Im a bit confused at the meme stock movement from Jan-Feb 2021. Why was bankrupting/owning hedge funds a reason to own a stock?

I started investing 3 weeks before the movement was all over the news. I was watching youtube videos and discovered Rich Dad Poor Dad and other finance channels that basically made me realize I needed to own assets and not liabilities. 2% inflation was eating away at my savings account I should put some money in the market.

So I got into stocks and 1 year later now that I have experience what the hell was that time period. Imagine saying that about any stock right now. I want to own the hedge funds or make them go bankrupt. Instead of investing on the fundamentals of the company. Along with a never sell mentality where those who sell get called an insult.

I kinda wish I had started pre-COVID because that was such a bad time to start and not notice those horrible things being said and reasons for owning stocks. Reddit users on this sub were even saying a stock having a press conference was a catalyst. I didnt realize that was reddit users/social media trying to pump and dump microcaps. There would never be new info released during market hours. There are SEC rules against it. Or notice that Robinhood shutting off the buy button on AMD, SBUX, and other stocks meant that was time to head for exits and buy back AMD at a lower price from the selling pressure.