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

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