Talk:Memes VS. Capcom: The Battle of LOL and Fight/@comment-3005145-20130103020136/@comment-3187795-20130103023609

On the Internet, a "meme" (pronounced "meem") is usually described as a catchy derivative of some aspect of pop culture, parodied and repeated over and over. If not used carefully, it can get to the point that its origins and original meaning become muddled and completely mutilated beyond any point of recognition or humor. It can even be Wrongfully Attributed. Essentially a cross between a catchphrase and an inside joke.

Fandom being what it is, this also applies to characters. The Internet is liable to spread a "meme" version of a character which is totally (sometimes deliberately) at odds with the original depiction, such as a cheerful version of a dark or scary character, a sexy version of a character featured in a Jekyll and Hyde episode, or an unlucky-yet-annoyingly-optimistic version of a normally depressed, tragic character.

Another quirk of memes depends on where they're initially propagated. Memes often spread regardless of content, taste, or sensibilities, while the original source may be the only ones who know enough about the source material to use it ironically. As well, some memes reference something common, but become catchy enough to be associated with only a single new thing.

Source: Tv Tropes