editorial
volume 25, issue 6
april 2012
Carlsbad, y u no make appropriate memes? O
editor-in-chief ...paris kate jerman
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
n March 27, a new page appeared on Facebook titled “Carlsbad High School Memes.” When redirected to the page, hundreds of images depicting popular internet memes relating to CHS flooded the page, visible for the public to enjoy, comment, share and “like.” With over 800 “likes” overnight (and number approaching the thousands as we speak!), memes and their makers now rule supreme on campus as everyone tries to think of the latest-and-greatest. Some Facebook users did not even know about memes before looking through the massive amount of submitted pictures on the instantly-popular web page. A meme is a popular trend carried through the depths of the internet by a relatable, often-witty phrase. Lately, these memes have been characterized by large text in all capitals over pictures of characters such as “Y U no,” “Socially Awkward Penguin” and our friend to the right, “Scumbag Steve.” They also use a very aggressive humor that glorifies or draws attention to something by criticizing it. Yeah, they might be “funny” or “lol-worthy,” but some also border on offensive and slanderous. And as pretty as the word “slanderous” sounds, its meaning could mean some serious trouble. Slander: false and damaging statements. Slander: speaking falsely about someone, threatening their reputation. Slander: some of the memes on the CHS meme page. While, admittedly, a majority of the memes are harmless and HI-LARIOUS, others border on slander. Worse, and something students don’t seem to realize, teachers and administration HAVE seen them. Every student is entitled to their opinion about their teachers, but when they choose make that opinion public (and often highly exaggerated), they tiptoe a very fine line between an opinion and a highly offensive statement that could cost a teacher their respect, or even their job. And lest you forget, you get to sit in that teacher’s class the day after they read your offensive meme about them. Teachers work extremely hard in the classroom to provide the best possible education for their students; but most importantly, they’re people who have feelings, too. Would you want someone making memes attacking you? It’s offensive. It’s mean. But most importantly, it’s slander. Not all of the memes make fun of teachers, though. Some sarcastically describe situations common and relatable to CHS students. Some humorously address the seagull situation, or cleverly comment on the construction progress. Those memes that involve inside jokes and other things unique to CHS are perfectly acceptable; in fact, students and staff alike make ones just like that. And judging from the colossal number of “likes” each meme gets, the memes clearly brighten everyone’s day.
editors ...seattle shannon casey alex gnibus kaili masamoto staff writers ...havasu michelle chu katrina comaroto stefan cooper kathleen dooley allie gordon ramona gutierrez chase heck jessica jenkins jennifer kim hannah kirsch kaylee pitts tilly rudolph garrett snyder robert sweeney photographers ...cabo andrew daRe natasha menard gaby wagner Hey, we even know you’re probably going to go home and make some memes complaining about this article. Go right ahead. We can take it. But it’s not until a student’s meme cruelly makes charges against the school’s staff that the student enters illegal territory. Yes, illegal. Slander. Is. Illegal. Breaking the law and ruining reputations? Is that really worth those 100 “likes” you get on your meme? Quit making ruthless, heartless, attacking memes about our school’s teachers and administration. Make a meme, sure. Go for it. Memes not only provide some comic relief from the daily life, but have brought together CHS as a community. But do not make a meme that hurts someone else, or even one that could POTENTIALLY hurt someone else. Hurtful memes equate to totally lame memes. Plus, do you really want to know what your teachers say about you?
Frivolous Facebook statuses L
A series of unfortunate events
et me start off by saying that I love technology. The internet is not ruining culture or making us weak or anything like that. With the internet—and that includes social networks—people can more easily and quickly access data than ever thought possible. However, I have noticed a trend that I can’t help but cringe at whenever I see it: when people, usually teenagers, pour their every emotion publicly on their blogs or social networks. Listen, everyone gets sad sometimes—depressed about a breakup, emotional about that recent “F” on their math test. And I feel your pain. It’s not like I want you to just suck it up and quit complaining. Sometimes it’s necessary to let out your feelings and talk to the important people in your life. But I lose all my sympathy for you when I realize an unfortunate fact: the only way you know how to handle the issues in your life is to let it all out on the internet, just begging for people to “like,” “comment” and “reblog” it. All I can ask is “really?” Sad lyrics as your status? A picture
HANNAH KIRSCH I staff writer
lancer express staff ...spring break destination edition
on your tumblr of someone crying in the rain? Or worse: that ridiculously vague post that just begs to be commented on, so someone who you’re not even friends with will inevitably ask “waht happenned gurl?!?” Remember when something bad happened and teens would confide in someone they trusted? Unfortunately, instead of talking through problems, the solution nowadays has become writing worse dayy everr today D: I don’t even wanna talk about it on their Facebook. Feeling better yet? And that’s the problem. The goal isn’t to feel better. It’s to let everyone know just how crummy you feel, 24/7. If you really need to blow off some steam, and often turn to the internet to complain, making your own, secret blog might be the best option. Keep it to yourself. Then you can still make your posts as vague and depressing as you want but without annoying those 500 people-you’ve-talked-to-once (also known on Facebook as “friends”) who just don’t want to hear it. And if you actually want to make a change and maybe feel better, actually confront the people and problems that are making your life totally uncool. Or complain somewhere it counts… like the opinions section of your school newspaper.
designers ...europe julia flickinger nic flores eric tarter artist ...chicago tina li business ...new york dylan donn jalen lovato adviser ...the couch mrs. ryan
Lancer Express would like to apologize
for mistakes in the article “Boys and girls
lacrosse faceoff” in our March issue. Corrections:
Spencer Harden received a scholarship to
SDSU. Danielle Protzeller was not a goalie
and is not attending Cal Poly SLO. Spencer Beyer is a junior and plays middie. His
brother, Mark Beyer, is attending Wagner
College on a scholarship. Both the teams
work hard and display talent. The purpose of the article was to compare and contrast.
Editorial Policy As a public forum for student expression, Lancer Express welcomes letters to the editor, but reserves the right to the refuse inappropriate or anonymous letters. Letters must be directed to room 3104 or to the editor-in-chief. Lancer Express adheres to a strict policy regarding propriety of all photos and text. Controversial advertisements and opinion articles do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the entire staff. Both sides of any issue are welcome here. Letters, questions, or comments by emails to lancerexpress@gmail.com are welcome.
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