Captain Obvious

Define repost. I can't believe you're saying what it sounds like you are.

I don't know if I can give a definition that we would agree on. It seems like it can be defined broadly or narrowly, depending on the context, and that both definitions might be useful in different conversations.

But if you'll accept me giving an example instead of providing a definition, here are two examples of what I think would count as a "repost":

1. I see a meme I like on the internet. I download the picture to my computer. Then, in a different context (either different forum, or at a different time), I upload the picture under my own account. That would count as a repost.

2. I see a meme I like on the internet. I don't download it, but I remember the idea. I use a meme generator or similar software with the intent of making a meme that expresses an idea similar to the idea of the original meme. (This is where the definition of "repost" gets tricky for me, because there are some grey areas of what counts as genuinely changing/adding to the idea.) It might be the same picture, or a different one. It may not have exactly the same words. However, if the main intent of it is to convey the same "idea" that I liked when I saw the original, then I would count that as a repost of a meme.

What does it sound like I'm saying that you find hard to believe? (If you don't mind me asking. I thought I was just stating a self-evident and obvious fact - hence the template choice.)

Yes, 1. is a repost and unfortunately the site does not properly add attribution to the image. If you repost like that and the image had the originating user's name on it, that would be a big positive step. Perhaps I will add that as a text block on my new ones from now on.

2. Again, this is a different matter. Something you saw put a thought in your head. Later you wanted to express it "IN YOUR OWN WAY"... nothing wrong with that. Ultimately, it's not a 1:1 copy of the original.

However, in the case on this site, people are being encourage (by some) and discouraged (by others) to "repost as a habit". For me to take the Captain Obvious image above and identically recreate it as my own. That sort of stealing of ideas should always be discouraged.

OK thanks. I'll think about what you wrote (and this time I'll actually try to remember the conversation lol - sorry about that again).

No worries and sorry if I got a bit snarky... Parallel timing on a work issue. :)

If you've thought through these issues better than I have, then to you it might seem like I was being purposely or stubbornly ignorant about it, and it would be understandable to be frustrated by that. Hope your work issue resolves OK.

And of course the poor OP of the Meme above... who's getting all this comment traffic...

Haha yes :) but hopefully she won't mind.

I've been thinking about your position. It seems to me like the key issue for you comes down to the person who originally generates the meme getting credit for it. Is that correct understanding on my part (hope you don't mind me asking)?

It seems that if, according to you, the person reposting someone else's meme makes it easy for people to find out where they got it from, and give the originator whatever appropriate benefits (upvotes, recognition, etc) they wish to, then you don't actually have much of a problem with what form the repost takes or how it's done.

Is that an oversimplification on my part, or am I understanding you basically correctly on that? Again, I hope you don't mind me asking you the question for clarification.

reposts are nor real

more like repost, downvote, criticize, and troll the shit outta it. This website is turning to shit -_-

>implying imgflip never was? In all honesty it's just a shit version of reddit with image support

There's no problem with reposting memes.

Opinion [x]

Yes.

Ethically there is.

Sharing is cool. Stealing the idea and posting as your own. Not cool.

The word "stealing" doesn't make sense to me in this context, since nobody "owns" a meme or the content they put in it. The whole point of making memes is so that they get reposted.

If you have a personal preference that people not repost your memes (although it's not clear to me why anyone would have a preference like that), just don't post them anywhere that people can see them.

Again you're redefining "repost" to be something other that what is obvious. Reposting normally would be taking the original and resharing the original. Yet you seem to wrongly think it means to strip the other person's creativity from it, recreate it as you own. A person actually DOES own the content of the meme -- the idea being expressed. The underlying image is shared, but the creation they make from it expressed (or should) their idea and creativity. So they do own that, yes even legally. Just because they've expressed it, does not put it into a community pool of ideas that people can steal from without proper credit.

The solution isn't for creative people to not participate. The solution is for uncreative people to stop stealing the ideas of others.

