Explain Memes to Me... Pretty Please?

Not really into internet culture that much. And yet here I am... on the internet! Ironic no? So I know what a meme is, I can find them and post them at will. Heck I even know how to make them... including small file sized GIFs! But! I do not understand memes... so please explain them to me. Pretty please~

dont think theres a concrete definition of a meme it started as inside jokes but now its just..... jokes that you find on images or videos on the web https://i.imgur.com/1K5kGLQ.jpg

Thank you for that explanation. I guess this means I am just really behind on all the jokes on the web.

@ Esoteric Iconoclast I keep forgetting the existence of that website. I'm glad I have been reminded once again. My problem is I just keep wanting to have a concrete definition and format because that's how my mind works. @Teacup Yes! my thoughts exactly lol

That is a problem, there is no concrete definition of a "meme", there's different forms of memes. They just kind of happen and take different forms from things "Nyan Cat", to "Over 9,000", to "Arrow in the Knee", things often use as a catchphrase and even that isn't putting it very accurately. Then there are picture memes, pictures with a caption on it. The picture can be of anything, but puts it into a phrase for internet users and normies to understand. Subcultures and different communities also have their own memes.

Thank for this explanation. Man, I'm going to have to rework my brain if I want to understand this properly. Like for example, I already know Nyan Cat, Over 9000, and Arrow in the Knee. But you see my mind is like, those are not memes, but the internet says they are. So that is where the conflict lies. It's like I know and somewhat why they are memes and at the same time, I don't understand it at all. Based on your and Lamby's explanations I do feel like I have a better grasp on it now. It's just I feel like if I were to try making one, it would not be a meme, it would just be dumb joke that only my sense of humor would get. And that is how my mind pictures a lot of those memes since I don't understand them. Basically my mind is trying to comprehend the use of memes since not all of them are used for humorous purposes.

This is literally how I feel asking for these explanations. https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MpA2HVftSFntl9HhmhlQA3MEjIU=/0x0:1409x785/1200x800/filters:focal(622x252:846x476)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55701647/Screen_Shot_2017_07_13_at_1.09.20_PM.0.png did I use this right???? XD

That's the thing, memes just happen. Forced memes are not memes. I remember years ago, 4chan or anonymous or both tried to make Milhouse from the Simpsons a meme. It didn't work. For those of us in the political realm, there's a phrase that rings true for the most part: "The Left Can't Meme". That is because right-wing memes are short and to the point, as meme's should. But leftist memes have fucking essays typed onto small images, it's awful and doesn't work. They also make cringey rip offs of pre-existing memes. "Delete Alt-Right", is a cringey rip-off of Remove Kebab, one of my favorite memes.