Re: I know one when I see one

From: Wade Smith (wade_smith@harvard.edu)
Date: Wed 30 Oct 2002 - 21:47:21 GMT

  • Next message: joedees@bellsouth.net: "Re: I know one when I see one"

    On Wednesday, October 30, 2002, at 12:38 , Bill Spight wrote:

    > But we are talking about phenomena that are both
    > relatively stable over time and mutable. You currently seem to be
    > denying or greatly downplaying the stability.

    Not at all- it is completely their similarity that makes meme A and meme Z part of a cultural phenomenon that is observable and stable.

    I'm not denying that similarity at all- I am demanding it.

    > Meme A could be your singing a particular
    > song. Meme B could by my saying, "Good show!" That's not a transfer of
    > culture.

    'Transfer of culture' is impossible to hang anything onto, but, your example is an excellent one for performances capable of being observed and replicated.

    Person C could hear another person sing meme D, and, say (meme E), 'good show!', and someone else could say (meme F), 'what the hell are you talking about, that singing sucked!'

    Meme E would not be replicated.

    - Wade

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