I am aware of all internet traditions

"I am aware of all internet traditions" achieved meme status in June of 2008, after commenter Vanderleun left the following comment on a "Shorter" post on Lawyers, Guns, and Money.

As a participant in the thread that follows the link to neoneocon, I should
like to point out that the quote you excerpted

does not exist

in neoneocon’s post. Nor does it exist in the comments.

When the shorter concept is explained, he/she replies:

I am aware of all internet traditions and also of literary conventions in 
which placing something in quotes or in a blockquote means that your are 
quoting that person.

But here you are not.

It seems to me that what your are about is, well, sort of questionable.

Can you please expand on the idea your propose that putting something in
blockquotes that does not appear at the linked item is a fair thing to do.

This was picked up by a number of blogs, including Balloon Juice, Gawker, and Wonkette, and spread throughout the blogosphere. The meme promised an underwhelming performance on the tubes until a few days later an aide to John McCain coincidentally put his foot in it by unwittingly (nitwittingly, if you prefer) parroting Vanderleun:

"John McCain is aware of the Internet,” says Soohoo. “This is a man who has a
 very long history of understanding on a range of issues.”

The aide did not clarify if these issues covered literary conventions because...whatever. And so instead of dying quickly the meme lives in misery to this day.

Gallery of Fail

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  And thus, a meme was born...
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See Also

• Shorter
• Sadlyno
• Trolls
• Gawker

External Links

• Blog!