• mirror_slap@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    12
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    11 months ago

    I was rolling laughing at this, and then I had to try to explain it to my wife. It is basically unexplainable.

    • doctorcrimson@lemmy.today
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      14
      ·
      edit-2
      11 months ago

      So basically, it’s a meme originating from Star Trek wherein a species communicates exclusively through idioms and descriptions of events, making it impossible to translate without an understanding of their overall culture and history. Shaka When the Walls Fell probably means failure, it can be translated as “wow” in best case or “this is devastating” in the worst case.

      If my Ink Tank Printer suddenly posted SHAKA WHEN THE WALLS FELL then I would be taking a few steps back and grabbing some towels.

      • Floey@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        6
        ·
        11 months ago

        This almost sounds like a prediction of contemporary meme culture where every situation or emotion is conveyed though a shared collection of phrases and images.

      • mirror_slap@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        11 months ago

        Now If you had said towel, I would have assumed it was the ultimate Douglas Adams reply, lol.