Top 5 Internet Memes of 2007

There's a meme born every second. Some are funny, some are lame, and most are instantly forgettable . However, there are a few that elevate themselves above the rest, gaining the ability to stay in our collective conscience for more than a day or two. The below list represents the five most impactful and visible internet memes of 2007, for better or for worse.

5. This/QFT/Want/Do Not Want

Perhaps the most annoying of the recent memes is the continued destruction of original thought and desecration of the written word. Half of all posts on any message board or forum will contain one of these four phrases/acronyms. These one word responses are used in lieu of actual thought and/or creativity, as our ADD + caffeine-addled brains can't seem to process much more than that. At this pace, we'll be reduced to grunting and staring at pretty colors in no time.

For those new to the internet, "this" and "qft"(quoted for truth) are used as a form of agreement. For example:

Post 1: Thomas Edison himself did not invent major breakthroughs. He often took credit for the ideas and inventions of others and most of his patents were little more than improvements on already existing products

Response: QFT!!1

"Want" and "Do not want" are used in the same vein, although it usually revolves some picture of a hot chick.

4. Chocolate Rain

This unfortunate little tune went on to conquer YouTube over the summer, just another video in a long line of freaks of the week. What made this one stand out was its ability to escape the internet and hit the mainstream. Coworkers that could barely find the Start button were singing it in their cubes. People were asking how to get the CD, or what radio station was playing the song.

Tay Zonday broke free of the Promethean chains of the internet, if only for 11 days or so.

3. Chris Crocker

The latest in YouTube celebs is one Chris Crocker, whose emo-stained rant about Britney Spears has been heard on just about every talk radio program in the country. Not much more can be written about this, as I have an unrelenting urge to move off the grid every time I here about this guy. Performance art or attention whore? You decide.

2. Lolcats
It is true that lolcats have been around for a while now, but 2007 has definitely been the breakout year. So much so that I can't stand them anymore. I don't even participate in Caturday anymore.

Ok fine, I still love monorail cat.

1. Rickroll'd

Rickrolling, the new dastardly trend sweeping the nets. The idea is to trick readers into clicking a link that promises them the hottest new picture, song, news article, etc. Instead, you get a nice little Rick Astley music video circa 1987.

"Never Gonna Give You Up" was a catchy little tune for its time that sounds woefully out of place in 2007. Additionally, the video is shockingly bad and full of "wtf?" moments. I myself have been rickroll'd several times, and I can't...stop...watching.

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