In the vast and wondrous world of internet memes, few have captured the attention of the masses quite like Ernie Smith. For those who may be unfamiliar, Ernie Smith is a fictional character who gained notoriety for his mind-numbing tale of tedium, which has been shared and dissected by millions online.

Tedium (tedium.net) is a slow-burn, deeply researched email newsletter (and companion website) written and published by since 2016. It publishes two long-form essays per week — typically Tuesdays and Thursdays — each diving into a single weird, forgotten, or surprisingly complex corner of technology, language, design, or pop culture.

The internet was quick to latch onto Ernie's tedium, and before long, he had become a cultural phenomenon. People began to create their own Ernie Smith-style stories, detailing their own mundane experiences in excruciating detail.

recommendation based on a particular interest (e.g., retro hardware, internet policy)? AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses Copy Creating a public link... You can now share this thread with others Good response Bad response 7 sites sjhoward.co.uk » Tedium Ernie Smith's Tedium yesterday was about Facebook's new project to ask users to consent to a new feature called 'link history'. Th... sjhoward.co.uk Things That Actually Matter - 7 Takeaways No. 139 Aug 13, 2023 —

As Ernie's story unfolds, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary tale of a trip to the store. Ernie's narrative is a masterclass in tedium, as he meticulously details every. single. aspect. of. his. drive.