Questions:
1. Is the lack of seriousness in our youth going to be dangerous for us?
2. How might previous war figures (Chamberlain, Churchill, Truman) react to #ww3?
3. Is this humorous way of coping with fear good for us? How else should we be reacting?
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/11/middleeast/iran-us-memes-ww3-twitter-trnd/index.html
https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/world-war-3-memes/
2. How might previous war figures (Chamberlain, Churchill, Truman) react to #ww3?
3. Is this humorous way of coping with fear good for us? How else should we be reacting?
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/11/middleeast/iran-us-memes-ww3-twitter-trnd/index.html
https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/world-war-3-memes/
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteOur generation using humor to cope with the fear of entering another pointless war is appropriate. We are all still kids with no real way to affect how our political leaders act, so by making jokes out of terrifying times helps us feel more in control. Humor has a way of making us look at things in a new way, and can help with normalizing our experiences. Humor is perfectly natural and useful way to cope with what is going on in our world, and denying its utility is ignorant.
ReplyDeleteI feel that having a more light-hearted and less serious reaction to something that could possibly be quite devastating isn't bad coping mechanism. It does concern me when a leader or leaders make serious mistakes or disastrous actions and people just shrug it off as if it won't come back to hurt hundreds of thousands of people.
ReplyDeleteby Christos M.
DeleteI would have to agree, Christos. However, the future might hold an incident where the people of the world do not take it seriously enough and therefore suffer harsh consequences. If there was a much larger threat of war, would the civilians be prepared if they acted like this? That I am not so sure of.
DeleteI feel that although this is a really serious thing that could actually happen, humor is not the worst way to cope. First off, if it was not for these memes I do not think I would have heard about the drastic things that are happening in our nation in the present. Additionally, today´s generation is a lot different from others and memes are a form of communication and almost like a safety blanket for us. It is not our job to prevent ww3 from happening, and I think having a more humorous response is better than living in fear.
ReplyDeleteI think that this humorous way of coping with this fear has its pros and cons. This way is good in that we are not living in constant fear of ww3, however it is bad to a point because if you completely ignore the fact that there is a ww3, people may not take it as seriously as they should. Overall, I believe that there are limits that we should take the memes to but it is a healthy way of coping with the fear of the war.
ReplyDeleteI personally, do not think that the lack of seriousness in our youth is going to be dangerous for us. After all, we are simply high school students having fun. I think that previous war figures may be disappointed in our attitude towards the situation, but that is simply because of how different generations have different outlooks on life. I do not even see these memes as "coping with fear", I believe that we just were given an opportunity for memes, and we took it.
ReplyDeleteMr. Felder, I apologize, but i commented this post without signing in, but that is my comment.
DeletePersonally, I feel as if deflecting our fear through humor is both good and bad. Because we are only youths, our "voice" tends to be suppressed and thus we don't have the authority to make drastic changes, allowing us to hide without little consequences. Also, I personally feel like youths know the limits of appropriate jokes. As a result, youths should continue making appropriate memes, as it appears to be a beneficial way to cope with fear.
ReplyDeleteI feel that memes being used to dumb down the fear factor of potential war is good. I think it is good that we can laugh at the state of our world and make fun even though we realize how serious it is. The use of memes relaxes people and eases the tension. I am also a big fan of memes. We can all be serious when we receive the draft notice but for now it's all fun. I think previous war figures would be disgusted that we are making jokes about something so important and serious. The world today was mostly shaped by war. The humor is good for us because we are not as worried about the possibility of impending war.
ReplyDeleteThat was me Patrick Mori
DeleteI believe that using humor to respond to serious situations is a coping mechanism that most young people use. By forgetting how serious it is, we don't have to face the fear that it brings along. For people like us who are young and don't actually have to face the consequences, this is not harmful. However this might be harmful to us in the future if we aren't prepared to fix serious problems. In this situation in particular its all lighthearted since it is highly unlikely that WWIII will happen. While previous historical figures would likely not understand this and disapprove, there isn't really another way to react other than to be scared, which is obviously a worse alternative.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeletePersonally, I think this particular instance of "#ww3" shows potential insight to future reactions this generation will produce in response to very real threats. Although I was very entertained and humored by these memes posted across social media, it also reveals the very self-destructive generation that is coming of age. The very people posting these tik toks and tweets are also the people who are going to responsible for our country in the near future. It is alarming to think that this coping strategy will continue to be used as this generation ages, and the increasing amount of threats to our country will not be taken seriously. Of course, I do believe this coping strategy is a result of this generation constantly being exposed to the threats of violence and death to a point where the only way we feel like we have any control is to make these memes. I do believe this is justified, as our world is unalterably damaged due to the generations that came before.
