What did I do?
What contemptible act did I commit that I deserve public shaming? Not just once but twice?
Did I do it? Is this a confession?
It's true. I did sin. I sinned against the meme.
In my foolishness, I thought it was commonplace to share, to re-blog, and to re-post memes and quotes created by others. I do this multiple times every day.
I've never been called out on the carpet for it.
The offenses in question.
This post by one of my favorite digital creators popped up in my Facebook feed. Having escaped recently from an abusive relationship, this quote powerfully resonated with me so I shared it in my feed.
So, my Facebook "friend" saw my share and commented on my post.
So here I am, being publicly shamed for not sourcing my share.
Ok. I googled the quote and @Freuxmama definitely said it and I can't find anyone who said this exact thing at an earlier time so her accusation is accurate.
How horrible am I for this?
Maybe you'd give me a pass for that one because I was just sharing someone else's post who also may not have sourced the quote?
I've thought it standard Internet meme etiquette to consider memes shareable and spreadable. I share and I re-post all the time, but what about the SECOND SHAMING?
This is what I did.
I clipped and posted the meme on my Instagram without crediting my original source.
I've done this many a time and thought nothing about it. When I create a quote or a meme, I put my name @lovedayfunckart or www.lovedayfunck.com at the bottom which makes it a little harder for someone to share my meme without giving me credit.
But as Wild West as the internet has become, I expect that the next person or two who shares it will crop off my name. Once you release the meme into the wild, it can end up anywhere.
I'd sort of assumed that this was standard internet behavior. See a meme. Share it. Re-post it. Free the meme-ology, but maybe I deserve to be censured for my behavior.
Am I justified in sharing this meme without giving credit?
My accuser seems to think I deserve to be publicly shamed for something I assume she would never do?
I get it. This was not necessary, but I had to know. Does my accuser live in a glass house?
My public shamer shares a lot of memes. A lot of them so I only went back like a day and half. I didn't check all the memes. I just grabbed this one because it was short and looked like it would be very easy to source.
My accuser shared this post.
They found it here.
The question then is. Did they source it?
The answer to that would be no.
But, the question remains. What is proper meme etiquette?
Do you source everything before you share it?
Would you publicly shame someone for not sourcing their shares?
Do I deserve to be tarred and feathered? How badly have I sinned before the internet gods?
I would love your thoughts and opinions!
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