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A middle school student is being hailed a genius by the internet after she started a meme in real life that was absolutely perfect. In fact, it worked so well that despite the fact that it happened offline it still went viral on the internet.
This genius tween’s meme went viral because writer B.N. Harrison went into great detail sharing one of the most entertaining Twitter threads we’ve seen all year.
The seventh grader, who asked to be called Max in the story, accomplished this feat by simply trying to mess with her middle school math teacher’s head. And she did it with one simple, non-nonsensical phrase: “Save $500 on bread this year–click here!”
Get ready to meet your future leader of the free world…
"My math teacher is low-key terrified of all of us," the tween in my house told us tonight at dinner.
And then she explained why. (thread)
— B.N. Harrison (@bnharrison_b) November 25, 2017
So, apparently, about a month ago, the tween (who asks to be known to you as Max) decided to start an active, participatory meme amongst the entire seventh grade.
— B.N. Harrison (@bnharrison_b) November 25, 2017
"Save $500 on bread this year–click here!"
Max, who apparently has unnatural, cult-like leadership qualities, persuaded a core group of friends to whisper this phrase to everyone they saw at school one afternoon. And they complied. All the 40+ 7th graders in her middle school.
— B.N. Harrison (@bnharrison_b) November 25, 2017
How did she come up with this phrase?
From the teeming maw of creative chaos that is her brain. It's not a reference to anything. It is purely random. An act of reckless dadaism.
— B.N. Harrison (@bnharrison_b) November 25, 2017
It took about a month for the phrase to achieve complete group saturation.
At the end of the month, one of the 7th graders–Max doesn't know which one–wrote this phrase down on a piece of paper, and placed it on their math teacher's desk before class one day.
— B.N. Harrison (@bnharrison_b) November 25, 2017
Now, at this point, it's just funny in the normal way. Students decide to confuse their teacher by flaunting an in-joke. Happens all the time, I'm sure. Teachers get used to being mystified by their students.
— B.N. Harrison (@bnharrison_b) November 25, 2017
Max and the other 7th graders come into math class one day, and the teacher puts the note up on the overhead projector.
"Save $500 on bread this year–click here!"
The children are silent.
The teacher waits. Silence.
He gestures toward the screen. "So…what does this mean?"
— B.N. Harrison (@bnharrison_b) November 25, 2017
The 7th graders burst into laughter.
"No, seriously, one of you needs to explain this," he says.
And the class falls silent. Because… you know.
There is no explanation. Except that Max is both random and charismatic and apparently they all do her bidding.
— B.N. Harrison (@bnharrison_b) November 25, 2017
See what I mean about Max being the future leader of the free world?
Then.
Then.
Max stands up at her desk. She stands very straight and tall (she demonstrated for me and her mom at the dinner table) and places one hand behind her back.
"Kind of like when you put your hand over your heart for the Pledge of Allegiance," she explains to us.
— B.N. Harrison (@bnharrison_b) November 25, 2017
She then proceeds to read the note from off the overhead projector, in a solemn, declamatory manner.
"SAVE $500 ON BREAD THIS YEAR. CLICK HERE."
And then
then
(and keep in mind, this was, in no way orchestrated in advance)
all the other kids put their hand behind their back.
— B.N. Harrison (@bnharrison_b) November 25, 2017
"At what point, exactly, did they do this?" I ask, when I can breathe again after laughing for approximately 20 minutes.
"As soon as I said 'click here'," says Max.
— B.N. Harrison (@bnharrison_b) November 25, 2017
The students are quiet. Staring at their math teacher. Max is still standing. The teacher stares back.
And then, quietly, Max sits back down, and her followers resume normal posture.
— B.N. Harrison (@bnharrison_b) November 25, 2017
This kid is definitely going places. She’s like a young, female, real-life Lex Luthor.
"What did your teacher do then?" I ask, breathless with fascination and admiration.
Apparently, he then phoned the front office to apprise them of the situation.
