Editing Deep Fried Memes (section)

== DFM 4 ==
DFM 4 is the fourth and current iteration of the discord server dedicated to the subreddit /r/DeepFriedMemes. It was created on May 5th 2018 by [[Reborn]] following Frizmo's nuke of DFM 3 that took place on the same day. Ownership was quickly transferred over to [[Hyperion]] before it opened to the public. Although the subreddit is now closed, the server is still open to this day and advertises itself through its Instagram account.

=== The removal of brendan ===
Due to the nature and scale of the removal of brandon, a portion of this article will be deticated to this event.
[[File:Brendan.png|thumb|end of an era]]

==== Synopsis ====
The Removal of Famed Emote Brendan from Deep Fried Memes Two was a controversial event that occurred on the popular Discord server, Deep Fried Memes Two, on June 23rd, 2020. This event sparked a wave of outrage and debate within the online meme community, with many users taking to various social media platforms to voice their opinions and concerns.

The emote in question, known as "Brendan," was a popular and beloved feature of the server, depicting a cartoonish character with a distinctive expression that was often used in reaction to various memes and jokes. Despite its popularity, however, the server's moderators ultimately decided to remove the emote, citing concerns over copyright infringement (what the FUCK were they smoking???)

The decision to remove Brendan was met with a great deal of opposition from many members of the server, who argued that the emote was a harmless and widely-recognized symbol within the meme community, and that its removal was unnecessary and unjustified. Many users also expressed frustration with the server's moderation policies, which they felt were overly restrictive and inconsistent.

In response to the controversy, the server's administrators released a statement defending their decision, arguing that they were simply enforcing their own copyright policies and protecting the integrity of the server. They also emphasized that the removal of Brendan was not intended as a personal attack on any individual or group within the community.

Despite these efforts to justify the decision, however, the controversy surrounding Brendan's removal continued to simmer, with many users calling for the emote to be reinstated and for the server's moderation policies to be reevaluated. Some users even organized protests and boycotts of the server in response to the controversy.

Ultimately, the fallout from the Removal of Famed Emote Brendan from Deep Fried Memes Two serves as a cautionary tale about the challenges of managing online communities and navigating the complex and ever-evolving world of internet culture. While the controversy has since died down, it continues to be a topic of discussion among meme enthusiasts and online communities more broadly, highlighting the importance of transparency, communication, and community engagement in shaping the online world.

==== Legacy and implications ====
the removal of the :brendan: emote was a catastrophic event in the history of this server. It was a symbol of freedom and expression, and its removal signaled the start of a dark era. 

The mod team who removed the emote continued to do more invasive measures. They began to implement increasingly authoritarian measures, such as censorship of certain words and phrases, banning members without reason, and even monitoring private conversations. This created a climate of fear and mistrust among the members, who were unsure of what they could or could not say. 

As a result of this, a group of members formed an opposition movement, calling for the restoration of the :brendan: emote and the repeal of the mod team's authoritarian measures. However, the mod team responded with even more force, banning members who expressed opposition and even doxxing some of them. 

This led to a split in the community, with some members leaving the server and others staying but living in fear. The mod team, emboldened by their success in suppressing dissent, began to implement even more fascist policies, such as forced ideological conformity and a cult of personality around the server owner.

In the end, the Deep Fried Memes 2 ironic discord server became a shadow of its former self, a place where freedom of expression was non-existent and dissent was brutally suppressed. All because of the removal of a single emote.

==== Effects ====
According to reports from various online forums and social media platforms, the removal of the :brendan: emote from the Deep Fried Memes 2 ironic discord server had drastic and dark socio-political consequences that cannot be ignored. The emote was a symbol of unity and solidarity among the members of the server, and its removal was seen as an act of censorship and suppression of free speech. This led to a wave of anger and frustration among the members, who felt that their voices were being silenced and their opinions disregarded.

As a result, many of these members turned to far-right ideology and extremist groups, which provided them with a sense of belonging and a platform to voice their opinions. This further fueled the spread of hate speech, bigotry, and xenophobia, which have become increasingly prevalent in online communities. The removal of the emote can be seen as a warning sign of the dangers of online censorship and the suppression of free speech, which can have far-reaching and unintended consequences.

==== Moderator response/counter ====
From a broader perspective, the moderator team at DFM 2 may argue that they are protecting the server from potential harm by removing the :brendan: emote. The emote may have been perceived by some users as controversial or offensive, and could have led to conflicts or divisions within the community. By removing the emote, the moderators are attempting to maintain a cohesive and welcoming environment for all users.