, squinting, and mostly just going “huh.” Decided the best way to understand it was to make one myself. How hard could it be, right?
My Big Attempt at Meme Lordship
So, I got to work. Fired up my trusty old image program. Found this picture I took last year of a particularly confused-looking pigeon in the park. Perfect, I thought. Then I tried to come up with some witty caption. Something about city life, or maybe breadcrumbs. I typed, deleted, typed again. Changed the font about twenty times. Finally settled on something I thought was cleverly understated.
I posted my creation. Sat back. Waited for the internet fame to roll in. And, well, it was quiet. Too quiet. I think I got two likes. One was definitely my sister, probably feeling sorry for me. The other might have been a bot. My teenager just glanced at it and said, “Oh, wow. That’s… something, Dad.” The silence after “something” was pretty loud. So, my “unc meme” was a spectacular dud. It was very “unc” – un-funny, un-shared, un-derwhelming.
It’s often like this with these online fads, isn’t it? One day everyone’s buzzing about it, the next it’s just another forgotten folder on the internet’s hard drive. These “unc memes,” whatever the true definition, felt like that to me. Maybe it was a hyper-niche thing, or maybe I just totally missed the boat. And believe me, I’ve missed a few boats in my day.
Where This Skepticism Comes From
This whole “unc meme” adventure, it just brought back memories. Reminded me why I tend to be more of an observer these days when it comes to new, shiny internet trends. It goes back to a job I had, quite a few years ago. A pretty corporate place, all suits and serious faces. We had this massive presentation for a new client, a real make-or-break deal.
Our manager at the time, bless his heart, got this idea that we needed to be more “hip” and “connect with the youth.” His words. And guess who got volunteered to inject this “hipness” into a presentation about financial forecasts? Yep, yours truly. I was a bit younger then, thought I had my finger on the pulse. I spent days, actual days, shoehorning what I believed were hilarious and relevant memes into these PowerPoint slides. We’re talking animal pictures with captions, stuff I found on those early meme sites. I even made some custom ones about our industry. I was so proud.
The big day arrives. Stuffy boardroom, clients looking stern, my boss looking nervous. I start my presentation. And it bombs. Hard. Complete silence. Not even a polite cough. I remember one of the main client guys just slowly shaking his head. My boss looked like he wanted to crawl under the table. After that meeting, my projects mysteriously became much more “internally focused.” I wasn’t asked to “spice up” anything for a very, very long time.
Man, that was a rough one. Didn’t get fired, but it was a lesson. They tried to find someone else to be the “cool ideas person” for a while, but it never really stuck. It always felt forced, just like my attempt at that “unc meme.” It’s hard to manufacture cool.
So, when I see something like “unc memes” come along, I’ll take a peek. Maybe I’ll even dip a toe in, like I did. But mostly, I just watch it go by. Some bandwagons, you’re better off just waving at as they pass. No point trying to be something you’re not, especially if it just ends up being… “unc.”