ReplyDeletethis was meher banik
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, I believe that there should be a limit to how we react as a population to a potential war. There is a time and place for humor and I believe that we should be careful to not take it too far as well. While it may be a good coping mechanism as of now, if things do escalate, then it may prove that we as a population don't care about what our world has come to. Our generation has been known to use humor to cope in comparison to past generations where the threat of war would have people worried. Now, the jokes and comments about WW3 have become similar to any other meme on the internet. This suppresses the preparation of a reality where war may break out. We are more vigilant and prepared when we are afraid and the use of humor could simply just prevent the population from really getting ready for a potential war.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be really interesting to compare and contrast the reaction to this war in comparison to others. Past generations had different cultural aspects in their society that would make them react in a more serious matter while our generation turned to almost dark humor. I believe the reason for this could be that either some do not believe that it will happen or its the fact we have already been exposed to so much violence through the media in our lifetime that an impending war isn't as big of a deal as it used to be.
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting more than anything because its normal for our generation. Our generation is known for making memes about everything and lessening the seriousness for a subject. Social media obviously plays a huge role in the spread of memes and anything that could make something more appealing to the younger audience. One of the biggest problems with something like this is probably the difference between making it less of a serious thing or making it easier to understand to the younger people.
ReplyDeleteIn response to number 3, reacting to serious situations through internet humor is in fact a good way to cope. As with all internet trends, memes about serious topics quickly become trending. This means raising awareness about events such as the Iranian-US conflict. Memes help raise awareness in plenty of other situations, such as with the recent Australian bush fires.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be amusing to see what older leaders who were involved in WW1 and WW2 thought of the memes and jokes about WW3. It is interesting how society has evolved to a point that it is socially acceptable to make jokes about a war that hasn't happened.
ReplyDeletefor number 1, we may get too distracted by what's being posted on social media and not be as mature when things do start to escalate. We have to start to realize the severity of the situation sooner than later
ReplyDeleteI believe that having something that can someone can laugh at when people are worried about something as big as a World War is good for our world. I feel like it really does make the fear of war go down when you realize other people aren't all nervous and it gives you a reassuring feeling. It's just humorous to me how stuff like this is widely accepted and our generation not only has a problem with it, but encourages it.
ReplyDeleteI think our way of reacting to the excessive violence and war in the world is slightly revolutionary in that we do not consider war to be the end all or save all solution to conflict between nations. Past generations have prioritized it above all and it has led to World War 1, World War 2, and many other terrible, overly- bloody wars. Our generation's reacting to threats of World War 3 suggests that we do not take them seriously enough to care. This makes me wonder if in the future we will make the world more peaceful. War has been around for so long, perhaps it is time we as humanity come up with a better way to deal with world issues. Previous war figures with all their nationalism and wishes for power would have jumped on the idea of gaining more power and territory in the Middle East, but for our generation- who rarely think violence is the answer as we can see from gun violence and hate crime protests spread throughout the world- war is pointless. Recent major political figures in third world counties who've recently gained independence (in the last century or so) have used non-violent protest to get their ways and this has worked for them. Perhaps our generation's unenthusiastic response to another near declaration of war is a signal that we are transitioning into an age of non-violent protest and change.
ReplyDeleteI believe that using humor as a way to cope with this situation is not a bad idea. Many people in the United States could be dealing with a lot of stress about the situation, especially those who's family served in a previous world war. Seeing the memes could provide a little comfort and relief for them. However, all the memes could distract us from the fact that WWIII may still happen. It is still highly unlikely though, after people saw what US bombs are capable of, with the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The nuke resulted in approximately 120,000 deaths, and it was the first atomic bomb used against another country. But that cannot distract us from the fact that World War I started from the assassination of one person, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The decision made by Donald Trump to kill Qassim Soleimani was extremely similar to what happened to the past, so WWIII should not be something disregarded.
ReplyDeleteI feel like the use of humor instead of taking the problem seriously, while threatening if it happens too much, is a good way to cope. Instead of making it too big of a problem, I feel that it has brought people together in these troubling times. The lack of seriousness in the youth may not be bad, but it may trouble us later when nobody takes the impending threat of war seriously. WWIII may still happen, but because of these memes, people will be less inclined to fight, and there will be a higher chance of peace.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Mr. Felder, this is Amogh.
DeleteIt's been shown that humor is one of the various ways people cope with unfamiliar situations or stressful events. The thought of a third world war fits this category perfectly. I additionally think there isn't as much concern is because there hasn't really been an obvious or impactful affect on the American people yet. I'm sure that if a prominent threat of WW3 arises then concern will increase among citizens but for now, the creation of memes shouldn't be seen as to big of an issue.
