By Paul Honke

Internet memes are basically videos, lines, sayings, or pictures that are spread on the Internet used for a humorous effect. This can be really annoying or enjoyable–but either way we still laugh at them. So for right now, let’s look at my top 11 Internet memes. Why top 11? To quote the Nostalgia Critic from thatguywiththeglasses.com, “I like to go one step beyond.”

11. The O’RLY Owl

O’RLY stands for “Oh Really” and usually features a snowy owl with the caption “O’RLY?” – this is often followed by a “YA RLY” response. It can frequently lead to a whole conversation using Internet slang. It was first seen as early as August 2003 on the Something Awful forums. The original image was taken by John White and posted to alt.binaries.pictures.animals in 2001.

It became so popular that it even appears in a Gameboy advance game. The caption itself is now often found on any photograph, not just photographs of owls.

10. Chuck Norris Jokes

If one man has made so much of an impact on the Internet its Chuck Norris. I have absolutely no idea how  Chuck Norris can be considered a God-like figure but I have to tell you, it’s hilarious. Some can be so ridiculous or awesome that you can’t help but laugh. For example:

“People think that the wolf howls at the moon; truth is it’s howling at Chuck Norris.”

“Mr. T pities the fool. Chuck Norris pities Mr. T.”

Comment about Chuck Norris aborted because Chuck just roundhouse-kicked the commenter.

9. This Is Sparta!

Everyone knows what this is and why it’s so great. It comes from the movie 300 where after a talk about surrendering, the messenger says, “This is madness!” and King Leonidas responds: “THIS IS SPARTAAAAAA!” and kicks the messenger into a bottomless pit. This has been parodied in movies, Robot Chicken, and so much more.

8. LOL Cats

To all those people who say that an animal’s facial expressions are always blank, well wrooooong! Don’t believe me? Look at LOL Cats. The gag in this is that you take a picture of a cat’s weird facial expression and add a note to it–somewhat like a de-motivational poster but with cats. Who knew? But it sure is funny.

7. I am a MAN! (punch)

This is a little less known meme, but it is hilarious.

“I am a man” is a is a memorable quote from Linkara, a comic book reviewer on thatguywiththeglasses.com (I highly recommend the site for fans of movies and video games.) The quote came from a review of “Superman at Earth’s End.” (Don’t look for it. It is a horrible book.) The quote is in a panel in the comic where Superman punches an android in the stomach while screaming: “I AM A MAN!” When this panel comes around, Linkara says, “Let this be a lesson, kids. When debating, solve your disagreement not with words but by screaming ‘I AM A MAN!’ and punching them in the gut!” (This even works for girls.) This phrase soon spawned many parody videos and pics.

6. In Soviet Russia (Russian Reversal)

Russian Reversal was originally a joke by stand-up comedian by Yakov Smirnoff. An example of an antimetabole (I don’t know what this means) where you take a sentence and reverse it after saying “In Soviet Russia.” For example:

“In America you assassinate the president. In Soviet Russia president assassinates you.”

“In America you throw a party. In Soviet Russia party throws you.”

“In America you watch TV. In Soviet Russia TV watches you.”

See, take a perfectly good statement and turn it around to make it funny.

5. I was frozen today!

The ultimate argument ender. It gained more popularity when it was used by the Nostalgia Critic in his review of Suburban Commando. It appears when Christopher Lloyd and Hulk Hogan (weird casting choice huh) get into an argument with  Lloyd saying ‘I was Frozen Today!” and the argument ended. This was so popular it was put on the Internet and remixed and parodied a lot on Youtube. (Seriously, try it during an argument. You will love their facial expression.)

4. It’s over 9000!

Take a look back at your childhood, remember when you would sit next to the TV and wait for Toonami on cartoonnetwork to come on? What was the first show you would see? Can’t remember? It was Dragon Ball Z, yes the anime that was filled with fighting, screaming while looking constipated, alien monkeys, an android, a wad of bubblegum that destroyed the Earth, and so much more. (Anime, the only place where all this makes sense. Thank you, Japan.) There was another thing that people remember, the scene where the villain Vegeta scans the power level of our hero Goku and proclaims “It’s over 9000!” Here is a look at the full dialouge:

Nappa: “Vegeta, what does the scouter say about his power level?

Vegeta: “It’s over nine-THOUSAAAAAAAAND!”

Not only was this wrong (in the Japanese original it was 8000), but what made it funny was how much emphasis the English voice actor Brian Drummond put into it. It was so over the top, and it became popular so fast, that parodies and remixes were sure to come. It has been used everywhere for different occasions.

“My subscriber account is over 9000!” ect, ect.

3. Falcon Punch

The “I am a man” before “I am a man.”

Originally an overpowered move for Captain Falcon for the Smash Brothers game as a near game-ender. This move was so popular that boxers almost say “Falcon Punch” when ever they punch someone. If you look on youtube or forums, it is used all the time when the video involves punching someone. It is just awesome that one move from a game can be this popular and is still used today. Some have even compared it to Chuck Norris roundhouse kick. (That is just cool.)

2. Demotivational posters.

Okay, now then, if there was ever a time when someone’s cynical attitude can be funny, demotivational posters is the time. Put up a picture of something and make a cynical comment on it, and let the hilarity commence. Sometimes these can be mean, but most of the time they will make you laugh more than any sitcom. What is awesome about it is that it can be about anything–and I mean anything.

And the number 1 Internet meme (in my opinion) is…

Rick Rolling

As much as a hate it when it happens to me, yes this is what I think is the best Internet meme. Never has one song had sooooo much hatred for it. You’re looking at youtube videos and you click one since you’re curious, and all you hear is the song “Never Gonna Give You Up” and you click the back button as fast as you can because you are so angry. This is not just used on the Internet but it was used in a New York Mets game as well, though it was met with heavy boos. It also appeared on the MTV awards and on FOX23 news. If an Internet meme can get into real life like this, then it deserves the #1 spot.