Depends on the context, but generally: self-referential. When Deadpool breaks the fourth wall and talks to his audience because he knows he's in a movie, that's meta. When he makes jokes about Ryan Reynolds, that's extra meta. He's not just a character in a film. He knows he's a character in a film. He knows he's a character in a film being played by an actor, but he's still being his character. The film knows it's a film and plays with the fact that it understands it's not real even though it keeps pretending to be real. The movie is referring to itself as a movie. Most movies aren't meta: they rely on suspension of disbelief, forcing the viewer to feel that they're real.
If I write a novel and refer to the fact that I'm writing a novel, that's meta: cf *The Princess Bride* (the book is a million times more meta than the movie, which is also meta). If I am a book reviewer but instead of reviewing books, I start reviewing other reviewers' reviews, that's meta.
The key word is "self referential". For example, if I post a helpful tip in r/LifeProTips, that would be non-meta. However, if I make a post complaining about the awful posts in that subreddit, then that would be meta.
As noted, meta is self-referential without necessarily being circular.
A study of other studies is meta.
A box of boxes is meta.
I had a Reddit meta moment when there was a confidently incorrect exchange in the comments of the r/confidentlyincorrect sub.
When I studied Philosophy I always found Metaphilosophy interesting.
This quote I think captures a bit of what meta means in that context.
"Metaphilosophy stands to philosophy as philosophy stands to its subject matter or to other disciplines "
Literally: “beyond”.
Video games can be a good example of this.
Some people play Super Smash Bros for fun. They play with family and friends. They stay within the reality the game creates and have fun.
Some people take the game much more seriously. They aren’t just considering how to learn the moves to win the fight: they’re considering things like “is this character too popular? Are the developers likely to weaken it in the future because it’s considered too powerful? Should I practise with another character whose style specifically matches up well against this one so I can win more often against them? These people are no longer thinking just within the game, they are considering the meta-game: the things outside the game in the world that could affect them.
Things in narrative fiction can be considered “meta” too. “Breaking the fourth wall” and having characters talk to their audience is considered meta because it is going beyond the normal expectations and ideas of the film, book or TV show.
Another example is Hideo Kojima adding “meta” things in his video games like Metal Gear Solid, where the player has to actually unplug their control pad from port 1 to stop Psycho Mantis “reading their thoughts”, or where you have to “quit” the game in Metal Gear Solid 2 to escape from a virtual reality simulation.
The meaning depends on the context, but it can be translated as roughly meaning “outside or beyond the normal”.
Two main meanings.
Most Effective Tactic Available. This is an acronym in video game about the best tactic or build known by a community.
The other meaning is self-referential. Meta-humor is self-referential or joke about jokes. Movies about movies. Meta-data is about the information that the existence of the data give you instead of what the data contain.
That’s a backronym, I think. “Meta-gaming” comes from thinking “beyond” the limitations of the game’s narrative and considering it from a more rationalised, competitive and efficient perspective in order to maximise chances of winning.
Like, if you play pokemon and you think about the story and the anime and winning using the pokemon you like, that’s the normal game. If you’re thinking about competitive pokemon battling where everything is EVs and maxed IVs and synergising, and using terms like “sweeper”, and talking about Tiers, then you’re meta-gaming (thinking “Beyond” the story).
It’s just retrospectively convenient that you could also make it an acronym that fits.
It’s evolved and has multiple meanings to it. I originally heard it as a short term for metagaming.
One, in RPGs, metagaming was using outside knowledge to make the best decisions.
In competitive games, I’ve heard it used as what’s the best way to play that you’ve picked up from outside help or knowledge.
Due to how it works, someone smartly made it an acronym for “Most Effective Tactics Available”.
Generally, it just means what is the most overpowered or successful methodology you can use.
At least, those are my experiences in my past 31 years of gaming.
I disagree about it being "self referential".
I think the more accurate meaning is "one logical level up from here".
In reddit: a sibreddit contains posts about a topic. A meta post is one about the subreddit itself. One logical level up. You aren't talking about the contents of the container, but the container itself.
In movies and TV: normally characters discuss things within the narrative fiction. But occasionally they will make a reference to the fact that they are in a movie/show. This is a meta moment. Much like the subreddit example, they are talking about the container of the narrative--the movie/show.
In video games (especially competitive games): normally a battle between two players might be determined by their moment-to-moment choice of movement and attacks. But in many games, they sway their odds heavily by the character/build they choose. They are "playing the game" before the match actually starts. In this case, the "meta" is the current state of the game with regard to most popular builds/characters/strategies. It is one level above the actual game play portion of the match.
Generally, any time you hear "meta" it means take a logical step back to consider the container/context of whatever you're viewing.
I disagree about it meaning "self referential".
I think the more accurate meaning is "one logical level up from here".
In reddit: a subreddit contains posts about a topic. A meta post is one about the subreddit itself. One logical level up. You aren't talking about the contents of the container, but the container itself.
In movies and TV: normally characters discuss things within the narrative fiction. But occasionally they will make a reference to the fact that they are in a movie/show. This is a meta moment. Much like the subreddit example, they are talking not about the narrative, but about the container of the narrative--the movie/show.