OK. Some of what you're saying there is making sense to me (although it sounds like we're still working with some different starting assumptions).

Since your concern seems to be for people who have the original idea to get credit for it, could you give me an example of a good way for sharing content you like on the internet while still honoring that? What is a way that could work, for example, here on imgflip?

When you see a meme you like there is a row of "share" buttons beneath it that will share the image (and a link to it on this site) to several social media sites.

If you want to share outside of that you simply copy the link in the URL and paste it where you want.

What's the basis of your opinion about that?

Not an opinion at all... Fact.

pla·gia·rism - the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own.

The person who came up with the idea should be getting the likes and comments for it. Not someone who is putting the idea out as their own. If someone posted a short story online or a poem, do you have the right to take that and claim you wrote it? Of course not. I know the current generation doesn't care about copyright infringement or theft of ideas, but that will never make it right.

It is an opinion, and a very bad one. It's not appropriate for discussions about memes at all.

Memes aren't short stories or poems. If you're concerned about plagiarism, stop making memes and write short stories or poems.

The whole purpose of memes is the dissemination of ideas from different sources.

When you repost a meme, you're doing what you're meant to do. When you whine about people reposting memes, you're wasting time and showing that you don't understand what the purpose of a meme is.

It's not an opinion and the definition provided refutes you completely. Memes ARE works of art just like poems or short stories and the same rules apply. I'm sorry you don't understand how the world really works and are limited by your opinion of how memes "work" and their "purpose". Yes they are for sharing ideas. The ideas of the creator. They are not in any way stated as being open to theft.

I said this in my correction of you on this topic yesterday, that it's most likely not legally prosecutable, but that does not make it right. Anyone with integrity will certainly not steal the creative works of others. You seem to think such clear and obvious theft is okay. I feel sorry for you. Hopefully your opinion on such matters will reach a mature, adult level, but until then we should just agree to disagree.

Could we please tone it down with the "refutes you completely" and "feel sorry for you if..." language? It's not necessary.

I don't remember a previous discussion with you on this topic. Maybe you're confusing me with someone else?

I am not aware of any definition of memes that says they are a work of art, or that they should be treated with the same legal protections.

When I make a meme, I do so with the express purpose of people taking the ideas in it and making it their own. I have trouble understanding why anyone would make memes if they did not have the same goal in mind.

It seems clear that you have a very different point of view and purpose for making memes than I do. If you feel it's worth your time to try to explain it to me so that I can understand your point of view (and be corrected in any areas where I'm wrong), then please feel free to explain it if you wish.

But just dismissing what I've said and saying that my point of view is immature because it doesn't happen to agree with yours isn't something I'm a huge fan of.

I don't know if you're immature or not. I know that the view that "all creative work is fair game" attitude is not one based on anything but your opinion. I have explained it to you, both yesterday and today (it was definitely you as I confirmed it). I have shown here where creative works are creative works and are all the same. You cannot just declare them not to be. I've shown the factual definition of plagiarism. You cannot just declare it not to apply.

Yes, sharing ideas is good. I post an original idea, you like it, you should share it. You should not, however, take my idea, repackage it, and then post it as your own under the pretense of "sharing" or "reposting".

The facts support my side... creative works are protected by copyright the moment they are created. There are not legal exceptions for memes. Again, while the law supports me, it's nothing to go to court over, I'm not saying that.

However, fostering an attitude of "stealing other people's creative works" (yes stealing, it is what it is) is not beneficial to the site or the people using it.

Share away. Just don't steal.

Okay. Thanks for the clarification. And I'm sorry I didn't remember our discussion from yesterday. I'll see if I can find it and review it.

Thanks also for your clarification above about what you think is an okay way of sharing memes to different sites (via the share button or url link). It helps me understand your point of view more easily.

I also just want to be clear that although you and I seem to have markedly divergent views on this topic, no personal offense to you was intended by my comments here, and I look forward to seeing you on other threads of imgflip, and to seeing your memes. Thanks.