Adventures with the “MEME NAZI”
A SIMPLE ATTEMPT AT HUMOR:
“The Soup Nazi” is the title of the 116th episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld, which was the 6th episode of the 7th season. It first aired in the United States on November 2, 1995.The Soup Nazi is also the name of the title character played by Larry Thomas. The term “Nazi” is used as an exaggeration of the over-regimentation he constantly demands of his patrons.
The episode opens with Jerry saying that the Soup Nazi makes great soup. He takes care to “prep” George on the strict code of behavior required by the Soup Nazi in his store. This code is simple; do not be loud and annoying, do not take forever on your order, do not try to make small talk with the Soup Nazi, do not stand around idly (place your order, then step to the side), and do not make complaints about your order. However, when George orders soup he complains that he didn’t get any bread. When the Soup Nazi tells him he has to pay for it, George objects, since other people got free bread. So the Soup Nazi refuses George service with his famous catchphrase “No Soup For You“.
George and Elaine discuss their annoyance with Jerry’s and his girlfriend’s sweet-talk, particularly when the couple calls each other “Schmoopie.” George behaves in a similar way with Susan to illustrate the point that such behavior is embarrassing to others, but Susan misinterprets George’s intentions and thinks that George is finally showing his feelings in public. Meanwhile, Elaine purchases an antique armoire, but cannot move it into the building on a Sunday. Leaving Kramer to guard the armoire — which she must leave on the sidewalk — Elaine goes to purchase some soup. Elaine’s behavior at the Soup Nazi’s restaurant (including telling him he looks like Al Pacino and doing an Al Pacino impression) prompts him to shout, “No soup for you!” and ban her for one year. Elaine’s armoire is then stolen by a pair of gay “street toughs” who intimidate Kramer.
Kramer, through continual praise and flattery, gains favor with the Soup Nazi, who gives Kramer his own antique armoire. Kramer gives the armoire to Elaine as a replacement for her stolen one. Elaine thanks the Soup Nazi for the armoire, but the Soup Nazi declares that he never would have given it to Kramer if he knew it was for Elaine. Elaine discovers the Soup Nazi’s secret recipes in the old armoire. To get revenge against him, she tells him that she’s going to give away his recipes. Her victory comes with a price, as the Soup Nazi decides to sell his remaining stock and close the business, to the dismay of everyone who loves his soups. (An oft-explored theme of Seinfeld is characters behaving in a self-centered way that results in a net loss). Here is the video(edited) for those of you who haven’t seen it…it is a must see!
Now why do I tell the story of the soup nazi? Last week I decided to participate for the first time (and last) in a particular meme. I worked on my post complete with picture,added the Host site graphic with link, added Mr.Linky so those who stopped by would get a link. Published it and then went to the host site, signed Mr. Linky and left a comment on the host meme. Isn’t this how we do it people?
Enter…the “MEME NAZI”………..
I recieved an email from the host asking about my Mr. linky,… was he on that post for the meme? I replied that he was. I then received another email telling me to remove him from my post….huh? I replied, “I am a little confused. I used your badge and linked it to you, I am not trying to host. The mr. linky just gives everyone who visits a little technorati link love. Sorry if I upset the apple cart. I will not put him up for your (meme). I am just wondering what the reason behind not linking your players together is all about?
The “MEME NAZI” replies “…No worries, I’m not upset at all! I understand about the link love, but in my mind, additional Mr. Linkys mean additional hosts. All the players are linked together on my blog….” (NO MR. LINKY FOR YOU!)
So…I do the honorable thing and quietly remove my Mr. Linky. I keep thinking about this wondering why the host would not want people linking to each other through her meme. I go back to really check out her site. I then replied to her email….
“I have thought a lot about this. Everyone who comes to your blog and links in order to play along gets 1 link. As you know most memes want you to link the visitors who comment on your blog giving them another link. So… the more blogs they visit promoting “your meme” the more links they get, the more people play, the more links the host site ultimately gets. Plus everyone uses the host site as a base to visit everyone else. I made another visit to your site and I noticed that you link to no one. I don’t think I want to play. I am not upset either..I just don’t know why anyone would want to do this meme with so many rules, I can still read and see what everyone is showing without participating. It is my mistake, I should have payed closer attention to your rules. Please remove me from your Mr.Linky. Thanks!” …so, I have unjoined the “MEME NAZI’S” meme. I go back to my post and edit, edit, edit. Removing the name of the meme and the MEME NAZI’S link. Thats it MEME NAZI ..NO LINK FOR YOU! OK this should be over now right? WRONG! I had already recieved some comments so I start returning visits as I always do when I come upon another blog that says….