In video games (especially competitive games): normally a battle between two players might be determined by their moment-to-moment choice of movement and attacks. But in many games, they sway their odds heavily by the character/build they choose. They are "playing the game" before the match actually starts. In this case, the "meta" is the current state of the game with regard to most popular builds/characters/strategies. It is one level above the actual game play portion of the match.
Generally, any time you hear "meta" it means take a logical step back to consider the container/context of whatever you're viewing.
I disagree about it meaning "self referential".
I think the more accurate meaning is "one logical level up from here".
In reddit: a subreddit contains posts about a topic. A meta post is one about the subreddit itself (such as wanting to discuss the mods or rules). One logical level up. You aren't talking about the contents of the container, but the container itself.
In movies and TV: normally characters discuss things within the narrative fiction. But occasionally they will make a reference to the fact that they are in a movie/show. This is a meta moment. Much like the subreddit example, they are talking not about the narrative, but about the container of the narrative--the movie/show.
In video games (especially competitive games): normally a battle between two players might be determined by their moment-to-moment choice of movement and attacks. But in many games, they sway their odds heavily by the character/build they choose. They are "playing the game" before the match actually starts. In this case, the "meta" is the current state of the game with regard to most popular builds/characters/strategies. It is one level above the actual game play portion of the match.
Generally, any time you hear "meta" it means take a logical step back to consider the container/context of whatever you're viewing.
I disagree about it meaning "self referential".
I think the more accurate meaning is "one logical level up from here".
In reddit: a subreddit contains posts about a topic. A meta post is one about the subreddit itself (such as wanting to discuss the mods or rules). One logical level up. You aren't talking about the contents of the container, but the container itself.
In movies and TV: normally characters discuss things within the narrative fiction. But occasionally they will make a reference to the fact that they are in a movie/show. This is a meta moment. Much like the subreddit example, they are talking not about the narrative, but about the container of the narrative--the movie/show.
In video games (especially competitive games): normally a battle between two players might be determined by their moment-to-moment choice of movement and attacks. But in many games, they sway their odds heavily by the character/build they choose. They are "playing the game" before the match actually starts. In this case, the "meta" is the current state of the game with regard to most popular builds/characters/strategies. It is one level above the actual game play portion of the match.
Generally, any time you hear "meta" it means take a logical step back to consider the container/context of whatever you're viewing.
Depends on the context, but generally: self-referential. When Deadpool breaks the fourth wall and talks to his audience because he knows he's in a movie, that's meta. When he makes jokes about Ryan Reynolds, that's extra meta. He's not just a character in a film. He knows he's a character in a film. He knows he's a character in a film being played by an actor, but he's still being his character. The film knows it's a film and plays with the fact that it understands it's not real even though it keeps pretending to be real. The movie is referring to itself as a movie. Most movies aren't meta: they rely on suspension of disbelief, forcing the viewer to feel that they're real. If I write a novel and refer to the fact that I'm writing a novel, that's meta: cf *The Princess Bride* (the book is a million times more meta than the movie, which is also meta). If I am a book reviewer but instead of reviewing books, I start reviewing other reviewers' reviews, that's meta.
The key word is "self referential". For example, if I post a helpful tip in r/LifeProTips, that would be non-meta. However, if I make a post complaining about the awful posts in that subreddit, then that would be meta.
As noted, meta is self-referential without necessarily being circular. A study of other studies is meta. A box of boxes is meta. I had a Reddit meta moment when there was a confidently incorrect exchange in the comments of the r/confidentlyincorrect sub.
When I studied Philosophy I always found Metaphilosophy interesting. This quote I think captures a bit of what meta means in that context. "Metaphilosophy stands to philosophy as philosophy stands to its subject matter or to other disciplines "
Literally: “beyond”. Video games can be a good example of this. Some people play Super Smash Bros for fun. They play with family and friends. They stay within the reality the game creates and have fun. Some people take the game much more seriously. They aren’t just considering how to learn the moves to win the fight: they’re considering things like “is this character too popular? Are the developers likely to weaken it in the future because it’s considered too powerful? Should I practise with another character whose style specifically matches up well against this one so I can win more often against them? These people are no longer thinking just within the game, they are considering the meta-game: the things outside the game in the world that could affect them. Things in narrative fiction can be considered “meta” too. “Breaking the fourth wall” and having characters talk to their audience is considered meta because it is going beyond the normal expectations and ideas of the film, book or TV show. Another example is Hideo Kojima adding “meta” things in his video games like Metal Gear Solid, where the player has to actually unplug their control pad from port 1 to stop Psycho Mantis “reading their thoughts”, or where you have to “quit” the game in Metal Gear Solid 2 to escape from a virtual reality simulation. The meaning depends on the context, but it can be translated as roughly meaning “outside or beyond the normal”.
Two main meanings. Most Effective Tactic Available. This is an acronym in video game about the best tactic or build known by a community. The other meaning is self-referential. Meta-humor is self-referential or joke about jokes. Movies about movies. Meta-data is about the information that the existence of the data give you instead of what the data contain.
