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| You get a binder! You get a binder! You get a binder! |
There were 90 seconds between Mitt Romney saying the phrase "binders full of women" and the creation of a Tumblr dedicated to the phrase. Romney used those words in his attempt to answer questions about equal opportunities for women. In a matter of seconds, our nation was divided into two more opposing groups. Those who heard Romney's answer, and those who heard the next Internet phenomenon being birthed. Memes of Office Max "Binders Full Of Women," Lisa Frank Trapper Keepers, Sad Keanu, Sesame Street, Shakespeare, Texting Hillary, The Matrix, Parks and Rec, and so so so many more have made their way to the Internet displaying not only the
boredom cleverness that exists in America, but our sheer ability to take something, ANYTHING, and run with it.
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| Not even Mittens. |
While I could discuss the political implications to Romney's comment, I think there are a few other things to consider about the statement and the aftermath of it.
1. If you're not producing memes, you're not really living. Or at least you're not making your mark on this world. If you make a clever joke and no one memes it, was it really clever? Chances are, no. Get busy meming or get busy dying.
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| Sigh...I love Clinton. |
2. While not everything on the Internet is true, it does all have a "purpose." Whether it is to educate, to mislead, to prove a point, to entertain, or just to offer a place for self indulgence for anyone who has an abundance of time they want to waste, (ahem...), the Internet has become our go-to place for all of the above. However, the important thing to remember is that it is NOT all true or right. Obama does not have a son, pop rocks and soda will not kill you, and sticking a tampon full of vodka into your body is never a good idea. Ever.
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| The most interesting meme in the world. |
3. What we say matters. Whether you're running for President, writing a status on Facebook, or having a conversation, your words are bound to interact with someone else and enter into their loaded context. I've heard it explained this way: We each come into a situation with a full glass of water. When we start talking, conversing and discussing, in order to take in what someone else says, we MUST pour some of our glass out. As the one doing the talking, you must realize that there is a chance the person listening will not pour their "water" out but rather the words will mix and overflow causing spillage/damage. No matter what side of the equation we are on, there is always a chance of misunderstanding. This is why it's best, especially in public forums, to tread lightly and positively on controversial issues. And for heavens sake, no generalizations please.
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| I'm sure. |
4. What we say matters, but you still have a right to say it. However, you must be ready to deal with the consequences of saying it. For example: If you write racist things on Facebook, then you have to deal with the fact that I think you are a racist. If you say there is "never a reason for abortion" then you have to deal with the fact that I might think you are closed minded and judgmental, and speak in generalities about situations you might not be fully aware of. If you say that "Christians are stupid and don't believe in science"then you have to deal with the fact that I think you are as small minded as those science rejecting Christians you speak of for lumping an entire group of people together as though they are all the same. Expressing opinions is fine, and cathartic, and necessary even, but be careful because if your opinions make you look like an asshole, chances are, you're an asshole.
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| For the record, John Cusack is NOT an asshole. |
5. Some people are just awkward. There's no denying that Romney is robotic at times. While the point that he was attempting to make when he flubbed up with "binders full of women" was really not that controversial of a point, his awkward phrasing launched him into the meme hall of shame and revealed his distance from the topic. I can relate to being awkward in my wording. My vocabulary, while not small, is often emotionally based. I tend to stutter at times, and I have a horrible habit of splitting infinitives. I don't come across as robotic, but I do come across as anything but eloquent. Some people have excellent wording, but no clue how to read a social situation. Some are insecure or guilt-ridden which loads their words. Others are stunted by silence making them seem less than present in any given conversation. If being awkward were a crime, I think we'd all be paying fines and doing time.
Here's what I really want to ask of you today.
Do memes belittle points or drive them home?
Do funny pictures and clever wording emphasize the seriousness of the issues they represent (in the case of Binders Full of Women, the proverbial "glass ceiling" and equal opportunities for women) or do they tend to make us forget why they're there in the first place?
