Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id VAA14963 (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 21:42:43 +0100 Message-ID: <3937D579.4C190492@mediaone.net> Date: Fri, 02 Jun 2000 16:40:42 +0100 From: Chuck <cpalson@mediaone.net> X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.72 [en] (WinNT; I) X-Accept-Language: en To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: Jabbering ! References: <Pine.OSF.4.21.0006021247450.29909-100000@frost.umd.edu> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
I should add the following to my critique about the problem with asking
people:
I have tried to ask experts why they do things the way they do, and they
often can't tell you, no matter how much they try. In fact, sometimes the
claim its ESP. You have to actually study their behavior sometimes to figure
it out. (I have an article coming out soon in Quality Progress on just this
issue -- which I have shared with you).
"Lawrence H. de Bivort" wrote:
> 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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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
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