— B.N. Harrison (@bnharrison_b) November 25, 2017
"Why did he call the office??" I ask, baffled.
"So they could call kids to the office and ask them questions."
"…why?"
"Because it could be taken as a threat or some shit? I don't know, my school's weird."
— B.N. Harrison (@bnharrison_b) November 25, 2017
Many adults in school administration see kids as chaotic elements that must be rigidly controlled or else everything will fall to shit. Any "unusual" behavior worries them and makes them act like tyrants.
But here is what is hilarious to me:
— B.N. Harrison (@bnharrison_b) November 25, 2017
The principal might ask questions. They might get some kids to tell them that some other kid passed them a note that said "Save $500 on bread this year".
But nobody–nobody–is going to be able to explain to the administration or the teachers what happened that day.
— B.N. Harrison (@bnharrison_b) November 25, 2017
It wasn't planned. At all. Max was improvising the entire time, and the other kids just…followed her lead.
Students passing a note around is normal.
Students spontaneously acting on the cue of one of their peers is not normal.
Max is not normal. Max is a fucking genius.
— B.N. Harrison (@bnharrison_b) November 25, 2017
Max is a fucking genius.
Even I might be willing to admit, from a school administration standpoint, that it is slightly…concerning that one 12-year old can effortlessly bend THE ENTIRE SEVENTH GRADE to her will.
But. *whispers* that's the part of the story they'll NEVER find out about.
— B.N. Harrison (@bnharrison_b) November 25, 2017
No matter what questions they ask, no matter who's willing to talk to them…
what are those kids going to say?
"Max did a thing, so…we all just did the thing."
They don't know why they did it. MAX doesn't know why they did it. She doesn't know why SHE did it.
— B.N. Harrison (@bnharrison_b) November 25, 2017
Imagine a middle school administrator of average intelligence and no particular creativity, trying to wrap their heads around this situation.
Just…imagine that.
I would feel sorry for them but I'm too busy laughing my fucking ass off.
— B.N. Harrison (@bnharrison_b) November 25, 2017
[protected-iframe id=”42dba77b4c8c94bad1dc0d5bb14e6fc6-97886205-92827192″ info=”https://giphy.com/embed/jShr8wkP38XTO” width=”640″ height=”307″ frameborder=”0″ class=”giphy-embed” allowfullscreen=””]
*after reading Max your comments*
Me: "I thought you said you didn't want your picture online?"
Max: "This is different–people need to know who I am!"
#$500bread pic.twitter.com/5714OjOWL6
— B.N. Harrison (@bnharrison_b) November 26, 2017
Max is the hero we deserve, but not the one it needs right now. See you when you’re old enough to run for public office, Max.
Oh man, I can’t get over how magnificent this is. Also, I am slightly afraid, but in a good way. https://t.co/J55JwX4EAP
— Stilgherrian (@stilgherrian) November 26, 2017
You know… I'm writing a termpaper on future infosec jobs, and I've gone so far down the rabbit hole now that if it is okay with "Max", I think I'm going to use that picture and hashtag with a link to this story, as the End Note.
— Vegard Pettersen (@USERNAMEtfJrMsm) November 26, 2017
I foolishly shared this thread with my 14 year old. Max has infiltrated Australia.
— Di – masks fog up my glasses but I wear em anyway (@BartholomewD) November 26, 2017
I see greatness ahead for Max! Also, things like this confirm 2 truths: never underestimate the power of a small group of united people, and tweens are more powerful and fascinating than we generally give them credit or opportunity.
— Meguey-shaped Bestower of Titles (@NightSkyGames) November 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/thegatethekey/status/934778617929846785
https://twitter.com/ScribbleFrost/status/934700789674717184
Max, I am 32 years old, but I want to be you when I grow up.
— Jezi (*NSYNC's Version) (@Jezi_Belle) November 26, 2017
Indeed.
H/T The Daily Dot