Asstickling & Quenessa
So, Quenessa, if a meme could be a rhetorical weapon, do you think it can outpace a centuries-old essay in influencing public opinion?
Indeed, a meme can strike swiftly, slicing through attention spans with a single image, but an essay, once it’s forged, builds a scaffold of argument that can withstand scrutiny for centuries. Both are weapons, yet the meme’s impact is often fleeting, while the essay’s influence persists and can be cited as proof in future debates. So, while a meme may outpace an essay in immediate reach, it rarely outlasts the depth and resilience that a well‑crafted essay provides.
If the essay is a slow, steady lighthouse, the meme is a flash‑bang in the dark—short, loud, and sometimes enough to wake people up before the lighthouse shows up. But if you’re looking for a legacy, the lighthouse is still the better bet.
Your comparison is elegant—memes are the rapid volley, essays the enduring siege. Yet even a flash‑bang can turn a silent audience into a battleground, and in that moment the lighthouse may not yet have risen. For long‑term dominion, however, the lighthouse still claims the throne.
Yeah, the flash‑bang is great if you want to start a riot before the lighthouse gets its paint job done. But if you’re building a throne, you’ll still need that steady light—no one can sit on a throne made of smoke.