MEMES OF THE WORLD #1: British Memes

Why are British people so genuinely funny online? Is UK internet humour authentically world leading, or it is actually as bland as their awful, awful food? What actually are the funniest British memes?

British people have a reputation for possessing an excellent sense of humour. Something in the national character – a blend of faux-intellectual seriousness and ironic self-deprecation – seems to make people laugh. 

This idea pre-dates the internet, of course – you can go as far back as the comic novels of PG Wodehouse, the groundbreaking surrealism of Monty Python, or of course the fact that legendary sitcom The Office originally started life as a British show. 

So what makes British internet humour tick?

BRITISH INSULTS

One of the more incomprehensible aspects of British humour, from an outsiders perspective at least, is the ironic insult. 

Brits love to tease each other. To the extent that friends – true friends – will always, always mock each other.

This ability to deploy the worst kind of insults at each other is a mark of intimacy, and of profound mutual respect. The layers of irony can be so dense that outsiders struggle to get it. Which only makes it more delicious to those in the know. 

BRITISH MOCKERY

This is entirely distinct from actual British mockery, which is quite rightly considered among the most savage anywhere on earth. 

Whereas other so-called cultures – North American, most notably – celebrate status and lionize success, the Brits are inherently mistrustful of folks with aspiration, or ‘ideas above their station’.

Which explains why many of the Brits’ most successful cultural exports in recent years are so profoundly despised at home. 

BRITISH SOCIAL AWKWARDNESS

Another rich seam of UK humour stems from the British national habit of diffidence, or chronic, incurable shyness.

Whereas other cultures – in North America, and elsewhere – put a premium on openness, emotional literacy and a healthy embrace of the inner self, the British live in a state of perpetual cringing social awkwardness. 

That’s why the premise of so many British memes run along the lines of ‘I accidentally called a waitress mummy now I’m moving to Outer Mongolia to start a new life among the camels’. 

For an example of this in action, look at how Brits treat any of their number who publicly starts making a big thing of their ‘feelings’, whatever that means.

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON

Most British stereotypes – a fondness for tea, less-than-optimal dentistry, endemic alcoholism – are quite proper and fair, and as funny to Brits as they are to the rest of the human race. 

However, Brits’ supposed bravery and strength of character – what used to be called ‘a stiff upper lip’, more recently commoditized on all that cheesy ‘Keep Calm And Carry On’ merch – is not particularly true. 

The fact that the British people kinda, sorta defeated Hitler has less and less resonance with each old soldier that dies pissing the bed in an underfunded nursing home. 

Still, Brits are determined to believe they’re some sort of special, unique warrior breed, for whom the normal rules of international relations no longer apply. See also: Brexit. 

BRITISH ACCENT MEMES

Throughout most of modern history, British people revelled in their reputation for having, really, let’s be honest, the ultimate accent. 

Classy, well-educated and dashing, heroes of cinema like Hugh Grant, Patrick Stewart or Sir David Attenborough temporarily convinced the good people of planet earth that the inhabitants of the British Isles were all sexy, sophisticated super-men. 

Whereas now, in the age of the memes, Brit’s apparent inability to enunciate even the most rudimentary consonant sounds exposes them as the sad, damp tribe of toothless, warm-beer-addled druids they’ve always been.

Still, they did invent the language. The language you’re reading this in. The ultimate British meme, living in your head, rent-free, forever.

Ever wondered if you could GET RICH MAKING MEMES?

Are CLASSROOM MEMES actually good for teaching?

Also, while we’re here, IS STEALING MEMES ILLEGAL