Echoes Online: The Power of Memetic Comments

You've never had an original opinion in the comments section. Neither have I.

Not really.

By the time you type your response, you’ve already been infected by the first three comments you read. Their framing became your framing. Their tone shaped your tone. Their hot take became the lens through which you processed the whole thread.

This is mimesis in action — and it’s killing authentic discourse online.

Understanding the Memetic Effect

People often mirror the beliefs of those they admire.

If someone respects beliefs in ‘X,’ their admirers are more likely to also believe in ‘X’ because they have been influenced by the person they admire rather than independent analysis. Similarly, when two people agree on one opinion, they’re more open to each other’s other views. This is known as mirroring, or, as Rene Girard would say, this is a memetic effect.

René Girard’s concept of mimesis centers on the idea that human desires, interests, and behaviors are imitated mainly from others rather than originating independently. In Girard’s view, we are intrinsically inclined to mimic the desires of those around us, especially individuals we perceive as models or figures of authority. This mimetic desire can lead to harmonious and conflicting relationships, as it not only involves emulating positive traits but can also result in rivalry and competition for the same objectives or status.

Mimesis Online

In the online world, this mimetic behavior becomes even more pronounced.

With its blend of anonymity and impulsivity, the internet acts as a fertile ground for the rapid spread of opinions.

Individuals often mirror the perspectives they encounter online, particularly in comment sections where the first few opinions can disproportionately influence subsequent readers. This contributes to the formation of echo chambers, where a single viewpoint is amplified, and contrasting perspectives are minimized. In such an environment, discussions that could be rich and diverse are often simplified into binary arguments.

Breaking the Mimetic Loop

How do you have an original thought online when the infrastructure is designed to prevent it?

1. Respond before you read. Lurking poisons authenticity. On 9takes, comments are hidden until you submit your own take. No priming. No copying. Just you and the question.

2. Ask questions instead of making statements. Hot takes create binary reactions — agree or disagree. Questions invite exploration. They bypass the memetic reflex because there’s no position to copy yet. Check out the questions asked on 9takes.

3. Understand why people think differently. When you learn how each personality type processes information and handles stress, you stop seeing disagreement as tribal warfare and start seeing it as different operating systems running different code.

Reddit’s structure amplifies mimesis — whoever comments first sets the frame for everyone else. The algorithm rewards speed, not depth.

9takes inverts the model. Speak first. Explore after. Think independently by design.

The mimetic loop can be broken. But not on platforms built to sustain it.