A Title: Wave of Meep
Posted by Vaughn Mordecai on Tue, Nov 17, 2009 @ 04:00 PM
The other day I was driving in my car and was listening to the news. An AMAZING story was reported that illustrated the power of social networks and the creation of word meaning. I'm a sociologist at heart and I found this story absolutely fascinating. The story was about Meep. What is Meep do you ask? How do you use Meep? Can I personally Meep? What about you...can you Meep? Can we Meep each other? Is Meep an animal, vegetable, or mineral? The answer is Yes? Maybe? Kind of? I don't know...?
Meep has gone viral. Here's the amazing thing about Meep. If you Google Meep - 826,000 search results pop up. Binging Meep results in 669,000 hits (say Binging Meep outloud...it's kind of fun). Get it yet? I submit that you do not.
Recently, a story about Meep was run on many of the major news channels and in major newspapers. The origins of Meep are greatly debated. Some would say that Meep origin
ated from The Muppets "Beaker". His rudimentary way of communicating could be written as "Meep" (as illustrated later in the Muppets Baby song "Meep Meep Meep".) Others would argue that Meep comes from the linguistical stylings of the Looney Tunes' - Road Runner. We'll leave the final decision up to you.
More recently, and the reason that Meep hit the news, resulted from a ban on Meep by the Principal of a Danvers, Massachusetts high school. The principal recently banned "Meeping" and threatened suspension for any student that displayed, or said the word "Meep" at school. Yes, that's right...a ban...and suspension...for Meep. It must be bad.
As it stands, Urban Dictionary actually has 79 meanings for the word Meep, and Meep is also included in Wikipedia. There's also a Facebook Fan page for the Meep within you that includes 1,166 members...now those folks know how to Meep.
Urban Dictionary's number one definition for Meep is:
"The most versatile word in the English language, or in fact any language!
Can mean whatever you want it to mean, but the most popular uses are:
1. An exclamation akin to 'ouch' or 'uh oh..'
2. Filling in the blanks where other (rude) words would go.
3. A greeting! I personally say meep instead of Hello...
4. A random expression of happiness used to fill gaps in conversation.
Meep is the best word ever! Meep!
1. "HEY GET BACK HERE!!!" "Meep!" 0.0
2. "Ahh.. Meeping Hell!" >.<
3. "Meep." ^.^
4. "....meep...." ^__^"
Sounds like a suspendable offense to me...(ha). Through the use of social media (AKA Facebook), the students of the school planned a "Mass Meep" in the halls. The Meep was Meeped (by the principal)...and chaos surrounding Meep subsequently ensued...Meep went viral and took on a whole new social meaning. To the point that even the linguists have chimed in on the subject.
Words, social networks and social media have power. If they didn't, marketing would not be successful and we wouldn't see the current trend toward online communities that surround themselves with "others" like them...all in the name of their favorite brand, product, etc. Market research is the key to understanding words and the social meanings of your brand, your service, your product, or how satisfied your customers and consumers are with your product. Inevitably, it is understanding, through the use of market research, that will lead to your businesses meeping success.
1. Have you heard of Meep, what do you think of it?
2. Have you "Meeped" lately?
3. Will you Meep in the future?
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