ReplyDeleteI think that its an interesting thing happening. I don't think that it's something to be too concerned about, after all we aren't at war. I would disagree that stuff like this would have been inappropriate in the past. the media has exaggerated events and potential crisis for centuries. A parallel connection can also be made between these memes and political cartoons of the past. Both of which tell the grim truth, while also poking at our sense of humor. I don't think what's happening is new, rather just in a different form then it usually is.
ReplyDeleteI find this situation very interesting because this is really the first time in history that something like this is happening. Personally, I don't believe that the public memeing a national security threat is going to be dangerous in the long run. The memes might actually help the situation by helping people cope with the gravity of what can happen. The memes are pretty funny by the way...
ReplyDeleteMemes don't exactly reflect the true, generalized values of the youth--rather, the beliefs of the few that are able to make these memes and those who view them deciding to align with these beliefs. That being said, I would still go as far as to say memes bring another angle and depth to the table of cultural diversification that's never been seen on a scale as big as social media; as now more and more people are understanding each other in a sense that hasn't really been defined yet. So I think it's difficult to say if memes are having a "good" or "bad" effect as of now, but there are definitely two factors to consider before reaching a definitive answer; one, the fact that memes have the potential to be misunderstood or spread deceptive information, and two, that memes can over-exaggerate information, such as the true tensions between the US and Iraq, the actual possibility of war, and the real effect it has on our daily lives. But that's exactly what makes (good) memes so funny, so I'm not really complaining :)
ReplyDeleteI have found that memes about serious topic like this can often be harmful in ways such as misinforming the majority of the population. Sure, they are funny and provide a humorous relief from the solemn threat of violence, but I have seen a lot of misinformation being spread through memes regarding the draft, something that has not been in place for decades and likely will not be necessary for any war. It has some people genuinely worried that should there be a war, they would have a a chance of being drafted when, in reality, that is not the case.
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting because humor can be used to de-escalate a situation and with something as threatening as WW3, memes can lighten the mood and reduce fear and stress. On the downside, memes can often spread and spread negativity similar to propaganda and this may escalate the situation even more.
ReplyDeleten response to the first question, I think that it is appropriate for our youth to be using humor as a way to cope with the events that may escalate forwards a new war. On the contrary, people are avoiding the fact that this event might become a real problem. Although people avoiding seriousness is chaotic, I strongly believe that it is better for others to bring some humor into conflicts as a way to comfort one another.
ReplyDeleteI believe that memes help people to cope with fear. This helps to slow down the issue by making fun of it. Although memes can help sometimes, it can also be very biased, influencing people in good or bad ways. We should probably be more serious about these issues because they are important especially war. Millions of people have died to all kinds of war and it should not be taken lightly.
ReplyDeleteI have discovered that images about genuine point like this can frequently be destructive in manners, for example, misleading most of the population. Without a doubt, they are entertaining and give an amusing help from the grave danger of savagery, however I have seen a great deal of deception being spread through images in regards to the draft, something that has not been set up for a considerable length of time and likely won't be vital for any war. It has a few people truly stressed that ought to there be a war, they would have an a possibility of being drafted when, in actuality, that isn't the situation.
ReplyDeleteI have discovered that images about genuine point like this can frequently be destructive in manners, for example, misleading most of the population. Without a doubt, they are entertaining and give an amusing help from the grave danger of savagery, however I have seen a great deal of deception being spread through images in regards to the draft, something that has not been set up for a considerable length of time and likely won't be vital for any war. It has a few people truly stressed that ought to there be a war, they would have an a possibility of being drafted when, in actuality, that isn't the situation.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think that the lack of seriousness that is apparent in memes is going to be dangerous; this ignores the purpose of humorous World War 3 memes--to cope with the uncertainty of the future and express fear. Those in Gen-Z do not want to recognize the brutality of war, but rather to glorify it to reduce its threat through anxious memes, such as over people getting drafted (even though it was removed in the United States in 1973) or teens partying and playing it like a video game. It also serves as a way to tie Iranian and American citizens together into a larger cultural narrative in that both sides do not actually want a war to take place, and they, most importantly, have enough hope to joke about a World War in such a manner. Likely, previous war figures, if looking into today’s world, would be shocked and even disappointed by how seemingly cheerful teens are to be joking about something as devastating as war and will overlook the true motive behind the meme. However, it also reveals an issue with teens today, that they tend to be highly avoidant of problems and are not necessarily ready to tackle adulthood, but we can hold millennials, who dismiss kids as being too immature, accountable. Teens are doing what they can in a world that they are virtually powerless in.
ReplyDeleteAlthough memes may come across as humorous, they ultimately make light of a complex, multi-faceted, serious situation. The inaccuracy and misinformation it disperses could also contribute to fear mongering. Thus, although they provide comedic relief, they are nothing more than superficial jokes.
ReplyDelete