From: Wade T.Smith (wade_smith@harvard.edu)
Date: Sat 02 Nov 2002 - 04:14:53 GMT
On Friday, November 1, 2002, at 09:25 , joedees@bellsouth.net wrote:
> You have learned, aand cognitively retain,
> the ability to sidewise balance as you travel forward.
Indeed I have learned to balance and ride a bicycle. Did that at 8 years
old. Humans come equipped with balance. Remember falling twice. Never
did get on a tightrope, though, attractive as it once looked to me.
> That's a meme
So you say. I say it's a skill. It's also fun. Skill and fun beat meme.
> it is internal
Some of it is. It is a skill of the body, that's for sure. But, that
body is supported by a machine. Pretty external, that machine. In fact,
it's hanging in the hall even as I type. Perhaps it's a token of my
iconoclasty.
> you can repeatedly externalize it
No- I can again get on my bike and ride it. I'm not externalizing
anything- I'm riding my bike. Performing yes, (and, yes, a 51 year old
man riding a bike in Cambridge traffic is making a cultural statement,
no doubt about that), but utilizing a skill set most of all.
> and
> performatively teach it to your kids
I did 'teach' my kids to bicycle. But, as with most innate skill-set
teachings, I just put 'em on the bike and gave 'em a shove.
What is 'memetically' enigmatic about bicycle riding, is whether or not
seeing that people (especially one's father) _can_ ride a bike, and what
level of conviction that might give the neophyte to forge ahead, even as
he falls down in the early attempts. The availibility of success is a
strong commander all by itself.
- Wade
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