Keep Calm And…
Posted: November 9, 2012 Filed under: Foolishness | Tags: British Ministry Of Information, humor, internet memes, Keep Calm, Keep Calm And Carry, postaweek 30 Comments
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Back at the start of World War Two, a man in the British Ministry Of Information created a poster. The words on the poster were simple. Their goal was important. The Ministry created the Keep Calm And Carry On poster to keep public morale high in the face of a possible Nazi invasion.
They didn’t distribute many of the posters. After the war, the bright red placards faded out of the public eye. People were calm and the need to carry on had passed.
The poster resurfaced around 2000 and has gradually increased in popularity as a decorative items. The copyright on the original has expired, so The Keep Calm message has been usurped as a promotional tool. Just about any consumer product a body could want is available with Keep Calm on it. In that way, Keep Calm is the British equivalent of the catch phrase “Git R Done“.
You should avoid anyone or anyplace who would go through the trouble of going out on the net and generating something like this.
One Of Three
What most people don’t know is that the Calm poster was the third of a three poster series. The other two posters were “Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution Will Bring Us Victory” and the even more direct “Freedom Is In Peril. Defend It With All Your Might”. For some reason, neither of these have become as popular.
Keep Calm now urges us to shop, exercise, dance, love nerds, eat bacon and have a beer.
I’m calm. I don’t need a poster to help me settle myself, nor decide what to do. The poster and its offspring aren’t unique anymore. I need your help. Help me make Keep Calm go away.
Eschew any business, internet site or other location that takes advantage of the Keep Calm meme. If we keep calm, we can make Keep Calm return to 1939 where it belongs. Be strong and remember:
“Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution Will Bring Us Victory Over Keep Calm”
Blurt 
Calm down! 🙂
People who know me are always saying that. I’m kind of boisterous and panicky.
Keep calm and carry a big stick.
…because violence is not the answer. Usually. It is good to have options.
I’m a “Don’t worry, Be happy” man myself.
I’m going to try to figure out how to type that wooo, hoo hoo, hoo hoo hoo part he sings after that.
Maybe that’s it.
I keep Calm next to the bottle of Vodka in my fridge.
Ahh, well chilled calm.
Having Nerds, bacon, and beer right now! How ironic.
Keep calm. Just joking. I wouldn’t have Nerds before 9 AM.
The early morning hours are for York Peppermint Patties.
Barbiturates for Everyone!
S l o w e r…
How much are those selling for? Do you accept PayPal?
Ha ha..I accept pay everything
How about “Freak Out! and Carry On”? Is that acceptable ’cause it’s kind of my motto around here.
Sort of a “Yaaaaaaaaa!, no, I’m cool” technique?
I just bought a “Keep Calm and Carry On” mug for my Dad, for his birthday in early December, who has had heart and stress health issues this past year and who was in the RAF. It seemed appropriate.
I was looking for a “Carry On Gang” mug and this was all I could find. 😉
And that would be the first legitimate Calm purchase, ever.
How about “Just Chill and Carry On?” That acceptable?
Sure, that works.
You forgot eat cupcakes. I really like cupcakes but agree Keep Calm has gone to far. Besides telling people to keep calm is rarely effective unless the threat can be debunked at the same times “Keep calm its a PEPPERMINT SPICE latte.
Good point, that is one of the points I teach officers in my communication class. Telling people to calm down isn’t effective and doesn’t respect a person’s issue. Essentially, if a person could just calm down, we wouldn’t have been called.
I’m teaching this week, I’ll add the latte example in. “Suppose you’re dealing with someone who is upset by a pumpkin latte.”
The market will determine the longevity of the meme
Keyensian Memology.
I thought this was only happening in Blighty. We have it everywhere here (though I like your effort above, Oma). How about “keep calm and eat pie?” (sorry. Couldn’t resist!)
Pie is good and good for you. I recommend it.
I have a t-shirt that says Keep Calm and Have a Cupcake.” I’m going to cross out the last part and change it to “Read Blurt.” Or maybe just add that on to the end.
Yeah, just add it. A cupcake can only enhance the experience.
Is that why I’m so calm?
I am a calmness generator.