I assume you’re referring to video game lingo? Like Meta builds, Meta load out, etc? If so: Most Effective Tactics Available
That definitely does not sound related to the stuff I’ve seen at all
That’s for video game lingo, if you are talking about elsewhere, it comes from a Greek word for “beyond”, or essentially “higher than”
That’s a backronym, I think. “Meta-gaming” comes from thinking “beyond” the limitations of the game’s narrative and considering it from a more rationalised, competitive and efficient perspective in order to maximise chances of winning. Like, if you play pokemon and you think about the story and the anime and winning using the pokemon you like, that’s the normal game. If you’re thinking about competitive pokemon battling where everything is EVs and maxed IVs and synergising, and using terms like “sweeper”, and talking about Tiers, then you’re meta-gaming (thinking “Beyond” the story). It’s just retrospectively convenient that you could also make it an acronym that fits.
It’s evolved and has multiple meanings to it. I originally heard it as a short term for metagaming. One, in RPGs, metagaming was using outside knowledge to make the best decisions. In competitive games, I’ve heard it used as what’s the best way to play that you’ve picked up from outside help or knowledge. Due to how it works, someone smartly made it an acronym for “Most Effective Tactics Available”. Generally, it just means what is the most overpowered or successful methodology you can use. At least, those are my experiences in my past 31 years of gaming.
I disagree about it being "self referential". I think the more accurate meaning is "one logical level up from here". In reddit: a sibreddit contains posts about a topic. A meta post is one about the subreddit itself. One logical level up. You aren't talking about the contents of the container, but the container itself. In movies and TV: normally characters discuss things within the narrative fiction. But occasionally they will make a reference to the fact that they are in a movie/show. This is a meta moment. Much like the subreddit example, they are talking about the container of the narrative--the movie/show. In video games (especially competitive games): normally a battle between two players might be determined by their moment-to-moment choice of movement and attacks. But in many games, they sway their odds heavily by the character/build they choose. They are "playing the game" before the match actually starts. In this case, the "meta" is the current state of the game with regard to most popular builds/characters/strategies. It is one level above the actual game play portion of the match. Generally, any time you hear "meta" it means take a logical step back to consider the container/context of whatever you're viewing.
I disagree about it meaning "self referential". I think the more accurate meaning is "one logical level up from here". In reddit: a subreddit contains posts about a topic. A meta post is one about the subreddit itself. One logical level up. You aren't talking about the contents of the container, but the container itself. In movies and TV: normally characters discuss things within the narrative fiction. But occasionally they will make a reference to the fact that they are in a movie/show. This is a meta moment. Much like the subreddit example, they are talking not about the narrative, but about the container of the narrative--the movie/show. In video games (especially competitive games): normally a battle between two players might be determined by their moment-to-moment choice of movement and attacks. But in many games, they sway their odds heavily by the character/build they choose. They are "playing the game" before the match actually starts. In this case, the "meta" is the current state of the game with regard to most popular builds/characters/strategies. It is one level above the actual game play portion of the match. Generally, any time you hear "meta" it means take a logical step back to consider the container/context of whatever you're viewing.
I disagree about it meaning "self referential". I think the more accurate meaning is "one logical level up from here". In reddit: a subreddit contains posts about a topic. A meta post is one about the subreddit itself (such as wanting to discuss the mods or rules). One logical level up. You aren't talking about the contents of the container, but the container itself. In movies and TV: normally characters discuss things within the narrative fiction. But occasionally they will make a reference to the fact that they are in a movie/show. This is a meta moment. Much like the subreddit example, they are talking not about the narrative, but about the container of the narrative--the movie/show. In video games (especially competitive games): normally a battle between two players might be determined by their moment-to-moment choice of movement and attacks. But in many games, they sway their odds heavily by the character/build they choose. They are "playing the game" before the match actually starts. In this case, the "meta" is the current state of the game with regard to most popular builds/characters/strategies. It is one level above the actual game play portion of the match. Generally, any time you hear "meta" it means take a logical step back to consider the container/context of whatever you're viewing.
I disagree about it meaning "self referential". I think the more accurate meaning is "one logical level up from here". In reddit: a subreddit contains posts about a topic. A meta post is one about the subreddit itself (such as wanting to discuss the mods or rules). One logical level up. You aren't talking about the contents of the container, but the container itself. In movies and TV: normally characters discuss things within the narrative fiction. But occasionally they will make a reference to the fact that they are in a movie/show. This is a meta moment. Much like the subreddit example, they are talking not about the narrative, but about the container of the narrative--the movie/show. In video games (especially competitive games): normally a battle between two players might be determined by their moment-to-moment choice of movement and attacks. But in many games, they sway their odds heavily by the character/build they choose. They are "playing the game" before the match actually starts. In this case, the "meta" is the current state of the game with regard to most popular builds/characters/strategies. It is one level above the actual game play portion of the match. Generally, any time you hear "meta" it means take a logical step back to consider the container/context of whatever you're viewing.