Short-form trends burn through attention spans at breakneck speeds, but jokes grounded in basic human habits retain staying power. As long as restaurants hand menus to customers, someone will order their beef cooked through, and someone sitting across the table will roll their eyes in response.
The medium rare or medium well meme succeeded because it gave the internet a soundtrack for that exact, petty moment. By holding up a mirror to culinary elitism, users turned an ordinary kitchen inquiry into a viral shorthand for standing your ground, even if your choice happens to be slightly overcooked.
