Re: a memetic experiment- an eIe opener

From: Chuck Palson (cpalson@mediaone.net)
Date: Mon May 08 2000 - 09:31:42 BST

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    Date: Mon, 08 May 2000 09:31:42 +0100
    From: Chuck Palson <cpalson@mediaone.net>
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    Subject: Re: a memetic experiment- an eIe opener
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    Tyger wrote:

    > couple of points, Chuck:
    > a. I have been doing this experiment for quite some time now (five weeks to
    > be precise) and the results at the moment are quite surprising. most indeed
    > reject the word on first sight/hear, yet it seems that after a certain
    > initial shock (see Wade's yuck response) the word eIe keeps appearing again
    > and again, admitedly only for some and at the moment only in written form,
    > but I strongly believe that will change through local variation and
    > diversification, maybe with changes or mutations of meaning and syntax.
    > b. actually I quite agree with your thesis/hypothesis that new words arise
    > out of metaphorical use of preexisting verbal entities. however isnt that
    > the case for eIe?
    > isnt the combination of eye and I (though synthetic in its construct and
    > intentionality) a usage of a preexisting accepted norm, combined to form a
    > higher whole?

    Good point. It's sort of like how some acronyms do make it into the vocabulary.
    I will look more closely at your original description of the word.

    >
    >
    > thanks, those comments do help to clarify,
    > Tyger
    > Tyger@SilkenTiger.com
    >
    > ----- Original Message -----
    > From: "Chuck Palson" <cpalson@mediaone.net>
    > To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
    > Sent: Monday, May 08, 2000 9:42 AM
    > Subject: Re: a memetic experiment- an eIe opener
    >
    > > To answer this question, why not start out with some actual experiments
    > among
    > > your friends? See if you can try using the word for a few weeks and see if
    > it
    > > sticks. I will bet you that if you keep using it for months, it will still
    > feel
    > > too awkward to continue to use in a convincing way. If my prediction comes
    > true,
    > > you will then have an interesting line of research - which is, why do
    > synthetic
    > > words never stick (with partial exception of acronyms). Then you might try
    > out
    > > my hypothesis that new words generally come into existence through
    > metaphorical
    > > use of preexisting words.
    > >
    > > At any rate, why not try the experiment.
    > >
    > > Tyger wrote:
    > >
    > > > Well said Wade,
    > > > that is the issue with verbal representations that we cannot escape
    > their
    > > > memory though we may desire to negate their very existence. how does one
    > say
    > > > " I would never use eIe" whilst refraining from using eIe. (and
    > remaining
    > > > simple)
    > > >
    > > > Why Wade? why would you never use eIe. pls explain
    > > > is it inneficient? is it wrong? is it of a creed you do not accept? does
    > the
    > > > sound of it makes one cringe? as I work with diverse language
    > constructs, I
    > > > would be happy to understand your prompt rejection in a deeper manner.
    > we,
    > > > in the media business have a tendency to use memetic constructs in an
    > > > intuitive manner, words for us are playful operations meant to convey
    > > > certain facilitation of communication, but eIe understand not all see it
    > > > that way.
    > > > As I understand memetics to be a realm of the human mind, it cannot be
    > that
    > > > a rejection (or acceptance) of a certain representation of meaning
    > carries
    > > > no implications whatsoever.
    > > >
    > > > best,
    > > > Tyger
    > > > Tyger@SilkenTiger.com
    > > >
    > > > ----- Original Message -----
    > > > From: "Wade T.Smith" <wade_smith@harvard.edu>
    > > > To: "Memetics Discussion List" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
    > > > Sent: Monday, May 08, 2000 12:56 AM
    > > > Subject: Re: a memetic experiment- an eIe opener
    > > >
    > > > > Tyger made this comment not too long ago --
    > > > >
    > > > > >comments, questions , suggestions, are more than welcome.
    > > > >
    > > > > I would never use eIe.
    > > > >
    > > > > - Wade
    > > > >
    > > > > ===============================================================
    > > > > This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
    > > > > Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
    > > > > For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
    > > > > see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
    > > > >
    > > > >
    > > >
    > > > ===============================================================
    > > > This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
    > > > Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
    > > > For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
    > > > see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
    > >
    > >
    > > ===============================================================
    > > This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
    > > Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
    > > For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
    > > see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
    > >
    > >
    > >
    >
    > ===============================================================
    > This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
    > Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
    > For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
    > see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit

    ===============================================================
    This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
    Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
    For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
    see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit



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