avatarBrooke Ramey Nelson

Summary

The article "10 Ways to Embrace Online Popularity" humorously critiques the use of viral terminology to describe internet fame, suggesting that such terms have negative connotations and are inappropriate for describing successful writing or content.

Abstract

The article discusses the concept of "going viral" on the internet, a term originally associated with the rapid spread of information akin to a virus. It traces the evolution of viral content, from cute animal videos to the adoption of "Baby Shark" as a sports anthem. The author argues that the metaphor of virality is unsuitable for celebrating online success, given that the root word "virus" implies something harmful and poisonous. The piece satirically suggests that terms like "communicable," "catching," and "pestilential," which are traditionally associated with disease, should not be used to describe the spread of online content. The author emphasizes the absurdity of equating writing success with the propagation of illness and proposes that we reconsider the language used to celebrate online popularity.

Opinions

  • The author views the term "viral" as inappropriate for describing positive online success due to its negative implications related to disease and harm.
  • The metaphor of "going viral" is seen as misleading and unpleasant, with the author preferring the idea of content simply being widely shared or enjoyed.
  • The article mocks the trend of using medical terminology in digital marketing and content creation, highlighting the irony in equating the spread of content with the spread of a virus.
  • The author humorously compares the act of binge-watching and consuming excessive amounts of candy corn to the negative effects of a virus, further illustrating the point that "viral" success is not something to aspire to.
  • There is a clear preference for substance and quality in writing over the pursuit of viral fame, with the author advocating for a reevaluation of how we measure and describe online success.

PANDEMIC/HUMOR

10 Ways to Embrace Online Popularity

Hint: “Going viral” doesn’t have much to do with candy corn; or writing, for that matter

Author’s Archives.

If one hangs around this online space long enough, one will indubitably come across references to an article “going viral”.

I’m told the phrase originated back in the Stone Age of the Internet — in 1989 or so — when it was attached to a process “involving the rapid spread of information”.

Think “viral videos”, which led to a phenomenon known as “viral marketing”, which connected, in turn, to the “spread” of information in a rapid fashion. A nasty and misleading metaphor, if you ask me.

A lot of the original “viral” videos, of course, did and still do feature creatures doing the darndest things.

Cute puppies and goats — together or separately — accomplishing most anything, or absolutely nothing at all. Like “Baby Shark”, which started out in 2016 as an annoying, cartoonish South Korean kids’ song, and then “spread” — like a virus — from there.

“Baby Shark”, of course, was adapted as the theme song of my favorite baseball team, the Washington Nationals, as they plowed their way through the National League in 2019, on their way to an improbable World Series championship.

Here you go. Imagine, if you dare, a major league stadium stuffed with 38,000+ baseball fans, rocking along to the song in gleeful abandon. It’s outfielder Gerardo Parra’s walk-up song.

“Viral”, as “Baby Shark” quickly became, is supposed to be “good”. No, better than good — fantabulastic, in fact. The video above has 30 million “likes” and 9,246,320,347 views. Yes, 9 billion+ views since it was posted in June 2016. There’s no accounting for taste.

Which brings me back to writers, specifically those like you and me, and our search for online “viral” fame. Because, y’all, “viral” isn’t really a good thing.

The root word, “virus”, the experts tell us, connotes the sliminess and the poisonous attributes of a snake. A virus, according to the Oxford Dictionary, literally is “a substance produced in the body as the result of disease, especially one capable of infecting others”.

Why would we want to ascribe what we do to that? Why would we think “going viral” is the top measurement of success?

Frankly, I’d rather stuff my gullet with candy corn — which, BTW, I really think resembles our friend the coronavirus — all afternoon while watching clueless hotel heiress Kathy Hilton prank fellow castmates on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”.

Which, come to think of it, would be considered “bingeing”, another online-type streaming term with terrible connotations.

I know, I’ve already given way too much thought to the latest trends in online composition. Therefore, in lieu of anything more substantive to say, I give you the “10 Ways to Embrace Online Popularity”. And yes, in this 18th month of a worldwide pandemic, I would venture every one of these designations — and their original definitions, provided by Merriam-Webster— has something to do with, well, blowing chunks.

Which is, of course, what will happen to you if you binge-watch “RHOBH” while bingeing on candy corn. But tis the season, so what the heck?

AUTHOR’S NOTE: These sick synonyms can be manipulated in most any fashion to label online popularity — or lack, thereof.

This exercise is meant entirely as a humorous attempt to thwart the use of misbegotten metaphors in proclaiming our mastery of online scribbling.

  • Viral — The original Big Papa designation for popularity on the Interwebs. Its original connotation? “Of the nature of, caused by, or relating to a virus or viruses”. Lovely.
  • Communicable — “Of or relating to vociferous communication.” Duh. But it really means “contagious”. Double-Duh.
  • Catching — As in, “Hey, Brooke’s article about going viral is really catching on!” As if. Go back to the dictionary. It means “contagious” or “infectious”. Really?
  • Epizootic — While doing research, I happened upon this odd nugget, so decided it needed to be enshrined. Definition? “An outbreak of disease affecting many animals of one kind at the same time”. And we’re all animals. Think about it.
  • Pestiferous — Gotta love the next three on this list, if only for the alliteration involved. “Carrying or propagating infection”. Ick.
  • Pernicious — “Highly injurious or destructive”. Nuff said.
  • Pestilential — This jumped out at me as plague-related — perfect for our times. And you know what? I was right! “Causing or tending to cause pestilence; deadly”. Super.
  • Virulent — “Marked by a rapid, severe, and destructive course”. I guess I could have put it up there with “Viral”, but thought it deserved its own space. And yes, online marketers often employ medical terminology when describing the virulent nature of a product or pitch. Think spreading content.
  • Miasmatic — Related, of course, to “miasma”: “A vaporous exhalation formerly believed to cause disease”. Quite appropriate for the times in which we dwell. Agreed?
  • Blowing Chunks — I’m a tad surprised that Mr. Webster’s heirs have a definition for this activity: “To disgorge the stomach contents”. Also, to suck pretty royally. And that last is my denotation, not Webster’s. Epic fail.

There you have it, Beloveds. So the next time an editor on this platform — or any other online enclave — erupts about a piece of yours “going viral”, you might want to correct the enthusiastic pencil-pusher. Viral is not a great label for writing — or delicious Halloween snacks, for that matter.

Pandemic
Humor
Viral
Writing
Virus
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