If you don't follow certain YouTube channels or certain forums or people in social media (or if you are reading this years from now), you might not know what "The New Guy" meme, that started in the very beginning of 2020, is about. You can find a detailed explanation at Know Your Meme. Since it's explained there, I'm not going to repeat all that here, other than that it started when somebody on social media commented on and drew attention to this comic strip, made by somebody else likewise on social media:
Detached from everything else, the purpose and message of this comic strip is very unclear. At face value it may seem to be some kind of parody, satire or criticism of modern feminist social justice ideology, which is often extremely callous, unempathetic and vicious. It appears, at face value, that the woman in the comic strip is the asshole villain, some kind of feminist social justice activist, and the man is shown as your average joe.
If it is such a parody or satire, it seems a bit callous in itself, as there doesn't seem to be any sort of lesson, message or punchline. It just shows a feminist being very callous and cynical... and that's it. There is no resolution or message, other than this depiction of social justice cynicism. Although, perhaps that's the point? There is no positive outcome or lesson to be learned when it comes to social justice activism in practical real-life situations (such as at the workplace)?
The thing is, all that might be completely wrong. Apparently the author of the comic strip is herself a feminist social justice activist, and that female character in the comic is her own avatar, her depiction of herself (resembling a lot what she looks like). She is essentially drawing herself in this comic.
And, seemingly, this is not a jab at, criticism, or satire of typical social justice warrior behavior. Apparently this is her drawing herself as being "on the right side of the argument", and the "new guy" being the one on the wrong. (I may be completely wrong in this, as I have not researched the author in question at all, but that's the picture I have got from what I have seen.)
In other words, the author is trying to depict the woman in the comic (who represents the author herself) as being the "good guy" here (or at least the person who is right) and the man as being an ignorant dumbass who doesn't understand anything.
The entire meme came from the seeming complete lack of self-awareness, and detachment from all sanity and reason, of the comic and its author, trying to depict the callous asshole as the virtuous person, and the empathetic "new guy" as the dumbass ignorant fool. The man got a lot of sympathy from people, and lots of "fan comics" have been created to further deepen is character.
Some have also pointed out that, assuming that it is indeed the case that the author is casting herself as the "good guy" here, how she is ironically, perhaps as some kind of Freudian slip, using artwork conventions in the complete opposite manner than they should: When depicting characters, round shapes instinctively depict cute, friendly, relatable characters, square shapes depict stable and trustworthy characters, and pointy triangular shapes depict aggressive and active characters.
If the author is indeed trying to depict herself as being in the right here, some have also pointed out how much of a sociopath she is. I would actually contest that. I would suggest that this kind of behavior more closely points to narcissistic personality disorder.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5, 2013) indicates that a person with narcissistic personality disorder possesses at least five of the following nine criteria, typically without possessing the commensurate personal qualities or accomplishments for which they demand respect and status:
Detached from everything else, the purpose and message of this comic strip is very unclear. At face value it may seem to be some kind of parody, satire or criticism of modern feminist social justice ideology, which is often extremely callous, unempathetic and vicious. It appears, at face value, that the woman in the comic strip is the asshole villain, some kind of feminist social justice activist, and the man is shown as your average joe.
If it is such a parody or satire, it seems a bit callous in itself, as there doesn't seem to be any sort of lesson, message or punchline. It just shows a feminist being very callous and cynical... and that's it. There is no resolution or message, other than this depiction of social justice cynicism. Although, perhaps that's the point? There is no positive outcome or lesson to be learned when it comes to social justice activism in practical real-life situations (such as at the workplace)?
The thing is, all that might be completely wrong. Apparently the author of the comic strip is herself a feminist social justice activist, and that female character in the comic is her own avatar, her depiction of herself (resembling a lot what she looks like). She is essentially drawing herself in this comic.
And, seemingly, this is not a jab at, criticism, or satire of typical social justice warrior behavior. Apparently this is her drawing herself as being "on the right side of the argument", and the "new guy" being the one on the wrong. (I may be completely wrong in this, as I have not researched the author in question at all, but that's the picture I have got from what I have seen.)
In other words, the author is trying to depict the woman in the comic (who represents the author herself) as being the "good guy" here (or at least the person who is right) and the man as being an ignorant dumbass who doesn't understand anything.
The entire meme came from the seeming complete lack of self-awareness, and detachment from all sanity and reason, of the comic and its author, trying to depict the callous asshole as the virtuous person, and the empathetic "new guy" as the dumbass ignorant fool. The man got a lot of sympathy from people, and lots of "fan comics" have been created to further deepen is character.
Some have also pointed out that, assuming that it is indeed the case that the author is casting herself as the "good guy" here, how she is ironically, perhaps as some kind of Freudian slip, using artwork conventions in the complete opposite manner than they should: When depicting characters, round shapes instinctively depict cute, friendly, relatable characters, square shapes depict stable and trustworthy characters, and pointy triangular shapes depict aggressive and active characters.
If the author is indeed trying to depict herself as being in the right here, some have also pointed out how much of a sociopath she is. I would actually contest that. I would suggest that this kind of behavior more closely points to narcissistic personality disorder.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5, 2013) indicates that a person with narcissistic personality disorder possesses at least five of the following nine criteria, typically without possessing the commensurate personal qualities or accomplishments for which they demand respect and status:
- Grandiosity with expectations of superior treatment from other people
- Continually demeaning, bullying and belittling others
- Exploiting others to achieve personal gain
- Lack of empathy for the negative impact they have on the feelings, wishes, and needs of other people
- Fixation on fantasies of power, success, intelligence, attractiveness, etc.
- Self-perception of being unique, superior, and associated with high-status people and institutions
- Need for continual admiration from others
- Sense of entitlement to special treatment and to obedience from others
- Intense envy of others, and the belief that others are equally envious of them
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