I couldn't find a blot post on this so I'm writing it myself.

[sasha_feather]

The "Ehrmagerd" meme needs to die.

Perhaps it is making fun of the way certain disabled people talk, in which case it is mean-spirited and ableist. Perhaps it is making fun of Valley-girl speech, in which case it is misogynist and still mean-spirited.

I am not humorless: I love memes; I just think they work best when pointing fun at those in power, not those who already lack power. In other words, I don't like it when humor is use to reinforce existing oppressive structures.

Feel free to link this post.

Comments

[eruthros]

Here are some links about the history of it as a meme: What Does Ermagherd Mean (about.com) and ermahgerd (knowyourmeme.com). Lots of people object to it on tumblr, and other people then argue that it's not ableist, it's about retainer wearers. Or something.

[jesse_the_k]

That there's a knowyourmeme.com site is a miracle in itself.

The amount of energy which has gone into making fun of how people speak is quite startling. HULK SMASH.

[kaz]

The amount of energy which has gone into making fun of how people speak is quite startling. HULK SMASH.

Srsly. I don't really care whether the meme originated as mocking how certain disabled people talk or retainer wearers talk or certain teenage girls from a specific area talk or whatever, I care about the fact that anytime someone has nonstandard speech the immediate reaction is "omg hilarious must mock!" [/grumpy stutterer]

[sasha_feather]

Thank you for the links!

[torachan]

I was introduced to it through animal pics, so I always thought it was supposed to be a sort of funny animal speech. Then I learned it's not. :(