Everyone knows that the hip hop culture has popularized the saggy pants phenomenon. Few people know how it came about. Perhaps if these guys knew how it started they’d be less inclined to participate.

The sagging pants behavior comes comes from prison.  It indicates that one is available for anal sex. Men started making their “women” do this to symbolize that they were owned and available. Somehow through the perversion that is hip hop culture this made it out to the real world as cool behavior.

Keep this in mind the next time you see some hapless fool with his pants falling off. It’ll improve your day.:

[ Update: Snopes says this is false, and that the myth comes from ill-fitting clothes in prison and not from anything sexual. Interesting. I tend to trust Snopes' research, so count me among those who fell for it. ]

Jumpdancing — a new dance style that’s becoming ludicrously popular right now in Europe. Expect to see it here soon.

If you’re not familiar with the concept of memes you should get that way. My favorite definition came from Susan Blackmore, a renowned memetics expert, who says that memes are essentially anything that are copied.

Anyway, check out the concepts of memetics; it’s pretty cool stuff, although I’m not sure I agree with one of her key premises, which says that language was developed not for the benefit of humans, but so that memes could spread more successfully. I disbelieve.

I digress. Today’s task is to introduce this “Memetracker” theme here on the site. When I happen to notice a particular meme I’m going to make a note of it here (if I remember).

So, as my first one: TEH

This is a misspelling of “THE” and it’s been in use for some time online. The interesting thing I’ve been noticing about it, however, is it’s use in elite Internet culture recently — specifically at Reddit and Digg. Here’s a comment from Reddit:

Oh yes I keep forgetting that teh muzlimz is out to get all of us!!!. LULZ. You funny!

I can’t help but wonder if this is linked directly to the now famous, “ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US.” This type of speech has now become something of a common, humorous way to sarcastically enthusiastic about something.

Anyway, that’s my first meme. Take notice if you see it somewhere.

So in case you’re not aware of the phenomenon, there’s a thing going around where people post a number of their favorite blogs on their site, and everyone they mention then has to do the same.

Well, KuiperCliff just hit me, so now I am going to spread the joy.

1. Dangerous Intersection
2. Steven Harms
3. Zhasper.com
4. Adam Rawlings
5. Jeff Milner