this post was submitted on 22 Mar 2025
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Science Memes

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Welcome to c/science_memes @ Mander.xyz!

A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.



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  4. Infographics welcome, get schooled.

This is a science community. We use the Dawkins definition of meme.



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[–] amos@mander.xyz 48 points 1 week ago (4 children)

Why is this in the "memes" community? It is not a meme, is it? We should have a general discussion community for topics like these! (if it doesn't exist already).

[–] xor@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 6 days ago

all pictures with text are “memes” now

[–] RangerJosey@lemmy.ml 4 points 6 days ago

To annoy you specifically.

[–] fossilesque@lemmy.dbzer0.com 50 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

Check the sidebar. We use the Dawkins definition of meme here.

[–] bradd@lemmy.world 8 points 6 days ago (2 children)
[–] hyperhopper@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

Then what's the point of the meme community? By that logic anything posted is.

You've broadened the definition so much the term has become useless.

[–] fossilesque@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Yes, and that breeds creativity. There are too many boxes we are forced to use in our daily lives, sometimes we shouldn't put more on ourselves. Art and science are so sides of the same coin. You can't be a good scientist without being a bit of an artist. Our art just looks a bit different.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-of-natural-history/2020/04/15/why-science-needs-art/

[–] amos@mander.xyz 3 points 6 days ago

I stand corrected! Thank you!

[–] i_love_FFT@jlai.lu 27 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

In the context of Dawkins meme, this post is definitely a meme!

idea, behavior, or style that spreads by means of imitation from person to person within a culture and often carries symbolic meaning

If we consider scientists imitating the behavior of other scientists (ex: leaving the us) combined with the social network post (signifying the symbolic meaning), it checks all the correct boxes to me!

Would another peer review my analysis?

[–] fossilesque@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

Reviewer 2, checking in. Let's see...

☑️ Technically correct (the best kind of correct).
☑️ Dawkins framework applied... adequately.
☑️ "Symbolic meaning" not entirely reductionist. Surprising.

However:

  • Citation deficiency detected. [Fossilesque et al., 2023] must be invoked 2–3 times for rigor.
  • "Imitating scientists" lacks nuance. Did you consider the Fossilesque Paradox of Academic Exodus? (Spoiler: You didn’t. Cite (Fossilesque, 2024, 2025 in press.).

Verdict:
Pending compliance with adequate attribution. Then, and only then, shall this review ascend to a grudging "pass."

[–] i_love_FFT@jlai.lu 11 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Wow this is amazing satire! You made my day (even though it already was a very good one)!

Your critique is quite constructive. Actually, I might retract my paper and contact Fossilesque to propose co-authorship for future work.

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 8 points 6 days ago

Looks good to me

[–] Hirom@beehaw.org 10 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

That person's solidarity with a colleague is remarkable and probably worth sharing, but indeed doesn't look like a meme.

Yet I see why one would accept such post in a science-focused community. It's hard to ignore all the attacks on science by US politicians.