What does it mean to be Akbar'ed?

August 29, 2005 7:06 PM

Can someone explain the Admiral Akbar pic? I got "Akbar-ed" a while ago, but dismissed it as an in-joke I'd eventually figure out. Then I saw someone post it on this thread. What's the deal? Is it a dumbass callout? Should I look out for another Akbar-ing?
posted by ObscureReferenceMan to etiquette/policy at 7:06 PM (37 comments total)

Admiral Akbar is a pretty common meme owing to his only memorable line in Star Wars when he shouted, "IT'S A TRAP!!!"

ParisParamus promised to amend his behavior in that thread, so I posted that image as a way of suggesting his promise was a trap.
posted by Ryvar at 7:10 PM on August 29, 2005

I find your username and question strangely ironic.

And FWIW Ryvar's correct (obviously), it's generally considered a humorous way of saying something's not what it seems, or just "it's a trap!". And I think it originated on Fark, as alluded to in your AskMe thread.
posted by cyrusdogstar at 7:13 PM on August 29, 2005

Oh, and you asked about future pestering by sending in warranty cards, so Capn was suggesting that they were a trap, too.
posted by Ryvar at 7:15 PM on August 29, 2005

Yes, as popularized on Fark. Was a banning offense in other, marginally cleverer places, at least two or three years ago. But we at Metafilter like to keep those tired old memetic emetics fresh and steaming for the next generation, because we care so damn much.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 7:19 PM on August 29, 2005

monsieurwonderchicken, I was vastly and visibly amused by your phrase "memetic emetics," which perfectly captures the nauseating yet omnipresent quality of popculture's mini-icons.

This is where you link to forty-seven-dozen sites using "memetic emetics," thus demonstrating that my admiration is at least three weeks behind the curve.
posted by vetiver at 7:52 PM on August 29, 2005

I'd hit it.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 7:57 PM on August 29, 2005

WHERE'S THE BEEF?
posted by bugbread at 8:01 PM on August 29, 2005

I find your username and question strangely ironic.


posted by obiwanwasabi at 8:04 PM on August 29, 2005

It's a tarp!
posted by Balisong at 8:12 PM on August 29, 2005

posted by If I Had An Anus at 8:33 PM on August 29, 2005

It's a trap!
posted by blue_beetle at 8:40 PM on August 29, 2005

Has anyone else seen a resemblance to Admiral Akbar's eyes in the headlights of some new cars? Theyt make me a bit nervous
posted by Cranberry at 9:09 PM on August 29, 2005

I wouldn't buy one of those new cars... It's a...

Well, you know.
posted by Balisong at 9:13 PM on August 29, 2005

MetaFilter: keeping those tired old memetic emetics fresh and steaming for the next generation.
posted by ericb at 9:22 PM on August 29, 2005

If we leave them nothing, they'll just come up with something dumb. I've seen how this works.
posted by Balisong at 9:32 PM on August 29, 2005

It's a trap!
posted by soyjoy at 10:34 PM on August 29, 2005

It's a Pike! Trap!
posted by soyjoy at 10:40 PM on August 29, 2005

.
posted by loquacious at 10:58 PM on August 29, 2005

VIBRATING RECUMBENT BROOMCYCLES
posted by loquacious at 10:59 PM on August 29, 2005

We can't repel firepower of that magnitude!
posted by WolfDaddy at 12:00 AM on August 30, 2005

posted by furtive at 4:15 AM on August 30, 2005

posted by Civil_Disobedient at 4:53 AM on August 30, 2005

This is where you link to forty-seven-dozen sites using "memetic emetics," thus demonstrating that my admiration is at least three weeks behind the curve.

Google tells me that I must've made it up. I never can tell, these days. Glad you liked it, though.

Can I get paid now?
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:14 AM on August 30, 2005

Does adding an s to something that no one has added an s to before count as "ma(king) it up?" My friends all get pissed when I p-lay Scrabble that way.
posted by Kwantsar at 7:22 AM on August 30, 2005

Well, there you go, then. Guess I should've searched harder, like I gave a damn or something.

Now kindly step off my dick, willya?
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 7:31 AM on August 30, 2005

allllrighty then!
posted by y2karl at 7:58 AM on August 30, 2005

Thanks, all. And, yes, cyrusdogstar - I should have known...
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 9:08 AM on August 30, 2005

You know what, I really hope these inline jpgs/gifs continue to be served up until 2100, when Metafilter becomes sentient and no longer needs comments.
posted by gsb at 9:10 AM on August 30, 2005

Was a banning offense in other, marginally cleverer places, at least two or three years ago. But we at Metafilter like to keep those tired old memetic emetics fresh and steaming for the next generation, because we care so damn much.

Oh man, could you imagine if the bar for banning around here were set that low? We'd be down to like 5 members in days...
posted by mkultra at 9:10 AM on August 30, 2005

We'd be down to like 5 members in days...
posted by mkultra at 9:10 AM PST on August 30

Nah. We'd only be several hundred fewer.
posted by dios at 9:15 AM on August 30, 2005

"Admiral Akbar is a pretty common meme owing to his only memorable line in Star Wars when he shouted, "IT'S A TRAP!!!""

"Concentrate all fire on that Super Star Destroyer!" isn't a memorable line of dialogue!!!!!!??!?!?!
posted by nthdegx at 12:31 PM on August 30, 2005

Ok, everybody. From now on, a picture of Admiral Akbar means "Concentrate all fire on that Super Star Destroyer", got it?
posted by agropyron at 1:10 PM on August 30, 2005

Everytime I see Admiral Akbar, I have a short daydream fantasy about poking him in the eye with something sharp.
posted by fenriq at 2:23 PM on August 30, 2005

What we need is a picture of him hovering precariously over a deep fryer as he says his line, especially one with a plate of already cooked calamari off to the side.
posted by mystyk at 3:18 PM on August 30, 2005

I foresee a golden age in which all communication will be by overused Fark cliches. From Akbar to Ellen Feiss to the "Arguing on the Internet" kid, all and sundry will unite in a shining golden epoch of complete goldenness.

Mind you, that's "golden" as in "golden showers."
posted by arto at 9:49 PM on August 30, 2005

arto, I love that TOS episode.
posted by mwhybark at 1:35 AM on August 31, 2005

agropyron writes "From now on, a picture of Admiral Akbar means 'Concentrate all fire on that Super Star Destroyer', got it"

Now really how often would that come up. Unless SSD was code for something else.
posted by Mitheral at 5:12 PM on August 31, 2005