Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id VAA00983 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Sun, 17 Feb 2002 21:52:24 GMT Message-ID: <002101c1b7ea$71cee7e0$12afeb3e@default> From: "Kenneth Van Oost" <Kenneth.Van.Oost@village.uunet.be> To: <kennethvanoost@myrealbox.com> Subject: Fw: The necessity of mental memes Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2002 20:36:10 +0100 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.2314.1300 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2314.1300 Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Grant Callaghan <grantc4@hotmail.com>
> > What I dislike in the choice of the word "contagion" to describe the
> passing
> > of information is the implication that the receiver has no choice but to
> be
> > "infected" by the idea. It also has connotations of sickness and a
> process
> > that leads to death. Most of the bacteria and a lot of the viruses that
> > invade our body do so harmlessly. Some are killers. But we have little
> > choice about catching the flu or HIV.
>
> Hi Grant,
> Long time no see !
> For a moment I thought you meant this, but I hope you expresses this not
> in a literal sense !?
> If so, I can 't agree !
> I see you point that once infected with the flu or HIV for that matter
that
> there is no escape ( yet), but you do have a choise !
> Keeping yourself warm or don 't sit in the draft would dismishing your
> chances for getting the flu and the use of condoms would protect you
> from catching HIV.
>
> And for a good understanding, I agree that in the case of memes taking
> up by people can lead to sickness or to death, but how would you explain
> what is happening in Africa !?
> HIV is killing a lot of people, the use of condoms would lead to some
> higher survival- rate, the beliefs of the African peoples see in the
condom
> a from of witchcraft and the catholic churches are playing with even
higher
> stakes. I belief that memes can be that strong to hold on to what Africa
> beliefs in, but not to the standard that they are willing to wipe out a
> whole
> continent in order to propagate !?
>
> IMO, and I don 't say that is your point of view, the little choises we
> should
> have about catching the flu or HIV are political inspired.
> How would a society be stronger if its population is too sick to do
anything
> !?
> How can you explain such an adaption, in the sense of an ever changing
> world- wide environment if not, memes are willing to wipe out the whole
> of the African population for a better cause and that would be than the
> survival of other memes. Are our memes then stronger, better,... more
> adaptive, creative,...!?
>
> Saying in a sense, that you have no choise, is IMO not ethical correct,
> the African people DO have a choise, but it is maybe not theirs to make
> so to speak. It is maybe OUR choise in which ways we protect OUR community
> that lies a dark shadow over the African continent.
> And maybe there is deep inside of our ( Western) Self an individual
> core which indeed hinders ( the black) others if families and societies
> are blocking our ways to a further development.
> The terms virus and contaigon are in such a context well placed and are
> likely being used in the future. And their emotional baggage is essential
> in order in getting Africa ' alive ', again.
>
> Regards,
>
> Kenneth
>
>
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