“UPDATE:
I have removed (MEME NAZI) logo since I didn’t quite follow the guidelines she has posted. I am not being ignorant, I didn’t follow the rules so I felt I should revise slightly….”
OK, this is where I start thinking about the “soup nazi“.AHA.. I now am not the only one, I emailed the person who posted an update on her blog also withdrawing from the MEME NAZI’S meme, stating that I knew it was none of my business but asking what happened and explaining my own situation. Here is the reply…”..Hi there and thanks for taking the time to drop me a line. I admit I was a little aggravated at first but realized that it’s her blog and if she wants things done a certain way, she has that perogative. I was #31 originally and was pretty surprised that I had been taken off. I read the guidelines and best I could tell, I “violated” these guidelines.
Your (meme) must be something that you own, and is in your home or garden.
What doesn’t work well for (meme)?
Photos of events (trips, vacations, celebrations, etc.)”…..NO MEME FOR YOU!
Now this Lady had a wonderful post, with many pictures about a hobby, civil war re-enactment. She also went on to explain that one of the guys in their group had gone off to Iraq where sadly, he lost his life. She explained how their group dressed in their civil war garb attended the funeral where their unit payed respect by the firing of their four cannons……UGH…….
Now I have said all of this to say…C’MON PEOPLE ,…….BLOGING SHOULD BE FUN! What is up with all the rules? Can’t we all just play nice and have fun. I personally love the rule breakers! When I tag you for a meme and you don’t want to play it’s ok with me. When the rules state you have to tag 5 people and you don’t want to, it’s ok with me. I don’t want to make enemies here. I blog for the fun of it, for the lovely people I meet, for all the time I have spent laughing out loud at some of the humor. I love the rule breakers, they have character and a mind of their own…come to think of it Jesus was a rule breaker. Lucky for us he did not follow the religious rules of the day.
Today I am Thankful for the “Rule Breakers”. I am also thankful to be one.
note: this post is my attempt to humor a ridiculous situation, all actual names have been removed. The term “Nazi” is used as an exaggeration of the over-regimentation for “obeying” her rules.
I am about to be snowed in with Sweetie so……………….I will get back when I can (LOL)
You poor thing. Why do people have to behave so badly? Glad you can see the situation with humor!
Xandra
~Hi Xandra! I am not upset over this, I think it is quite foolish. Thanks for the visit!…..Mo
Comment by Xandra — March 7, 2008 @ 7:02 am
I for one am a great rule breaker!! Especially when it comes to tagging. I don’t mind being tagged myself, but I don’t appreciate being ‘told in the rules’ to tag 5 or more. First off, that takes time away from my blogging. I started blogging to have fun…not make it a chore to go get links of those who I want to tag…that is why I began adding “I don’t do tagging…but if you wanna play along………..” type stuff.
And then, if at any time someone would get royally P O’d because I didn’t follow the said rules…I say Bug off!!! [that term in a lighter version of my thoughts].
As you say, blogging is fun, and it’s PERSONAL…personal in what you want to do, what you want to post, what you want to follow…not a “I’m one of the flock and I follow the other to wherever it takes me”. Nope, nope, nope…not me, not me at all!!!
Great write up Greatfullivin.
~Thanks Anni! I am with ya! What people want to do on their own blogs is personal. I think all the variations are fun. If it is not fun why bother? We all have enough work, joy is my goal! Hugs!………….Mo
Comment by Hootin' Anni — March 7, 2008 @ 7:42 am
Go for it friend. I love breaking the rules to. Some days I do not join in becauses I have nothing to say that would encourage or come from my heart. Fun is one of the reasons I started this blog thing. I clap my hands to you for your Christian way of handly a situation.
Love and Hugs,
Joyce
~Thank you Joyce! I agree, it should be fun!Love & Hugs!……Mo
Comment by Joyce Poisel — March 7, 2008 @ 8:13 am
Oh what tangled webs we weave … Sigh! I’m sorry for all the hassles with this woman & the Mr. Linky on her blog. ‘Tis a gift to be simple & free!!! Having said that … I hope you encounter no further problems as a result of this event.
