Why is the “sh*t people say” meme so popular? My BEST of…

There’s a WAY popular meme going around YouTube these days that starts with “sh*t people say…” and ends with just about any combination of human interaction possible.

It started with men who made the HILARIOUS sh*t girls say, but quickly evolved into “sh*it…

…fat people say,

…sh*t single girls say,

…sh*t Jews say to Christians / Christians say to Jews

…sh*t people say on facebook

…sh*t people in Seattle say when it rains

…sh*t straight people say to gay guys

…sh*t people say to feminists (red-heads, Russians, Native Americans, hijabi’s etc.)

…sh*t girls say on their period.

…sh*t hood n*gga’s say

…sh*t successful white business men say.

…sh*t Jamaican Grandma’s (spanish girls, black girls, white girls) say.

You get the point.  There is “sh*t people say” uploaded on YouTube for every scenario in life.  There’s even a “sh*t people say while watching sh*it people say videos”, video.  So.  Why are these videos so wildly popular?   Why have they generated millions of hits over the last few months? I confess, I have watched many of them while giggling with absolute delight.

I believe there are good and bad reasons why following this meme is so doggone fun.  In defense of the vid’s, they allow lots of folks who often feel misrepresented to have a voice and a compelling voice at that.  For example, sh*t white girls say to black girls has become the video, laced with grace and humor that gives black women a mutual camaraderie.  We all –really have– had some white girl ask to touch our hair elleventy-billion times.  The videos give a place to laugh and enjoy those shared experiences even if they all aren’t positive.  Or, the sh*t black people think white people say is another great example of whites who feel constantly stereotyped by blacks.  The good reasons the videos thrive is that they tell the truth, like it or not.  The reason why I can laugh at even the ones making fun of me (i.e. sh*t black girls say) is because I identify!  I DO say a lot of that crazy, well, sh*t.

The negatives to the popular meme is that there is no quicker way to persist a racist, ageist or religious stereotype.  And it’s never been so easy to be plain old mean.  However, the collective YouTube community of the world often “votes” with their eyes.  If a video isn’t laced with enough truth it doesn’t get hits…or it gets the dreaded dislike button.

Many have asked if the videos are racist, especially ones that have garnered the most attention surrounding the black people/white people racial dynamics.  I lean towards no, they are not racist.  If someone is saying truth, no matter how it’s packaged, it’s still true.  It may not be the wisest way to discuss said truth, but I don’t think the point of the video’s is to combat racism.  It’s pretty clear, they are made to entertain.  In that sense, we all walk a fine line of being entertained by something that could be hurtful to others, though this is no different than reading a book by or watching a movie surrounding these same issues.  I think the key here is applying critical thinking to each video.  Ask the question: what is the message this video is trying to tell me about…black girls…white girls…etc.

Have you watched any of the sh*t people say vid’s?  What do you think can be helpful or not helpful about this new cultural trend?

Here are 4 of my absolute favorite sh*t people say vids:  Funny & full of truth, even if it’s hard truth…

1. Sh*t people say to breastfeeding mom’s (So true.  If youv’e ever been a breast-feeder you identify)!

2.  Sh*t white girls say to black girls.  (So funny, so true.  I love my white friends though, just in case your wondering! =)

3. Sh*t natural hair women say (black girls joking about the things we say about our hair.  Funny.  True!)

4. Sh*t black people think white people say. (TOTALLY guilty)  I love this one, especially b/c it pokes fun at some of the ways blacks stereotype whites…and I won’t speak for others, but it’s true of me.  Just ask my white husband.

So. What do you think?