McNamara's Syndrome: Being Late To The Game On An Internet Meme

from the what,-you-hadn't-heard-of-it? dept

Fri, Aug 22nd 2008 12:25am — Mike Masnick

Last week, Network World columnist Paul McNamara had an amusing post about some jittery Circuit City execs who had demanded that all stores destroy copies of Mad Magazine, after it made fun of Circuit City. While, Circuit City actually showed it had a pretty decent sense of humor in apologizing for the trigger happy exec who demanded the destruction of the magazines, the situation gave McNamara a chance to mention The Streisand Effect -- the phrase I jokingly coined years back, which has recently become a somewhat commonly used phrase.

McNamara, though, hadn't heard of it before -- which isn't really that surprising. While the phrase is used here and there, it's still mostly known among a rather small group of folks. But, McNamara wanted to know if there was a similar phrase for not knowing an internet meme until after everyone else seemed to know about it. I sent him an email suggesting that he use his own name as part of it because, for example, Mike Godwin gets a lot more attention for Godwin's Law than I'll ever get for The Streisand Effect (and not least of which is because Godwin's Law is a lot more interesting). McNamara seems to have taken my suggestion, and declared that being late to the game on an internet meme should henceforth be called McNamara's Syndrome. I'm all for it. Now, if only Paul were to send a cease-and-desist letter to Techdirt for mentioning his name in this manner, then he'd be sure to get some attention for the phrase.

Filed Under: internet memes, mcnamara's syndrome, memes, streisand effect

19 Comments

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wasnt me!, 22 Aug 2008 @ 1:48am

It seems CC managed to pull of a good comeback and were able to get spin the Streisand effect to there advantage. (well kind of)

Nice to see there are still ppl with a sense of humor like Mr.McNamara's
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Chris Charabaruk (profile), 22 Aug 2008 @ 4:04am

Be glad that you don't get much attention for it...
I tell you, if I came up with a joke phrase about something, that later entered the jargon with serious usage as the Streisand Effect has seen, I'd be pretty depressed about it and the state of the world.
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Peter Thomas, 22 Aug 2008 @ 4:37am

Hey, just found this!...
Guys, I've found all these videos and images online that say "All Your Base Belong To Us", it's hilarious!...

(An example of self-infliction there)
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- Chris Charabaruk (profile), 22 Aug 2008 @ 2:26pm
  
  Re: Hey, just found this!...
  Oh, hey there, Slowpoke!
  
  (Well, while we're on the topic of memes, it fits. :)
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Lewis Baumstark (profile), 22 Aug 2008 @ 5:04am

A little while back some friends and I started calling this phenomenon "memeory".
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But..., 22 Aug 2008 @ 5:29am

...McNamara's Syndrome has been around for years...
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- Anonymous Coward, 22 Aug 2008 @ 7:14am
  
  Re:
  So? Lou Gerrichs Disease existed long before Lou got it.
  
  This kinda thing happens all the time. It IS useful though in that you have phrase you can reference that many will know. Its a little quirky how our language is evolving.
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- Anonymous Coward, 22 Aug 2008 @ 7:14am
  
  Re:
  So? Lou Gerrichs Disease existed long before Lou got it.
  
  This kinda thing happens all the time. It IS useful though in that you have phrase you can reference that many will know. Its a little quirky how our language is evolving.
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  - Anonymous Coward, 22 Aug 2008 @ 7:31am
    
    Re: Re:
    You, uhm, missed the joke.
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Spongy McCheesedish, 22 Aug 2008 @ 5:51am

I take it Ric Romero was unavailable for comment?
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- Anonymous Coward, 22 Aug 2008 @ 7:38am
  
  You got that damned song stuck in my head now.
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  - Anonymous Coward, 22 Aug 2008 @ 7:58am
    
    Re:
    You got that damned song stuck in my head now.
    
    Wait, what?
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commonly used?, 22 Aug 2008 @ 8:15am

Pretty much only used here. Constantly. To refer to fucking everything.
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- SomeGuy, 22 Aug 2008 @ 9:55am
  
  Re:
  Actually, I heard about it quite a while before I ever stumbled upon Techdirt. I wouldn't say it's commonly used, but it's out there.
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Donald, 22 Aug 2008 @ 9:14am

refers to what now?
Didn't think it refers to indiscriminate coitus ...
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Rick Klau, 22 Aug 2008 @ 9:38am

I am aware of all Internet traditions
Related is this brilliant comment on a blog a few months back:

http://www.balloon-juice.com/?p=10643
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another mike, 22 Aug 2008 @ 1:25pm

teh fail
i can haz meme?

all your meme are belong to us. make your peace. hitler. where's your godwin now?!
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Cixelsid, 23 Aug 2008 @ 4:55pm

Yikes!
I actually do suffer from McNamara's Syndrome.
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Lawrence D'Oliveiro, 23 Aug 2008 @ 6:39pm

*Cough* "Arsenal!"
In the old days, we called them catchphrases...
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