Reading about Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi episodes reminds me how my sister tried her darndest to get me to watch that show … telling me week by week stories about the colorful cast of characters and the things they did. I never did watch the show … ever. I’m not quite sure why other than the fact that I don’t watch much TV at all … and I confess I didn’t watch the video clip you included in this post either. LOL (I wouldn’t want to break my record now would I)?
I hope you have a Fantastic Friday and a Wonderful Weekend!
Hugs and blessings,
~I Love it (tis a gift to be simple & free) Some folks just have to be in control. Seinfeld was a pretty funny show, but I confess I have only seen it in reruns, still funny though! Hugs!……….Mo
Comment by storyteller — March 7, 2008 @ 10:26 am
I too am a rule breaker. So what. I’m glad I didn’t happen onto this meme. What a stick in the mud. Perhaps she didn’t take her medication that day? Just saying. You are right, we just need to have fun. Have a great day.
~Oh No not you too Sandee, a rule breaker???….somehow I knew that and loved that about you right away! I never thought of “her meds” LOL, I just want to have some fun and spent too much time stressing over this. All done, all better…………..Mo
Comment by Comedy Plus — March 7, 2008 @ 1:46 pm
Hi! I’m a newbee on the over 50 bloggers blogroll. Nice to meet you.
I agree that blogging is supposed to be fun. You always find those who can ruin a good thing by tossing up too many rules. It’s nice that you were able to see the humor in that. 
~Hi Azaya!!! Welcome to the over 50’s! I am so glad you stopped by. I don’t follow the rules very well, but I have always gotten high marks for “plays well with others”….LOL………………………Mo
Comment by Azaya — March 7, 2008 @ 5:23 pm
I never was a Seinfeld fan, but I did see the Soup Nazi episode once. It really is funny. But your experience was not!! Takes all kinds, I guess!
~Hi PJ, so glad you came by for a visit! With all the memes out there to play I don’t consider this my loss! (LOL)…….Mo
Comment by PJ — March 7, 2008 @ 7:16 pm
Dad and I watch Seinfeld every night. I never watched it when it first ran, but I do enjoy watching it with him. We actually saw the Soup Nazi show not long ago. I think it is wonderful you chose to take the high road and use humor to put this meme nazi where she needs to be. . . in the bottom of the soup pot. I guess she does not realize having readers and participants in her meme’s are the bread & butter of blogging. “No bread for the soup nazi!”
~Hi Cricket, yeah the bottom of the pot with no bread (LOL) There are too many memes out there to make a fuss about a rule!….Mo
Comment by Cricket — March 7, 2008 @ 7:36 pm
Hindsight is everything. It’s odd, but when I saw the Mr. Linky on your site, I got an uneasy feeling. I shrugged it off cos, well, I just thought my caffeine level was too high.
Sorry you had to experience this and wow~you win cos you handled it like a champ! This line will have me smiling for days…”Today I am Thankful for the “Rule Breakers”. I am also thankful to be one.”
Love ya, Siss.
Phyl
~Hi Phyl!! Glad you stopped by. Mr. Linky is encouraged by most of the popular memes. I guess that is why I did not see the problem. But as I have said, “her meme, her rules” It is okay by me, there are lots of others to play. HUGS!…….Mo
Comment by Phyl — March 7, 2008 @ 8:33 pm
I’m glad you are thankful for the rule breakers, Mo, cause I happen to be one, lol.
Sorry you had this bad experience, but you handled it really well.
Don’t forget to pick up your award I gave you, that is if you like it and want to post it on your sidebar. If you don’t, then it’s okay. I won’t be mad. After all, we are all individuals and have different tastes. Phyllis made the award for me to give out to my favorite blogs. Didn’t she do a good job?
~Hi Betty! I LOVE the rule breakers, they are interesting to me! I did pick up the lovely award and have it to post on Mondays memes & awards! Phyl did a grand job, and thanks for thinking of me! Hugs!……Mo
Comment by Betty — March 7, 2008 @ 9:28 pm
Hi, I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this matter. Here are mine.
If someone is a host or hostess, they are the originator and person in charge of the event. They get to say what the theme and climate of the event will be, who will be invited, what type of clothing or costuming or level of dressing up-or down- will be accepted.
