Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id XAA11318 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Thu, 18 May 2000 23:38:27 +0100 Message-ID: <20000518223559.91842.qmail@hotmail.com> X-Originating-IP: [212.1.128.63] From: "Diana Stevenson" <dianaxf@hotmail.com> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Useless memes Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 15:35:58 PDT Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Chuck wrote:
<Well - I definitely owe you. I forget - did we sign an agreementon terms?
But
at any rate, I DO owe you. It's an interesting example I probably never
would
have thought of.>
Chuck - I think you're right that it's strange no-one has convinced you of
another useless meme, if there are supposed to be so many. I would be
interested in your take on astrology if you could spare the time. I have
*once* met someone who found an interest in astrology useful socially, but
that was a very serious interest and she was someone with many problems. In
my personal life I haven't seen any other examples of individuals finding it
useful.
In what sense do you think astrology is useful? And why are horoscopes
printed in almost every newspaper or magazine we ever buy - even the
"quality" ones? Horoscopes are so widespread that it hardly constitutes a
subculture or means of identity; they've been around so long that they can't
be a fashion statement, and I don't even think it helps sell the papers
because it's usually just a small section near the back. I think it's an
example of newspapers mindlessly copying each other and people reading it
just because it's there.
What do you think?
Diana
------
________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com
===============================================================
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 archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu May 18 2000 - 23:38:55 BST