I know I seem like a massive stick in the mud but consider that there are people in this very thread struggling with what was really said and what wasn’t. I fucking love the jokes and I love batting them among us but this image where it implies he’s actually doing these more overt crass things is exactly the sort of image I’d expect my MAGA dad to share as proof of how satanic Walz is.
The stakes are high and memes are a big part of this election, moreso than in 2016 or 2020, and I know how fucking onlinechan that sounds but it’s true, in a very mainstream way.
If it wasn’t this picture, your dad would find something entirely made up AND unfunny to share instead. It was never intended to change his mind and the odds are it wouldn’t whether or not memes like this existed.
This is meant to get people who ARE reachable energized to vote through humor. And it’s obviously working. The malaise everyone had with Biden has become hope!
I am not an American but I sure hope as hell he did say that stuff because it’s hilarious (obviously I don’t think this conversation actually happened but at least a politician who says “Vladimir Futon” feels more like a politician I can trust)
I mean, I get it in a way, but isn’t it a bit of a lost cause kind of a lost cause? Like, does it matter if your dad thinks Walz is satanic because of a meme about couch fucking when the same person also will probably fall for birther conspiracies, ivermectin, flat earth shit?
Weird and couch fucking have nothing on killing thousands with conspiracies and attempting to subvert democracy on the daily. They’re basically all in good fun.
My dad is a lost cause and he will share a bunch of shit with vulnerable media-immunocompromised independents and most of it won’t land, but something like this would. Especially if some of those independents are seeking a return to decorum and decency in their politicians and credibly believe Tim Walz is eagerly engaging in the same kind of name calling Trump is. Especially after news networks have run headlines about how Walz is going to be the MAGA attack dog or whatever. People are primed to believe this shit. Not people like you and me, stupid people that can also vote.
But by all means, enjoy the memes. I know how I sound but I’m also pretty sure I’m right.
I understand your concern and understand what you’re saying. My dad voted for Trump in 2016 and I spent 4 years grinding to change his mind and educate him. He voted for Joe in 2020. It’s your responsibility to have difficult conversations with your dad and share your views. I’m not saying you can change his mind but you should be explaining to him what a meme is and how it’s not real life. You’ll be much more understanding and have a kinder touch than some rando that hears him sharing his views and doesn’t take kindly to them. I appreciate your eagerness to explain your reasoning but I would argue that energy would be better spent educating your dad rather than telling the internet not to meme.
Did you just link the meme? If that’s the case let me emphasize that it’s YOUR responsibility to educate your dad the world will not do it for you. You have the ability to do something about your dad and you cannot do anything about memes on the internet. Your energy responding to anything on Lemmy is wasted energy. You cannot convince someone not to meme but you might have the ability to change the mind of someone in your life. Good luck bud.