I think this is one of the things that makes blogging fun. I can find people who host or publish things that appeal to me personally, and since the rules are there, I can be assured that I’ll find something I’m going to enjoy. I won’t have to wade through a lot of stuff that doesn’t interest me.
So let’s not call them rules — but rather, parameters. Parameters tell me where the borders are and what’s inside them. I don’t go to certain sites or hosted blog events because I know their parameters include stuff I don’t like or am bored by.
The kind of gjidelines posted for blog events helps us to have fun and find the events that suit us. Any breaking of these “rules” becomes a boorish ‘crashing’ of the party.
Nancy
~ Hi Nancy, Your thoughts are noted. If you read all of my post you know that I did follow the RULES. I used a mr. linky to link visitors together. I later was told to take it off which I did. Then decided not to play along. I take full credit for not obeying HER RULES, and will not participate in the future because of them. I am not a BOOR who CRASHES parties. The just of the post is all about making blogging fun. I think some people just have the need to control everything. You may call them parameters if you wish but as far as I am concerned it is a fancy way to say RULES. It is my guess you are not seeing the humor in this………..Mo
Comment by Nancy — March 8, 2008 @ 10:11 am
Well… I have never heard of such a thing. I think I would have done exactly as you did. I’m one who does break the rules because I don’t always have the time to tag five people, link to them and then go and tell them that they have been tagged. I don’t mind being tagged and enjoy the fun, then leave it up to my visitors whether or not they’d like to participate.
I also blog to have fun and meet wonderful people here. I have no time for those who want to be meme Nazis. I don’t watch tv much, but did see the Soup Nazi episode. I am a free thinker and would have trouble with being dictated to.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Lots of snow here in southern Ontario, so will stay in and remain cozy and warm, except for shoveling, which hubby and I will share.
Blessings,
Mary
~Hi Mary, Thanks for the kind words. Blogging is an individual thing. I just thought this all to be ridiculous and luckily saw the humor in it all. We have lots of snow here too! Happy warm & cozy weekend to you too! Hugs!…………..Mo
Comment by Mary — March 8, 2008 @ 11:10 am
Believe it or not we had a condo “nazi” she thought that she was in charge of every thing.Even if she was never oun the board.every thing had to be done her way and nobody’s elses.When we first biought our condo we had theme gardens each year a different theme.whe we did our pink flameingo garden the nazi raised a big stink.that we had to get rid of the plastic pink birds and remove the pink bird costume on the concrete goose.
I know that maybe we went a little over board,but to tell us we had to remove all the decorations from our front “garden” sucked,so since a board member said the we had to remove our stuff.I told the board member that I will remove my stuff when every one else does including the board member that told us to remove our stuff.
~Hi Mike, Some people just have to inflict their rules don’t they. Thanks for the visit!…..Mo
Comment by mike golch — March 8, 2008 @ 5:54 pm
Sorry to hear you had deal with the MEME NAZI. Blogging to me is fun. I love visiting others sites and reading about their lives and opinions. I enjoy the pictures as there are so many places I have not seen and it is like traveling via the internet. You learn about others prepectives. Also, the most important is you becomes friends and start to care about the others and their families. I thought Meme were ways to get to know others better and those who participate link to the host (I still have not figured out how to do that) I would love to read about the one concerning the civil war. Maybe you could email me the blog site.
Don’t let the words of one spoil your fun. Peace.
~Hi Dianne. I agree with you. It is all about making new connections. If you want help learning to make links let me know I will try to help you, it really is not that hard. Hugs!…..Mo
Comment by Dianne — March 9, 2008 @ 10:12 am
Hi, I love your blog layout! I remember the soup Nazi episode very well and it’s a shame isn’t it that these little Nazis are everywhere you go. I’m sorry that happened to you because memes are supposed to be fun and bring us all together. I also know that you never know when you are going to encounter a soup (or meme or whatever) Nazi and I wouldn’t let their baggage bother you. It’s *their* problem. Their loss, you aren’t going to participate in that particular meme anymore. You have a great sense of humor and if I had a meme I’d be very happy if you participated Mr. Linky or whatever.
~Thanks so much Irishcoda! If you tag me for a meme I would be happy to play! Some people just have to be in control of others. I think that is such a shame. It is pretty hard to learn anything from others when you have to control them. Thanks for the visit!…..Mo
Comment by Irishcoda — March 9, 2008 @ 12:12 pm