Originally Posted by
Pontius Navigator
Like 'Killroy was here'. Once it becomes 'a good idea' it catches and unlike modern graffiti with no legend is impossible to stamp out. What it did show is the unfortunate commander did not have the charisma to stop it through his personality.
To be fair to him "meme behaviour" can become so established that it becomes part of the essential culture. An RN friend of mine told me a story about a scourge prevalent on Her Majesty's war canoes. Ratings would cut around the ship on imaginary motorcycles, revving and skidding as they went. The Captain made it known that it was his wish that the practice stopped with immediate effect. All went well until a few days later, when a rating on the bridge was sent on an errand; the unfortunate seaman kick-started his invisible bike and roared off. Turning to a senior rate the Captain ordered that the junior rate be stopped and brought back to the bridge immediately. "Aye Sir!." (kickstarts his bike and gives chase; nee nah, nee nah, nee nah............)