Re: Virus or meme?

From: John Wilkins (wilkins@wehi.EDU.AU)
Date: Fri Aug 18 2000 - 02:22:14 BST

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Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2000 11:22:14 +1000
From: John Wilkins <wilkins@wehi.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Virus or meme?
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    On Thu, 17 Aug 2000 11:04:44 +0100 austin@docking.org.uk (Austin
    Docking) wrote:

    >
    >I have just recieved the enclosed 'email virus'
    >
    >While it did bring a smile to my face, it is, imho, a classic example
    >for
    >memetics!
    >
    >-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    >-----
    >-------------------------------------------
    >
    >The Virus.
    >
    >"You have just received the Interactive Lunacy Virus.
    >
    >Since we don't know a damned thing about programming, this virus works
    >on
    >the honor system. Please delete all the files from your hard drive and
    >manually forward this virus to everyone on your mailing list.
    >
    >Thanks for your cooperation and support."
    >

    I have so far seen variations of this as

    the Unix virus - addressed to sysops
    the Irish virus

    and one other I haven't recorded

    A memetic analysis is called for, perhaps? 

    --

    John Wilkins, Head, Graphic Production
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Melbourne, Australia
<mailto:wilkins@WEHI.EDU.AU>
<http://www.users.bigpond.com/thewilkins/darwiniana.html>
Homo homini aut deus aut lupus - Erasmus of Rotterdam

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