Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id RAA13634 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 2 Jun 2000 17:54:46 +0100 X-Authentication-Warning: frost.umd.edu: debivort owned process doing -bs Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2000 12:52:42 -0400 (EDT) From: "Lawrence H. de Bivort" <debivort@umd5.umd.edu> X-Sender: debivort@frost.umd.edu To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: Jabbering ! In-Reply-To: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D31017458A2@inchna.stir.ac.uk> Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.4.21.0006021247450.29909-100000@frost.umd.edu> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
The notion that some behaviors seem purposelss doesn't worry me much,
because in practice people DO have reasons for doing these things. They
may be 'good' or 'bad' reasons, they may be held consciously or
unconsciously (from where they can be elicited and brought into
consciousness).
Take wearing a tie: There can be several reasons for doing so: it looks
nice, others pay attention to one's ties, the choice of a tie design can
indicate mood, conformity and the desire to indicate conformity, fabric
quality to indicate wealth, tie style to indicate class, etc etc. All
these can be viewed as 'useful' mediators of social relationships, an
important function of human beings. And one can find out just why a
peerrson wears a tie by _asking_ him why, by asking what is the value
behind the behavior.
- Lawrence
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