Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id OAA10001 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Wed, 15 May 2002 14:31:27 +0100 From: <rrecchia@mail.clarityconnect.com> Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 09:29:15 -0400 To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: pls direct me to a memetics list <eom> X-Mailer: WorldClient Pro 2.2.1 In-Reply-To: <F106BPDQDCbl1VpBRV5000058ce@hotmail.com> Message-ID: <1190653354-2588442@smtp.clarityconnect.com> Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: "Scott Chase" <ecphoric@hotmail.com>
To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Date: Tue, 14 May 2002 19:21:37 -0400
Subject: Re: pls direct me to a memetics list <eom>
> >I have expressed on numerous occassions my interest in 'memetic'
> >transmission in animals in works by de Waal, Dugatkin, and Pepperberg.
> >
> And regaring de Waal, what's his views on memetics in _The Ape and the
> Sushi
> Master_ again? Was he especially fond of memetics, burning with
> enthusiasm
> to jump on the bandwagon?
No he wasn't. But I wasn't given the impression he had put a lot of
thought into his criticism.
Bottom line: Just because deWaal doesn't think memetics is useful to him
doesn't mean deWaal isn't useful to memetics.
> >
> >In a broad sense everything cultural is memetic and thus anything
> >cultural can be discussed. Personally I believe that we are better
> off
> >avoiding hot button topics like current events because different
> >cultures, political perspectives, and religious beliefs can lead to
> >different conclusions which is unlikely to lead a broadly accepted
> theory
> >of memetics. I don't get particularly upset when I see diversions
> into
> >discussion of these areas because I think that it is something that
> >happens as a result of the open nature of this list. I'd rather not
> see
> >it happen but I don't die when it does.
> >
> I think the hot button issues are especiaaly important to discuss and I
> could stand to learn tons more myself. I've always had a fascination
> for
> conflict (would that make me a Marxist?) I'm drawn like a moth towards
> the
> Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Northern Ireland troubles. Other
> conflicts that involve "hot-button" isues are those like the
> animalrights
> versus utilization and research conflict, the evolution/creation
> controversy
> and such. I can't remember the details off the top of my head but back
> around 1996 there was some big pro-animal event in Washington DC which
> attracted luminaries such as Jane Goodall. It also attracted
> pro-research
> activists fighting for AIDS related research (like ACT-UP IIRC). There
> were
> some minor conflicts IIRC as opposing political viewpoints clashed.
> Animal
> rights and AIDS research are important issues where PETA and ACT-UP
> might
> not exactly see eye to eye.
>
> The trouble arises when one cannot become objectively detached from the
> conflict.
Right. I think they are important issues and I have opinions on a lot of
them. I understand the need that people feel to discuss them. I just
don't do it here and I have a problem with using memetics to justify
political or religious belief.
> >
> >Of course what I don't like is when people who aren't really
> interested
> >in memetics at all try to shove the list into other areas.
> >
> Some of us are interested in seeing self-proclaimed memeticists
> becoming a
> little less captivated by imagination and a little more self-critical.
> When
> I see comparisons drawn between memetics "technology" and nuclear
> technology
> as having similar magnitudes of importance, I get a little worked up
> into a
> rabid lather.
> >
> >Still it's
> >better than being at alt.evolution where you can rehash the same old
> >stuff with creationists for years if you want.
> >
> >
> That's where you can study people with opposed mind sets going at it
> like
> mad. What's so wrong with that?
Gets a bit repetitious after a while.
Ray Recchia
>
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